Time in Cyprus. Time zone and time in Cyprus

When going on vacation or a business trip to Cyprus, everyone tries to plan for even the smallest details - making several copies of documents, distributing money into different pockets, drawing up a route for exploring the island of Aphrodite and buying guidebooks in advance, and also taking with them a huge suitcase of things.

However, very often, in the wake of anticipation of the trip and the upcoming bright impressions from Cyprus, many forget about such elementary phenomena as changing the time zone and time difference.

Meanwhile, knowledge about changing the clock hands to daylight saving/ winter time, the time difference between Moscow and other cities, as well as what features exist in Cyprus have never bothered anyone.

And although being late, according to the good Mediterranean tradition, is not something supernatural and strictly punishable, the absence of even a hint of punctuality can harm the conclusion of a deal.

And if you don’t take into account the time on vacation, you can be left without breakfast, not have time for an excursion, to the store, or even to your plane.

Time in Cyprus is now.

Time zone of Cyprus.

Cypriots live according to Eastern European Time - Eastern European Time or for short EET.

This means that the local time zone is UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. In relation to the original time zone, Greenwich, which has a longitude of 0, Cyprus has a time zone with an offset of +2 hours in winter mode and +3 hours in summer mode. Cyprus traditionally switches to daylight saving time on the last Sunday in March at 3am (1am GMT). The hands move forward 1 hour. Residents of the island switch to winter time on the last Sunday in October, at 4 a.m. (also at 1 a.m. GMT). The hands move back 1 hour.

It should be noted that the European Parliament recently decided to abolish the transition to summer/winter time. And already in the spring, Cyprus, like a number of other EU countries, will have to give a final answer whether it will remain in winter time permanently or switch to summer time. This issue causes frequent debate among the residents of Cyprus, since constant switching of the clock is a necessity for the island.

The main reason is that the sun sets very early in Cyprus, especially in winter months. If in June-July sunset occurs around 8 o'clock in the evening, then in December-January Cyprus is plunged into darkness for about 5 o'clock. Dawn, on the contrary, occurs very early - in the summer at about 5 o'clock in the morning, and in the winter at about 7 o'clock.

Unlike the southern part of the island, Northern Cyprus does not switch to daylight saving time and remains in the time zone of Eastern Europe (UTC+2). Due to daylight saving time in some populated areas territory of the Green Line - a UN buffer area, confusion and confusion sometimes arise between the Greek and Turkish regions of the island.

Time difference between Cyprus and Moscow.

Since Russia has an immense size and as many as 9 time zones, the time in Cyprus is most often compared with Moscow. Moscow is in the UTC+3 time zone. Thus, it is easy to calculate that the time difference between Cyprus and Moscow is 1 hour in winter and 0 hours in summer. This means that when in winter in Cyprus 23.00 in Moscow it is already midnight, but in summer the time between the countries is the same.

Time difference between Cyprus and major Russian cities:

• With Moscow - 1 hour in winter and 0 hours in summer
• With Yekaterinburg - 3 hours in winter and 2 in summer
• From Novosibirsk - 4 hours in winter and 3 in summer
• From Krasnoyarsk - 5 hours in winter and 4 in summer
• With Irkutsk - 6 hours in winter and 5 in summer
• With Vladivostok - 8 hours in winter and 7 in summer

It is noteworthy that Cyprus has no time difference at all with Ukraine, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, but, for example, with the capital of Great Britain it is 2 hours all year round.

And finally, some tips on how to quickly adapt to the new time zone in Cyprus:

1. In order to quickly adapt to Cyprus new mode, a few days before the trip, begin to little by little prepare your body for the trip: try to fall asleep and wake up a little later than usual.
2. While still on the plane, set your watch to Cyprus time. This will prepare you psychologically for the new regime, and will also help you not to miss your return flight.
3. During the flight, avoid drinking alcohol and energy drinks: your body does not need unnecessary overload.
4. Upon arrival, try to have a good rest, avoid active movements, long trips and unnecessary overload in the first days.
5. Spending more time in the sun promotes the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates our biological circadian rhythms.
6. And finally, let your body relax and enjoy your holiday in Cyprus. The Mediterranean climate and warm sea contribute to this perfectly!

