Travel Information

Travelling to Cyprus is very easy. The documentation required varies, depending on your nationality. A valid passport is required for a stay of up to 90 days for all bona fide tourists except citizens of European Union countries, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway who may enter Cyprus with their national identity card provided it bears a photo. Some non-EU third country nationals require a visa.

Travelling Documents

EU countries, commonwealth countries and the USA do NOT need a visa. Schengen Visa holders are allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus. The Schengen Visa has made traveling between 25 member countries (22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier and less bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel freely within the Schengen countries for a maximum stay of up to 90 days in a 6 month period.

Citizens of these countries are not required to have Cyprus visa for a stay of up to 90 days, provided they are bona fide visitors

Citizens of these countries are required to have an entry visa to Cyprus

Legal Ports of Entry

Entry regulations apply only to the areas controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus refuses admission to: Holders of “passports” issued illegally by the secessionist entity, the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC)

Note: The Government of the Republic of Cyprus is the only recognised Government on the island – member of the EU since 1.5.2004, as well as member of the UN and other International Organisations. As a result of the Turkish military presence and occupation, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is not in a position to exercise control over the occupied areas of the Republic. The so-called “TRNC” has been condemned and declared as both illegal and invalid by the whole of the International Community through Security Council Resolutions 541/83 and 550/84. With the sole exception of Turkey, no state in the world or International Organisation recognises the secessionist entity.

Presently, it is possible for foreign tourists who visit the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus, to cross to the occupied areas. Staying in Greek Cypriot owned hotels in the occupied areas, which are being illegally exploited, would put you at great risk of possible legal action on the part of the owners. Travellers entering the Republic of Cyprus via the illegal / closed airports and ports (i.e. all the airports and ports in the occupied areas), may still face the consequences of the Laws of the Republic.

Therefore, you are urged to travel via the recognised ports of entry, so as to avoid any possible problems (provided that a visa has been granted to you). The legal ports of entry into the Republic of Cyprus are the airports of Larnaca and Paphos and the ports of Larnaca, Limassol, Latsi and Paphos, which are situated in the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Any entry into the territory of the Republic of Cyprus via any other port or airport in the area of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic does not exercise effective control (Turkish occupied area) is illegal.

Cyprus is easily accessible as it is linked with numerous direct and connecting flights with all the main European cities, Middle East, Africa and Asian countries. The main airlines that fly to Cyprus are:

Flying to Cyprus 

  • Aegean Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • Emirates
  • British Airways
  • Air Malta
  • Gulf Air
  • Air France
  • Swiss
  • Alitalia
  • Etihad Airways
  • Ryanair
  • Easyjet
  • Monarch
  • Jet2
  • Blue Air
  • Cyprus Airways

Airports

Paphos airport is a 60 minute (70km/43m) drive from the meeting venue

Larnaca airport is approximately a 40 minute (56km/35m) drive from the meeting venue.

Time

Cyprus is in the Eastern European Time Zone. The Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).

Language

Greek and Turkish are the official languages. English is widely spoken. French and German are also spoken within the tourism Industry.

General Shopping Hours

The summer period runs from April 1 to October 31; Shop opening times vary depending on their type and location, though shops normally open between 07:00 and 09:00. For the period April 1st – October 31st shops close at 20:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, at 15:00 on Wednesday and, at 19:30 on Saturday.

Chemist Pharmacies / Drug Stores

They stay open during shopping hours. Late night chemists are listed in the daily papers.

Accessibility

Commuting to and from the City center from the Hotel is easy, by using the public bus transportation. The bus line 30 passes outside the hotel as well as the bus line 31, depending on the route you want to follow.

The one way ticket costs €1,50, the daily ticket costs €5,00 and the weekly ticket costs €15,00.

Useful Phone Numbers

Description Phone number
Police and all Emergencies 112, 199
Flight Information 77778833
Pharmacies after Hours 90901415
Doctors on Call 90901435
Directory Inquiries 11892, 11822, 11800, 11833, 11811

Climate

Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid–May to mid–October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Summer is a season of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breeze creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Isolated thunder showers are possible mainly over the mountains during early afternoons. Winters are mild with rain and snow on Troodos Mountains (usually starting before Christmas). island enjoys abundant sunshine, and even in December and January, there is an average of six hours of bright sunshine per day, whilst over the six ‘summer’ months, there is an average of 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day.

Voltage, Frequency and Plug/Outlet Type in Cyprus Electricity

Electricity in Cyprus is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Cyprus with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50- 1600 Watts.

Currency

On January 01, 2008, the Republic of Cyprus introduced the Euro (€) as its official currency, replacing the Cyprus pound (CY£) as the legal tender of Cyprus, at the irrevocable fixed exchange rate of €1 = CY£ 0,585274.

Currency Exchange

All banks operating in Cyprus offer foreign currency exchange services and quote the exchange rates of the Euro against all major foreign currencies daily. Foreign currency can also be exchanged at hotels. More detailed information concerning exchange rates can be obtained from the Central Bank of Cyprus.

Forms of Payment

Hotels, large shops and restaurants accept credit cards, travellers’ cheques, eurocheques and banknotes of major foreign currencies.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Cyprus, especially in major towns and tourist areas that are used for serving tourists. Visa and MasterCard are the most-accepted types of cards, with American Express, Diners Club, Maestro, Carte Blanche accepted less frequently.

Please note that using a credit card overseas often incurs a fee. Some cards marketed to travellers have no fees for overseas purchases, and others reduce the fee from the average 3% charge that most credit cards charge.

Please note that some establishments still accept only cash; it cannot be taken for granted that a credit card will work while travelling in Cyprus.

For lost credit cards, contact JCC Payment Systems Ltd., and at the same time, contact your bank either in Cyprus or in the issuing country.

Tipping

Tipping is at the discretion of the customer and is a gesture that is appreciated by hotel and catering establishment employees. Taxi-drivers, porters, hairdressers etc., always appreciate a small tip.