cyprusCyprus is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is inhabited with mountains on the north and south and the south coast is covered with plains. The temperatures are really hot indicating Mediterranean climate. Winters are cooler. Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus. The currency used here is Cypriot Pound.

Culture

Greek, English and Turkish are the languages spoken here. There is a mixed culture of Greek and Middle East. The locals are very friendly and welcome outsiders with an open heart and make them feel at home by offering them with something to drink. To greet someone a handshake will do. It is customary to offer the guest a small gift when invited for dinner. One can dress casually, but the swimsuits must be confined to the beaches only. Social functions call for formal dressing.

Site Seeing

The country is full of vineyards, 12th century buildings, orchards and monasteries. Be careful when photographing outside. It is forbidden in military areas and special permission must be taken for taking pictures in places like museums and art galleries. Most of them do not allow flash photography. Taxis can be hired to move around the big towns in Cyprus, which charge according the government regulated meters. Tipping the drivers is customary.

Electricity

240 V, 50 Hz

Getting There

Port of Famagusta at Ammochostos and Port of Kyrenia, and airport of Ercan, have been declared as illegal ‘ports of entry’, so check it out while planning to get there.

The national airline is Cyprus Airways. It connects most of the major cities of Europe. Other forty airlines, too, serve at the airport of Larnaca, which are 5 km away from Larnaka and 50km away from Nicosia. Taxis can be hired to reach any destination from there as there is lack of buses and trains services at the airport. The other services that are offered at this airport is duty-free shops, bank, tourism and hotels information, restaurants, car hire, post office and reservation office. The other airport, Pafos, is 15km away from the city and it takes about 35 minutes to reach the city from the airport. It provides the same facilities like the Larnaca airport.

The major ports of Cyprus are the Limassol port and Larnaca port which connect other ports of Middle East and Greek. Not only ferry services are provided here, even cruise services are provided here.

Cyprus Island is not connected by roads to other countries, but roads run across Cyprus connecting all the cities and villages. Buses run on roads except on Sunday but they run late in the mid-night during summers. Tourists can get on to rural buses to surf through the remote villages, but they are very slow. If planning to hire car, advanced booking is recommended, especially in summer as the booking is full most of the times. Do remember to carry a National driving license or International driving permit.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2. 1l of spirits (over 22 per cent volume) or 2l of fortified wine or sparkling wine
3. 2l of still wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
4. 800 cigarettes or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco
5. 10l of spirits, 20l of fortified wine, 90l wine, 110l beer

Most of the food items and items relating to agriculture are prohibited. Explosives and fire arms are a strict no-no.

Geography
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus comprises an area of 3,355 square miles and encompasses the northern part of the island, which is the third largest in the Mediterranean. It is situated at the cross-roads of east-west and north-south navigational routes, is only 70 kilometres south of Turkey and 385 north of Egypt. Owing to the location of Norhtern Cyprus and its proximity to the rich Middle Eastern countries, it provides an ideal place for foreign investment.

Climate
The climate of Northern Cyprus makes the island one of the healthiest places in the world in which to live, consisting of a long hot summer and a dry short winter. The country enjoys approximately 340 days of sunshine annually, and the lowest sea temperature is rarely below 63 degrees F.

Major Towns
The capital of TRNC is Lefkosa (Nicosia), which is the main administration and business centre. Other towns include Magosa (Famagusta), the country’s principal port, Girne (Kyrenia), a town of touristic importance and archaeological interest, and Güzelyurt (Morphou), which is the centre of the citrus plantations.

Language
Turkish is the official language and English is the second language, and is widely used and understood in official and commercial circles. There are several first-class Turkish language teachers available, and some British residents avail themselves of their services.

Time
Local time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Household items
Most households items can be bought in North Cyprus at about the same price as Europe. Most international makes and models are available (Whirpool, Kelvinator, Candy, Philips, Beko, Sony etc). Auctions are also held monthly where a vast array of items can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Running costs
Living costs in the TRNC are much cheaper than the UK and most of the Europe. There is not rates system at present, or community tax. The main costs are electricity (approx. £15 monthly per house), water (£5 monthly) and an annual council tax is less than £50. Central heating is rare in N Cyprus but is usually run on gas or oil. Most cookers are run on calor gas and/ or electricity.

Currency
The Turkish Lira (TL), which has been in circulation since 1974, is the legal tender. The official rates for the TL are adjusted daily according to changes in international monetary markets. Generally speaking, all foreign currencies are acceptable at trading/tourist outlets.

Consumer Markets
There is a wide selection of consumer goods of good quality. In addition to locally produced goods almost all foreign brands are available on the market. It can be estimated that the cost of foodstuffs generally is about half of the price in UK, with items such as local brandy, retailing at around £1.20 sterling per bottle.

Traffic
As in the UK, traffic circulation is on the left. Road signs are international. There is a large selection of car hire companies with a variety of vehicles at favourable rates, from £10 per day in the winter to £15+ in the peak season.

Employment
There is no acute unemployment problem in the TRNC, and the number of registered unemployed has declined steadily since 1978. The official working week is 40 hours in the winter and 36 in the summer.

Transport
Ercan airport handles the bulk of the tourist traffic, whilst Gecitkale serves as a back-up airport. Daily flights from many mainland Turkish cities, as well as flights from the Europe, supply the majority of the visitors to the island.

About Cyprus
Cyprus is the legendary birthplace of the goddess of beauty, love, and passion, the beautiful Aphrodite. Cyprus is the 3rd largest island in the Mediterranean after Sardinia and Sicily, located 65 Km from Turkeys southern coast. Cyprus mixes European culture with ancient enchantment, warly welcoming you to a world of amazing beaches, mountain peaks, vineyards studded with olive trees and ancient ruins shrouded in the past