The third largest of the Mediterranean islands, Cyprus is one of the most popular holiday destinations for UK tourists. Good weather year round, nearly 500 hundred miles of coastline, with sandy beaches and rugged outcrops, olive and citrus groves, and a history that can be traced back over 10,000 years combine to make the island in the Aegean a welcoming place for holidaymakers.
Cyprus's past has been turbulent, with invasions by the Greeks, Romans, Ottoman Turks and British among others. The country still faces struggles in the present, with the island partitioned into north and south. Most holiday resorts are in the southern, Greek-Cypriot Republic, and flights to Cyprus arrive here. Turkish-Cypriot North Cyprus is more remote and less visited by tourists, though independent travel is possible.
But millennia of invasion have left a rich cultural mosaic. There are ruins of ancient temples, Crusaders Castles and ornate Byzantine churches. Legends also cling to Cyprus – Aphrodite was supposed to have risen from the sea by the island, perhaps one of the reasons it is so popular with honeymooners today.
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Cyprus enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with abundant sunshine year round. Long dry summers and mild winters are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Summer is a time of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breeze creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Winters are mild, with some rain and snow on Troodos Mountains.
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Peak season:
As the weather is good for most of the year, the peak season runs for many months. Prices from the UK will rise for popular travel times such as school holidays and cheap flights to Cyprus can be harder to find.
Off season:
The real winter lasts only for December and January. The resorts in Cyprus, unlike much of the Mediterranean, tend to stay open in the winter so fares won't plummet. Spring starts in Mid-February when the almond trees blossom and the countryside becomes green. This can be the perfect time to visit with milder climate.
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Buses run on Cyprus every day except Sunday. Generally, the buses are cheap, frequent and efficient.
If you want to travel on a Sunday you will need to take a service taxi.
Hiring a car and driving is relatively easy. Driving is on the left and all the main roads are all paved. Minor roads are still largely unsurfaced. If you are driving make sure you think about filling up with petrol long before you need to do so – many petrol stations are only open at certain times so check well in advance.
It is not a large island and, though there are two airports (at Larnaca and Paphos) there are no internal Cyprus flights.
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- The site of the main international airport and the second port, Larnaca is a bustling town and a busy holiday resort, popular with those mooring yachts. Even if the city itself seems too touristy to spend much time in, it can provide the perfect base from which to explore the island. It is easy to reach Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos (all are within two hours drive), and just outside the town are many other place of interest – with far less visitors.
- Paphos was the island's capital in Roman times and mosaics from the 3rd century BC can still be found here. This fun-loving region has excellent swimming in clear water beaches, hillside villages, catacombs, the Baths of Aphrodite and palm-lined boulevards by the port. To visit the best beach of the area, though, drive 15 minutes out of Paphos to Coral Bay.
- The stunning Troodos Mountains run along the west of the island. Perfect to visit if the weather is too hot on the beach, the cool breezes and mountain air mean the area is always cooler than the coastal resorts. Visit one of the nine Unesco listed Byzantine churches, have a picnic, or just take a walk in the pine-scented forest. The Troodos region is especially beautiful to visit in Spring, when the almond blossoms are out.
- Ayia Napa is the party capital of the island. The town is popular with package tours and those wanting to party. The clubs are world class. Perhaps surprisingly, the beaches and town are pretty good too. Despite being crowded, the long beach at Ayia Napa is clean and attractive and the town has excellent shopping and some beautiful buildings. Avoid staying in the centre though if you prefer to have early nights.
- Lefkosia, also known as Nicosia, is the inland capital of Cyprus, though it is often ignored by tourists as it has no beach. Divided down the middle by the "green line" into North and South, it is the last remaining partitioned city in the world. Well worth a visit, Lefkosia is the place to see what the “real” Cyprus is like.
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There are two airports on the island, both of which are well served by charter, scheduled and low-cost airlines from the UK and Ireland; which means it is easy to find a cheap flight to Cyprus.
Larnaca (LCA) is three miles south of Larnaca and 31 miles from Nicosia.
Paphos (PFO) is nine miles east of the city (journey time - 25 minutes).
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Travellers should hold an onward or return ticket as well as sufficient funds for period of intended stay in Cyprus. It is also advisable to have a hotel reservation. Nationalities that require a visa are recommended that their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay. Travellers should note that foreigners entering Cyprus north of the UN-patrolled "green line" are deemed by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to have entered illegally, and can be fined when crossing to the south (EU). Policies and procedures are subject to sudden change and visitors should check on the current situation before departing for Cyprus. The partial lifting of restrictions on crossing the "green line" allows Cypriots to cross in both directions at designated crossing points. It is possible to travel to the north of Cyprus from the south by crossing at several checkpoints, including the Ledra Palace checkpoint.
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British nationals must have a valid passport. For holders of passports endorsed British Citizen or British Overseas Territories Citizen, a visa is not required for a stay of 90 days, provided the visit is for tourist purposes only. In all other cases a visa is required, and passports must be valid at least three months beyond the period of intended stay. However, it is advised to hold a passport valid for six months beyond period of intended stay.
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