Cyprus: arrival, traffic and further information
How to get to Cyprus
With very few exceptions, tourists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland will only travel to Cyprus by plane. The Republic of Cyprus has two airports: Larnaca in the southeast and Paphos in the southwest of the island. There are connections from almost all German airports, including Lufthansa and Cyprus Airways, but also with various charter airlines. The flight time from Germany is approx. 3.5 hours.
Travel in the country
bus connections
- Between Larnaca – Nicosia – Limassol – Larnaca Airport – Ayia Napa – ProtarasIntercity buses (green buses): Timetables vary depending on the season and can be obtained from: Tel: 24 643 492 or 24 722 700
- Ayia Napa – Larnaca – ParalimniEman BusesTel: 23 721 321
- Nicosia – LimassolLefkosia Interurban Co LtdTel: 22 665 814
- Larnaca – NicosiaLarnaca – LimassolK. Interurban Co Ltd
Tel: 24 643 492 or 24 722 700 or 24 665 814
- Paphos – Limassol – PolisNea Amoroza Transport Co Ltd.Tel: 26 936 822 or 26 936 740
- Larnaca – Paralimni – ProtarasEPA Co.Tel: 23 821 318 or 23 825 607 or 99 484 818
Car traffic
Left-hand traffic
In Cyprus there is left-hand traffic. therefore, drive particularly carefully in the first few hours after renting a car.
Car hire
Car hire companies are available at both airports and in the cities. In the high season (April to October) it is advisable to reserve in advance. You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car and have had a driver’s license for at least a year. Both international and national (German) driving licenses are accepted.
Roads
Most roads are in fair condition. Highways connect Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa. In the old towns the streets are sometimes very narrow and the traffic density is high.
Traffic rules
In Cyprus, as mentioned, there is left-hand traffic. The traffic is regulated by the internationally valid traffic signs. There are many roundabouts in which you have to turn left, of course. Those who are already in a circle have right of way.
Cyprus is one of the worst performers in Europe in terms of road safety. Sad accident statistics should encourage tourists to be prudent and to keep their distance (especially on motorways).
Top speeds
on motorways 100, on country roads 80 and within built-up areas 50 km/ h – unless otherwise indicated.
Blood
alcohol limits In the Republic of Cyprus there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille for drivers of motor vehicles
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Cyprus is:
| CY |
Tourist offices
Tourist Office Cyprus in Berlin
Kurfürstendamm 182,
10707 Berlin
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 30 86 83 12
Email: cto_berlin@t-online.de
Opening times: Mon. to Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tourist Office in Frankfurt
Zeil 127
60313 Frankfurt
Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 2 519 19
Fax: 0049 – (0) 69 – 2 502 88
E-Mail: info@cto-fra.de
Tourist office in Vienna
Parkring 20
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – 1 – 51 318 70
Fax: 0043 – 1 – 51 318 72
E-Mail: office@zyperntourismus.at
Tourist Office in Zurich
Gottfried Keller – Strasse 7
8001 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – 44 – 26 233 03
Fax: 0041 – 44 – 25 124 17
E-Mail: ctozurich@bluewin.ch
Visa, currency, customs regulations
Tourists from EU countries do not need a visa. A passport or identity card that is valid for at least three months is sufficient for a stay of up to three months. Travelers whose passport is stamped by the unrecognized “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” can be refused entry. Cyprus has been part of the Schengen area since December 21, 2007. This means that regular border controls are no longer required for EU citizens.
Local currency
The national currency of Cyprus has been the euro since January 1st, 2008.
1 euro (€) = 100 cents
Import and export of foreign currency
The import and export of national and foreign currencies is permitted without restrictions, but amounts of more than EUR 12,500 or other currencies must be declared.
Cheap goods, souvenirs
Cyprus is considered an expensive travel destination. The prices for most goods are above the German price level. Popular souvenirs are handmade lace, table linen made from hand-woven linen, wicker, leather and silver goods and ceramics. Leonardo da Vinci already paid a visit to Cyprus to buy lace for the Milan Cathedral. In the village of Lefkara (between Larnaca and Limassol) you can watch the women making the world-famous “Lefkara lace” in almost every house; However, one should be careful when buying, because the large number of tourists who come here ensures a very high price level, and not everything that is offered is also worth the asking price. You often pay more here than if you had bought a comparable item in one of the big cities.
The village of Phini in the Troodos Mountains, which owes its name to the “pitharia” (large clay vessels), is famous for ceramic work. Pottery is also made in Kornos (between Limassol and Nicosia).
Honey, especially thyme honey, is of particularly high quality and relatively inexpensive. It is usually sold in plastic containers and is therefore ideally suited for home transport.
The Cypriots love their brandy; it is mild and quite inexpensive. The wines are rather disappointing for connoisseurs, but you can experience pleasant surprises in the Krassochoria (wine villages) northwest of Limassol and get one or two bargains. Many Cypriots meet their personal needs for wine in the mountain monasteries, where wine and, by the way, olive oil are traditionally made by monks. Often you can watch the monks painting icons and buy them cheaply; the export of these icons (as opposed to the ancient ones) is allowed.
