All about Cyprus, why go there on vacation. Tips for tourists in Cyprus. Drive a rental car to Turtle Beach

What tourists need to know about Cyprus, the nuances of holidays in Cyprus, seasons and weather, what time is best to holiday in Cyprus.

Cyprus small, relatively compact and diverse island. Moreover, both in nature, landscapes and beaches, and in ethnic composition.

It will be useful for our tourists to know that, according to various estimates, up to 20 percent of the Russian-speaking population lives in Cyprus. This leaves a very strong imprint on the service sector. On the one hand, very Convenient communication in one language at, in a store or when checking into a hotel. On the other hand, you need to be prepared for the peculiarities of the Slavic mentality. True, it seems that our people in the service sector leave most of their bad habits at home; there won’t be any big problems.

Beach season in Cyprus lasts from April 1 to October 31, there is practically no spring and autumn, the season is usually hot. The air temperature these days stays around +30, the hottest months are July-August, the temperature at this time rises to +35-40 degrees.

Best months for vacation– mid-May – mid-June and mid-September – end of October, at this time it is already/still warm and there are not many tourists. For walks along the sea, bike rides and lunches in Cypriot taverns best time March, April. In winter, Cyprus turns into a Mediterranean capital SPA procedures– Many of the hotels here offer high-quality wellness services.

Traffic in Cyprus It’s left-handed, but getting used to it and driving a car here is much easier than writing with your left hand, it’s been tested more than once.

Best holiday format in Cyprus is a combination of beach pleasures and car trips around the island.

Currency of the island of Cyprus– euro; since 2007, the Cypriot pound has ceased circulation and given way to the European currency.

For holidays in Cyprus Citizens of Russia and Ukraine need a visa, a Cyprus visa is called a pro-visa and can be obtained directly at the airport, holders of multiple-entry Schengen visas can travel around Cyprus without restrictions.

Holidays in Cyprus cheaper than in Europe, prices are comparable to prices in Moscow, for example.

Book hotels and other accommodation in Cyprus needed in advance. Even at the beginning of the season best hotels and apartments are selling out.

All Cyprus beaches municipal, even if there is a cool 5* hotel on the shore, everyone can use the beach, regardless of their status of residence. Sunbeds and umbrellas are paid, the price is the same throughout Cyprus - 2.50 euros for each unit.

Best beaches are located in Ayia Napa and Protaras. Business is concentrated in the capital of Nicosia and Limassol, Larnaca is focused on budget holiday and holidays with children just like Paphos.

Cyprus has become quite a popular tourist destination among Russians over the past five years. This is a good alternative to other Mediterranean resorts in terms of price-quality ratio. The price bar in Cyprus is, of course, too high, and may even seem high to many, but is it really possible to count money and save on a good vacation, on the seashore surrounded by beautiful nature, clean beaches and pink flamingos strolling away from people.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The island of Cyprus is located in the Mediterranean Sea in its eastern part. Despite his small area, the state has been a member of the EU for eleven years. According to official documents, most of the island's territory (98%) belongs to the Republic of Cyprus, two percent belongs to British military bases. But speaking in unofficial language, the territory of Cyprus has been divided into three parts for more than forty years. The largest piece of the Mediterranean Cypriot "pie" is under the rule of the Republic of Cyprus (population - Greeks), about forty percent is under the control of the Turks (officially the territory is called the Republic of Turkey Northern Cyprus), it is clear that this territory is inhabited mainly by Turks. But two percent belongs officially and unofficially to the British military. To put it simply, Turkish Cypriots live in the north of the island, and Greek Cypriots live in the south. Internecine hostility between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean island almost never arises, so there is no need to worry about safety during your holiday.

CLIMATE

Due to the huge number of sunny and warm days, you can vacation in Cyprus all year round. This is one of the few tourist destinations in the Mediterranean where you can go even in the middle of the Russian winter. Cyprus winter is seventeen degrees Celsius! The water temperature in winter does not drop below plus fourteen degrees.
Summer with temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius begins in May and lasts until the end of October. Low humidity and a pleasant sea breeze allow you to react normally even to forty-degree heat. In July, the water temperature reaches twenty-five degrees Celsius.

