Time
Cyprus is in the Eastern European Time Zone. The Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).
Language
Greek and Turkish are the official languages. English is widely spoken. French and German are also spoken within the tourism Industry.
General Shopping Hours
The summer period runs from April 1 to October 31; Shop opening times vary depending on their type and location, though shops normally open between 07:00 and 09:00. For the period April 1st – October 31st shops close at 20:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, at 15:00 on Wednesday and, at 19:30 on Saturday.
Climate
Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid–May to mid–October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. The island enjoys abundant sunshine, and even in December and January, there is an average of six hours of bright sunshine per day, whilst over the six ‘summer’ months, there is an average of 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day.
Average maximum temperature for October is 27°C on the west coast and 28°C-29°C on the eastern-south coast and inland. On the mountains temperatures drop by four degrees in comparison with September and come to about 20°C at the daytime and 11°C at night. On the lowlands night temperatures are 16°C on the west coast and inland and 17°C-18°C on the eastern-south coast. The sea temperature is 24°C.
Voltage, Frequency and Plug/Outlet Type in Cyprus Electricity
Electricity in Cyprus is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Cyprus with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50- 1600 Watts.
Currency
The Euro (€) is the official currency of the Republic of Cyprus.
Telephones and contact numbers
Country code for Cyprus: +357
Emergency
Emergency telephone number: 112 or 199