Now you not only know what time it is in Cyprus, but you can also easily cope with the difficulties of flying and changing time zones!

When going on vacation or a business trip to Cyprus, you should find out in advance whether there is a time difference and how big it is. Although being late, according to the good Mediterranean tradition, is not something supernatural and strictly punishable, the absence of even a hint of punctuality can harm the conclusion of a deal. And if you don’t take into account the time on vacation, you can be left without breakfast, not have time for an excursion, to the store, or even to your plane.

Cypriots live according to Eastern European Time (EET for short). This means that the local time zone is UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. The practice of daylight saving time has been firmly established since British colonization. Now the British officially control only about 2% of the island's territory, but unofficially they still continue to influence the internal politics of the state.

Banks, museums and government services on the island are open only on weekdays

Time difference in Cyprus

Today, the time difference with Cyprus near the capital of Great Britain is 2 hours all year round, because the Greenwich meridian (zero) has Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer). The difference with Moscow is 1 hour in the summer, and 2 hours in the winter, since the capital of Russia is invariably located in the UTC+4 time zone. It is noteworthy that there is no time difference with Ukraine at all.

• The time difference between Moscow and Cyprus is 2 hours in winter and 1 hour in summer
• With Yekaterinburg – 4 hours in winter and 3 in summer
• From Novosibirsk – 5 hours in winter and 4 in summer
• With Krasnoyarsk – 6 hours in winter and 5 in summer
• With Irkutsk – 7 hours in winter and 6 in summer
• With Vladivostok – 9 hours in winter and 8 in summer
• With Kyiv – absent all year round

Changing clocks between summer and winter time

Cypriots switch to summer time on the last weekend of March, on Sunday, at 3 a.m. (1 a.m. GMT). The hands move forward an hour. Residents of the island switch to winter time on the last weekend of October, on Sunday, at 4 a.m. (also at 1 a.m. GMT). The hands move back an hour.

Cypriots switch to daylight saving time on the last weekend of March.

It is noteworthy that the closest neighbors (and direct tourist competitors) - Greece and Turkey - are in the same time zone - UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. This is quite convenient for those who are going to visit three countries at once or go on a short cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Helpful information

The opening hours of all institutions in Cyprus are strictly regulated. So, government agencies, banks, museums on the island are open only on weekdays, regardless of the season. Moreover, if from September 1 to June 30 they are open from 7:30 to 18:00 (lunch from 14:30 to 15:00), then from July 1 to August 31, during the holiday period - only until lunch, that is, until half past three.

Private enterprises (including private banks) work according to their own schedule, but also only on weekdays. From September 15 to May 31 – from 8:00 to 18:00, with a break from 13:00 to 15:00. From June 1 to September 14 - from 8:00 to 19:00, siesta break - from 13:00 to 16:00. In restaurants, cafes, hotels, breakfast is served from 7:00 to 10:00, lunch - from 12:00 to 15:00, dinner - from 19:00 until closing or until the last visitor.

On weekdays, stores are usually open from 7:00 to 21:00

Shops are open from morning to evening, usually from 7:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and until 19:00 on Saturday. Shops in Cyprus are closed on Sunday. In addition, in the summer season they often close for siesta (usually from 13-14 hours to 16-17 hours). Before major Orthodox holidays - Christmas and Easter - stores operate according to special hours. So, in December they can work seven days a week until 20:00 and close on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. 10 days in advance and up to Maundy Thursday, stores are open until 20:00 (7 days a week). On Good Friday trading ends at 18:00 and does not resume until Monday.

It is worth noting that seasonal sales are also regulated in Cyprus. No matter what the market traders say, trying to sell goods, sales on the island are officially held only in February and August.

Cyprus - paradise, which gave people love, because it was here that the goddess Aphrodite was born. She emerged from the sea foam, illuminated by the bright rays of the sun, accompanied by the ringing singing of birds. Everything here seems to be filled with her presence: the blue sky, fragrant plants, quiet starry nights. Cool forests beckon into their shade, golden beaches fill you with joy and health, and a delicious aroma spreads from citrus orchards everywhere.

