Cyprus

It is an island idyll that also has fantastic nightlife, stunning natural scenery and cultural gems around every rocky outcrop. Cyprus is set in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, east of Greece, south of Turkey and north of Egypt.

The third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union. It is also the third most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most popular tourist destinations. There is a Turkish-controlled area in the north of the island and the rest is under Cypriot rule, apart from two British army bases that are under UK rule.

The locals love to share the delicious cuisine on offer to visitors to the island. Cyprus is famed for its meze offerings where there is a ‘little bit of everything’ to sample. The flavours on offer are the result of the varied history and the geography of Cyprus, so incorporate tastes of Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and good old English fare.

Meze can typically include delicacies such as stuffed vine leaves, halloumi cheese (produced by thyme-fed goats, and tasty when fried), hummus and souvlakia (grilled meat kebabs). These well-seasoned but not-spicy dishes are often washed down with coffee, beer or brandy. It is worth noting that seafood can be pricy due to the low fish stocks in this part of the Med, and many are imported deep-frozen.

Cyprus has an enviable subtropical climate – it has very mild winters and warm to hot summers.  Snow only falls in the central Troodos Mountains and rain falls mainly in Winter, with dry Summers.  Cyprus is a year-round destination as it has the warmest winters in the Mediterranean part of the EU – Cyprus has around 180 hours of sunshine in December, while London has 37 hours.

Pack light clothing and according to the island’s mild climate, remember layers for covering up in the evenings.  Also, remember to dress to cover your shoulders if you visit any religious sites or churches. Cypriots tend to dress up when dining out in the evening, so take at least one smarter outfit. If you fancy exploring the volcanic coastline, diving or jelly shoes will protect your feet.

Many British expats choose to settle in Cyprus because of the favourable climate and also because of the environmental conditions of the island. There is little air pollution, sewage facilities and sanitation provision is good, as is the presence of a piped water system.

Health care in Cyprus is regarded as being of a high standard and is a mixture of free state provision, private health care and also other schemes that cater for certain sections of the population. You are advised to take an EHIC card on holiday to Cyprus (if it is still valid) or apply for a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card), as it will entitle you to the same level of medical provision as a local would receive. This doesn’t cover all of your medical expenses though, and travel insurance would be needed to cover the cost of repatriation.

The good thing about healthcare in Cyprus is that it’s generally inexpensive, and the cost of medication is not exorbitant. It is safe to drink tap water in Cyprus, although it has a high chlorine content, so it won’t necessarily be pleasant tasting, so you may still prefer to drink bottled water.