Import and export of goods The import and export of weapons, ammunition, explosives and drugs is strictly prohibited. The export of culturally valuable goods (antiques) is only permitted to a very limited extent – or only with a permit.
Infectious Diseases
The following infectious diseases in particular can be expected in Cyprus:
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella and worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B
- Leishmaniasis, which is transmitted by sand flies
The medical facilities are good. The emergency service number is 199 (in all cities).
Vaccinations
There are no special vaccination recommendations that do not also apply to Germany, Austria or Switzerland. There is no compulsory vaccination for visitors to the island.
Hazards and current warning notices
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizen Service
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Current warning notices:
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
National customs
In the villages in particular, the centuries-old customs and traditions have at least partially survived. In Lefkara, traditional patterns are used to embroider and lace, while the tradition of pottery is maintained in Phini. In the old towns you can still find inconspicuous small workshops where silver and coppersmiths pursue their craft.
If you see a woman sitting in a coffee house, it is almost certainly a tourist – these places called “kafeneia” are still reserved for men today. Something other than mocha is seldom drunk here, and there are not many differences from village to village and from kafeneion to kafeneion when it comes to pastimes: either tavla (backgammon) is played or a simplified version of rummy.
In churches men and women sit strictly separated; appropriate clothing is desirable; Crossed legs are acknowledged with a frown.
Overall, however, “Westernization”, tourism and increasing prosperity have largely destroyed the characteristic “otherness” of Cyprus. Thirty years ago, there were more donkeys than cars in the villages, and there were no supermarkets, kindergartens or old people’s homes; nude bathing was strictly forbidden, and young women could not even go to a restaurant, let alone a bar or discotheque, without the company of a male relative. All of that has changed.
The best time to travel to Cyprus
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who, for example, want to spend a pure beach holiday. The state of health or age can also play an important role.
For sun seekers
For people who like to enjoy a lot of sun and for whom higher temperatures do not cause problems, the following times are particularly suitable for a stay in the country: May to October.
For people who prefer
a temperate climate People who prefer a temperate climate and lower temperatures should better use the following times to stay in Cyprus: November to April.
Climate table
The following table shows a range of climate data for Cyprus. It should be noted, however, that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ considerably from one another and thus also from the values shown. In addition, such monthly temperature averages say little about the possible current minimum or maximum temperatures. It is not uncommon for average temperatures of around 25 °C to reach maximum values of 35 °C or even more on a number of days. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in Cyprus.
| Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
| January | 10 | 17 | 06 |
| February | 08 | 18 | 06 |
| March | 05 | 20 | 08 |
| April | 03 | 23 | 11 |
| May | 02 | 28 | 14 |
| June | 01 | 32 | 18 |
| July | 0 | 35 | 21 |
| August | 0 | 35 | 22 |
| September | 01 | 33 | 19 |
| October | 03 | 29 | 15 |
| November | 05 | 24 | 12 |
| December | 09 | 19 | 09 |
Cyprus: embassies, consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Cyprus embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of Cyprus in Germany
The embassy has been on Kurfürstendamm since the end of 2013.
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus
Kurfürstendamm 182
10707 Berlin
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 30 86 83 0
Opening times
Mon. to Fri. from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. E-Mail: info@botschaft-züsten.de
www. mfa.gov.cy/embassyberlin
Consulate General in Hamburg
Rothenbaumchaussee 3
20148 Hamburg
Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 41 07 497
Honorary Consulate in Frankfurt/Main
Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 27
60596 Frankfurt am Main
Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 96 36 68 88
E-Mail: konsulat.zypen@cc-pr.com
Honorary Consulate in Munich
Orleansplatz 3
81667 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 48 57 64
E-Mail: info@horn-muenchen.de
German representations in Cyprus
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nicosia
10 Nikitaras Street
1080 Nicosia
Tel: 00357 – 2 – 2 45 11 45
Email: info@nikosia.diplo.de
Web: www.nikosia.diplo.de
Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany
21 Archbishop Kyprianos Street
3036 Limassol
Tel: 00357 – 2 – 5 82 09 20
E-Mail: sitinal@cytanet.com.cy
Austrian representations in Cyprus
Austrian Embassy in Nicosia
34, Dimosthenous Severi Avenue, 1st Floor, Office 101
1080 Nicosia
Tel: 00357 – 22 41 01 51
Email: nicosia-ob@bmaa.gv.at
Web: www.aussenministerium.at/nikosia
Representations of Cyprus in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Vienna
Parkring 20
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – 1 – 513 06 30 – 31
Fax: 0043 – 1 – 513 06 32
Email: office@cyprusembassy.at
Honorary Consulate General in Vienna
Singerstrasse 27
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – 1 – 512 75 55
Swiss representations in Cyprus
Swiss Embassy in Nicosia
Embassy of Switzerland
Medcon Tower, 6th floor, 46 Themistocles Dervis Street
1066 Nicosia
Tel: 00357 – 22 466 800
Email: nic.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/nicosia
Representations of Cyprus in Switzerland
Embassy in Rome
Via Ludovisi 35
00187 Rome
Tel: 0039 – 06 – 80 88 365
Email: cancelleria@ambasciatacipro.it
Consulate General in Zurich
Auf der Mauer 9
8008 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – 043 – 515 25 10