RESORTS IN CYPRUS

Major Cypriot resorts:
- Larnaca;
- Limassol;
- Pathos;
- Protaras;
- Ayia Napa.
By the way, all these resorts are also the largest Cypriot cities.
As mentioned above, Cyprus is unofficially divided into three parts. This division affected not only the general territory of the island, but even the territory of the capital of Cyprus - the city of Nicosia. By the way, Nicosia has the greatest concentration of attractions. Therefore, while vacationing in Cyprus, you should definitely visit its capital and explore all the beauties found in it. The most interesting things can be seen in the so-called Old Town of the capital. Nicosia has an interesting Archaeological Museum, as well as the Archbishop's Palace. The Venetian Wall looks beautiful and majestic, Cathedral St. John, as well as churches, of which there are few in the capital, but all of them are gorgeous.
The capital is located in the very center of the island and is divided into two parts by the so-called buffer zone (“green line”). This zone fences off the north and south of Cyprus and runs exactly through the capital of the country. South part city belongs to the Republic of Cyprus, Northern part city - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Ayia Napa is the most youth resort Cyprus with numerous discos, bars and clubs. It's something like Ibiza only on the European continent.
The resorts of Protaras and Paphos are designed for quiet family holiday, without loud music and young people scurrying here and there.
The quality and color of sand on beaches varies. For example, the same Protaras and Ayia Napa - snow-white sand, the beaches of Limassol with dark sand. The coastal area of Paphos is predominantly rocky. But this city, included in the List, is not famous for its beach holidays. world heritage UNESCO. Aphrodite Bay is located in close proximity to Paphos. An ancient Greek legend says that it was in this bay that the beautiful Aphrodite was born from sea foam.

HOW TO GET TO CYPRUS

During the season, departures from Domodedovo every Sunday (less often on weekdays) charter flights to Larnaca. Flights are operated by both domestic Aeroflot and Cyprus Airlines. Estimated travel time is 4 hours 40 minutes. If the company flies via Turkish air space, travel time will be reduced by more than an hour.
For lovers of exotic and romantic travel you can get to Cyprus by sea - there are regular services from Greece, Israel, Egypt sea vessels and ferries.

VISA

For Russian tourists a visa is required - Cyprus is part of the European Union, so you will have to apply for Schengen. There are no restrictions on the export and import of currency. The only “but”: if the amount of cash exceeds 10,000 euros, you will have to declare it.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The division of the country into Greek and Turkish parts is visible in many things. Take, for example, public transport. On Turkish territory intercity buses- a dime a dozen. But on the Greek part of the island, transportation is actually very complicated and problematic. There are a couple of buses a day between the cities. It is impossible to get to remote settlements except by rented car. On Sundays, intercity buses do not operate at all in the Greek part of the island.
In large populated areas There are no problems with city buses in principle. The movement starts at six in the morning, ends at twelve at night. As soon as the tourist season ends, the end time for city buses is seven in the evening on Turkish territory, at five in the evening on Greek territory.
On Saturday, bus service is organized only until lunchtime; on Sunday there is a general day off.
You can ride around the city on minibus taxis, but their cost will be exactly twice as expensive as on municipal buses. Minibuses and municipal buses do not go to the airport; this share of the business is completely given to taxi drivers. Taxi fares depend on the time of day: from half past eight in the evening until six in the morning it is fifteen percent more expensive than during the day. You can call a taxi from a hotel, store or any other place. You can even stop an empty car right on the street with a wave of your hand.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE OPERATIONS

Since 2008, the euro has been in force in Cyprus (its Greek part). Exchange offices work for a limited time and only during major cities and populated areas. Given the sparse crowd and minimal number local residents banks also do not please tourists with their opening hours. Typically, bank operations begin at eight to ten in the morning and end at one in the afternoon. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Many catering establishments, as well as shops and hotels, accept plastic cards for payment. However, you should always carry cash with you. The crime rate in the country is very low, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your personal savings.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

24/7 help desk Cyprus - 191, 192.
The fire service, police or ambulance can be called by one of the numbers - 112, 199. Services operate around the clock.

HOLIDAY IN CYPRUS

The most important source of income for most Cypriots is tourism. It feels like everyone and anyone is busy in this industry. Tourist destination- practically the only source of replenishment of the country’s state budget. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that tourists are welcome on the island; vacationers are pampered and cherished in every possible way. True, this cannot always be said at the level of service in hotels, but in general the sensations from the holiday and the impressions of the stay are always the most positive.
Interesting facts about Cyprus that every tourist should know:
- the capital of Cyprus is divided into two parts - Turkish and Greek with its own border crossing;
- two percent of the island's territory is still under British control;
- the anthem of Cyprus is the anthem of Greece;
- forty thousand Russians permanently reside on the territory of Cyprus;
- Most Cyprus beaches have the European Union quality mark. It's the same as Michelin stars for restaurants;
- in Cyprus only 60 days a year the sun does not shine;
- the “OK” sign, which we are used to using to say that everything is fine with us, in Cyprus is used to indicate non-traditional sexual orientation;
- Ayia Napa resort is considered the best and popular place recreation for European youth, who consider the city to be a kind of big club;
- Cyprus is considered the most safe place for permanent residence - practically no crimes are committed on the island;
- lives right off the coast of Cyprus great amount fish, but it is impossible to catch them due to strong currents;
- taxi drivers do not always give change, even if a tourist gives 20 euros for a trip that costs 10 euros;
- there are cafes in Cyprus that only representatives of the stronger half of humanity can enter;
- 80% of the population of Cyprus are Orthodox;
- Cyprus is famous for its grape vodka, the strength of which can reach up to eighty percent;
- Cypriots are never in a hurry - everything is done slowly, calmly, measuredly;
- police officers do not take bribes, it is almost impossible to come to an agreement with them - the salaries of law enforcement officials are so high that they simply do not want to lose their jobs because of a bribe or gift.

