A practical guide to your trip to Cyprus. Find out how the south and the north of the island differ, what is worth knowing before you fly and which places are worth a visit.
These are the questions holidaymakers ask me most often before they fly. Each card leads to an article with the details.
Prices, documents, currency, beaches and atmosphere – how the two parts of the island differ and where to go.
Ayia Napa, Protaras, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos in the south, Famagusta and Kyrenia in the north – who each one suits and my hotel tips.
Sunshine more than 300 days a year, hot summers and mild winters. When to go for swimming and when for sightseeing.
Cyprus drives on the left and hire cars have red number plates. Practical tips on driving and hiring a car.
From Nissi Beach and Fig Tree Bay to wild Lara Bay – an overview of the beaches with tips on hotels close to the sea.
The rules and risks of crossing the Green Line, the pedestrian crossing in Nicosia and trips to the north of the island.
Two overviews with basic information that comes in handy when planning your holiday and during your stay on the island.
The essentials about the island.
Average daily maximum air temperature and average sea temperature off Larnaca (south of the island). Inland and in Nicosia it tends to be hotter in summer, and cooler in the mountains.
| Month | Air (max.) | Sea |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17 °C | 18 °C |
| February | 17 °C | 17 °C |
| March | 19 °C | 17 °C |
| April | 23 °C | 18 °C |
| May | 27 °C | 20 °C |
| June | 30 °C | 24 °C |
| July | 32 °C | 26 °C |
| August | 33 °C | 27 °C |
| September | 31 °C | 27 °C |
| October | 28 °C | 25 °C |
| November | 23 °C | 22 °C |
| December | 18 °C | 19 °C |
Cyprus is not just beaches. These are the three main faces of the island to help you choose where to go.
Nissi Beach and Konnos Bay near Ayia Napa, Cape Greco with its sea caves and Aphrodite’s Rock, Petra tou Romiou.
Kykkos Monastery, the tomb of Archbishop Makarios at Throni, waterfalls and mountain villages with traditional tavernas.
The mosaics in Paphos, ancient Kourion, Salamis and the Gothic monuments of Famagusta, Bellapais and Kyrenia in the north.
Specific places and topics I have written about separately – with practical tips on how to get there and when to go.
PaphosUNESCO-listed mosaics, a harbour with a castle and beaches.
Tombs of the KingsA necropolis carved into the rock on the edge of Paphos.
KourionAn ancient city with a theatre above the sea near Limassol.
Akamas National ParkCliffs, coves and Lara Beach, where turtles nest.
The birth of AphroditeAphrodite's Rock, Petra tou Romiou, and the legend of the goddess.
History of CyprusFrom the Neolithic through Greece, Rome and Byzantium to division.
The occupation of CyprusThe events of 1974 and their consequences.
Political situationThe south, the north and the UN-patrolled Green Line.
EconomyTourism, services and the road out of the financial crisis.
GeographyBeaches, mountains, salt lakes and villages.
Cypriot foodMeze, halloumi and Greek and Turkish influences.
AgricultureOlives, wine, citrus fruit and Commandaria.Four things worth having clear before you book – from my own experience as a tour rep on the island.
The sun shines in Cyprus more than 300 days a year. The swimming season runs from May to October – the summer is long and hot, around 30 °C, and the sea is 26–28 °C in summer.
For trips, sights and the mountains the most pleasant months are April–May and September–October: warm, with fewer tourists and better prices. The winter is short and mild, around 15 °C, and you can even ski in the Troodos Mountains.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974. The south (the Republic of Cyprus) is in the EU: you pay in euros and there are direct flights to Larnaca or Paphos. You can expect a higher standard of service, but also higher prices.
The north is recognised only by Turkey. It is cheaper, quieter and less commercial – Kyrenia, Famagusta, Salamis or the beaches of Karpaz. You pay in Turkish lira, and EU roaming and European health cover (EHIC/GHIC) do not apply here.
The whole of Cyprus drives on the left – a remnant of the time when Cyprus was a British colony. Hire cars have red number plates, the roads are in good condition and you get used to it after a few kilometres.
You usually may not take a hire car to the north – the insurance stops being valid. You can visit the north stress-free on foot through the crossing on Ledra Street in Nicosia, with a valid passport.
Driving in Cyprus · Travelling between the south and the north
Trips I recommend as a tour rep. You book through GetYourGuide and the guides mostly speak English.
A short overview of places and practical information that is handy to have with you on holiday.
Driving on the left, the red number plates of hire cars and more tips for getting around the island stress-free.
For swimming, from May to October. The sea is around 20 °C in May, 26–28 °C in summer and around 25 °C in October. If you want to explore the island without the great heat and the crowds, April–May and September–October are ideal.
South Cyprus is in the EU and has direct flights, a higher standard of service and more resorts, but it is more expensive. North Cyprus is cheaper and quieter, but it is not part of the EU, so European health cover and EU roaming do not apply there. For a first visit I recommend the south, and seeing the north on a day trip.
In the south, the resorts of Ayia Napa, Protaras, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos; in the north, Famagusta and Kyrenia. You will find how they differ, who each one suits and hotel tips in the article Resorts in Cyprus.
The euro in the south and the Turkish lira in the north.
The international airports are in Larnaca and Paphos in the south of the island. Larnaca is close to Ayia Napa and Protaras, while Paphos suits the western part of the island. If you are not on a package holiday, you can book an airport transfer to your hotel in advance through Suntransfers.
Yes, the whole island drives on the left, and roundabouts are driven clockwise. Hire cars have red number plates, so other drivers can spot a tourist straight away.
Usually not – hire companies do not usually allow the crossing, and in the north both the car insurance and your travel insurance stop being valid. It is safer to use the pedestrian crossing on Ledra Street in Nicosia or to take an organised trip.
In the south it does – EU roaming rules apply (with a UK network it depends on your provider’s roaming plan). EU roaming does not apply in the north, so it is a good idea to turn off mobile data before you cross.
