Located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea directly south of Turkey, Cyprus has always been considered a strategic steppingstone and thus has been occupied by many great empires throughout history. Greek, Persian, Roman, Egyptian and Venetian archaeological sites chronicle the history of these occupations.
In 1960, the Cypriots won their independence from the U.K., having established a compromise between the Greek and Turkish communities who shared the island. But in 1974, Turkish troops occupied the northern third of the island. Cyprus today remains a nation divided; Turks in the north and Greeks in the south.
Greek and Turkish are the official languages in Cyprus. English is also widely spoken, especially in the south. Greek Orthodox is the predominant religion in Cyprus, but Islam is prevalent in the Turkish north.
The climate is classical Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild, wet winters. There is little if any rainfall June-September. The temperate climate, along with rugged coastline, sandy beaches, and rocky hills are factors in attracting thousands of visitors yearly. Allergy sufferers, however, may experience difficulties due to the dry, dusty climate. In the winter, the higher elevations of the Troodhos Mountains receive a considerable amount of snow and are popular for skiing.
Telecommunications in the northern sector of Cyprus are based on the Turkish system and the south on the British system. Coin-operated and phone-card phones are widely available in the south. The Greek section of the island also has extensive GSM 900 cell phone coverage. Internet cafes are available in South Cyprus' major towns.
Paphos International Airport is on the southwest coast and Larnaca International Airport is in the southeast. Popular airlines servicing the island include: Cyprus Airways, Aegean Airlines, Olympic Airlines, British Airways, Austrian, Lufthansa Airlines and Aeroflot Airlines Taxis and rental cars are readily available; book rentals well in advance for summer. Main roads in Cyprus are in good condition, though secondary and mountain roads are narrow and winding. Traffic moves on the left in the south and on the right in the north.
Compared with the West, Cyprus is relatively inexpensive. Hotels range from 5 star, international chains such as Four Seasons and Le Meridien to relatively inexpensive, small local inns. Location to the beach, service and amenities as well as seasonality influence hotel rates.
The crime rate in both sectors of Cyprus is low, but the number of petty thefts in Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca and Limassol is on the rise. There have also been assaults on young foreign males mistaken for British servicemen stationed on the island. Civil unrest is uncommon, but violent incidents occasionally occur along the Green Line that partitions the country.
The iJET® Intelligence Center
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