| General Info |
|
GENERAL FACTS Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. It covers an area of 9251 square kilometres and the main mountain range is the Troodos range with its highest peak, Mount Olympus, at 1921 metres. The population numbers just less than one million and the main language is Greek but English is very widely spoken. There are four main towns: Nicosia (Lefkosia), the capital, Larnaca (Larnaka), Limassol (Lemesos) and Paphos (Pafos). The airports are at Larnaca and Paphos and modern motorways link all the main towns. The seaport is at Limassol. APPROXIMATE DISTANCES BETWEEN TOWNS Larnaca Airport to Limassol 70 kms Larnaca Airport to Paphos 139 kms Limassol to Nicosia 82 kms Limassol to Paphos 68 kms Limassol to Troodos 46 kms Paphos to Troodos (via Limassol) 114 kms CLIMATE Cyprus has an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers and mild winters. The March mean daytime temperature on the coast is 19.4°C with 10.0°C at night. The temperatures in the hills are 12.8°C and 4.4°C. The weather forecast can be found on the Internet at www.cyprus-weather.com TIME ZONE Cyprus time is GMT+2 in winter, which is from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March. Summer time is GMT +3. CURRENCY AND BANKING The currency is the Euro (€). There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency. Banks operate from Monday to Friday from 0830 to 1230. They do not open on Saturdays. Banks in the main tourist areas provide an afternoon tourist service and most banks have ATMs, which accept the majority of major credit and bankcards. A number of automatic currency exchange machines operate on a 24-hour basis in major town centres and main tourist resorts. Hotels, large shops, restaurants etc. usually accept travellers’ cheques and major credit cards ELECTRICITY The electricity supply is 240 volts AC 50Hz. Sockets are 13amp, square pin. Adapters are available on request at most hotel reception desks and they can be purchased from supermarkets, grocery shops etc. WATER It is safe to drink tap water in Cyprus, as there are no water-borne diseases. However, due to the climate, Cyprus has severe water shortages and it is important not to waste water. DRIVING IN CYPRUS Visitors to Cyprus need a valid national or international driving licence, provided it is valid for the class of vehicle they wish to drive. To hire a car, the driver must be over 25 years of age and have held a valid national/international licence for at least three years. FUEL Petrol, diesel and unleaded petrol are freely available at EKO, Mobil, Esso, Lina, Petrolina and Agip stations. Petrol is sold by the litre. Petrol stations are open at the following times: Monday to Friday: 0600 – 1900 Tuesday: 0600 – 1400 in the Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos Districts. Stations are open all day in the Nicosia District. Wednesday: 0600 – 1400 in the Nicosia District only. Stations are open all day in the other districts. Saturday: 0600 – 1500. All petrol stations are closed on Sundays, but most stations have fuel vending machines, which accept bank notes and credit cards. Vending machines operate during non-working hours and the instructions are in English. Mini guide for drivers Traffic moves on the left hand-side of the road. The maximum speed limit on the motorways is 100 km/h and the minimum is 65 km/h. On all other roads, the maximum speed limit is 80 km/h. In built-up areas the speed limit is 50km/h, unless otherwise indicated. The use of front and rear seat belts is compulsory. Crash helmets must be worn on all motorbikes and scooters. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. It is legal to use a hands-free unit. Driving with an alcohol level above 22 milligrams per 100 millilitres of breath is an offence. Rush hours in the towns are approximately between 0730 and 0800 and between 1300 and 1330 and in the late afternoon FOOD AND WINE Food-lovers will appreciate Cypriot cuisine, as it consists of many varied dishes and flavours. Some specialities are favourites with visitors to the island. Meze – a collection of over 20 different appetisers and savoury dishes. This is a meal not to be hurried. Kebab (or souvlaki in Greek) – small chunks of charcoal grilled pork or chicken, served in pitta bread with salad. Souvla – large chunks of charcoal grilled lamb, served with salad and roast potatoes. Stifado – beef or hare, cooked in wine, vinegar, onions and tomatoes. There is a great variety of Cyprus wine: red, white and rose. Four brands of beer: KEO, Carlsberg, Leon and 5, are brewed on the island. Cyprus is famous for the Brandy Sour, which is made from Cyprus brandy, lemon juice, angostura bitters, soda water and ice. |