Everyone who goes to the island is interested in the time difference with Cyprus. After all, for comfortable rest It is important that the body adapts easily. When going on a trip, it is better to find out in advance what time zone the resort is located in.

Time difference with Cyprus

Everyone knows that a day consists of 24 hours. In accordance with this, our entire planet is divided into the same number of time zones. Also, the belt system contains 24 meridians. The zero zone, where the countdown begins, is called its longitude equal to zero. Having studied the map of time zones, we can conclude that Cyprus has +2 hours relative to Greenwich.

So, for people traveling Moscow-Cyprus, the time difference will be only one hour. This has a very positive effect on the condition of the body. Moscow tourists do not have to adapt at all. The flight in comfortable conditions takes only four hours, so on the first day, without wasting time recuperating after the journey, you can plunge into this exotic world, and hour difference with Cyprus does not affect your well-being in any way.

General description of the island

Cyprus is famous for its beautiful landscapes. Echoes of ancient Byzantine culture can be seen everywhere here. Once upon a time, the island was part of Byzantium; Turkish, British and Arab conquerors dominated here at one time. Old castle The colossus testifies to Byzantine rule. Driving on the left confirms that the island was once conquered by the British.

The vast territory of the island is occupied by mountains, they are covered with luxurious coniferous forests. Many traces of ancient monasteries and ancient cities were lost in them. All tourists strive to visit these unforgettable places.

The capital of Cyprus is called Nicosia. On its territory there are many interesting historical monuments. The largest resorts on the island are the cities of Paphos, Larnaca, Ayia Napa and, of course, Protaras. All of them are located in the south of the island. They are distinguished by a high level of ecology and have received European Union awards. Tourists vacationing here can go on excursions to Israel, Egypt or the island of Rhodes.

Climate

Tourists are interested, of course, not only in the time difference with Cyprus, but also in local natural conditions. A mild Mediterranean climate prevails here. The weather is always warm, in summer the unobtrusive sun warms the air to 35 degrees, but there is no sultry heat, as the sea breeze pleasantly brings coolness. In winter, the temperature does not drop below 15 degrees.

Doctors believe that Cyprus is a place with a healthy climate. Those who suffer from thyroid diseases often recover without any medications after living on this island for a year and a half. The time difference with Cyprus is not noticeable at all for residents of Central Russia; this is also an important factor for restoring health, because the body does not require additional strength to adapt.

Sea and sun

All beaches in Cyprus are municipal, and most often you have to pay for beach equipment. The beaches in Ayia Napa are considered the best. Picturesque Nissi Beach is also attractive with its snow-white sand; there is a small island in the water nearby. Popular in Cyprus are Sand Bay, Golden Sands. Beautiful pebble beach Petra tou Romio stands apart. The longest beach in Cyprus is Ladies' Mile, it is located west of Limassol and is extremely popular among local population. Beach parties are often held on Governor's Beach. Phinikoudes and Mackenzie are popular in Larnaca. Often hotels in Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol provide their guests with free beach equipment, but in Ayia Napa and Protaras this is very rare.

Where to stay

The time difference with Cyprus is easily determined. Knowing that Cyprus is located +2 hours from the Greenwich meridian, being at any point, you can calculate the time of arrival on the island. It is worth noting that there are many hotels on the island that welcome guests around the clock. The categories of service here are different, from two stars to five. Two-star hotels are of a decent standard and are equipped with air conditioning, although this costs extra. You can often find Russian-speaking staff in hotels. Breakfast in 2* hotels is continental, 3-5* hotels are served as a buffet. Some hotels offer half board: lunch or dinner of your choice. Modern hotels categories 2-4* offer an all-inclusive system. The higher the rating of Ayia Napa hotels, the more likely it is that the establishment has its own beach.

What to see

Nicosia is considered one of the most ancient cities in the world. Here you can see many architectural masterpieces, which are thousands of years old. The Famagusta Gate is located in the old part of the city. Musical evenings and exhibitions are now constantly held here. Nearby, north of the gate, is the Byzantine church of Chrysaliniotissa, which houses a stunning collection of Byzantine icons. It should be noted that all the historical attractions are located here close to each other, you can get around them all on foot.