SAFETY

Cyprus is considered a safe country for holidays. You can safely move around in cities and small towns and not fear for the safety of your personal property and your own safety.
To avoid problems with the law, you should remember some rules for staying in the country:
- photographing the border crossing between the Turkish and Greek parts of the island, military personnel and law enforcement officers is prohibited;
- smoking in public places is strictly prohibited - an impressive fine is guaranteed. There are special areas for smoking. The ban in Cyprus is considered one of the most brutal in the entire European Union. It was introduced on January 1, 2010.
About smoking in Cyprus
There are special areas for smoking in restaurants. Most often they are on the street. Smoking is prohibited indoors almost everywhere in Cyprus, with the exception of your own apartments or rented apartments. The smoking ban even applies to vehicles if they contain children under fourteen years of age!
If you decide to smoke in a public place, be prepared to pay a fine of 85 euros. In general, smoking in Cyprus is not a cheap pleasure. A pack of cigarettes costs between four and five euros! You can only bring ten packs from duty free, no more. By the way, locals prefer to smoke hand-rolled cigarettes, buying tobacco and special paper separately.
Drinking water
Many will be interested in the question of the quality of drinking and tap water in Cyprus. Opinions on this matter are divided. Some believe that the water that flows in the taps is no worse, and maybe even better, than in Moscow and other large Russian cities, others believe that the water is dirty and drinking it fresh is dangerous to health. In any case, it is worth saying the following: water should definitely be boiled before use. It doesn't taste good. That is, it is difficult to call it tasty or tasteless. Interruptions in the supply of tap water occur frequently, but this mainly affects those who live in rented apartments. There are no problems with the supply of tap water in hotels. At first tourist season It is recommended to immediately drain the water from the tap for a minute, and only then use it. This measure is forced - no one can guarantee that there was no accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms in the water pipes while the apartment stood idle without vacationers. Almost all drinking water is imported from the Greek mainland.

CAR RENTAL IN CYPRUS

Rental cars are marked with red registration plates. Vehicle number on such transport it begins with the letter "Z". Only a person over twenty-five years of age can rent a car. The maximum age limit for renting a car is seventy years. The minimum driving experience must be at least three years in public companies, and at least two years in private ones.
Features of Cyprus traffic rules
Traffic on the island is on the left (inherited from England). There are few traffic lights, but there are many roundabouts. The driver and everyone in the vehicle must wear seat belts. Pedestrians at crossings must be allowed through. The maximum permissible speed in cities is 50 km/h, on highways - 100 km/h. Free parking there is, but in large cities there is real tension with them, you should be prepared for this.
It is most profitable to rent a car for a week or longer - the renter receives unlimited mileage as a “bonus”. Insurance will have to be paid separately. The car is provided with a full tank of gasoline, the cost of which is included in the rental. You can return the car with an empty tank, and no one will say a word. The average rental price is 35 euros per day. Traveling in a rented car from the Greek part of Cyprus to the Turkish part is prohibited by law.

