FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CYPRUS
by greekcypriot
HOW SAFE IS CYPRUS
It is a remarkably safe country and still many Cypriots have their cars and houses frequently unlocked. However I would recommend not to do it purposely.
You won’t find people snatching your bag while walking as in other countries, and you can walk safely in the evenings.
DO I NEED A CAR WHEN ON THE ISLAND
I would say, it depends on where you want to go. I you want to stay in Larnaca there is no need to hire a car. Everything is within a walking distance. There are buses that can take you to other nearby villages, like Agia Napa or Protaras, Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos. Other buses will take you to Lefkara and other villages in the Larnaca district. If you are on a short break and you plan to see Larnaca, it is no need to hire.
Hire a car only if you plan to get around the island. Cypriots drive on the left side of the road, in keeping with British and British Commonwealth practice. Be careful when crossing the roads, as well when driving on them. There are many accidents especially during summer when tourists come and hire cars, from people who are not used to driving on the left.
DO CYPRIOTS SPEAK ENGLISH
Yes, the majority of Cypriots are fluent in English. Even older people speak the English language well.
WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR CITIES
Besides Larnaca with its 8 museums, and its lovely beaches, Nicosia is another interesting city, Limassol, and Paphos. ( I just noticed that I mentioned the 8 wonderful museums because I am very proud of my hometown…..and this shows).
IS CYPRUS AN EXPENSIVE COUNTRY
Unfortunately yes. It is an expensive country, and try to keep away from fancy Restaurants and cafes. Meals and drinks in hotels are really expensive so try to avoid them and get to a Cypriot taverna (restaurant) instead.
Avoid ordering bottled wine. Ordering a carafe is just as good, and in many cases even better.
AIRLINES FLYING TO CYPRUS
by greekcypriot
Larnaca holds Larnaca International Airport (LCA), which is the larger of the country's two commercial airports. This main international gateway of Cyprus is located 6 km to the west of the city center. Taxis are available at the airport. It takes 15 minutes to reach the city centre by taxi. One can also find scheduled city buses at the airport. There are shared taxis (dolmus) available which connect Larnaca to Nicosia and Limassol.
Larnaca, Cyprus is served by many of airline companies.
Here are some of them:
Aeroflot, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Condor Airlines, Czech Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Eurocypria Airlines, Finnair, Gulf Air, Hamburg International, Lufthansa, Thomas Cook Airlines.
Cyprus Airways offers service to the following destinations:
Amman, Amsterdam, Athens, Bahrain, Beirut, Birmingham, Brussels, Bucharest-Otopeni, Cairo, Damascus, Dubai, Frankfurt, Heraklion, Jeddah, Kiev-Boryspil, London-Heathrow, London-Stansted, Manama, Manchester, Milan-Malpensa, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Paphos, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Rhodes, Riyadh, Rome-Fiumicino, Sofia, Tel Aviv, Thessaloniki, Vienna and Zurich I usually fly with either Cyprus airlines, or with the Aegean.
I find that they are both reliable airlines and with good service.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR CYPRUS
by greekcypriot
A visa is required by some nationals for the duration of intended stay in the Republic of Cyprus for different reasons such as tourism, business, education, employment or residence. Transit passengers also require visa for their stop in Cyprus.
Cyprus visa is required for all nationals except the nationals from the following countries.
This visa is for a stay of up to 90 days, provided they are genuine visitors.
(1) Nationals of Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, Other EU, Japan for a stay of up to 90 days.
(2) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Korea (Rep), Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, and Special Administrative Regions of the Peoples’ Republic of China: Hong Kong and Macao for a stay of up to 90 days.
(3) Transit passengers continuing their onward journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours must hold valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. TYPES OF VISAS:
(1) Short-stay visas:
It includes travel visa and multi-entry visa. Both visas are valid for a stay up to 90 days only. But for multi-entry visa for business etc., the total duration of the visits should not exceed three months in any half of a year from the date of the first entry.
(2) Long-stay visas:
For a stay more than 90 days, all nationals require long-stay visa. It includes Cyprus residence visa, work permit visa and student visa.
(3) Transit visas
Passengers traveling from one country to another country and passing through the territory of the Republic of Cyprus might need a Transit Visa. This type of visa can be exceptionally issued for several transits but the duration of each transit case should not exceed five days.
(4) Airport transit visa (ATV):
Passengers continuing their onward journey by the same or first connecting aircraft without actually entering the national territory of Cyprus during a stopover or transfer between two stages of an international flight might need an Airport transit visa.
(5) Group visas:
It is one type of the transit visas, which is limited to a maximum of thirty days. Group visas can be issued to groups of between 5 and 50 people. The person in charge of the group should have an individual passport and, where necessary, an individual visa.
Application Requirements:
1) Original passport with at least 6 months validity.
2) One completed application form.
3) One passport-size photo
4) Confirmed return/onward ticket and evidence of hotel reservation.
5) Proof of sufficient funds for duration of stay
6) Fee payable by cash or postal order only
7) For business trips, a letter of invitation from a company with details.
8) For students, a letter from the applicant's place of education.
Time required for a visa to be issued: It may take from 24 hours to 2 weekends depending on the nationality of the aplicant.
Protaras or Agia Napa for Summer?
by greekcypriot
The whole of Cyprus has beautiful beaches.
Protaras best beach is the Fig Tree Bay, and Agia Napa have also similar beautiful beaches around the Nissi Beach.
Agia Napa is mostly popular for its Nightlife, while Protaras has more quiet.
If you are not so interested in Nighlife I suggest Protaras for sure.
But I suggest that you don't spend all your days there. There is a bus that goes to Larnaca and I think spending a night or two in Larnaca is a must.
You can probably book a hotel for the last two days in Larnaca so that you will be near the airport as well the last day. This will save you all that anxienty of the trip from Protaras to Larnaca....it is not much (about 40 minutes) but if you are in Larnaca you can be out in the beach till the last minute because the Airport terminal is just a ten minute drive, probably less.
When to Come to Cyprus and What to Pack
by greekcypriot
All of the Cyprus seasons have their charms, and you might choose to visit the country during different seasons to get the full experience.
Climate in Cyprus is just one of the things to consider when trying to decide when to take your trip. The summer months are the best if you want to head straight to the beach, and this is when the country's glorious beaches fill up.
May through October is the extended peak season for Cyprus travel, as the spring and fall can be good times to do some sightseeing. The Mediterranean climate in Cyprus means that the spring and fall months are relatively warm, with temperatures usually hovering around the 70s.
The mountains are cooler than the central plain and the lowland coastal reaches, and when it's especially hot during the summer, many tourists and locals alike head to the highlands for some relief.
In addition to wondering when to go to Cyprus, you might be wondering what to pack. This will have a lot to do with the climate in Cyprus. Warm clothes, namely a jacket or coat, are appropriate for the winter months. You might also pack a jacket during the spring, summer, and fall months if you plan on spending time in the highlands since it gets cooler the higher you go. A lightweight sweater can also come in handy. As for the summer months, lightweight fabrics and light-colored clothing are best to help beat the heat. A good hat, some mosquito repellent, and those trusty shades are also must-bring items for a summer visit to Cyprus.
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The weavy beach at Polis in January
The weavy beach at Polis in January
The Coral Bay in January
The monastery of Nea Moni