For residents of Russia, the time difference with Cyprus is completely imperceptible, so many here easily wake up early and watch the sunrise. Such beauty can only be seen in these heavenly places. The rising bright red sun, snowy mountain peaks and the gentle rustling of the waves, at some point it seems that the goddess Aphrodite is about to emerge from the sea foam. Thousands of lovers strive to come to Cyprus to get into this magical atmosphere and receive the blessing of the goddess of love.

Entertainment

In the resorts of Cyprus, no one is bored. The beach offers a variety of activities during the day: paragliding, pleasure boats, banana boat rides, speed skiing, canoeing, and glass-bottom boat cruises. Everywhere on the shore there are aquariums, dolphinariums, and water parks. In Paphos, golf courses surprise even professionals with their convenient layout. At night, dozens of clubs and bars are open for lovers of noisy parties and discos. Those who prefer a quiet, romantic environment can also find many restaurants with a cozy atmosphere here.

Tourists planning to spend their long-awaited vacation in distant hot countries almost always experience a change in time zones. Those who have decided to relax in the picturesque Cypriot resorts and have already purchased vouchers need to find out everything about the time in Cyprus and understand what time difference exists between the Mediterranean island and the cities of Russia. This important information will help travelers not get confused when changing their clocks after arrival, not be late for anything on vacation, plan trips to local shops and excursions, and also catch the plane back home at the end of the vacation.

Basic information

There is only one time zone throughout the entire Mediterranean island: UTC +2 – winter, UTC +3 – summer. Therefore, travelers vacationing in such popular resort areas as Larnaca, Paphos, Ayia Napa, Limassol, Nicosia, etc. will live at the same time.

Like many European states, twice a year the island's residents change the time. IN last days At night in March the clock hands move forward exactly an hour, and at the end of October they move back an hour. This feature must be taken into account by all tourists planning to fly to Cyprus.

How to calculate correctly?

Russia is a state with a huge territory and several time zones. Therefore, the time difference with Cyprus will vary significantly between different Russian cities. In addition, our country several years ago completely abolished the spring and autumn clock change, because of this, the difference between Cypriot and Russian time for the same city in Russia will differ in summer and winter.

Despite all the above features and nuances, it will not be difficult for Russians to calculate without errors exact time and find out what hours and minutes it is in Mediterranean resorts. The temporary difference between the cities of Russia and the picturesque Mediterranean island is as follows:

• Moscow time is ahead of Cypriot time by only 1 hour in the summer months and 2 hours in the winter, when in Moscow it is 10.00, on the island 9.00 (summer) or 8.00 (winter), thanks to such a small and even insignificant difference, residents of the Russian capital they will practically not feel a sharp change in time upon arrival (the same awaits travelers from St. Petersburg);
• In the summer months, Chelyabinsk, Ufa and Tyumen are 2 hours ahead of the Mediterranean resorts, and on winter days - by 3 hours;
• Ekaterinburg has a time difference with the island of 3 hours (summer months) or 4 hours (during cold months);
• Novosibirsk is in the UTC +7 time zone, so it is 4 hours ahead and 5 hours ahead in winter;
• Cypriot resorts are 6 hours behind Irkutsk and 7 hours in winter;
• Vladivostok is ahead of Cyprus in the summer by 8 hours, and in the winter by 9 hours.

In order not to get lost “in time,” tourists can immediately set the hands of their watches after boarding the plane, as well as set their mobile phones, tablets and other electronic gadgets to the desired time. In addition, upon arrival on the island, the aircraft commander will definitely inform the landing passengers not only about the weather and air temperature outside, but also about what time it is in the Cypriot resorts.

Helpful information

To find out what time it is in Cyprus now, travelers can go to any website with a tourism focus. On Internet portals dedicated to holidays abroad, the exact local time of one country or another. Find these useful information, as well as weather information and climatic conditions every tourist will be able to visit the state.

Cyprus is very clean beaches, hotels with good service and an easy “excursion”. Entertainment includes mini-cruises, thalassotherapy and delicious Greek cuisine. The capital Nicosia, Paphos and Ayia Napa, Limassol and Protaras - all about Cyprus: weather, tours, reviews, maps and prices.

