Cyprus Travel Guide

Language

The majority of Cypriots speak Greek, and a small percentage speaks Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect differs from mainland Greece. English, German and French are spoken in tourist areas.

Currency

The currency was changed to the Euro (EUR) on 1 January 2008. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, open from Monday to Friday. There are ATMs spread throughout the island, operating 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Time

GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The UK-style three square-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Cyprus is +357. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Area codes are not required. Mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators, but not the United States. There are public phones in all towns and villages and can be used for domestic and international calls. Phone cards can be purchased from shops, banks and post offices. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Cyprus over 17 years arriving from non-EU countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits with higher than 22% alcohol volume or 2 liters spirits or aperitifs with less than 22% alcohol volume, or 2 liters of wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g coffee; 100g tea; medicines for personal consumption; and other goods to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include fresh fruit, meat and dairy products.

Tourist Office

Cyprus Tourist Organization, Nicosia: +357 2269 1100 or www.visitcyprus.org.cy

Embassies in Cyprus

• United States Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2239 3939.
• British High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2286 1100.
• Consulate of Canada, Nicosia: +357 2277 5508.
• Australian High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2275 3001.
• South African Embassy, Athens, Greece (also responsible for Cyprus): +30 210 610 6645.
• Irish Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2281 8183.
• New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Cyprus): +39 (0)6 853 7501.

Cyprus Embassies Abroad

• Cyprus Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 462 5772.
• Cyprus Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7321 4100.
• Cyprus Consulate General, Toronto, Canada: +1 416 944 0998.
• Cyprus High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6281 0832.
• Cyprus High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 5258.
• Cyprus Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 3060.

Emergency

Emergencies: 199 or 112.

Language

The majority of Cypriots speak Greek, and a small percentage speaks Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect differs from mainland Greece. English, German and French are spoken in tourist areas.

Currency

The currency was changed to the Euro (EUR) on 1 January 2008. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, open from Monday to Friday. There are ATMs spread throughout the island, operating 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Time

GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The UK-style three square-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Cyprus is +357. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Area codes are not required. Mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators, but not the United States. There are public phones in all towns and villages and can be used for domestic and international calls. Phone cards can be purchased from shops, banks and post offices. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Cyprus over 17 years arriving from non-EU countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits with higher than 22% alcohol volume or 2 liters spirits or aperitifs with less than 22% alcohol volume, or 2 liters of wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g coffee; 100g tea; medicines for personal consumption; and other goods to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include fresh fruit, meat and dairy products.

Tourist Office

Cyprus Tourist Organization, Nicosia: +357 2269 1100 or www.visitcyprus.org.cy

Embassies in Cyprus

• United States Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2239 3939.
• British High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2286 1100.
• Consulate of Canada, Nicosia: +357 2277 5508.
• Australian High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2275 3001.
• South African Embassy, Athens, Greece (also responsible for Cyprus): +30 210 610 6645.
• Irish Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2281 8183.
• New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Cyprus): +39 (0)6 853 7501.

Cyprus Embassies Abroad

• Cyprus Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 462 5772.
• Cyprus Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7321 4100.
• Cyprus Consulate General, Toronto, Canada: +1 416 944 0998.
• Cyprus High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6281 0832.
• Cyprus High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 5258.
• Cyprus Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 3060.

Emergency

Emergencies: 199 or 112.

Language

The majority of Cypriots speak Greek, and a small percentage speaks Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect differs from mainland Greece. English, German and French are spoken in tourist areas.

Currency

The currency was changed to the Euro (EUR) on 1 January 2008. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, open from Monday to Friday. There are ATMs spread throughout the island, operating 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Time

GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The UK-style three square-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Cyprus is +357. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Area codes are not required. Mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators, but not the United States. There are public phones in all towns and villages and can be used for domestic and international calls. Phone cards can be purchased from shops, banks and post offices. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Cyprus over 17 years arriving from non-EU countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits with higher than 22% alcohol volume or 2 liters spirits or aperitifs with less than 22% alcohol volume, or 2 liters of wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g coffee; 100g tea; medicines for personal consumption; and other goods to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include fresh fruit, meat and dairy products.

Tourist Office

Cyprus Tourist Organization, Nicosia: +357 2269 1100 or www.visitcyprus.org.cy

Embassies in Cyprus

• United States Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2239 3939.
• British High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2286 1100.
• Consulate of Canada, Nicosia: +357 2277 5508.
• Australian High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2275 3001.
• South African Embassy, Athens, Greece (also responsible for Cyprus): +30 210 610 6645.
• Irish Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2281 8183.
• New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Cyprus): +39 (0)6 853 7501.

Cyprus Embassies Abroad

• Cyprus Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 462 5772.
• Cyprus Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7321 4100.
• Cyprus Consulate General, Toronto, Canada: +1 416 944 0998.
• Cyprus High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6281 0832.
• Cyprus High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 5258.
• Cyprus Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 3060.

Emergency

Emergencies: 199 or 112.

Language

The majority of Cypriots speak Greek, and a small percentage speaks Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect differs from mainland Greece. English, German and French are spoken in tourist areas.

Currency

The currency was changed to the Euro (EUR) on 1 January 2008. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, open from Monday to Friday. There are ATMs spread throughout the island, operating 24 hours a day.

0.6887

Time

GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The UK-style three square-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international access code for Cyprus is +357. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Area codes are not required. Mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators, but not the United States. There are public phones in all towns and villages and can be used for domestic and international calls. Phone cards can be purchased from shops, banks and post offices. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Cyprus over 17 years arriving from non-EU countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 liter spirits with higher than 22% alcohol volume or 2 liters spirits or aperitifs with less than 22% alcohol volume, or 2 liters of wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g coffee; 100g tea; medicines for personal consumption; and other goods to the value of EUR175. Prohibited items include fresh fruit, meat and dairy products.

Tourist Office

Cyprus Tourist Organization, Nicosia: +357 2269 1100 or www.visitcyprus.org.cy

Embassies in Cyprus

• United States Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2239 3939.
• British High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2286 1100.
• Consulate of Canada, Nicosia: +357 2277 5508.
• Australian High Commission, Nicosia: +357 2275 3001.
• South African Embassy, Athens, Greece (also responsible for Cyprus): +30 210 610 6645.
• Irish Embassy, Nicosia: +357 2281 8183.
• New Zealand Embassy, Rome, Italy (also responsible for Cyprus): +39 (0)6 853 7501.

Cyprus Embassies Abroad

• Cyprus Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 462 5772.
• Cyprus Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7321 4100.
• Cyprus Consulate General, Toronto, Canada: +1 416 944 0998.
• Cyprus High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6281 0832.
• Cyprus High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 5258.
• Cyprus Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 3060.

Emergency

Emergencies: 199 or 112.