CYPRUS HOTELS

The level of service in Cypriot hotels is quite high. The only thing is that even in two-star hotels the furniture and equipment of the rooms will be very good, let alone five-star hotels. The majority of the service staff speaks Russian. Therefore, there should be no problems with communication.
Most of the hotels are located on the first coastline. Today, you can increasingly see all-inclusive accommodation options as a nice offer. But in any case, breakfast will be guaranteed, and tourists can choose lunch or dinner if desired (the so-called half board). But even two-star hotels strive to do full board for your vacationers. By the way, most 3-5 star hotels have own beaches, which are constantly cleaned of debris and maintained in perfect condition. If you're lucky, you can get sunbeds and umbrellas for free, but this nice bonus most often applies to staying in five-star hotels. For the rest, you have to pay - renting each unit will cost from two to four euros. However, as statistics show, European tourists most often rent; Russians prefer to bask on blankets or towels laid directly on the sand.
Hotels are not open all year round, and this is worth remembering when going on vacation in the off-season, especially on your own without the mediation of a travel agency. It is best to clarify information about the possibility of booking a room in advance and find out what bonuses are offered to tourists directly on the hotel premises.
3-5 star hotels have indoor swimming pools with warm water, jacuzzi, saunas, spa complexes and other amenities for vacationers. You can also play on your own tennis court or receive a full range of medical, health and beauty services.
Many tourists prefer to rent apartments and small studio apartments instead of hotels in tourist cities. Mostly these are good living conditions with a kitchenette and all the necessary kitchen utensils, furniture and household appliances. If you have a desire to cook, then why not save on housing and food, delighting yourself with self-prepared delicacies, which you can buy either at the grocery market or in the supermarket.
It is worth considering one feature in Cyprus - three-phase sockets that require an adapter. You can buy it at any store or pick it up at the reception area if you are staying at a hotel.

ATTRACTIONS

Cyprus cannot boast of numerous attractions, which can be counted on the fingers of one hand. But even when choosing Cyprus as beach holiday, you can have a good rest, enjoying the aesthetic and spiritual beauty of these places. For example, you should definitely visit the church where the wedding of Richard the Lionheart took place, a fortress from the Venetian era.
Cyprus is an excellent starting point for sea travel on cruise ships, equivalent to 3-5 star hotels. Liners regularly depart from the Cypriot ports of Limassol and Larnaca in the direction of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the island of Rhodes.
Holidays in Cyprus are also an opportunity to organize a mini-cruise to other countries. Departures daily from the port of Limassol cruise ships, delivering tourists to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and other countries. You can even go to Syria if you want!
An excursion to Israel will be especially interesting, during which you will get acquainted with Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The cost of the excursion includes transfer from the hotel to the port and back, accommodation in a cabin, entertainment, meals, visas and excursions.

CYPRUS BEACHES

Unlike Thailand, where you still have to try hard to find a good and clean beach, in Cyprus each beach has its own unique flora and fauna and is distinguished by its majestic beauty and impeccable cleanliness.
Many Cypriot beaches have been awarded a special distinctive sign and are awarded the title of the best in the European Union due to their impeccable cleanliness and excellent developed infrastructure. By the way, most of the beaches are municipal, and rental of beach equipment is paid. In Paphos or Larnaca, most hotels provide their guests with umbrellas and sunbeds free of charge.
Ayia Napa
Youth recreation. The beaches are clean and well maintained. Hotels and hotel complexes sunbeds, umbrellas and other equipment for vacationers are provided for a fee. The average cost is four euros and above. The beaches of Ayia Napa are considered one of the best on the entire island.
Protaras
The beaches are magnificent, the coastal area is clean and regularly cleaned. The sand is snow-white, the sea is warm. Sun beds and umbrellas are provided for a fee even to guests of hotels that have a coastal zone. A holiday in Protaras will cost tourists less than in Larnaca, for example, where absolutely everything is expensive, especially food. Protarnas is famous for its quiet streets, the opportunity for a secluded, relaxing family holiday. Some tourists note that Protaras is so quiet and sparsely populated that often walking half the street for 10-15 minutes you will not meet anyone. But in the resort of Ayia Napa - a paradise for those thirsty for constant trash and entertainment, where music plays from all sides, a lot of entertainment and continuous crowds of people.
Nissi Beach
Considered the most beautiful and picturesque beach throughout Cyprus. The whitest fine sand, an island a short distance from the coastline - romance, in a word.
Makronisos
It is considered a youth beach. It is here that parties most often gather and various gatherings are held among young vacationers.
Petra tou Romiou
The beach is isolated from the rest, but that makes it no less beautiful. There are pebbles under your feet, the sea is clean and pleasant, and your vacation can become very secluded, hidden from prying eyes.
Larnaca
The most popular and best beaches in the resort are Mackenzie, the territory of the Cyprus Tourism Organization and Finikoudes Beach.
"Ladies' Mile"
This beach has no equal in length; it is located west of Limassol and is very popular among local residents.
If you look to the east of Limassol, there is a beach with the original name “Governor’s” - a meeting place for young people, local residents and almost daily parties.
Exactly in the middle between Paphos and Limassol is the compact, cozy pebble beach of Aphrodite.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH PROCEDURES

In the last few years, people have been traveling to Cyprus not only for beach holidays and attractions, but also for the purpose of receiving extraordinary treatment for a number of diseases. Cyprus today actively promotes and develops thalassotherapy.
In Paphos and Limassol, most five-star hotels offer a whole range of medical procedures aimed at restoring tone, combating stress, depression, excess weight, joint problems, etc. There are programs designed for men and women, for pregnant women and young mothers, and for the elderly.
While relaxing at the hotel, you can receive a full range of medical and cosmetic services. There are extraordinary offers, for example, beauty and body care programs, facial skin care, anti-cellulite programs, massage complexes, reflexology, aromatherapy and much more. Almost all hotels have Russian-speaking staff, so there should be no problems with receiving the necessary treatment and wellness procedures - tourists are understood perfectly. Since thalassotherapy is very popular not only among Russians, but also among tourists from Europe and Asia, it is advisable to book spa treatments in advance long before arriving in Cyprus.

