Cyprus: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Cyprus feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 48 written places.
Island time with strong opinions; hospitality arrives as food whether ordered or not.
✓ Considered polite
- Accept the extras at tavernas - fruit and sweets appear unbidden
- Order meze properly - it is a two-hour commitment, not a starter
- Drive on the left - British legacy
- Visit mountain villages - Troodos is the island's other half
✗ Better avoided
- Discuss the island's division casually - listen more than you opine
- Expect much open during afternoon heat - siesta logic applies
- Swim ignoring flags - currents on some coasts are serious
- Skip halloumi at source - it is protected heritage here
Worth knowing
- The euro is the currency in the Republic
- Tipping is 5-10% if no service charge
- Hire cars are the practical way around - buses are limited
- Sun protection is serious business - UV here outranks most of Europe
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.