AGTA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here you will find some important information to note before you visit Cyprus.
Before you contact AGTA (UK), please ensure that your question cannot be
answered here first, as you will find booking a holiday to Cyprus a lot easier
when you have knowledge of the country, its customs and the Law of Cyprus.
Q. How long is the flight to Cyprus?
A. The flight from London will take four and a half hours.
Q. How many months validity do I need on my passport?
A. For British Passport holders and EU members, as long as your passport is valid
for duration of your stay in Cyprus. Even if you have a couple of days left on
your passport when you return back to the UK, you are fine to travel.
Q. What is the time difference between Cyprus and the UK?
A: Cyprus is two hours ahead of the UK (GMT+3).
Q. What are the 'Duty Free' regulations; how many cigarettes can I bring back
home?
A: There are no specific limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco you take
with you when you travel between European Union countries, as long as it is for
personal use and not intended for resale. VAT and duties are included in the
price you pay. For your guidance, goods are considered to be for your own
personal use if you limit your alcohol and tobacco purchases to:
- 800 cigarettes
- 400 cigarillos
- 200 cigars
- 1 kg of loose tobacco
- 10 litres of spirits
- 20 litres of fortified wine, such as port or sherry
- 90 litres of wine, of which a maximum of 60 litres is sparkling wine
- 110 litres of beer
These rules already apply to Malta and Cyprus. However, the 15 old EU countries
may maintain certain limits on cigarettes and tobacco products brought in from
the other new EU countries for limited period.
Q: What is the Cypriot currency?
A: The currency of the Republic of Cyprus is the Euro (€), which is
divided into 100 cents. Notes and coins currently in circulation are:
- €500 note
- €200 note
- €100 note
- €50 note
- €20 note
- €10 note
- €5 note
- €2 coin
- €1 coin
- 50¢ coin
- 20¢ coin
- 10¢ coin
- 5¢ coin
- 2¢ coin
- 1¢ coin
Commercial banks quote daily the exchange rates of the Cyprus Euro against all
major foreign currencies.
Q. What power plugs and sockets are used in Cyprus?
A. The supply in Cyprus is 240 volts, a.c. 50 Hz. Sockets are usually 13 amp,
square-pin in most buildings.
Q. What clothes should I take to Cyprus?
A. By months, the clothing and apparel recommendations are shown below:
April - May: Days are pleasantly warm, but temperatures may fall
a bit at night. Medium-weight and summer apparel; light woollies or long-sleeved
cotton for the evenings. Excellent season for those who prefer to enjoy nature,
as the countryside is green and flowers are in blossom.
June - August: These are the warmest months of the Cypriot
summer. Only very light-weight clothing is needed. The weather at this time of
year is ideal for swimming and all beach / water activities.
September - October: The days during this period are warm, but
the evenings are cooler, especially in October. Light-weight apparel for the day
and medium-weight for the evenings is best in October. Swimming and water-sports
are still at their best.
November: The days are pleasantly warm in November,
medium-weight apparel and light woollies are recommended. The November weather
is ideal for autumn travel. Lunches in the open-air are still a delight.
Sunbathing and even swimming can still be enjoyed, as well as most outdoor
sports.
December - January: This period is winter time for Cypriots but
most likely resembles autumn for Britons! It may rain occasionally but the
promise of glorious sunshine is still there. Winter clothing is recommended;
heavy coats are not! Outdoor activities and excursions can be enjoyed.
February: The possibility of exceptionally warm days in February
is likely. Almond trees in bloom, occasional rain, and mild day time
temperatures are the harbingers of spring. It can be quite cold, however, in the
evenings. Winter apparel is recommended. Conditions are ideal for snow skiing on
Troodos mountains.
March: Moderating weather with nature at its best. Winter
apparel with medium-weight wear is recommended. Most outdoor activities can be
enjoyed and March is an excellent period for long walks in the country.
Q. Which driving licences are accepted in Cyprus?
A. Visitors in Cyprus can drive using a valid International Driving Licence, or
their National Driving Licence, provided it is valid for the class of vehicle
they wish to drive. A Cyprus Driving Licence costs £35 for a lifetime*. European
driving licences are recognised officially by the law 94(1)/01.
Driving licences issued in Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Australia, Switzerland,
Zimbabwe, the United States of America, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa
and Russia, must be replaced after a period of six months.
Non European citizens and citizens who come from the previously mentioned
countries are allowed to drive holding their National Driving Licence for a
period of about 30 days (this period is not strictly restricted). If they are
holders of an International Driving Licence they are allowed to drive provided
their licence is valid.
Q. Do the people in Cyprus speak English?
A. Yes. English is widely spoken and understood.
Q. Is Cyprus a member of the European Union (EU)?
A. Yes. Cyprus has been an EU member since May 2004.
Q. Which airlines travel from the UK to Cyprus?
A. The following airlines provide travel from the UK to Cyprus*:
- Cyprus airways
- British Airways
- EasyJet
- Monarch Airways
- Excel
- Olympic Airways
- Thomas Cook
- Tomsonfly
Q. How does one get around in Cyprus?
A. Driving in Cyprus is most advisable as regular transport services are not
available to all remote areas where many places of interest are to be found.
Fairly well-surfaced roads complying with international traffic requirements
link the towns and the various villages.
Four lane motorways connect the capital, Lefkosia with the coastal towns of
Lemesos, Larnaka and one part of Pafos.
Minor roads and forest roads are still largely unsurfaced but in good-to-fair
condition. Appropriate care should be taken when using these roads, especially
during wet weather.
Visitors wishing to bring their own car to Cyprus can do so, for a period of up
to 3 months, provided the car has the valid registration licence of its country
of origin. The period may be extended accordingly, provided the person is
considered a visitor by the Department of Customs & Excise.
Q. Does Cyprus have facilities for disabled people?
A. A number of facilities are available to the handicapped person wishing to
visit Cyprus.
Hotels in all parts of the island have a comprehensive range of facilities,
meeting the requirements of disabled persons. Since each hotel offers different
facilities, it is advisable to contact the hotels directly in order to ascertain
that they have the right facilities for a particular disability. Hotels offering
facilities for the disabled can be found in the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s
annual 'Guide to hotels, Travel Agencies and other Tourist Establishments'
available from the Cyprus Tourist Organisation directly. The symbols appearing
under the name of each hotel correspond to the facilities offered by the hotel.
Upon arrival at and departure from the Larnaka and Pafos International
Airports, special truck-lifts are available to help disabled people to embark or
disembark from the aircraft. Both airports provide wheelchairs and special
washrooms have been constructed to facilitate disabled people.
The use of international stickers for disabled people is legally enforced in
Cyprus and stickers can be obtained from the Pancyprian Organisation for
Disabled Persons, in Lefkosia (Nicosia).
Most towns in Cyprus are flat and most places are easily accessible with a
wheelchair. In Lefkosia (Nicosia), quite a number of roads have ramps as well as
certain entertainment places.
Transport around the island can be arranged if prior notice is given to the
transport companies. Special buses with low gradient ramps, safety belts and air
conditioning are available*.
For your information...
* The details on this page were correct at the time of publishing.