It is not enough to head to for the beautiful island of Cyprus all geared up. Here is some basic stuff you should know when traveling to Cyprus.

1.    Weather – Hot! Hot! Hot!  Cyprus is in the southeast of the Meditteranean so you can expect hot weather during summer.  It’s best to visit Cyprus during spring and autumn.  During winter, it doesn’t get really cold.

2.    Airports – Cyprus has two major airports.  Paphos airport serves the West Coast including Nicosia, Limassol, Pissouri, and Polis.  If you are going to visit the East Coast, then it’s the Larnaca airport you should get to.  This is near Agia, Pernera, Kapparis, Protaras, and Napa.  Be sure to get it right.  You don’t want to spend hours shuttling from one airport to another or being late for a connecting flight!

3.    Hire a Car – The best and easy way to see the sights in Cyprus is to hire a car.  Yup, there are taxi cabs available but if you’re all set to see a lot of the island, better to have your own vehicle.  Cab fare can get expensive and getting on buses will not let you explore the side streets.  You can hire a car online and ask for it to be delivered to the airport once you arrive.  It can get pretty hot in Cyprus so don’t forget to specify that you need a car that has airconditioning.

4.    Driving in Cyprus – In Cyprus, you drive at the left side of the road.  Most rental cars are right-hand drive. 

5.    Drinking Water – Bottled water is recommended for tourists as the tap water in Cyprus may not taste good.   Sources of tap water in Cyprus may be chlorinated rain water or chlorinated desalinated sea water.

6.    Food – Try out authentic Cypriot food.  Eating in Larnaca is pricier than eating in Paphos.  Don’t go home without trying their grilled Haloumi or sheep’s milk cheese, Tava, Meze, Keftedhes, and Moussaka.  Eat what the locals eat!

7.    Tipping – In restaurants, it is not expected to leave a tip.  Tips are usually included in the bill.  But if you find the service real good, 10% tip is okay.