Planning a trip to Cyprus
Visa Information
To enter Southern Cyprus, holders of passports from EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA (among many others) do not require a visa if they are bona fide tourists and stay for fewer than 90 days. Passports issued by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), an entity not recognised by the Republic of Cyprus or the United Nations, are not considered valid. If you have a TRNC stamp in your passport, the immigration authorities will cancel it but should let you in. The reality is that when you cross into the North, a stamp is given on a separate piece of paper to avoid this hassle.
The legal points of entry are: Paphos and Larnaca airports; and Limassol, Larnaca, Latchi and Paphos ports. The North is not considered a legal point of entry.
To visit Northern Cyprus from another country, entry visas can be obtained on arrival by all foreign nationals (other than Nigerians and Armenians). You will need a full valid passport and a return ticket. For more information, check www.e-kktc.com.
When to Go
Climate
Cyprus has hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters with warm, calm spring and autumn seasons in between. Temperatures vary between the coast, plains and mountainous areas with average maximum July and August temperatures ranging from 81°F–97°F (27°C to 36°C) and average minimum temperatures in the coolest month of January between 32°F–41°F (up to 5°C). Average sea temperatures hover around 61°F (16°C) in winter and rise to 81°F (27°C) in the summer.
Calendar of Events
During February’s Limassol Carnival (tel: 25/343-120; www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy) the Carnival King leads a colorful parade, while Paphos’ Anthesteria Flower Festival (tel: 26/818-173; www.visitpaphos.org) celebrates nature’s rebirth with floral processions. Dance troupes compete at the European Dance Festival (tel: 77/777-745; www.rialto.com.cy) in Limassol’s Rialto Theatre in June and you can sample local wine at the Limassol Wine Festival in September (tel: 25/344-402; www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy/wine). November speeds in with the Cyprus Rally (tel: 22/313-233; www.cyprusrally.com.cy).
Getting There
By Plane
In Southern Cyprus there are two international airports, Larnaca and Paphos. Larnaca International Airport, the main one, now with a new terminal, is 5km (3 miles) from Larnaca town, 49km (29 1/2 miles) from Nicosia, 70km (44 miles) from Limassol, 46km (28 miles) from Ayia Napa, and 139km (86 miles) from Paphos. For flight information (24 hours) dial tel. 77 88 33. The tourist information booth is open from 8:15am to 11pm and is worth calling at to pick up a selection of maps. Private, metered taxis wait outside and all the car rental companies have offices here. Paphos International Airport is 15km (9 1/2 miles) from Paphos town and 63km (39 miles) from Limassol.
North Cyprus is not internationally recognised so planes cannot fly there direct. There are two options: fly into Ercan airport in the north, via Turkey, or fly into Larnaca airport in the south. Ercan airport (tel. 0392 231 4806) is about 12km (7 1/2 miles) east of Lefkos with a transfer time of about 40 minutes to both Girne and Gazimagusa. There is no public transport, other than taxis.
From the UK & Ireland: Scheduled airlines serving Southern Cyprus include: Cyprus Airways (tel. 020 8359 1333, www.cyprusairways.com); British Airways (tel. 0844 493 0787, www.ba.com); Monarch (tel. 08700 40 50 40, www.flymonarch.com); EuroCypria (tel. 22 365750, www.eurocypria.com); and EasyJet (www.easyjet.com). Flying time is 4 1/2 hours from London.
Scheduled airlines serving Northern Cyprus include: Cyprus Turkish Airlines (tel. 020 7930 4851, www.kthy.com); Turkish Airlines (tel. 020 7471 6666, www.thy.com); Pegasus Airlines (tel. 0845 084 8980, www.flypgs.com/en). Flying time is just over 6 hours from London (via Turkey); 4 1/2 hours to Larnaca.
Elsewhere in the world: Southern Cyprus is well served by flights from its important source markets like Russia, Scandinavia, Germany, Britain and the United Arab Emirates. There are no direct flights from the USA but Cyprus Airways has connections to the island from all major European gateways including Rome, Zurich, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Athens. There are also excellent connections from the Middle East via Tel Aviv and Cairo.
For Northern Cyprus, there are some connecting flights from Germany, with the same airlines as listed for the UK, but all other travellers have to fly into Larnaca, or change planes in Turkey.
By Sea
Southern Cyprus is served by weekly ferries operating between Limassol and Haifa, Israel and Limassol and Port Said, Egypt. Check for schedules and prices on www.varianostravel.com.
To reach Northern Cyprus there are two ferry companies operating between mainland Turkey and North Cyprus, with car ferries from Tasucu to Gazimagusa, and Girne to Alanya, and faster seabuses between Alanya and Girne. The ferry takes 4 to 5 hours, the seabus takes about 3 1/2 hours. There are also twice weekly ferries between Gazimagusa and Lattakia in Syria, try Fergun (tel. 0392 815 1770, www.fergun.net) and Akgünler (tel. 0392 815 6002, www.akgunler.com.tr).
By Package Tour
The majority of European visitors to Southern Cyprus travel via an organised tour that includes a package of flights and accommodation. You can find last-minute bargains on sites like Ebookers (www.ebookers.com) and Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) or book through one of the British specialists, who will organise accommodation only if required: Rent Cyprus Villas (tel. 08701 99 99 66, www.rentcyprusvillas.com); Sunvil Holidays (tel. 020 8758 4747, www.sunvil.co.uk/cyprus—the best operator for villas with pools and agrotourism properties).
A number of tour operators visit Northern Cyprus, but there are some real specialists, starting with Direct Traveller (tel. 0845 123 5383, www.directtraveller.com) with in-depth local knowledge, flights into Larnaca and Ercan from 18 UK regional airports and a wide range of hotels and excursions in Girne and Gazimagusa. Another excellent operator is Anatolian Sky (tel. 0845 365 1011, www.anatoliansky.co.uk).
Crossing the Land Border
While you may take a car hired in the South into the North, you may not take a northern car into the South. If going north, you will need to buy additional car insurance as your southern policy will not be valid. If you are buying property in the North, do not take any paperwork relating to your property transaction across the border.