CYPRUS CUISINE

Considering that most of the island belongs to the Greeks, it is easy to guess what emphasis is placed in the restaurants and cafes of any Cypriot resort town. The only modification and addition to mainland Greek cuisine is the predominance of seafood dishes in Cyprus.
What interesting things can you try in restaurants and cafes in Cyprus?
Meze is the most important feature of Cyprus. The so-called set lunch, which includes a huge number of dishes (from twenty to thirty) and is served in turn, starting with appetizers, vegetables and salads and ending with meat and fish dishes. The most interesting thing is that there is no single meze menu in Cyprus restaurants - each establishment offers its own set.
You can try real Greek feta cheese only in Greece or Cyprus, where dozens of dishes are prepared from this cheese and each dish is incredibly tasty and aromatic.
You should definitely taste Cypriot wines and still green walnuts drenched in a special sweet syrup. Halloumi cheese is considered very tasty, prepared only in Cyprus and only from high-quality goat milk, which every self-respecting tourist should try.
You don’t have to pay a tip in principle, since the bill already includes 10% of the cost of the order for service.
Portions in Cypriot restaurants and cafes are simply huge, and sometimes gigantic. Local residents love to eat a lot and often and try to feed all tourists, including.
In every second restaurant, tourists will be offered a menu in Russian and a Russian-speaking waiter.

HOLIDAYS IN CYPRUS

When going on holiday to Cyprus, you can inadvertently look into one of the many holidays celebrated by local residents with the same flavor characteristic of Latin American countries.
April: Cyprus Day is a national holiday celebrated in literally every corner of the country, attracting crowds of locals and tourists, attracting with its music, entertainment, lots of bright colors and festive events.
May June: The Water Festival - "Kataklysmos" - is celebrated in cities bordering the sea. During the same time period, a Cypriot folk dance festival is held in Limassol.
July August: Drama Festival. Performances are held in literally every city, but the most striking of them are in the Larnaca Fort, in Ayia Napa right on the Monastery Square, on the territory of the ancient Kourion Amphitheater, and also in the Odeon (Paphos).
September: Wine festival in honor of the god Dionysus, held in Limassol.

Cyprus is soft climatic conditions, almost year-round summer, swimming season nine out of twelve months, clean beaches with snow-white sand and incredibly delicious Greek cuisine. When going to Cyprus, you should not expect crazy drunken discos, parties and dancing until the morning - this is a more respectable vacation, with an aesthetic component, decent and calm. An ideal option for married couples who want to spend their vacation in peace and quiet, as well as for couples with children who just want to relax and enjoy the beauty of the island.

Where to relax

Summer is coming, which means that many of us are wondering where in Cyprus it is better to relax with children, where to go for fun and beautiful views, and in general, when is the best time to go on vacation.

Cyprus - small island ok, which is located between Egypt and Turkey, but one part of it is called “Turkish” - tourism is practically not developed here, and the other, by a strange coincidence, is called “Greek”, this is where the entire tourist flow is concentrated.

Cyprus regularly receives its “blue flags” - special insignia awarded to bodies of water and beaches with the cleanest water. Accordingly, the beaches of Cyprus are ideal for families with children. But where exactly should you turn your attention? Where is the best place to relax in Cyprus?

So, we can conditionally divide all Cypriot resorts into two parts - active and calm. First about the active ones.

A universal resort where people of any generation will find it interesting and enjoyable. For entertainment, there are several water parks, a menagerie and an amusement park. A big plus is that Limassol has a large Russian-speaking population - no communication problems will arise even without knowledge in English.

However, it should be borne in mind that Limassol is very popular among tourists, and naturally a large number of tourists come here for the summer.

The tourism sector in Larnaca is very active. By the way, it is from here that it is most convenient to go on a trip around the island, and here is also international Airport, but it is still less noisy here than in Limassol and Ayia Napa.

Ayia Napa

This place is often called the new Ibiza - it is noisy and fun here all the time, and the owners of various bars and clubs are constantly coming up with new methods for having fun. Young people and those who like a positive, fun holiday flock here.

