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Kato Paphos - Tomb of Kings Area
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Health and Safety in Paphos, Cyprus
Vaccinations
There are no special vaccination requirements for visitors to Cyprus.
Health Concerns
Water in Cyprus is technically safe to drink but foreign tourists may
find that the water initially may cause them slight stomach upsets. You should
also note that it is common practice to have two taps in some Cypriot private
housing, where only one dispenses potable water, and the other is used for washing
and other purposes. For this reason it is wise to avoid drinking from any tap,
as it may not be for drinking water. Buy bottled water instead.
Medical facilities are of a reasonable standard in tourist areas. A reciprocal agreement with all EEA countries means that EU citizens and those from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
are entitled to free state medical care on presentation of a valid EHIC(European Health Insurance Card,
which replaces form E111 as of January 1, 2007), which you must obtain before you travel. Other nationals will be
expected to pay for any medical attention required during their stay, often
immediately, so it is heavily advisable that you take out appropriate travel
insurance, particularly if you are planning to undertake any potentially dangerous
activities such as watersports during your stay.
Personal Safety
Cyprus is a safe destination for tourists although petty theft in extremely
popular areas can be a problem, especially from the beach. You shouldn't leave
any items unattended while you bathe or indulge in any activities.
In popular resort towns such as Aiya Napa you should look out for drunkenness
among tourists, they can often become aggressive. On the other side of the coin,
if a tourist yourself you should note that many resorts are taking a tougher stance
on public drunkenness and anti-social behaviour than they have previously.
Take note of cautionary signs on beaches. Some seemingly charming spots
are forbidden to bathers for a variety of reasons. Many are sites of historic
interest, for example the Roman remains just off the shore near to Paphos, but
several are closed to the public for reasons of safety, with treacherous tides
or currents.
If in Nicosia be aware that you are not allowed into the zone of control,
the buffer zone between Turkish controlled Cyprus and the Republic, and
you may be arrested if you stray into it inadvertently. It is possible to take
a day-trip into Northern Cyprus, but you must obtain a visa to do so. Crossing
the border without one is forbidden, and you run a serious risk of prosecution
or injury if you do so. You cannot cross the other way.
Emergency Numbers
Police - Tel: 112, Ambulance - Tel: 112 and Fire - Tel: 112.
