The capital of Cyprus is Lekosia (Nicosia). Lemesos (Limassol), Larnaca and Paphos are its other major towns.

Cyprus attracts millions of visitors each year with its crystal clear sea and its lush mountains, which are dotted with villages both traditional and beautiful. Furthermore, the entire island is covered with ancient Greek cities, Byzantine churches, monasteries, and castles, all monuments to the march of Cypriot Hellenism down through time. 

The island also has an lively night life, the finest tourist installations in the Mediterranean, and up-to-the-minute airports and harbours; all of which have turned Cyprus into one of the most important economical, commercial and tourist centres in the eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus is fortunate to have one of the most agreeable climates in Europe, with 11 out of 12 months a year enjoying brilliant sunshine. Do not forget your sunglasses while in Cyprus. They are indispensable due to the intense brightness of our sunshine. Extremes of temperatures are rare, meaning Cyprus has something to offer every month of the year, whether it's swimming (as late as November) or enjoying cultural sites and festivals (all year long).

For recreation Cyprus offers excellent facilities and trails for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking, skydiving, bungee jumping, and even ski holidays. Surprisingly, in a country where the average annual temperature does not drop below 20-degree mark, there is a mountain resort where the snow lasts from January to March. The island’s highest mountain peak is Olympus (1,950 m.) In the winter season you can enjoy skiing or snowboarding in the Troodos Mountains.

Today, Cyprus is a modern country that effortlessly harmonises European culture with ancient enchantment. 

Location 

South coast of Cyprus.

Population 

180,000

Climate and Weather

Limassol has a typical Mediterranean climate with a hot, dry summer which begins in mid-May and lasts until mid-October and with a rainy, but very moderate winter from December until the middle of March. Spring and Autumn are very brief periods, characterised by very good weather. Daylight hours, with a very clear sky and sunshine throughout the year, range from 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June.

The temperature during the day in summer ranges between 25 and 36 degrees Celsius, while in winter it ranges between 2 and 18 degrees Celsius depending on the altitude of the area.

The sea temperature is approximately 16 degrees Celsius in winter and 25 in the summer period. These specific temperatures allow for swimming throughout the year.

Language

Greek is the official language although English and Russian are both widely spoken. In addition, German is also spoken in the tourism industry.

Industry/Commerce/Economy

Limassol is considered to be one of the most significant commercial and industrial centers of Cyprus. It has developed into one of the largest Mediterranean harbors for the transit of goods and transportation of passengers and is rapidly developing into one of the most significant marine, tourist, commercial and service centers in the area.

Harbour

Limassol harbor is a harbor of multiple purposes, and is the main harbor of Cyprus. The harbor’s marine area covers one square kilometer, while its terrestrial  area covers 1.3 square kilometers.

Currency

Euro

Currency

Euro

Government

Republic since 1960 with a democratically elected parliament

Religion

Greek Orthodox

Cuisine

Cyprus cuisine is comprised of a combination of the Mediterranean, Southern European and Middle Eastern cuisines.

The most popular dish is kebab wrapped in a pitta («souvlaki stin pitta»), and Cypriot cheese («halloumi») Local dishes are tasty and appetizing, but the first thing you should try is a "meze" which will be served at any taverna. A meze is a rich selection of around 20 appetizers and dips. Meze comes in three types: meat, fish, and mixed. When ordering any type of meze, you become part of a gastronomic ritual. Dishes will be placed at your table in a certain order, over a period of one and a half to two hours. A glass of Zivania, the national Cypriot drink made from grapes will go well with any meze to stir your appetite.

Traditional desserts include green walnuts in syrup; rizogalo (sweet rice pudding with cinnamon), halva, made from semolina and nuts with sugar, honey and vegetable oil, baklava, and other kadaifi eastern sweets

Banks

Visitors to Cyprus can exchange currency, open bank accounts, send cash and carry out various types of non-cash transactions in banks.

Mon-Fri 08:15 - 13:30 May - September

Mon-Fri 08:30 - 13:30 and Mon.15:15 - 16:45 October - April.

Shops

Shops are open during the week generally from 09:00 - 13:00 and from 15:00 - 19:00 (with some shops also being open until 21:00), on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 09:00-13:00. Some are also open on Sundays and holidays.

Post

Post Offices are open weekdays from 07:30 - 17:30 for District Post Offices and 08:00 – 14:30 for urban and rural Post Offices.

Telecommunications

To use payphones, you will have to buy phone cards from post offices or newspaper kiosks. For calls within Cyprus, Pay As You Go sim cards are available from most kiosks at a reasonably low cost.

Electricity

240 volts AC, 50Hz.Square 13-amp three-pin plugs (UK-type) are used.

Adaptor plugs are widely available from hotel receptions or shops.

Country Code

+357

Important Telephone Numbers

Police 112/199

Fire brigade- 112

Ambulance-   112

General Phone Information - 11800

Urban Busses – 25 354 050

Airports/Flight Information – 7777 8833

Harbour Authority – 25 207 200

Pharmacies (all day/all night) – 9090 1405

Lemesos Municipality – 25 884 300

Yermasoyia Municipality – 25 879 898

Ayios Athanasios Municipality – 25 724 252

Mesa Yeitonia Municipality – 25 723 597

Kato Polemidia Municipality – 25 821 382