At the same time, it is Ayia Napa that can boast of its ideal beaches with golden sand. The descent into the water is gentle, and there are no winds typical for Cyprus. Children will love the excellent water park, designed in antique style.

Where can you relax in Cyprus without noisy companies nearby? And there are such resorts here.

Amazing place, which will appeal to all history and architecture lovers. There is a peculiar division here into old and New Year. In the old are the antiques architectural complexes, ancient monuments, and the new one will have restaurants, shops, boutiques and many offices.

Ikosia can also please tourists great beaches which are well equipped.

Pathos

If there is a place in the world that best demonstrates the atmosphere Mediterranean Sea, so this is Pathos. Previously, this city was the capital, but now it is popular resort. By the way, not just popular, but also quite expensive.

But it’s not very convenient to relax here with children - hotels and beaches practically do not provide children's recreation. But here you can happily spend a romantic vacation or even Honeymoon- there is a belief that nearby Aphrodite herself emerged from the foam of the sea.

This is an excellent resort for a quiet family holiday. If you do not need a large number of animators and children's entertainment, and are ready to simply enjoy unity with nature and communication with the people closest to you, then it is best to go here.

There are leisurely fishing fairs, plenty of sunny days and plenty of yachts here. By the way, Cypriots love to relax in Polis (and, in my opinion, this says something).

A good city, where it is pleasant to relax with the whole family. It is located not far from the noisy Ayia Napa, and is absolutely not inferior to it in terms of infrastructure and equipment, but at the same time it is much quieter and calmer here, and if you wish, you can always rush to Ayia Napa for entertainment.

A multiple visa is issued according to the standard scenario:

a copy of the first page of the passport;
color photo;
a certificate from your place of work or a bank account statement.

If you are planning a vacation with a child, and one of his parents or guardians remains in his home country, then it is better to obtain permission to leave in advance.

Cypriots rarely refuse visas to Russian citizens.

Peculiarities

Naturally, a beach holiday in Cyprus is in order, but what else can you do? If you are planning a family holiday in Cyprus, then you should pay attention to the following activities:

sightseeing and educational holidays - visiting all kinds of excursions is a great opportunity to get to know the history and culture of the island;
all kinds of entertainment - water parks, amusement parks and other entertainment;
menageries, zoos, turtle and fish reserves, a farm with donkeys or camels;
visiting waterfalls and natural attractions;
acquaintance with local cuisine and winemaking, as well as various crafts - for example, basket weaving.

The peculiarities of a holiday in Cyprus are such that you should not expect a green island, buried in flowers and plants - the local climate allows an abundance of greenery only in the spring, and in the summer it is quite dry.

If you are planning independent travel, then pay attention to chain hotels located on the outskirts - as a rule, their prices are much more pleasant.

Price

Since we're talking about prices, how much does a holiday in Cyprus cost? More recently, Cyprus was an excellent alternative to Turkey, and even Black Sea coast, but now everything has changed.

If you go on vacation on a tourist package, the cost will vary depending on the season. In high season, a trip for two in a four-star hotel will cost approximately 90-95 thousand rubles.

Hotels of a slightly lower rank will cost around 70-80 thousand rubles (for a stay of two weeks).

If you want to save money, then it makes sense to consider either early booking(the price may be 20% lower), or plan a vacation in September - this is the most budget-friendly month, when prices are already falling and the sea is still warm.

Independent travelers can save on accommodation - for example, rent a house or villa for several families, the prices will be very reasonable.

If you plan to explore the island, you can get around by taxi or bus, but driving a rented car can be quite difficult - traffic here is on the left. The cost of a bus ticket is about 1.5-3 euros. If you plan to travel with your whole family, a taxi will cost about the same as tickets for all family members.

Food in Cyprus is inexpensive, and the portions are very large - you can have dinner for two for 30-35 euros.

Useful information

How can you fly away on holiday in Cyprus literally tomorrow? To do this, it makes sense to look for last-minute tours - their cost is several times lower than usual, and the hotels are very, very decent.

What else do you need to know about Cyprus, holidays 2018? The local population is very friendly and has a very positive attitude towards tourists, so no difficulties will arise. If you are traveling with a child, then keep in mind that Cypriots love children very much.

When planning a trip to Cyprus, many ladies are interested not only in something simple, like how much it costs to relax and where to go on vacation, but also which resorts in Cyprus should be chosen with an eye to shopping. It is best to give preference to Limassol and Nicosia - it is absolutely safe to buy things from any European brands here, and in general these cities are good for holidays - here best beaches, and the Cypriot climate in summer will please absolutely everyone.

