Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, has mountains in the northern and southern areas. The south coast is flat with wide plains. Cyprus is warm year round with very hot weather in the summertime. With lush vineyards, twelfth century architecture, and beautiful orchards tourists are warned to be careful in taking photos. Taking photos on military property, museums, and art galleries is against the law. Turkish, English, and Greek are the main languages of Cyprus. The culture in Cyprus is a melting pot for Greeks and those from the Middle East. The people of Cyprus are warm people and generally make every attempt to make guests feel at home. When meeting someone for the first time, it is customary to shake hands. It is also considered polite to bring a small gift along when visiting someone at their home. The people of Cyprus dress casually, but respectfully. Formal clothes are usually worn at special events. Atalante, Kaledonia and Persephone are popular nature trails in Cyprus. Camping in these regions is also highly popular. Although the weather in Cyprus is warm, skiing is popular in the winter where the weather gets chilly. All skiing in Cyprus is in the mountains. Mount Olympus is prime for skiing. The beaches of Geroskipou, Dasoudi, and Larnaca are popular places for windsurfing, kite-surfing, diving, paragliding and swimming. For those interested in the party atmosphere, the Agia Napa resort is known worldwide for its nightlife. Cyprus is known for its craggy coastlines full of nooks and crannies and caves. For those interested in fishing, it’s important to note that a fishing license is required before attempting to fish. Cyprus is known for its various religious festivals, wine festivals, and more. Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus, is famous for The Venetian Famagusta Gate which are ancient walls that form a perfect circle around the heart of the city. Nicosia is also known for The Presidential Palace, St John’s Cathedral, and the walled city of Laiki Yitonia. With warm breezes, palm trees, and welcoming faces its a wonder that Cyprus doesn’t top the list in the amount of tourists visiting each year. Cyprus truly is a hidden gem. Each year more and more tourists find themselves planning vacations to Cyprus so while the country is often peaceful and quite, there are also many bustling areas.
To get to Cyprus via air, the national airlines is Cyprus Airways. Flights come into Larnaka Airport from many major European cities. Larnaka airport is right outside the city of Larnaka and 50 kilometers away from Nicosia. Taxis are one of the few options tourists have at the airport here. The airport has duty free shops as well as a bank, restaurants, and a post office to keep tourists busy while waiting for transport. Taxis are equipped with government regulated meters. Tipping in cabs is customary. Tourists are urged to take notice that the Port of Famagusta, the Port of Kyrenia, and Ercan airport are not places where entry can be made. Limassol port and Larnaca port have various ferry services as well as cruise services. Cyprus is not connected by road to any other country, but all villages and cities are connected by road.
Duty free items include 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco and one liter of spirits containing over 22% alcohol or two liters of fortified wine or sparkling wine and two liters of still wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette. Agricultural items including food are not allowed to cross borders.
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