Cyprus is located south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon, and northwest of Israel. Its strategic location and relative neutrality in relation to many of the Middle Eastern nations have made it something of a crossroads and it has been helpful in some delicate diplomatic proceedings.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sardinia and Sicily, and ahead of Crete.

There are three politically distinct areas in the island: the Republic of Cyprus (a member of the European Union) is a state with wide international recognition. However it only controls territory in the south. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus acts as a de facto separate country. The British military sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, while legally separate from either republic, have open borders with the Republic of Cyprus.

Cyprus is divided into 6 administrative regions, each named for its administrative capital. Since 1974, the whole of Kyrenia district, most of Famagusta district, and the northern portion of Nicosia district have been under Turkish military control. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus administers those areas. The Republic of Cyprus administers the following districts:

-Famagusta
-Larnaca
-Limassol
-Nicosia (Capital)
-Paphos
-Akrotiri and Dhekelia: British sovereign areas with a primarily military use. Limited in things to see and do, but generally accessible from the Republic of Cyprus districts.

Nicosia is the capital; it is divided by `The Green Line` into two parts, similar to the way Berlin was once divided. Access between the two parts of Cyprus has often been restricted but in recent years has been generally problem-free. Many visitors go to Larnaca (Larnaka), the major port located on the southeast coast of the island.

Travel to/from any other country from/to Cyprus will (as of now) result in the normal immigration checks, although customs checks will be waived when travelling to/from another EU country.

To enter Southern Cyprus, holders of passports from the USA (among other countries) do not require a visa if you are a tourists and stay for fewer than 90 days.

The legal points of entry are: Paphos and Larnaca airports; and Limassol, Larnaca, Latchi and Paphos ports. The North is not considered a legal point of entry.

To visit Northern Cyprus from another country, entry visas can be obtained on arrival by all foreign nationals (other than Nigerians and Armenians). You will need a full valid passport and a return ticket.

Cyprus is served by a number of international airlines and is also served by charter airlines, mainly from the UK, during the summer. Its flagship airline is Cyprus Air.

Cyprus is also visited by many cruise ships. Louis Cruises is one that offers transit between Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt, among other destinations.

The two main airports of Cyprus are Larnaca and Paphos in the south of the island.

Cyprus is serviced by a variety of different carriers. There are flight connections with most major European cities, e.g. Athens, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Milan) and many Eastern European countries. There are also connections to almost all Middle Eastern capitals. There are no flights to Turkey from the south.

There is a frequent and cheap (around €1.50) public bus connection from the airport into central Larnaca, but it is poorly marked. The bus stop is at the departure hall level (upstairs) and shows a sign with a series of three digit bus numbers. Buses go to `Finikoudes`, at the beach in Larnaca where buses to other destinations in Cyprus leave.

There is also a direct Larnaca Airport - Nicosia, Nicosia - Larnaca Airport Bus service provided by Kapnos Airport Shuttle. The journey takes around 30 - 45 min (depending on the traffic and the hour), and a one way ticket costs around €8 per person. There are bus routes throughout the night.

There is also in airport in the southwest of the island, near the city of Paphos. Its main carrier is RyanAir and it thus serves low-priced flights to destinations in Europe. There are also lots of cheap flights into Ercan International Airport, which lies in the northern part of the island, all going via Turkey.

In south Cyprus, whether you arrive in Larnaca or Paphos, the best ways to get to your hotel are by bus, by taxi or by private shuttle.

From Larnaca International Airport (LCA), public buses run to the city center from Monday to Saturday, but stop early in the evening. From Paphos International Airport (PFO), public bus services run through both the upper and lower towns of Paphos to the main waterside terminal - from May to October, these buses run pretty much every hour until midnight.

Taxis are another option for airport transfers in Cyprus. Taxis are metered, with the journey to town from Larnaca airport typically costing about €15-€20. From Paphos airport, a taxi ride to town will usually cost around €25.

If the towns of Larnaca and Paphos are not your final destination, private shuttle services are also a convenient option for airport transfers in Cyprus. Most shuttles run to popular destinations such as Limassol, Ayia Napa and Protaras.

In the north, you’ll find taxis aplenty at Ercan Airport (ECN). Shuttle buses to Kyrenia, North Nicosia (Lefkoºa) and Famagusta are also available.

If you take a taxi from either Larnaca or Paphos airport find out what the fare will be before starting your journey. It is best to book your airport transfer online before you arrive. Taxis from Larnaca airport are not so expensive as it`s only a short distance from the airport into the center of Larnaca.

The majority of taxis in Cyprus are Mercedes and most are air-conditioned and have a meter. There are two tariff periods: Tariff 1 from 6:00 am - 8:30 pm and Tariff 2 from 8:30 pm – 6:00 am.