Where is the best place to go to enjoy nature? In my opinion no more beautiful than the city than Paphos - we see numerous photos and videos of this city very, very often. Speaking of photos - if you don’t trust advertising photos too much that are posted by a tour operator or hotel, then you can always use a little trick and look at the photo on Instagram - it’s rare that a vacationer doesn’t show off their vacation.

If your family plans to relax without frills, but not to deny themselves anything (for example, do not stand in line for lunch in an inexpensive cafe, but dine in restaurants), then you should have at least a thousand euros with you for expenses.

The required budget can be calculated in the following way - take your usual budget and multiply it by at least 1.5 (don’t forget, Cyprus is still Europe), and preferably by 2 - so as not to deny yourself the purchase of souvenirs.

Liked? Tell your friends:

Everything you need to know about Cyprus

Official name
Republic of Cyprus;

Capital
city of Nicosia;

Territory
area more than 9,251 km²;
island width - 100 km, length - 240 km;

Official language
Greek and Turkish.
The second most important language is English.
Currently the staff and people
related to tourism business, speak Russian well;

Population
in the south - Greek Cypriots, in the north - Turkish Cypriots.
The total population of Cyprus is 838,897 people (data from 2011), including:
- 160,000 people are Turks;
- 17,000 people are British;
- more than 40,000 people are Russian.

Religion
The Greeks profess Orthodox Christianity, the Turks profess Islam;

Time difference between Moscow and Cyprus
In winter - minus 2 hours:
(at a time when it is 12:00 in Moscow, 10:00 in Cyprus);
IN summer time- minus 1 hour:
(at a time when in Moscow it is 12:00, in Cyprus it is 11:00).

Geographical location of Cyprus

If you look at the world map and try to understand where the island of Cyprus is located, then it will not be at all difficult: the state is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea with an area of 9251 km2.

Knowing geographical position islands, it becomes obvious which sea in Cyprus will delight vacationers here with warm and crystal clear water.

The entire territorial possession of the island stretches for a distance of 240 km from east to west, and 100 km from north to south, and geographically belongs to Asia.

A few words about Cyprus' neighbors:

on the northern side, the closest neighbor is Türkiye, the distance to which is only 75 km;
the eastern neighbor, approximately 104 km away, is Syria;
on the southern side, Cyprus neighbors Egypt, which is the farthest neighbor, the distance to which is as much as 370 km.

The entire territory of the island of Cyprus is divided by ownership as follows: 98% is owned by the Republic of Cyprus, and 2% belongs to the British military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Few tourists know about Cyprus and that the Republic of Cyprus is not only the island itself, but also nearby islets such as Agios Georgios, Geronisos, Glyukiotissa, Kila, Kiedes, Kordilia and Mazaki.

In fact, all the possessions of Fr. Cyprus is controlled by three states: the Republic of Cyprus has at its disposal the largest part of the island - almost 60%, just under 40% is at the disposal of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 3% of the territory is occupied by the UN and 2% of the island is owned by Great Britain, whose territory is military bases.

Everything you need to know about Cyprus resorts

All resort places the islands occupy South coast Cyprus.

Paphos, located in the western part of Cyprus, is considered an elite resort on the island - suitable for a relaxing holiday;

The youngest and noisiest resort in the southeast of the island is Ayia Napa, ideal for youth holidays in Cyprus, where life does not subside even at night;

Another resort on the south-eastern coast of the island - Larnaca - is an ideal holiday destination for any category of tourists, considered the most economical holiday destination on the entire island;

The place in Cyprus where you can meet the largest number of Russian tourists is the Limassol resort - the entertainment industry is very well developed here, which attracts tourists here even in winter (the period of tourist lull on the island);

The easternmost resort in location - Protaras - is an ideal place to relax with children in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

All the most important things about the climate of Cyprus

The temperate climate prevails on the island. Cyprus, which has the following features:

A large number of sunny days a year;
Short winter with mild climate average temperature+17-19ºС;
Quite long swimming and beach holiday seasons in Cyprus, starting in mid-May and ending only in mid-October;
High air temperatures are perceived quite comfortably - all thanks to the low humidity levels on the island.

Thanks to its climate, Cyprus can be described as year-round resort, because even in the coldest winter month (February) the water temperature does not drop below +14ºС. Therefore, the decision about when is the best time to relax in Cyprus is up to you.

