⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Mediterranean (9,251 km²), lies at the eastern end of the sea, south of Turkey and west of Lebanon. It combines UNESCO-listed ancient sites, mountain villages in the Troodos and a sea that stays above 22 °C from June to November.
An island at the crossroads of civilisations
In Paphos, the Kato Paphos archaeological park with its Roman mosaics and the Tombs of the Kings have been UNESCO-listed since 1980. Further east, Kourion overlooks the sea with its Greco-Roman theatre.
In the Troodos mountains, ten Byzantine painted churches have been World Heritage sites since 1985, and Kykkos Monastery stands at 1,318 m. The Neolithic village of Choirokoitia, also UNESCO-listed, shows the island has been inhabited for almost ten thousand years.
By the sea: the coves of the Akamas peninsula to the west, the beaches of Ayia Napa and Protaras to the east, and the wreck of the Zenobia off Larnaca, a well-known dive.
April to November
Summers are long and dry, from mid-May to mid-October, with around 30 °C in July and August on the plain (24 °C in the Troodos). The sea is above 22 °C from June to November. For hiking and the countryside in bloom, choose March to May; in February you can even ski in the Troodos.
Getting there and around
Arrivals are through Larnaca (LCA) and Paphos (PFO) airports; there is no regular ferry between Cyprus and other countries. Motorways link Nicosia with Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa, and intercity buses serve the main towns.
Traffic drives on the left, and a car soon becomes essential for the Troodos or Akamas. Since 1974, a UN-controlled buffer zone has separated the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus from the north of the island; it can be crossed at designated crossing points, and hire-car insurance usually covers the south only.
Essentials & your questions
| Capital | Nicosia |
|---|---|
| Area | 9,251 km² |
| Languages | Greek / Turkish (English widely spoken) |
| Currency | Euro |
| Visa | Not required (EU) |
| Plugs | Type G (British) |
Do I need a visa?
No: Cyprus is a member of the European Union. A valid identity card or passport is checked on arrival.
How do I get there?
By air, to Larnaca (LCA) or Paphos (PFO), both linked to many European cities: compare flights on our Flights page. There is no regular ferry from Europe.
Can I visit the north of the island?
Crossing points allow you to cross the buffer zone. According to the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, you must enter the island through Larnaca or Paphos, and hire-car insurance is usually valid only in the south.