Destination Guides & Maps - Cyprus

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Time Zone: UK+2 

Capital City: Lefkosia (formerly known as Nicosia)

Language: Greek (spoken by about 80% of the population) and Turkish (spoken by about 20%) are the official languages, but English is widely spoken (as are French and German in tourist areas).

Area: 3,572 square miles. The island is roughly 140 miles (225 km) long and 60 miles (97 km) wide.

Population: 758,363 (78% Greek Cypriots, 18% Turkish Cypriots; 4% other)

Money: The currency is the Cyprus pound (C£), which is divided into 100 cents.

Visas: Not necessary for UK citizens, for a stay of up to three months. Holders of passports containing a stamp for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may be refused entry to the Republic of Cyprus.

Geography: In ancient times the shape of the island was said to resemble a spread-out sheepskin. Nowadays it's more often referred to as being a saucepan shape, with the Karpas peninsula in the northeast supplying the handle - and given the searing summer heat, that might seem a more appropriate description.

The north and south of the island are dominated by two major mountain ranges - the Troodos in the south (where Mount Olympus, the island's highest point, rises to 6400ft), and the Kyrenia mountains along the north coast, in the Turkish-occupied sector.

In between the two ranges lies the large, fertile Messaoria Plain (Messaoria means "between the mountains"), which is the island's main grain-growing area.

The coastline varies: most of it is broad and flat, though there are steep and rugged stretches in parts. Inland there are gently rolling hills and large areas of forest, that provide a cool respite from the heat of the beaches.

Lots of rivers run down to the sea from the mountains but most of them flow only in winter and spring, leaving dry river beds during the summer months. (Hikers should be aware, though, that a summer storm can quickly transform the dry beds into dangerous torrents.)

Religion: The Orthodox Church of Cyprus is the main religion on the island (practised by 78% of the population) and plays a significant role in its cultural and social life. There is also a Muslim minority (18%), mostly in the north of the island.

Electricity: 240 volts ac, 50 Hz. Sockets are usually 13 amp, square 3-pin, as in the UK.

Emergencies: For ambulance, fire and police services, call 199 or 112 (English is spoken on both). You can also find night pharmacies on 192.

Telephone: You'll find telecard or coin-operated public phones in all towns and villages. All can be used for international calls, and instructions are posted in the booth. Telecards (in C£3, C£5 or C£10 denominations) can be bought from banks, post offices, souvenir shops, kiosks and tourist offices). The cheapest times to call are between 10pm and 8am Monday to Saturday, and all day Sunday.

To dial the UK from Cyprus: 00 44 plus the UK number minus the initial 0.

To dial Cyprus from the UK: 00 357 followed by the area code minus the initial 0.

Post: Post office opening hours vary from branch to branch and from season to season, but most are generally open from 7.30am to 1.30pm Monday to Friday. Main offices then open again on weekday afternoons (except Wednesday) from 3-6pm (winter) or 4-7pm (summer).

Main offices are also open on Saturday mornings, from 8.30am to 10.30am. All post offices are closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Stamps can also be bought from hotels and news kiosks.

There's a daily airmail service back to the UK; allow three or four days for post to arrive.

Business Hours: Banks are open Monday to Friday 8.30am-12.30pm, plus 3.15pm-4.45pm on Monday afternoons. In June, July and August they open slightly earlier at 8.15am. Banks at Larnaka and Pafos International Airports provide day and night-time services for most flights.

In town centres and the main tourist resorts of Ayia Napa and Paralimni you can find 24-hour Automatic Exchange machines.

Shopping hours change depending on the season. From June to mid-September shops are usually open from 8am to 7.30pm (with a recess from 1pm to 4pm) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and to 2pm on Wednesday and Saturday. In winter the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday closing time is brought forward to 6pm.

Archaeological sites, museums and ancient monuments all close on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday (Greek Orthodox) but on other public holidays the major sites (eg Kolossi Castle, Sanctuary of Apollo, Kourion) remain open 9am to 5pm (7.30pm in summer). Sites have longer opening hours in summer.

Internet & E-mail: Main cities (eg Lefkosia and Larnaka) and tourist resorts (eg Pafos and Ayia Napa) have cybercafes with Internet access.

Tipping: Bills in hotels and most restaurants include a 10% service charge, so you don't need to pay any more, but most people leave a little small change on top. If no service charge is included, about 10% is expected.

Taxi-drivers, porters and tour guides always appreciate (and usually expect) a small tip too.

BBC World Service: At MHz 17.64, 15.57, 9.410, 6.195 or 1323AM

Want to take a closer look at Cyprus? http://earth.google.com/

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