• Tours for May to Cyprus
• Last minute tours Worldwide

Perhaps the most adequate assessment of tourist Cyprus will sound like this: “strong Mediterranean goodness.” That is, this is a completely typical direction beach holiday, without any bright or unique “tricks”, but also without major shortcomings (unless, of course, fairly high prices are considered such). On the island mild climate, the service in the hotels is quite adequate to their level, and the beaches are very clean, with many Blue Flags - so tours to Cyprus are more than deservedly popular among travelers.

Time difference from Moscow

− 1 hour not in summer

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• from Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

A daily flight to Larnaca from Moscow is operated by Aeroflot, and since 2016 also by the low-cost airline Pobeda. S7 Airlines flies from Moscow to Larnaca and Paphos three times a week. The journey takes about 4 hours.

From St. Petersburg, direct flights to Larnaca are operated by Rossiya Airlines on Thursdays and Sundays. During the summer season, there are additional charter flights, and the rest of the time it is easier to fly with a transfer in Moscow.

Also in summer there is charter flights from Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don, Moscow, Samara and other cities.

By sea

Cyprus can be reached by sea using regular flights and private ships from the ports of Greece, Egypt and Israel. From the Greek port of Piraeus, several transport companies operate regular ferry services to Limassol and back.

In particular, flights from Greece (including the islands), Egypt and other ports are operated by Cruise Cyprus (website on English language). Cruise prices start from 250 EUR per person one way. Prices on the page are for December 2019.

Search for flights to Cyprus

Transport

You can travel around the island by intercity buses. From every major city, buses usually depart twice a day (morning and evening), except Sundays.

Travel cost: approximately 3 EUR for 50 km. There are one-time, daily, weekly, monthly and annual travel tickets. All, except one-time, offer an unlimited number of trips. A single trip ticket from Limassol to Larnaca costs 4 EUR, a day ticket costs 7 EUR, a weekly ticket costs 33 EUR, and a monthly ticket costs 70 EUR. You can purchase them at bus stops or from the driver.

There are also single travel tickets valid for everyone intercity routes: for one day - 15 EUR, for a week - 75 EUR. More detailed information about tariffs, routes and stops - on the carrier’s website.

Public transport in cities

IN major cities There are municipal buses and minibuses. Travel time is from 4:00 (in some cities - from 6:00) to midnight. In large tourist cities There are 24-hour buses, but they have special night rates (but in any case they are cheaper than a taxi). On Sundays and holidays, many drivers have a legal day off, but in tourist centers there are rare buses.

The ticket system is the same as for intercity buses. There are single, daily, weekly, monthly and annual passes. A single day ticket (from 4:00 to 21:00) costs 1.50 EUR, a night ticket (from 21:00 to 4:00) - 2.50 EUR. A daily weekly pass (there are no night passes) will cost 20 EUR, and a daily intercity pass (a one-day ticket that gives the right to travel on both intercity and city transport) will cost 15 EUR.

A taxi can be stopped on the street, called through the hotel administrator, or by phone from any store or restaurant. There are two tariffs: day (from 6:00 to 20:30) and night (from 20:30 to 6:00, 15% more expensive); The baggage transportation tariff does not depend on the time of day. It is better to agree on the price with the driver in advance, and a few words in Greek can reduce the price a little. The average cost of a taxi ride is 5-10 EUR for a 10-15 minute journey, depending on the city.

Car rental in Cyprus

Police, fire service, ambulance: 112, 199 (24 hours a day).

Information help desk: 191, 192 (24 hours a day).

Beaches

All beaches in Cyprus are municipal and free; you only have to pay for sunbeds and umbrellas (3-7 EUR per day). Some hotels provide beach equipment for their guests free of charge, but this is more likely to apply to the most expensive hotels. In city centers, hotels are separated from the beach strip by a highway.

Diving in Cyprus

Diving in Cyprus is not as spectacular as in Red or Caribbean seas, but also offers good opportunities for beginners and experienced divers. Flora and fauna Mediterranean Sea It is not particularly diverse, but it does have a lot of sunken ships, caves and other interesting objects. Best places dive sites are located around Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Ayia Napa.

