Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wi-fi is generally, but not always, free. Connection speed often varies from room to room in hotels, so always ask when
you check in.
Internet cafes are fairly common, particularly in the North, but they do come and go, so check at the local tourist office.
Prices per hour range from €1.50 to €3.
LEGAL MATTERS
DRINKING & DRIVING
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is strictly controlled, and being over the limit can result in a stiff fine and a
night behind bars.
DRUGS
The Cypriot authorities in both Northern Cyprus and the Republic show zero tolerance towards drugs. Although, strictly
speaking, a small amount of cannabis for personal use should be permissible (under EU law) in the South, it is just not
worth the risk.
MONEY
The unit of currency in Northern Cyprus is the Turkish lira (Turkye Lira; TL). Exchange rates for the Turkish lira are
subject to fluctuations due to a high inflation rate.
Since January 2008, the Republic's unit of currency has been the euro (€), when one Cypriot pound (CY£) was ex-
changed at a frozen rate of €1.68.
Banks in Cyprus exchange all major currencies in cash (travellers cheques are becoming increasingly rare). Most
shops and hotels in Northern Cyprus accept hard currencies such as UK pounds, US dollars and euros.
ATMS
You will find ATMs in most towns and larger villages throughout the island.
CASH
In the Republic, you can get a cash advance on Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Eurocard and American Express at a
number of banks, and there are plenty of ATMs. In the North, cash advances are given on Visa cards at the Vakıflar and
Kooperatif banks in North Nicosia and Kyrenia; major banks (such as Iş Bankası) in large towns will have ATMs, while
there is an increasing number of petrol stations with ATMs attached. Do carry some cash with you though, especially if
you're travelling up to the Karpas (Kırpaşa) Peninsula.
Foreign-currency notes may be all right to use in major tourist centres in Cyprus, but are not much use in villages in
the Troödos Mountains. In the North, foreign currency is more likely to be widely accepted in lieu of new Turkish lira.
Currency-exchange bureaus in tourist centres operate over extended hours and most weekends.
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