Cyprus is in the European Union, you can travel here with just your ID card, but remember you are not in the Schengen area. You can use the euro or the card, and you will drive on the left side of the road.
From June until late September, temperatures will be very high during the day and, most of the time, at night.
If you come in the winter for a city break, be prepared for rain and also for sunbathing. The weather on the island is a certainty in the summer, and in the winter it is a lottery.
1 How to drive in Cyprus
If you come from Europe, then you might be a little stressed. But know that the locals are patient in traffic and pay extra attention to the cars with red numbers, which are the rented ones. Therefore, after you manage to get used to keeping your car on the left side of the road and on the highway not to drive in the speed lane, you should be able to enjoy long walks on the island.
I recommend you consult the guide I made about traffic in Cyprus. It’s kind of in the spirit of a joke, but I think it will be useful for you to get used to it faster.
2 How to pay in Cyprus
Cyprus has also entered the 21st century and you can pay with a card pretty much everywhere. At the moment, not on the bus or taxi, but you can do it on the beach, where you pay for a sunbed, for example.
If you have an American Express card, leave it at home because you can’t use it. Otherwise, anything else is accepted, including Revolut. Even in the busy part if you go.
If you want to use cash, then you need euros, because Cyprus is a member of the EU. When you go for a trip on the occupied territories or you have accommodation there, it is best to change euros into lira at the exchange offices or pay with a card.
3 What day trips can you take
If you have rented a car, then you definitely want to get around. And even if it might look like this island is a small place, with only 180 km of highway running from East to West, know that there are many places to explore. Cities, mountain villages, archaeological sites and beaches.
See my long list of day trips to see what interests you most and enjoy driving on the good roads on the island.
4 Where to shop in Cyprus
If you have opted for villa accommodation and are on holiday with a larger group of friends or family, you might be thinking twice about where to shop, and with the difference in the money you can save this way, go to an amusement park or take a boat trip.
You certainly know that shops in tourist areas have higher prices and don’t have many offers. If you want to pay the right price for what you buy, I recommend going to one of the larger supermarkets. You can choose from Metro, Lidl, Sklavenitis, Alpha Mega or Poplife, depending on the area you are staying in. Usually, the large chain stores can be found in the towns, near the resorts where you will probably be staying.
5 How to avoid radar when driving in Cyprus
First, you should know that we have everything here. We have fixed cameras in the big cities, we have radar cars that are located everywhere and where you least expect it, and we also have police officers with “guns” waiting for you on the highway and on the streets of cities and villages.
Fixed cameras are pre-signaled, and be careful at the traffic lights where they are installed, not to step on the stop line. The fine is 300 euros for this, for example.
Radars on cars are pre-signaled only in settlements. Not on the highway, therefore if you see a car parked in the safety lane, do not exceed the legal speed of 100 km/h.
6 How to Pay a Fine in Cyprus
If you are unlucky enough to get caught by a speeding ticket, then rest assured that you will be notified by the company you rented your car from and will most likely receive some instructions on how to pay the fine.
All you have to do is create an account on JCC and pay. If you are asked to enter your receipt number and the registration number of your car, you must enter all the numbers and letters without spaces in between in order to make the payment.
The same applies if you are “lucky” to receive a fine for not parking where you should.
7 How to get around by bus
If you don’t want to rent a car but don’t want to stay near your accommodation, I recommend public buses. Each district has its own public transport company, and if you want to travel between cities, you can use the private company Intercity buses.
See the article here for more details and routes. Keep in mind that the schedule also changes depending on the season, with more buses on the route in the summer, at least in the resort areas.
8 Where and what to eat in Cyprus
You come to the island and think it’s a paradise for fish and seafood. But it’s not. Believe it or not, Cyprus is a paradise for pork.
Of course, we also have fish taverns, but the prices still seem very high to me if you think that you’re on an island, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The only fish meze I liked was at a tavern in Zygi, between Larnaca and Limassol.
Otherwise, I recommend meat meze, including at the taverns in the resorts. That way you will have the opportunity to taste a little of everything and discover what you like. Then, you can’t miss souvlaki and gyros at the local “fast-food”.
And with international cuisine, you choose according to your taste. And if the restaurant or fast food is not crowded, you better keep looking.
9 What to pack for Cyprus?
In summer, all you need is a few T-shirts, shorts and a swimsuit. And definitely flip-flops, because you won’t even get to the beach without them. As much as possible, your clothes should be made of cotton.
As hot as summer is, you won’t know how to dress more casually, so you can breathe when you go out for a walk or to eat.
Don’t forget your favorite cap or hat, because you will use it.
Check out what the weather should be like, according to statistics.
10 A brief history of the place you are visiting
I like to say that only those who didn’t want to, did not occupy this island over time, because almost all the conquering peoples arrived here. Some still are, if we look at the map and the border.
My request would be to treat the locals with respect and to respect their opinions because the wounds from the Turkish invasion of 1974 are still fresh for most of them.
And I recommend you go see Varosha, the ghost town of Famagusta, on the occupied side, because it is a living lesson of the disaster that leaders with totalitarian tendencies cause.
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And now let’s just go for a walk at Nissi Beach