In Larnaca there is one of the most interesting diving sites in the world - the sunken Swedish ferry "Zenobia", which was wrecked in 1980. None of the crew members were injured, only the ferry itself and the trucks that lie on seabed at a depth of about 40 m. At a depth of 33 m in the same area rests the cruiser HMS Cricket from the Second World War, which sank in 1947. A little deeper - at 50 m - there is a rock in the form of a mushroom Mushrooms Rock, and at 10 m in depth - Octopus Reef, where octopuses live.

The Swedish ferry Zenobia, which sank in the waters near Larnaca, is one of the ten most interesting dive sites in the world.

In Paphos, divers will be interested to see the Greek vessel Achilleas, castaway in 1975 under unclear circumstances (depth 12 m), and a unique natural monument, similar to an amphitheater (12 m). And just 5-10 m in these waters you can see Amphorae Reef - amphorae and other ancient pottery that sank along with Greek galleys.

In the waters near Limassol there are also many ships at different depths, from 7 to 23 m. There are caves that look like ancient tombs, where you can watch the cute fish living there (for example, Tombs caves at a depth of 12 m).

Ayia Napa has a very picturesque canyon (depth 25 m) with corals, caves and the remains of ancient Phoenician wooden ships.

Dive centers are located throughout the island. Beginners will first be offered diving in the pool, and then released into open water. Almost every major dive center has Russian-speaking instructors, so there will be no problems with communication.

Beginning divers undergo mandatory training, which includes instruction, a swimming pool and open water diving at a depth of no more than 10 m. The cost of one dive is from 50 EUR. The Open Water Diving program involves a training course lasting 4-5 days, from 5 dives in open water, and based on the results an international diver certificate is issued. Cost - from 250 EUR.

What to bring

Popular souvenirs: a figurine of Aphrodite, models of ships and dolls in national costumes. Fans of culinary delights can bring from Cyprus goat cheese “halloumi” (easy to transport), Cypriot sweets: Turkish delight, halva, “suzoukos” - almond grains in grape molasses, etc.

From October to April, shops are open from 8:00 to 18:00 (break from 13:00 to 15:00), and on Wednesdays and Saturdays after lunch they close completely. Shops are usually closed on Sundays.

Cuisine and restaurants of Cyprus

The island has mainly Greek cuisine, which differs from its mainland version in that it contains more seafood. Cypriot cuisine is based on meat, fish and vegetable dishes, and the main “culinary attraction” of the island is “mezze”: set lunch, including 20-30 dishes. Serving “meze” begins with appetizers, salads and vegetables and ends with meat and fish dishes, and each tavern has its own menu. Another popular Cypriot dish is souvlaki - kebab wrapped in flatbread. It is traditionally served without sauce so as not to overpower the taste of the meat. Also worthy of attention are “moussaka” - minced meat baked with vegetables and a sauce of sour cream and beaten eggs, and “kupelka” - cabbage rolls in grape leaves.

You should definitely try Cypriot feta and halloumi cheeses, as well as green walnuts in syrup. We should not forget about Cypriot wines, spirits and liqueurs, of which there are plenty on the island. The most famous wine is Commandaria. This is a type of Cahors, and it is best to purchase it at the Kykkos Monastery in Troodos. Beer lovers can recommend the foamy drink of two local brands - Keo and Carlsberg.

Those who like it stronger will appreciate the Zivania grape moonshine, the alcohol content of which can reach up to 80°. True, you can only bring home memories of tasting it: the export of drinks with an alcohol content above 50° from Cyprus is prohibited.

You can have an inexpensive meal at snack bars or kebab shops, of which there are plenty on the island. Lunch will cost an average of 5-8 EUR excluding alcohol. The most popular establishments are traditional Cypriot taverns. These are small family restaurants that are passed down from father to son, and the owner and his relatives usually work there. The menu is rarely extensive, but all traditional dishes local cuisine there are usually there. The portions are large, you can safely order one for two, and taverns often offer dessert or liqueur. Lunch in such a restaurant will cost 12-20 EUR with wine, dinner may be more expensive.

In hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is usually included in the bill. Therefore, tipping in Cyprus is optional, but small change is always gratefully accepted.

There are also classic restaurants on the island, and the most interesting of them are located near wineries. They offer Cypriot cuisine and local wine. The average bill will be higher than in taverns: from 25 EUR per person.

