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Driving in
Cyprus
Driving in Cyprus is on the left side of the road. Fairly good
surfaced roads complying with international traffic requirements link
the towns and the various villages.
Four lane motorways connect the capital, Lefkosia (Nicosia) with the
coastal towns of Lemesos (Limassol), Larnaka and one part of Pafos.
Minor roads and forest roads are still largely unsurfaced but in good
to fair condition. Appropriate care should be taken when using these
roads, especially during wet weather.
Visitors in Cyprus can drive using a valid International driving
license, or their National driving license, provided it is valid for
the class of vehicle they wish to drive. Cyprus Driving License: £35
for a lifetime.
Driving applies to European Union laws.
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN MOTORISTS ENTERING
CYPRUS
With effect from
1st January 2001, Cyprus became a signatory
to the
Multilateral Guarantee Agreement ( M.G.A..).
This means that, as far as insurance cover is concerned, Cyprus is
considered as one unified territory with all other signatories of the
M.G.M., which at this moment are 24. The M.G.A. countries are the 15
E.U. member states, as well as Switzerland, the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus.
Petrol stations are equipped with petrol vending machines, accepting
bank notes and credit cards. Vending machines operate during
non-working hours, on weekends and on holidays. Petrol stations in
rural areas may be found open on Weekends and on Holidays. A list of
petrol stations can be found in the yellow pages of the Telephone
Directory.
Electric Current - Voltage
The supply in Cyprus is 240 volts, a.c. 50Hz. Sockets are usually 13
amp, square pin in most buildings.
More than one low current rating appliance may be operated from the
same supply point, by using an adaptor (i.e. radios, electric clocks
etc.).
The use of adaptors for operating high current rating appliances is
not recommended (i.e. electric heaters, toasters, irons etc.).
Adaptors can be purchased from electricians, supermarkets, grocery
shops, etc., at approximately C£1,50.
Business / Shopping Hours
PUBLIC SERVICE HOURS
Winter Period (September 1 - June 30)
Monday - Friday: 07:30 - 14:30
Thursday: 07:30 - 14:30, 15:00 - 18:00
Summer Period (July 1 - August 31)
Monday - Friday: 07:30 - 14:30
SHOPPING HOURS
a) Winter Period (November 1 - March 31)
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: up to 18:00hrs
Wed, Sat: up to 14:00hrs
b) Spring Period (April 1 - May 31)
and Autumn Period (September 15 - October 31)
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: up to 19:00hrs
Wed, Sat: up to 14:00hrs
c) Summer Period (June 1 - September 14)
Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri: up to 19:30hrs
Summer afternoon recess from 13:00 - 16:00 hrs
Wed, Sat: up to 14:00hrs
OFFICES HOURS
September 15 - May 31
Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 13:00, 15:00 - 18:00
June 1 - September 14
Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 13:00, 16:00 - 19:00
Banking hours for the public:
Monday - Friday: 08:30 - 12:30.
Monday: 15:15 - 16:45.
(May, June, July, August: Monday - Friday: 08:15 - 12:30)
- Centrally located Banks provide "afternoon tourist services".
- Banks at the Larnaka and Pafos International Airports provide
services in the daytime, as well as a night service for most flights.
- Banking facilities are also available at the Lemesos (Limassol)
Harbor.
- A number of Automatic Exchange Machines operate on a 24hrs basis in
central places of all towns and the main tourist resorts Ayia Napa and
Paralimni. Most currencies and denominations are acceptable.
- Hotels, large shops, restaurants, e.t.c. usually accept traveler’s
cheques and major credit cards. Rates of exchange are published daily
in the local press.
- Bank holidays are the same as Public Holidays plus Easter Tuesday.
Christmas Eve is a working day for banks.
Shopping
Locally produced items, which are popular to visitors, include leather
goods, woven goods, (curtains and tablecloths), ceramics, copperware,
silverware (especially filigree), baskets, and the famous traditional
hand-made Lefkaritika lace. These can be purchased from the many
souvenir shops found throughout the island and the Cyprus Handicraft
Centers.
Cyprus wines and spirits, which have been famous for centuries, are
also high on visitors’ shopping lists, and can be purchased from
supermarkets or grocery shops.
Shoes, shirts, imported textiles and spectacles are good value for
money.
In most of the tourist areas, both souvenir shops and supermarkets
remain open until late in the evenings, and all day on Sunday.
CHEMISTS PHARMACIES / DRUG STORES
They stay open during shopping hours. Names, addresses and telephone
numbers of chemists, which stay open until late at night, on Public
Holidays and on Sundays, are listed in the daily papers. |
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