Driving in Cyprus: Advice & Tips
The public transport system in Cyprus is not well developed, so it makes sense to opt for a car hire in Cyprus to get around the island. This will als...
Find out more about driving in Cyprus
Other places to visit in Cyprus
The island of Cyprus lies at the crossroads of three continents and offers its visitors a truly “east meets west” experience. A very popular tourist a...
Popular tourist destinations to visit in Cyprus
History of Cyprus
The history of Cyprus is long and complicated; for the historically curious traveler, this is definitely the place to visit! Hire a car in Cyprus to visit its many historical sites like the Sanctuary of Aphrodite, the ancient city of Kourion, the Temple of Apollo, Kolossi castle, the Villa of Dionysus and many more.
Evidence suggests that the first settlers to this island came from parts of Asia Minor in the Stone Age. Remains of this period can be found at Khirokitia, Kastros and Tentra. The first cities of Cyprus, like Enkomi, were built in the Bronze Age. The island was ruled in the late Bronze Age by the Hittites and then the Greeks about 1000 years B.C. Many events in Greek mythology are purported to have taken place on Cyprus, including the birth of Aphrodite at Paphos.
The island was successively ruled by the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Macedonians, and the Romans, who maintained peace on Cyprus for over 300 years. After the Roman Empire fell, the island came under the control of Byzantium in the 4th century. For the next 700 years, the Byzantines and the Arabs struggled for dominance on Cyprus. In 1191, England took possession of the island as part of the Crusades. Cyprus was sold to a French nobleman, whose heirs ruled the island as a kingdom until the late 15th century, when Cyprus passed to the control of the Venetians. Venetian rule was turbulent, however, as the Ottoman Turks constantly attacked and invaded the island. The Turks took control of the island in 1570. For the next 100 years, nearly 30 uprisings took place against the Turkish rulers. This period marks the beginning of the Turkish/Greek split that marks Cypriot society today.
In 1878, as the influence of the Ottoman Empire began to weaken, the island was ceded to the British, who had opened the Suez Canal nearby. In 1960, Cyprus became independent of the United Kingdom, but clashes between ethnic Greek and Turkish residents ultimately led to the separation of the island into the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which occupies the northern one-third of the island, and the Republic of Cyprus, which is the government recognized by the United Nations and all countries except Turkey. The U.N. maintains a buffer zone between the two areas. Recently, checkpoints have been opened and travel between the zones has become more frequent. Tourists are free to go through the checkpoints and visit both parts of the island. an Union since year 2004.
The geography of Cyprus
Cyprus is an independent island country situated in the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea. It measures 240 kilometers from east to west and 100 km from north to south. The shape of the island is compact except for a long, tapering peninsula to the northeast. In terms of its geographical landscape, Cyprus is dominated by two mountain masses (The Kyrenia Range in the north and the Troodos mountains in south) and a central lowland. Most of the Cyprian population resides in the Mesaoria Plains located in the south of the island. It is easy to explore the Cypriot landscape if you find a cheap car hire in Cyprus and spend just about a couple of days on this beautiful island.
Weather in Cyprus
The weather in Cyprus is typically Mediterranean and is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. It is said that the island receives about 300 sunny days each year! The average temperature in January is about ten degrees and that in July is about 35 degrees. Rainfall occurs mainly in the winter season and mountains experience it more than the lowlands. The wettest weather is in January, with an average of 76 mm of rainfall occurring over a span of 14 days. In terms of rain, the driest weather is experienced in the month of July. Head to this island in the summer holidays, hire a car in Cyprus and enjoy the beautiful weather and sights that this place has to offer.