Finding your Way around Cyprus
One of the great things about the island of Cyprus is that the possibility of getting lost is practically impossible unless you really try to get lost. It is a great idea to learn a little about the island before you arrive to enable you to gain more from your holiday and maybe even learn some new things too.
Since the Turkish invasion of 1974 the island of Cyprus is a divided country. The Turkish people moved into the North of Cyprus and claimed it as their own. There is now a freedom of movement between the North and the South of Cyprus but any tourist just make sure that they have sufficient insurance if deciding to cross the border especially if the intention is to travel by car. The border between the North and South stretches from the resort of Polis in the west to Famagusta in the east. Approximately in the middle is the capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia. Nicosia is the last divided city in the world.
Cyprus has two main airports that are located in Paphos and Larnaca. A third airport called Ercan airport was still in use. However the only flights to this airport were from Turkey.
Paphos Airport
This airport is situated close to the town of Paphos itself and a short distance from the closest resort to the border on the west coast of Polis. If travelling south towards the town of Larnaca you can find the resort of Pissouri. Pissouri is a pretty resort that offers beautiful scenery and surroundings. If you continue to travel south you will reach the town of Limassol which is home to the islands major port. Heading north from Limassol will bring you to the capital Nicosia which borders with the occupied northern part of the island.
Larnaca Airport
Travelling east from this airport you can find the resorts of Agia Napa, Protaras, Pernera and Kapparis. Kapparis is situated up against the most eastern point of the border with Famagusta. Paralimni is located close to Kapparis which was nothing more than a village a few decades ago.
Due to the modern motorway that connects all the major towns and resorts’, travelling around Cyprus is fairly easy. All of the road signs are written in both Greek and English which stems from the English occupation of the island that ended in 1960. This is also the reason as to why Cypriots drive on the left side of the road.
West of Nicosia is the Troodos Mountains which is one of the most breathtaking sites in the south of Cyprus. The majority of this area is within the conservation zone and in Troodos itself there is an excellent visitor’s centre. There are many picturesque villages dotted around Troodos that offer a traditional surrounding. The roads leading to these villages are a little winding but they are well maintained and equipped with many safety barriers to ensure that driving these roads holds no problem.
In the interior of the island you can find many small towns and villages some of which have names that may not be so easy to say for the western tongue. A majority of the roads including the inland roads are pretty good. However some caution will need to be taken when travelling some of the back roads as these may have an occasional pot hole.
The best way to travel the island of Cyprus is by car. The cost of hiring a car in Cyprus is quite reasonable so there is no reason why you cannot spend that little extra in renting a car to enable you to visit all the places of interest without having to rely on someone else’s timetable. There are buses in Cyprus but you will find that these generally service the towns and resorts.
Immersed in a cultural history dating back to the Neolithic period and with some of the most beautiful beaches, pretty villages and historic monuments Cyprus is a fascinating place to visit. Learn something new about the island of Cyprus and know the answer to the question, Where am I in Cyprus?