Occasional ferries connect Cyprus to Greece. There are 2 and 3 day cruises running in the summer months from about April to October and they take passengers one way between Israel and Cyprus. These mini cruises also run to Syria, Lebanon, Rhodes, the Greek Islands, The Black Sea and The Adriatic.

The ferry service from Greece runs from Piraeus, Rhodes and Ayios Nikolaos in Crete to Limassol. You may also catch a freighter from Italy, Portugal, Southampton and various other European ports.

There is a regular ferry service from Turkey, connecting Taºucu to Girne (north of Nicosia).

There are no trains in Cyprus so the only way to travel is by using buses, taxis or service-taxis.

There are five different companies in the country that cover districts in Larnaca, Nicosia, Paphos and Famagusta. For more information on the comprehensive network of bus routes all over Cyprus visit: www.cyprusbybus.com.

Buses in the south are generally modern and punctual, and services are regular during the peak tourist season. Bus services in low season, in rural regions and in the north tend to be less reliable, though.

Nicosia Municipality operates the well-known Yellow Buses which will get you around the city within the city walls. There is no fare charge for these routes.

On the Turkish side, buses are more frequent (and smaller). In Nicosia, they depart from stops at the street north of the northern gate. Prices are similar to prices on the Greek side of Cyprus. Beware that return tickets may not be valid on all buses on the Turkish side.

You have a choice of buying one-time ticket or an unlimited ticket for a day/week/month. A single day ticket costs about €1.50 (night ticket €2.50), daily unlimited is about €5, and weekly is about €20.

Note: The buses don`t run late during the evening so if you want to travel around it`s a good idea to rent a car.

Car rental is the easiest (but more expensive) way to get around the island. Cars drive on the left side of the road in Cyprus. However, driving standards are poor. Drivers can be aggressive and don`t necessarily follow the road rules. Some main roads do not even have road markings and people often sound their horn, especially in Nicosia.

If you want to rent a car in Cyprus, you`ll need an international driver`s license. You can rent a car when you arrive at the airport or at your final destination. You can also pre-book a car online. The price depends on the type of car you rent and starts at approximately €50 a day.

If you plan to drive you will open yourself to many more opportunities for exploring!

Private taxis are another option for getting around in Cyprus. Travelling within towns is usually cheap. In the north and more rural areas, however, taxis often don`t have meters, so it`s important to negotiate a fare before setting off.

There are also shared taxis, which are operated by private companies and usually carry between four and eight passengers at once. The quality of shared taxis varies from place to place in Cyprus.

The main crossings between the south and north are:

-Astromerits/Zodhia (by car only)

-Agios Dometios/Kermia/Metehan

-Ledra Palace (by car or foot) - the oldest crossing, just outside the walls of old Nicosia to the west of the city

-Pergamos/Beyarmudu

-Strovilia near Agios Nikolaos - located at the eastern part of the island

-Ledras Str. (foot only) - the pedestrian crossing is located at the old dead-end of the most popular street of Nicosia.

Crossing the green line is very simple. The visa form to be completed is very basic and requires only the name, the nationality and the passport (or identity card) number to be entered. Then it is stamped, and the whole procedure should take no more than a few minutes. Upon return, it is stamped again.

Cyprus is a very safe country, with very little violent crime. However, it is wise to be careful when accepting drinks from strangers, especially in Paphos, since there have been numerous occasions of muggings.

Note also that the numerous Cypriot `cabarets` are not what their name implies but rather brothels associated with organized crime.

Bicycle road network is well-established and quite popular between major coastal cities. Most towns in south Cyprus have bike rental companies, and there are also a few in the north. But it`s best to limit long-distance bike trips to the winter, spring and autumn, as the hot summer temperatures can make biking a serious sweat-fest.

Mountain bikers have the opportunity to experience some great mountain routes while staying overnight in traditional agrohotels in the mountain regions of Troodos, in villages of Pitsilia region, such as Agros, Kyperounda, Pelendri Potamitissa.

Since January 1st, 2008, Cyprus has adopted the Euro as its official currency. Many merchants have been accepting of foreign currency. Northern Cyprus uses the Turkish Lira as its official currency.

All the banks in Cyprus are able to provide foreign currency exchange services. Such services can also be provided by hotels. Additionally, the exchange rates of all major international currencies are offered by all banks in Cyprus.

Tipping: In Cyprus, there is a 10% charge of the product or service in hotels and restaurants and thus tipping is not compulsory. However, everyone is always welcome to provide tips, something that will undoubtedly be appreciated

Emergency services:

-Ambulance 199
-Police and Fire 112