Halloumi is a divinely delicious Cypriot goat's milk cheese that everyone should try.

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Guides in Cyprus

Entertainment and attractions

Cyprus is a relatively small island, but it surprisingly houses a huge number of monuments of nature, culture, history and art from different eras. The ruins of Stone Age settlements and temples from the times have been preserved here. Ancient Greece, Roman theaters, ancient Byzantine monasteries, Venetian fortresses and Gothic cathedrals. And due to the compactness of the island, many of these attractions can easily be visited in one trip.

It is worth visiting the capital of Cyprus Nicosia, all the main attractions of which are collected in the old quarter of the city. These are the Byzantine Church of Chrysalinotissa and the Church of Trypiotis with the famous iconostasis, the Archbishop's Palace, Cathedral St. John's, Famagusta Gate and Venetian Wall.

On the Akamas Peninsula, the ruins of the ancient cities of Morion and Avagos, the monastery of Agios Georgios have been preserved, and the territory of Lara Beach Bay, located to the south, has been chosen by green and big-headed turtles. It is also worth visiting the Baths of Aphrodite, which is not far from Latchi Bay. Amathus is one of the oldest cities in Cyprus, the ruins of which are located on the seashore 5 km east of Limassol. Modern archaeologists have found here a basilica of the early Christian era, a sanctuary of Aphrodite, ruins of baths and aqueduct systems - of course, time, as they say, has not been kind to them, but even in this form they make an impression.

No less ancient, Kourion was one of the largest city-states of the island. To this day, Roman baths and rich houses, the sanctuary of Apollo of Hylates, an ancient theater and numerous mosaics have been preserved there. The Troodos Mountains are a nature reserve and ski resort. There are also numerous churches and monasteries, some of them are included in the List of World Heritage Sites. cultural values UNESCO and are under state protection.

Cruises from Cyprus

Mini-cruises from Cyprus are an opportunity to travel to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Greece, or Lebanon while vacationing on the island. For example, a two-day cruise to Egypt includes a full-day trip to Cairo (with a visit to Cairo National Museum) and an excursion to the pyramids and papyrus factory on the second day.

During a cruise to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, tourists will see the Church of the Nativity and Grotto, built over the birthplace of Jesus Christ. After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues in the Holy City of Jerusalem with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Golgotha ​​and the Western Wall.

The cost of a two-day cruise starts from 300 EUR per person, this amount usually includes transfers from the hotel to the port of Limassol and back, necessary visas (not always), excursions with a Russian-speaking guide, full board, all entertainment on board the liners and accommodation in a cabin of the selected category.

10 things to do in Cyprus

1. Swim in the bay of Petra tou Romiou, where, according to legend, the sea goddess Aphrodite emerged from the foam, and find eternal youth and beauty.
2. Go to a small winery to taste Commandaria and other wines.
3. Travel back to the Middle Ages in Kyrenia and visit the local Shipwreck Museum.
4. Have dinner in an authentic Cypriot tavern and drink a glass of liqueur with the owner.
5. Buy a hand-embroidered tablecloth in the village of Lefkara.
6. Dance all night until dawn in the discos of Ayia Napa.
7. Climb into the tower of the jealous Moor in Famagusta, where the supposed prototype of Othello, the governor of Cyprus, Christopher Moreau, lived in the 12th century.
8. Watch flamingos on the Aliki salt lake near Larnaca.
9. Ride a donkey named Hitler or Schumacher at the Dipotamos donkey farm in Ayia Napa.
10. Look from afar at the ghost town of Varos in Famagusta (you can go inside, but it’s very expensive - a fine of 500 EUR).

Holidays and Events

A separate reason for traveling to Cyprus is the endless holidays and festivals. In April the country celebrates National holiday Cyprus. In May-June, coastal cities celebrate “cataclysmos” - the festival of water and the global flood, and Limassol hosts a Folk Dance Festival. In July-August there is a Festival of Ancient Greek Drama: performances are given in the ancient amphitheater of Kourion, in the Paphos Odeon, Larnaca Fort and in the Monastery Square in Ayia Napa. The beginning of September brings its invigorating breath to the popular Wine Festival in Limassol, dedicated to god winemaking to Dionysus.