Is Cyprus safe to visit?

People often ask me this before a trip, and the honest answer is yes. Cyprus is a safe destination, and the real risks aren’t the ones many people imagine. I go through the official advice, what I’d keep an eye on and the numbers worth saving in your phone. The basics of the country are in the Cyprus travel guide.

Low crime

Gov.uk says crime against tourists isn’t common in Cyprus, though you should take sensible precautions. The Spanish foreign ministry goes further, describing the Republic as having high public safety and relatively low crime, while noting that offences rise in the summer high season.

Gov.uk adds that terrorist attacks can’t be ruled out, as in most countries, and that demonstrations linked to the situation in the Middle East are possible.

Drink spiking and drugs

This is the warning I’d take most seriously on a night out, and I expand on it, closing times included, in Cyprus nightlife. Gov.uk says drug-assisted rape is a risk, including with drugs like GHB and liquid ecstasy, and advises buying your own drinks, always keeping sight of them and not splitting up from your friends. Other common pitfalls are gathered in Cyprus scams.

On drugs, no joking. Gov.uk says Cyprus has a strictly enforced zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs, including laughing gas and cannabis, and the Spanish foreign ministry mentions sentences of up to 14 years for a first offence.

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Fire, earthquakes and the sea

In summer, fire is the biggest risk. Gov.uk says there’s a high risk of wildfires from April to October and recommends registering your mobile to get alerts. If you’re walking in the hills, check conditions first and never light a fire.

Cyprus also experiences earthquakes and tremors, gov.uk says. At sea, bathing is generally safe, but there can be strong waves and currents, so swim only at authorised beaches.

Adventure sports and the roads

If you’re doing water sports, diving or anything adventurous, such as a quad-bike tour, gov.uk asks for three things. Make sure your travel insurance names the activity and read its exclusions beforehand, book only with properly licensed and insured operators, and don’t ever leave your passport as security for any equipment. On the roads it’s blunter still, describing standards of driving as poor and road deaths as more likely than in the UK. You need a UK sticker to drive a UK-registered car there, and a photocard licence is accepted. The rules are in driving in Cyprus.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Limassol and pick one that fits your day.

Heat and weather warnings

The Cyprus Department of Meteorology issues severe weather warnings, especially in summer, and gov.uk advises following them and checking with your travel provider if the weather disrupts your plans. Summer can also bring water restrictions during droughts and power cuts when air-conditioning use peaks.

Two things worth knowing

Same-sex relationships are legal in the Republic of Cyprus and civil partnerships are recognised, though gov.uk notes they may not be as widely accepted as in the UK. And if you’re of Cypriot descent, gov.uk warns the authorities may consider you eligible for military service even without a nationality card, which can cause difficulties when leaving the island, so check with the Cypriot authorities before you travel.

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Military areas and the north

One rule you mustn’t break. Gov.uk advises against taking photographs near sensitive areas such as military buildings, warning that the authorities could arrest you. That applies on both sides of the Green Line and in the British bases, covered in the British bases in Cyprus.

In the north, gov.uk says FCDO consular support is limited and that the authorities don’t share information on British nationals with the High Commission. You can visit, with extra care, as I explain in northern Cyprus.

Numbers to note down

In an emergency, ring 112 for police, fire crews or an ambulance. For consular help, the FCDO in London is on 020 7008 5000, around the clock. For hospitals and your GHIC, see healthcare in Cyprus.

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