Why Cyprus
The island has been divided since 1974 and that is the first thing to grasp. The south is the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member. The north is under Turkish administration, recognised by Turkey alone. Between them, a UN-controlled buffer zone crosses Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe.
The south holds the Graeco-Roman sites — Kourion, Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings — and the beach resorts. The Troodos mountains, in the centre, rise to nearly two thousand metres and hold World Heritage Byzantine churches.
April–May and September–October are ideal. Summer passes forty degrees inland. Winter is mild on the coast and snowy in the Troodos — you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon, which is rare.
Entry and stay
Cyprus is a member of the European Union but is not part of the Schengen area: controls at internal borders with Cyprus have not been lifted. That distinction matters for visa-requiring nationalities, since a Schengen visa is not valid here.
An identity card is enough for nationals of the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
Source: European Commission, checked on 22 September 2026. Other nationalities fall under the Cypriot regime, to be checked with the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.
Getting around
There is no railway at all. Intercity buses link the towns cheaply but infrequently, and there is almost nothing on Sundays.
A car is the realistic mode for the Troodos and the capes. Driving is on the left, a British legacy, and the mountain roads are narrow.
Crossing between south and north is done at designated checkpoints, with identity checks. Car hire insurance often does not cover the north: check before crossing.
Money
Euro in the south, Turkish lira in the north. It is one of the few islands where you change currency by changing side.
Cards are widely accepted in the south; the north runs more on cash.
Before you go
The Department of Antiquities sites keep seasonal hours and sell a multi-site card — one day, three days or seven — which pays off from the third site on.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the Ayia Napa resorts are loud and heavily drinking. The reputation is deserved, and it applies to one specific strip only.
Water is a scarce and costly resource on the island: summer restrictions exist and hotels say so.