Cyprus General Information
Your comprehensive guide to Everything Cyprus
Cyprus is an independent sovereign republic with a presidential system of government. On 1 May 2004 the Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the European Union and on 1 January 2008 joined the eurosystem and introduced the euro as its official currency, replacing the Cyprus pound as the unit of account. Thus, the euro banknotes and coins (cents) are the country’s legal tender.
Cyprus is also a member of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and many other international organisations.
Unfortunately, Cyprus has been a divided country since the Turkish invasion of 1974. No country apart from Turkey recognises the occupied areas as a legitimate state. The military occupation, forcible division, violation of human rights, massive colonisation, cultural destruction, property usurpation and ethic segregation imposed since Turkey’s military invasion remain the main characteristics of the status on the island. Today, Turkey, an aspiring member of the European Union, still stands guilty of international aggression against a member state of the EU and the UN. The Government of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriots are aiming since 1974 to achieve a just, viable, democratic, financially viable and functional solution that will terminate the occupation and colonisation of Cyprus.
Car Hire
Self drive is the best way to travel around Cyprus. The road infrastructure is excellent. All the main international firms are represented in Cyprus, with offices in all towns.
Credit card loss
JCC Payment Systems, the main credit card transaction processing company, operates a 24 hour service for lost or stolen cards. Tel: 22868100
Churches
Visitors are requested to respect ecclesiastic traditions and not to enter churches and monasteries wearing shorts and sleeveless clothing.
Emergency
Dial 112 for police, fire and ambulance
Eating Hours
Breakfast is usually served between 07:00 and 10:00 in the morning. Lunch is served in restaurants between 12:00 and 15:00. Dinner is served from 19:00 till late in the evening.
Hospitals
| Agia Napa & Protaras | 23200000 |
| Lefkosia | 22603000 |
| Larnaka | 24800500 |
| Lemesos | 25801100 |
| Pafos | 26803100 |
Languages
Greek and Turkish are the official languages. English is widely spoken. French and German are also spoken within the tourism industry. Russian is spoken in almost all the companies offering professional corporate and financial consulting and fiduciary services.
Local Time
Cyprus Time is GMT +2.
Police
| Agia Napa | 23803200 |
| Lefkosia | 22802020 |
| Larnaka | 24630200 |
| Lemesos | 25805050 |
| Pafos | 26806060 |
Public Holidays in Cyprus in 2010
The days listed below are public holidays in Cyprus. All public services, private enterprises, banks and shops are closed on public holidays though many shops and certain services remain open in resorts and coastal areas. Banks are closed on Easter Tuesday but not on Christmas Eve. All museums and archaeological sites remain closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday (Greek Orthodox).
| Date | Holiday |
| January 1st | New Year's Day |
| January 6th | Epiphany Day |
| February 15th | Green Monday |
| March 25th | Greek National Day |
| April 1st | National Anniversary Day |
| April 2nd | Good Friday (Greek Orthodox Church) |
| April 3rd | Good Saturday (Greek Orthodox Church) |
| April 4th | Easter (Greek Orthodox Church) |
| April 5th | Easter Monday (Greek Orthodox Church) |
| May 1st | Labour Day |
| May 24th | Pentecost - Kataklysmos (Festival of the Flood) |
| August 15th | Assumption of the Virgin Mary |
| October 1st | Cyprus Independence Day |
| October 28th | Greek National Anniversary Day |
| December 24th | Christmas Eve |
| December 25th | Christmas Day |
| December 26th | Boxing Day |
Religions
The majority of Greek-Cypriots are Greek-Orthodox Christians; other religions represented on the island, include Armenians, Maronites and Roman Catholics. The Turkish-Cypriot community is predominantly Muslim.
Risk of Fire
Risk of fire is high at the Cyprus countryside especially during the summer period where the earth is dry.
Seasonality
The urban centres of Lefkosia, Larnaka and Lemessos are alive all year round. Pafos is more tourist centre and is thus much quieter during the winter. Agia Napa and Protaras are mainly summer-only destinations and some hotels and eating places only operate in the peak season of April to October.
Tipping
Since a 10% service charge is levied in hotels and restaurants, tipping is not obligatory but is always welcome and appreciated.
Tourist Information Offices in Cyprus – Cyprus Tourist Organisation
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Lefkosia Aristokyprou 11, Laiki Geitonia, 1011 Lefkosia, tel: 22674264 |
Lemessos
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Platres 4820 Platres, tel: 25421316 |
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Larnaka Plateia Vasileos Pavlou, 6023 Larnaka, tel: 24654322 |
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Larnaka International Airport 7130 Larnaka, tel: 24643576 (Daily 08.15-23.00 hrs) |
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Pafos Gladstonos 3, 8046 Pafos, tel: 26932841 |
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Kato Pafos 63A Poseidonos, 8042 Kato Pafos, tel: 26930521 |
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Pafos International Airport 8320 Pafos, tel: 26007368 (service to all arrival flights uo to 23.00 hrs) |
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Polis Vasileos Stasioikou A 2, 8820 Polis Chrysochous, tel: 26322468 |
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Ayia Napa Leoforos Kryou Nerou 12, 5330 Agia Napa, tel: 23721796 |
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Paralimni – Protaras Leoforos Protara – Kavo Gkreko 356, 5296 Protaras – Paralimni, tel: 23832865 |
Working Hours
Public service working hours during the period September 1st - June 30th are 07:30 - 14:30 from Monday to Friday and on Wednesday from 15:00 - 18:00. During the period July 1st - August 31st working hours are 07:30 - 14:30 from Monday to Friday.
Private sector working hours are 08:00 - 13:00, 15:00 - 18:00 Monday to Friday for the period September 15th - May 31st and 08:00 - 13:00, 16:00 - 19:00 Monday to Friday, for the period June 1st - September 14th .
Shop opening times vary depending on their type and location, though shops normally open between 07:00 and 09:00. During the period November 1st - March 31st shops close at 19:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, at 15:00 on Wednesday, and at 19:00 on Saturday. 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. During the period June 15th - August 31st there is an optional three hour afternoon break from14:00 - 17:00. On Sundays everything is closed.
Special shopping hours apply for Christmas and Easter. From December 1st to December 31st, shops may remain open until 20:00 throughout the week, but close by 18:00 on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Shops also remain open until 20:00 ten days before Easter Sunday, but close by 18:00 on Good Friday.
