Travel information: Cyprus fast facts A-Z

Accident & emergency

Below are listed the main district hospitals with 24-hour Accident & Emergency departments. Operators at all of them can be expected to speak English. For private doctors on call (during weekends and public holidays), call 90 901 432.

Cyprus uses 112, the EU-wide emergency number for police, fire and ambulance.

Agia Napa & Protaras 23 200 000.
Kyrenia 28 152 266.
Larnaka 24 800 500.
Lefkosia 22 285 441.
Lemesos 25 801 100.
Nicosia 22 603 000.
Pafos 26 803 100.

Credit card loss

JCC, the main credit card transaction processing company, operates a 24-hour service for lost or stolen cards.

JCC Payment Systems 22 868 100.

Customs

For details of customs allowances, see www.visitcyprus.com.

Disabled travellers

Both Larnaka and Pafos airports are accessible for disabled travellers. Hotels with special facilities can be found in the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) annual ‘Guide to Hotels and other Tourist Establishments’ publication. Transport around the island for wheelchair users, via bus and taxi, can be arranged with prior notice; the CTO can provide information.
GC Paraquip is a firm which hires out wheelchairs, scooters and other equipment for disabled visitors.

GC Paraquip Megalou

Alexandrou 3, Polis Chrysochous, Pafos (99 647 669, www.paraquip.com.cy).

Electricity

The standard current in Cyprus is 230V, 50 Hz. Three-pin rectangular plugs are used, as in the UK. Adaptors are widely available.

Embassies & consulates

Most embassies or consulates are headquartered in Nicosia.

American Embassy Corner Metochiou & Ploutarchou (22 393 939).
Australian High Commission Annis Komninis 4, 2nd Floor (22 753001).
British High Commission Alexandrou Palli (22 861100).
Irish Embassy Aiantas 7 (22 818 183).

Internet

Internet cafés can be found in all town centres.

Agia Napa Backstage Internet Centre Ari Velouchioti 7 (23 816 097).
Larnaka Replay Leoforos Athinon (24 621 588).
Lemesos Speednet Georgiou I, Galaxy Court (25 320 404).
Nicosia Travelex Money Centre Rigainis, next to Holiday Inn (22 451 020, 22 818 766).
Pafos Intencity Agias Napas 12 (77 772 055).

Money

Cyprus adopted the euro on January 1 2008, when the currency replaced the Cyprus pound.

In the Turkish-occupied area, the Turkish lira is the ‘official’ currency, but most shops, restaurants and taxis accept US dollars and euros. Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in Cyprus.

Opening hours

Banks Sept-Apr 8.30am-1pm, 3.15-4.45pm Mon; 8.30am-1pm Tue-Fri. May-Aug 8.30am-1pm Mon-Fri.
Centrally located banks provide an ‘afternoon tourist service’ by opening their foreign exchange counters.

Businesses Mid Sept-May 8am-1pm, 3-6pm Mon-Fri. June-mid Sept 8am-1pm, 4-7pm Mon-Fri.

Public services Sept-June 7.30am-2.30pm Mon-Wed, Fri; 7.30am-2.30pm, 3-6pm Thur. June-Aug 7.30am-2.30pm Mon-Fri.

Shops Shops open from 7am and 9am until the following times: Nov-Mar until 7.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 3pm Wed; 7pm Sat. Apr-Oct until 8pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 3pm Wed; 7.30pm Sat.
During the period June 15-Aug 31 there is an optional afternoon break between 3pm and 5pm. Special shopping hours apply for Christmas and Easter. In December, shops may remain open until 8pm throughout the week, but must close by 6pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Shops can also remain open until 8pm for ten days before Easter Sunday, but must close by 6pm on Good Friday. Post-Christmas, bigger shops and supermarkets reopen on Dec 26, but a lot of smaller shops take a longer break.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are subject to the same opening hours as other shops. However, they take it in turns to stay open late at night on Sundays and public holidays. The names and addresses of late-night and emergency pharmacies are published in all daily newspapers, including the English-language Cyprus Mail (www.cyprus-mail.com) and Sunday Mail, as well as in The Cyprus Weekly (www.cyprusweekly.com.cy) (published on Fridays).

Alternatively, this information is available by phone on the following numbers:
Agia Napa 90 901 413.
Larnaka 90 901 414.
Lemesos 90 901 415.
Nicosia 90 901 412.
Pafos 90 901 416.

Police

Telephone numbers for police headquarters in each town are given below.
Agia Napa 23 803 200.
Larnaka 24 630 200.
Lemesos 25 805 050.
Nicosia 22 802 020.
Pafos 26 806 060.

Post

Post offices in Cyprus offer airmail service, international money orders and Intelpost fax services worldwide, and Datapost courier services to 116 countries. All items, from the smallest letter to the heaviest parcel, must have a 2 cent Refugee Fund stamp affixed. Post Restante services, for those planning to spend an extended time on the island, are are offered by the central post offices listed below (except Agia Napa).

Main post offices

Agia Napa Dimitri Liperti 3 (23 922 265).
Larnaka Plateia Vasileos Pavlou (24 802 406).
Lemesos Gladstonos 3 (25 802 259).
Nicosia Plateia Eleftherias (22 303 219).
Pafos Nicodemou Mylona (26 940 220).