Currency exchange in Cyprus

The largest bank in Cyprus is Bank of Cyprus.
In 2008, the Cyprus currency, the Euro, was officially introduced on the island. Not everyone knows what's on about. It is better to fly to Cyprus from the Euro: dollars here will be gladly exchanged for local currency, but at a very unfavorable rate. !!! Often, exchange offices charge a commission, which is written about in the most inconspicuous place. With rubles, things are even worse in Cyprus: the exchange rate for the Euro is extremely unfavorable and they are accepted only in large banks, and therefore we strongly do not recommend traveling to the island with Russian currency. !!! For those who like cashless payments, Cyprus has all the conditions for this: Credit cards are accepted everywhere, and withdrawals from cards at ATMs occur with minimal fees.

Visa to Cyprus

All tourists who want to relax on the island and learn a lot of interesting things about Cyprus when planning a trip are required to check with the travel agency whether a visa to Cyprus is required. Tourists from Russia require a pre-issued visa to stay on the island. As a rule, tourists going on vacation on a tour package are issued a temporary visa (provisa), which is exchanged upon arrival at the airport for a stamp in the passport, giving the right to a one-time stay on the territory of the Republic for a period of no more than 90 days.

All about the safety of tourists in Cyprus

Cyprus is an island that can be called an absolutely safe holiday destination for tourists.
Everything that tourists who want to relax in the resorts of Cyprus can be warned about only concerns compliance with the rules of behavior and compliance with the laws of another country:

the island has some of the strictest smoking rules in public places in the European Union;
be careful on the roads: on the island, traffic is on the left, so unusual for us;
do not park your car in unauthorized places; parking in a prohibited place will result in a heavy fine;
keep valuables and documents in safes provided in each hotel free of charge or at a certain cost;
resort to the help of the police if an unpleasant situation arises: Cypriot police are very attentive to the problems of tourists.

Beaches of Cyprus

Almost all beaches about. Cyprus municipal and free! But! The service provided on the best beaches of Cyprus is paid, namely: renting a sunbed and umbrella will cost money (on average 5 Euros/day). Want to save money? Sit completely free on a blanket on any of the beaches you like. Most of the island's beaches are awarded the Blue Flag. The beaches in Cyprus are different: some with golden-gray sand, others with snow-white and fine sand, and others with only pebbles.

All about the cuisine and restaurants of Cyprus

In Cyprus, in any of the local restaurants you can taste dishes from Greek cuisine. On the island, seafood is more actively used in cuisine than on the mainland.

All restaurants on the island differ in their range of meze dishes. Speaking about the cuisine of Cyprus, it is worth noting dishes made from feta and halloumi cheeses, as well as on the list of things you should definitely try on the island, you must include green walnuts in syrup. For lovers of alcoholic beverages, Cyprus has a lot to offer: locally produced wines, liqueurs and local grape moonshine “Zivania”. As for tips, all restaurants already include a 10% service charge in the bill. Whether or not to leave a tip as a sign of gratitude is a personal matter for each tourist.

Hotels in Cyprus

The island has hotels of absolutely all categories: from 2* to 5*, and even hotels with the lowest star rating will have a decent and decent level of service. Hotels in Cyprus 2* - apartments. For many tourists, it is surprising that all sockets in Cyprus are three-phase and adapters are needed to use them. Most vacationers find out about this upon check-in. Don’t be upset - in every hotel at the reception you can take such an adapter for a deposit or buy it for a small price in any nearby store.

Transport in Cyprus

Taxi
Taxis on the island are very popular among tourists. You can order a car by stopping it on the streets of the city, or by calling it by phone.
There are two tariffs for taxi travel in Cyprus:

daytime from 6:00 to 20:30;
nightly from 20:30 to 6:00.

The night rate is usually 15% more expensive than the day rate.
There is an opportunity to hire vehicle for traveling around cities for sightseeing. The cost of renting such a car is discussed in advance with the driver.

Rent a car
An ideal option for those who want to independently explore all the most Beautiful places islands. Car rental in Cyprus is available to tourists who meet the conditions and requirements of companies providing car rental:

The tourist must fall within the age limit range - 25-70 years;
Rental companies always ask about driving experience and require at least 2 years of experience.

When renting a car for a long period of time for trips in Cyprus, unlimited mileage is provided. The average rental cost is 35 EURO/day. The rental price does not include insurance and VAT (15%).

Now you know and have the most important and necessary information for a trip to Cyprus. Make up your mind, the resort places of the island deserve attention and are worthy of your visit.

Have a nice holiday!

POPULAR MATERIALS:
	Holidays in Cyprus Why will a holiday in Cyprus be the most unforgettable event of your life?
	Car parks in Cyprus Which of the water parks about. Is Cyprus worth visiting? The advantages of each entertainment complex.
	Weather in Cyprus by month Peculiarities weather conditions islands - weather in Cyprus by month.

It might be useful to read: