 Intro |
Climate & Weather |
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| Fact File |
Language & Religion |
Intro
Cyprus, the year-round island!
Cyprus is renown throughout the world as the all year-round island. It lies at the crossroads of three continents, where East meets West and vast new experiences await you under the warmth of the sun. Floating on the waters of the European Mediterranean, but pointing longingly towards the shores of Syria, Turkey and Lebanon, its cultural influences may be dominated by Western Europe but its geographic proximity to Asia and Africa gives it more than just a hint of the East.
Long coveted by mainland Greece and Turkey, this small island has its own definite and beguiling character. Awaiting you are breath-taking mountain trails, captivating monasteries and churches, scuba diving ready blue waters, golden sand beaches, bustling corner cafés and more.
Rich in ancient history, Cyprus boasts numerous ancient monumental sites including the beautifully preserved mosaics and mythological ancient tombs. Kykkos Monastery, which lies 20 km west of Pedoulas has to be one of the most captivating and you can easily lose yourself in its archways and mosaics.
Visit the Akamas Peninsula where wild turtles come to nest on the beautiful beaches, sample the magnificent stretches of coastline with an aquamarine sea, and visit the bird and animal parks.
With excellent hiking and walking trails, experience the spectacular Troodos Mountains and Kyrenia ranges, or head to the north coast and inhale the scent of the citrus groves of Morfou. Climb to the medieval castles with their shimmering island views or wander through the sea of wildflowers covering the west of the island in springtime.
Whether you experience all or just one of these during your stay, Cyprus will undoubtedly take your breath away.
Fact File
Population: 1,140,000 approximately
Capital: Nicosia
Official languages: Greek, Turkish
Main religion: Christianity, Islam
Currency: Euro
Continent: Europe
Economy: Tourism, shipping, real estate and financial services
Calling Code: +357
Island Size: 3rd largest in the Mediterranean
Climate & Weather
Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers starting in mid-May and lasting until mid-September with rainy but quite mild winters from November to mid-March. Spring and autumn are effectively short intervals in between, characterised by smooth weather. With almost year-round clear skies and sunshine, daylight ranges from 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June.
Average Temperatures
Due to its landscape, the average temperature varies significantly from inland to the island’s coast.
Daily temperatures during the hottest months of July and August range between 29°c on the central plain and 22°c on the Troodos Mountains. In January – the coolest month – the daily temperature is 10°c on the central plain and 3°c on the higher parts of the Troodos Mountains.
Sea Temperatures
There are no significant daily fluctuations in sea water temperatures, except in the very shallow waters, less than one metre deep.
The temperature in the open sea hovers above 22°c from June to November, climbing to 27°c in August. Even during the three coolest months of January to March, average sea temperature is an acceptable 16°c or 17°c.
Near the coast, the temperature of water three or four metres deep is similar to that of the open sea, ranging from 15°c to 17°c in February and from 23°c to 28°c in August.
Air Humidity
During the days in winter and at night throughout the year, humidity ranges from average to slightly low (65% - 95%). During summer it is very low near midday, ranging from 15% to 30% on the central plain. Fog is rare and typically occurs in early morning. Visibility is normally very good or excellent. There is an exception over a few days in spring when the atmosphere is very hazy due to dust from the Arabian and African deserts.
Sunshine
Cyprus enjoys a very sunny climate compared with most countries with 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day over the six summer months. Even during the months of December and January, there is 5.5 hours of sunshine.
Winds
Winds over the island are relatively variable in direction and strength depending on the elevation of the land and local temperatures.
Earthquakes
Cyprus has a long history of earthquakes, references citing catastrophic disasters for the island during the most notable quake in 1222.
In recent years, the island's highest-recorded earthquake was a 6.3-magnitude quake in 1996.
Most earthquakes go unnoticed as they sit very low on the Richter Scale. Take a look at the Island’s real time updates here for more information.
Languages & Religion
Languages
Greek and Turkish are the main languages spoken by the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities respectively. English is widely spoken throughout the island. Russian, French and German are also well spoken within the tourist industry.
Religions
Cyprus enjoys a high level of freedom of worship. While the majority of Greek-Cypriots are Greek-Orthodox Christians, other denominations are represented on the island, including Armenians, Maronites and Roman Catholics. The Turkish-Cypriot community is predominantly Muslim.