Opening hours

Opening hours for the main post offices (in Larnaka, Nicosia, Lemesos and Pafos town centres), are listed below and other post offices (including Agia Napa) are as follows:

Main post offices Sept-June 7.30am-1.30pm; 3-6pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 7.30am-1.30pm Wed; 8.30-10.30am Sat. Jul, Aug 7.30am-1.30pm, 4-7pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 7.30am-1.30pm Wed; 8.30-10.30am Sat.

Other post offices Sept-June 7.30am-1.30pm Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri; 3-6pm Thur. July, Aug 7.30am-1.30pm Mon-Fri.

Public holidays

The following are public holidays in the Republic of 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 Christmas Eve. Note that the two weeks around August 15 are the most popular time for Cypriots to take their holidays, so coastal resorts are extremely busy during this time.

Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Jan 6 Epiphany
Feb/March Green Monday (50 days before Greek Orthodox Easter)
March 25 Greek National Day
April 1 National Anniversary Day
April/May Good Friday & Easter Monday (Greek Orthodox Church)
May 1 Labour Day
May/June Pentecost (Kataklysmos)
Aug 15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Oct 1 Cyprus Independence Day
Oct 28 Greek National Anniversary Day
Dec 24 Christmas Eve
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Boxing Day

Smoking

Smoking is permitted in most areas. Certain venues such as airports have non-smoking areas, but these are rare. An outdoor table is your best bet for enjoying your meal without being surrounded by a fug of cigarette smoke.

Telephones

Cyprus phone numbers have eight digits, the first two of which are the area codes: 22 (Nicosia), 23 (Agia Napa, Protaras), 24 (Larnaka), 25 (Lemesos) and 26 (Pafos). Mobile numbers start with 99 or 96. Some new business numbers are prefixed 77.

To call Cyprus from abroad, dial 00 357 followed by the 8-digit number. For directory enquiries call 118 92, or 118 94 for international directory enquiries.

To call North Cyprus, dial 0090 for a mobile number, or 392 for a landline, followed by the area code and the number. At present it is impossible to send an SMS message from a Greek Cypriot mobile phone to a Turkish Cypriot one.

To dial abroad from Cyprus, first dial 00, then the relevant country code (Australia 61; Canada 1; New Zealand 64; Republic of Ireland 353; South Africa 27; UK 44; USA 1).

Public phones

Public phone booths take telecards or coins, and many now accept both. Telecards in €5 and €10 denominations are available from banks, post offices, souvenir shops, kiosks and Cyta (Cyprus Telecommunications Authority) shops in all towns. Coin-operated phones take 2 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent and 20 cent coins.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased from the box offices of individual cultural institutions.

Time

Cyprus operates on Eastern European Time (EET), which is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. In spring, clocks are put forward one hour to Eastern European Summer Time, and in autumn they go back to EET.

Tipping

Tip in restauants, taxis, hotels and hairdressers. A 10 per cent service charge is often included in the bill at restaurants. It is customary to leave a further tip of 10 per cent. For taxis it is generally fine to round up the fare.

Tourist information

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) (www.visitcyprus.com) is the country’s official visitor information service, with branches in all towns, as well as at Larnaka and Pafos airports and Lemesos port. For information on North Cyprus check www.northcyprus.com.

Agia Napa

Kryou Nerou 12 (23 721 796). Open 8.15am-1.30pm, 3-6pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-1.30pm Wed, Sat.

Protaras

Cavo Greco 356 (23 832 865). Open 9am-3pm Mon-Fri; 9am-2pm Sat.

Larnaka

Plateia Vassileos Pavlou (24 654 322). Open 10am-1pm, 4-7pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 10am-1pm Sat.

Lemesos

Town centre Spyrou Araouzou 115A (25 362 756). Open Sept-June 8.15am-2.30pm, 3-6.15pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-2.30pm Wed; 8.15am-1.30pm Sat. July, Aug 8.15am-2.30pm, 4-6.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-2.30pm Wed.

Lemesos Germasogeia

Georgiou I 22 (25 323 211). Open Sept-June 8.15am-2.30pm, 3-6.15pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-2.30pm Wed. July, Aug 8.15am-2.30pm, 4-6.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-2.30pm Wed.

Nicosia

Aristokyprou 11 (22 674 264). Open 8.30am-4pm Mon-Fri; 8.30am-2pm Sat.

Pafos Kato

Pafos Poseidonos 63A (26 930 521). Open 10am-1pm, 4-7pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 10am-1pm Wed, Sat.

Pafos Ktima

Gladstonos 3 (26 932 841). Open Sept-June 8.15am-2.30pm, 3-6.15pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-2.30pm Wed. July, Aug 8.15am-2.30pm, 4-6.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 8.15am-2.30pm Wed.

Travel advice

For up-to-date information on travel to a specific country – including the latest on safety and security, health issues, local laws and customs – contact your home country government's department of foreign affairs. Most have websites with useful advice for would-be travellers.

Australia www.smartraveler.gov.au
Canada www.voyage.gc.ca
Republic of Ireland http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie
UK www.fco.gov.uk/travel
USA www.state.gov/travel

What’s on

English-language newspapers the Cyprus Mail (www.cyprus-mail.com), published Tuesday to Sunday, and The Cyprus Weekly (www.cyprusweekly.com.cy), published on Fridays, carry events listings. Time Out Cyprus is published monthly in Greek.

Visas

Citizens from the EU, United States, Canada, Australia and many other countries do not require a visa to enter Cyprus for periods of up to 90 days. Check current status on www.mfa.gov.cy well before you travel.