Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean that brings together beaches with turquoise water, Greco-Roman ruins, Byzantine monasteries and pine-covered mountains. It's worth knowing that the island has been divided since 1974: the south is the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union, and the north is the Turkish Cypriot area, recognised only by Turkey. You can cross the border in Nicosia and visit both sides without much hassle.
Cyprus is a large island in the eastern Mediterranean, close to the coasts of Turkey, Syria and Egypt, where turquoise beaches, Greco-Roman ruins, Byzantine monasteries, vineyards and pine-covered mountains all meet. It's both a sun-and-beach destination and a place packed with history (in mythology, the birthplace of Aphrodite). It gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year and a climate that lets you swim in the sea for a good part of the year.
It's worth knowing that the island has been divided since 1974: the south is the Republic of Cyprus (an EU member, mostly Greek, where tourism is concentrated and the euro is used), and the north is the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey, where the Turkish lira is used). Between them runs the Green Line, a UN-patrolled buffer zone that today can be crossed easily at several points, even on foot through the centre of the capital, Nicosia.
The south has the big tourist centres: Paphos (ruins and a relaxed atmosphere), Limassol (the most cosmopolitan city), Larnaca (with the main airport) and Ayia Napa (parties and beaches). The best thing about Cyprus is that mix of good beaches, dense history and reasonable prices; what surprises people is being able to walk into 'another country' in Nicosia, the last divided capital in the world, and see up close a border with recent history.
In the south, the Republic of Cyprus uses the euro (€), so cards are accepted without any problem in cities and tourist areas. In the Turkish Cypriot north the official currency is the Turkish lira (TRY), although many shops also accept euros. It's a good idea to carry some cash for crossing to the north, for small villages and for family-run tavernas that sometimes don't take cards.
You fly into Larnaca (LCA) or Paphos (PFO), both with connections from Europe and the Middle East. Cyprus has no railway: the last train ran in 1951, so going by train is simply not an option. There are intercity buses between the main cities, but for the coast and the Troodos mountains almost everyone rents a car. Two practical warnings: you drive on the left, a British legacy, and crossings to the northern part of the island can only be made at authorised checkpoints —the one on Ledra Street, in Nicosia, is the most used—, where you should bear in mind that rental car insurance doesn't always cover the other side.
Cyprus has one of the longest beach seasons in the Mediterranean: the sea is warm enough for swimming from May to November. The best time depends on your plans. For the beach, June to September, although July and August bring intense heat (35°C or more) and high prices, especially in Ayia Napa. To combine beach time with historical sightseeing without roasting, aim for May, June, September and October: mild sea, good weather and fewer people.
Spring (March to May) is lovely for the interior, with the countryside in bloom and ideal temperatures for walking among ruins and Troodos villages. Winter is mild on the coast (15-18°C during the day), quiet and cheap, and oddly enough lets you ski in the Troodos mountains on some weekends in January-February while the sun shines on the coast. One event worth catching is Kataklysmos (the Festival of the Flood) in June, with celebrations by the sea.
Cypriot cuisine is Mediterranean, a mix of Greek and Middle Eastern. The star is meze, a succession of small dishes for sharing (there can be 15 or 20) that includes halloumi (the local cheese that's grilled), hummus, taramosalata, souvlaki, keftedes and more. Other must-tries: kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), souvla (meat grilled on large skewers) and sweets with honey and nuts. A full meze to share costs around 20-30 USD per person; a simple meal in a taverna, 15-25 USD.
To eat well and cheaply, move away from the most touristy promenades and look for village tavernas, where the food is more homemade and generous. Cypriot coffee (similar to Greek/Turkish coffee, served in a small cup) and local wine go well with it. In the north, the cuisine is more Turkish. Tipping isn't mandatory; leave 5-10% if the service was good. Verified July 2026.
Cyprus is a very safe destination: it has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe (a safety score of 8.3/10 in mid-2026) and you can walk around calmly by day and by night, even when travelling solo. The precautions are the basics of any tourist destination: the odd theft in crowded areas and the usual care with alcohol in the Ayia Napa nightlife. The island's division is political and fully peaceful; crossing the Green Line at the authorised checkpoints is safe and routine. The emergency number is 112.
No vaccinations are needed and tap water is drinkable in the south, although many people prefer bottled water for the taste. The sun is very strong: sunscreen, a cap and water, especially in summer. Healthcare in the south is good (Cyprus is in the EU); European travel insurance is enough, and it should cover water activities if you plan to dive. Note: if you cross to the north, check that your insurance covers you there, because it doesn't always include the Turkish side.
Cyprus is a mid-range, fairly affordable destination for Europe. A backpacker day costs between 55 and 90 USD: a bed in a hostel or guesthouse for 22-45 USD, meals in local tavernas for 15-25 USD, and cheap bus transport (a city ticket is around 1.60-3 USD; there are day passes). A mid-range trip, with a 3-star hotel (75-160 USD a night) and eating out, comes to around 110-190 USD per day. Verified July 2026.
Having your own transport helps a lot because the island is large and intercity buses, although cheap (5-11 USD), are slow; renting a car costs 27-65 USD per day (you drive on the left, a British legacy). Admission to archaeological sites is around 5-9 USD. In the north everything tends to be cheaper when paid in Turkish lira. Ayia Napa in high summer is the most expensive place on the island. Reference figures from July 2026.
In the south the language is Greek, and in the north Turkish, but English is very widely spoken throughout Cyprus (it was a British colony until 1960), so travellers get by easily in English; Spanish won't get you far. Cypriots are warm, hospitable and have a strong family and religious life (Orthodox in the south, Muslim in the north). The voltage is 230V with type G plugs (the British one with three flat pins), another colonial legacy: bring a British adapter, not a European one.
Connectivity is good and, in the south, an EU SIM or eSIM works with no extra roaming charges because Cyprus is in the European Union; in the north things change (it uses a Turkish network). Tips from someone who's been: you drive on the left, so keep that in mind if you rent a car; always carry your passport if you plan to cross the Green Line; and don't mix up the euro in the south with the Turkish lira in the north, plan some cash in each currency if you're going to cross.
Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean and one of the most fought over in its history. Lying at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, it was coveted by almost every empire that passed through these waters: Mycenaeans, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Frankish crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and British each laid their own layer over the one before. Out of that build-up came an identity that is deeply Greek in language and religion, but mixed in everything else.
Today the island is still split in two by a ceasefire line that runs right through its capital. In the south is the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union; in the north, a Turkish Cypriot entity recognised only by Turkey. This is the story of how the island where Aphrodite was born, the island of copper and of the world's oldest wine, also ended up as the last divided territory in Europe.
Read the full history of Cyprus →Pick a region and open each destination to see what to do, prices and how to get there.
These are the sources we cite most across this country's guides, with how many times each appears. Hard data —tickets, opening hours, requirements, transport— comes from the official source and carries the date we checked it. Restaurant and hotel picks come from guides and reviews, and we say so on each page.
