Overview

Cyprus is an ancient country, dating back to the Neolithic age as far as 7,000 BC. The country was conquered many times by different countries, and once belonged to the Roman Empire and had Constantinople as its capital. Its latest conquerors had been Britain and later Turkey, which invaded in 1974. Turkey illegally holds claim over almost 40% of Cyprus and created the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which only Turkey recognizes and continues to defend through force.

Greek, Turkish, and English are all spoken in the Republic of Cyprus, with less than one million people. Three-fourths of the people are Greek Orthodox and about 18% are practicing Muslims. Cyprus is the Mediterranean's 3^rd largest island and one of its most popular tourist destinations, attracting many tourists every year.

Activities & Attractions

Cyprus is filled with archaeological sites and medieval structures for history buffs or visitors who want to get a sense of how old the land really is. The Tomb of the Kings in Tamassos is near the capital city of Nicosia and is a UNESCO protect world heritage landmark. The tombs date back to the Hellenistic period.

Medieval castles, archaeological digs, museums, and more tombs can be found throughout Cyprus. The Cyprus Center of Art craft, the art gallery of the City of Limassol, the Byzantine Museum, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the Archaeological Museum in or near the capital are popular places to visit in Cyprus, but there are dozens of other such attractions across the country. You can also find some rich and splendid monasteries in the country.

Hiking is one of the most popular sports in Cyprus, but water activities are also an important part of the visit. You can dive to see the marine wildlife up close, and you can even look at a sunken ship. The Green Bay Diving Site offers dives where you can view a shipwreck 12 meters below the surface of the water.

Lodging

Hotels in Cyprus, particularly in Nicosia, range from luxury accommodations to very private, small family rented rooms. A popular way to stay in the area is to rent a villa. The cost is higher than most hotel rooms, but you get a bed & breakfast atmosphere without quite as much cost.

Many people choose beachside resorts and spas, with others choosing camping and close-to-nature lodgings. The most budget friendly lodging starts at about $60, with luxury accommodations ranging into several hundred dollars per night and full packages offers including spas, massages and other treats.

Transportation

There are cruises offered from Cyprus to destinations a day or two away and back. Cyprus offers three different kinds of taxi services and bus services. Each has transurban routes that travel daily between all towns in Cyprus, rural routes that cover the immediate area and urban routes for inner city travel.