Cyprus Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Europe, eastern Mediterranean.

Language

The majority (approximately 80%) speaks Greek and approximately 11% speak Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect is different from mainland Greek. Turkish is spoken by Turkish Cypriots. English, German and French are also spoken in tourist centres.

Area

9,251 sq km (3,572 sq miles).

Time Zone

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

Electricity

240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 13-amp three-pin plugs (UK-type) are used.

Population

1,102,677 (combined) (2010).

Population Density

119 per sq km.

Capital City

Nicosia (Lefkosia). Population: 309,500 (2005).

Government

Republic since 1960.

Head of State

President Dimitris Christofias since 2008.

Religion

Greek Orthodox, and Islam in the north.

Recent History

The majority of the international community recognizes the Greek-Cypriot administration in Nicosia as the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus. Until 2003, this had been led for a decade by Glafkos Clerides, who was then deposed by center-right Tassos Papadopoulos, and he in turn by Dimitris Christofias in February 2008.

The northern occupied part of the island was run by Mehmet Ali Talat, who was elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in 2005. He was replaced by Derviş Eroğlu, who led the National Unity party to victory in the 2009 elections, swearing an oath to become president in April 2010.

President Papadopoulos oversaw the Republic of Cyprus' entry into the European Union in 2004 despite the absence of a political settlement between the two parts of the island. (This had previously been a precondition of Cypriot entry). The principal issue for the Greek-Cypriot government remains the same - how to reunify the island – however despite the increasing regularity of talks between 2008 and the present day an agreement still appears unlikely.

The Republic adopted the Euro on 1 January 2008.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +357. Telecard or coin-operated public telephones are installed at various central locations in towns and villages. Call Direct (cheaper than ordinary collect calls) is available to most EU countries, as well as Australia, USA and Canada.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet

Internet cafes are located in main towns and resorts, for instance, Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Pafos and Agia Napa.

Media

The Cypriot media reflects the island's political divide, with the Turkish-controlled zone in the north operating its own press and broadcasters. State-run services compete with a large number of private TV and radio stations. Relays of Greek and Turkish stations are available across the island. Newspapers on both sides of the divide are frequently critical of the authorities. Newspapers published in English include the Cyprus Financial Mirror, Cyprus Telegraph, Cyprus Today (Turkish Cypriot) and Cyprus Weekly; Mikres Aggelis is in Greek, while Yeni Kibris is in Turkish. Most English papers are available. The public Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) operates TV channels RIK 1 and RIK 2; in northern Cyprus, Bayrak Radio-TV operates channels BRT 1 and BRT 2; Radio 1 (in Greek), Radio 2 (in English, Turkish and Armenian), Radio 3 (in Greek) and Love Radio are operated by CyBC; commercial stations include Radio Proto and Astra 92.8; Bayrak Radio-TV operates Bayrak Radio 1 (in Turkish), Bayrak International (in English), Bayrak FM and Bayrak Klasik.

Post

There are daily airmail services to all developed countries. Service within Europe takes three to four days.(District) Mon-Fri 0730-1330 and 1500-1800 except Wednesday, Sat 0830-1030 during the winter period (1 Sep to 30 Jun); Mon-Fri 0730-1330 and 1600-1900 except Wednesday, Sat 0830-1030 during the summer period (1 Jul to 31 Aug). Other post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1330, Thurs 1500-1800 at other times.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011 to December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
7 Mar Green Monday
25 Mar Greek Independence Day
1 Apr Greek Cypriot National Day
22 Apr Greek Orthodox Good Friday
25 Apr Greek Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
12 Jun Pentecost (Kataklysmos)
15 Aug Assumption
1 Oct Cyprus Independence Day
28 Oct Greek National Day (Ochi Day)
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
27 Feb Green Monday
25 Mar Greek Independence Day
1 Apr Greek Cypriot National Day
13 Apr Greek Orthodox Good Friday
16 Apr Greek Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
3 Jun * Pentecost (Kataklysmos)
15 Aug Assumption
1 Oct Cyprus Independence Day
28 Oct Greek National Day (Ochi Day)
25 Dec Christmas Day
* Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information

British High Commission in Cyprus

Alexander Pallis Street, 1587 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: (22) 861100.
Website: www.ukincyprus.fco.gov.uk/en
Opening hours: Mon-Fr 0730-1430.

High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in the UK

13 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LB, UK
Tel: 0207 321 4100.
Website: www.mfa.gov.cy/highcomlondon
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1630.

Cyprus Tourism Organization in the UK

17 Hanover Street, London W1S 1YP, UK
Tel: (020) 7569 8800.
Website: www.visitcyprus.org.cy
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700.

Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the USA

2211 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 462 5772/0873.
Website: www.cyprusembassy.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Cyprus Tourism Organization in the USA

13 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA
Tel: (212) 683 5280.
Website: www.visitcyprus.org.cy