Safety in Cyprus

Cyprus has an excellent reputation for being a safe and friendly place. You can help keep it that way. A few basic precautions can be enough to protect your belongings.
Crime in Cyprus is, comparatively, at a very low level. The Police Force is always ready to provide any assistance to persons who need help. 
 
Dial the telephone numbers below for the various police departments:
- In case of emergency:  112
- For complaints:  1460
- For drugs information:  1498 (Policy Drug Law Enforcement Unit)

Paphos Ambulance Service - British Paramedics on call 24/7  www.ambulancecy.com



Emergencies/ Hospitals
In case of emergency, immediate response is given by the following telephone numbers, English is spoken:
 
Island-wide:
- Ambulance:  112
- Fire Service:  112
- Police:  112
- Night Pharmacies:  11892
- Night Pharmacies automatic recording for Lefkosia:  90 901 412
- Night Pharmacies automatic recording Lemesos:  90 901 415
- Night Pharmacies automatic recording Larnaka:  90 901 414
- Night Pharmacies automatic recording Pafos:  90 901 416
- Night Pharmacies automatic recording Ammochostos:  90 901 413
- AIDS Advisory Centre:  22 305 155
- Centre for drugs and Poisoning:  90 901 401
 


Regional Hospitals:

- Lefkosia General Hospital:  22 603 000 (Accidents & Emergency)
- Makareio Hospital:  22 405 000
- Lemesos General l Hospital:  25 801 100
- Lemesos Old General Hospital:  25 305 333
- Larnaka General Hospital:  24 800 500
- Larnaka Old General Hospital:  24 630 312
- Pafos General Hospital:  26 803 100
- Paralimni Hospital:  23 200 000
- Platres Hospital:  25 422 224
- Polis Hospital:  26 821 800
- Kyperounta Hospital:  25 806 700
- Agros Rural Health Centre:  25 521 317
 
Medical Services:

Medical care needs in Cyprus are met through Government General Hospitals (as listed under the Emergencies/Hospitals section), and Private Clinics/Hospitals. The majority of doctors can converse in English, whilst nursing staff speak a range of languages.
Government General Hospitals and Private Clinics/Hospitals are mostly concentrated in urban areas, while health centres, sub centres, and dispensaries function in the rural areas, providing a network to meet the medical needs of the whole population.
All Government General Hospitals as well as some private clinics have Accident and Emergency Departments for emergency cases.
Holidaymakers can also make use of their health insurance, which covers medical expenses, provided that this insurance covers the length of their stay on the island.
The visiting hours for private doctors (on weekdays) are: 09:00 - 13:00 / 16:00 - 19:00.
Information on private doctors on call on weekends/Public Holidays is given by the following telephone numbers in ENGLISH:
- Lefkosia:  90 901 432
- Lemesos:  90 901 435
- Larnaka:  90 901 434
- Pafos:  90 901 43
Almost all brands of manufactured medicines are available in Cyprus. 
Local newspapers and the internet list pharmacies which are open during the night and on weekends/Public Holidays, as well as the names of doctors who are on call on weekends/Public Holidays.

For more detailed information on the healthcare system and the medical services available on the island, visit the Ministry of Health.
 


Chemists/Pharmacies:

Medicine can be purchased at pharmacies on presentation of a doctor's prescription. Almost all brands of medicine are available in Cyprus. Pharmacies are all marked with a green cross.
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of pharmacies that remain open till late at night (in winter till 22:00 and in summer till 23:00), and on Public Holidays / weekends are listed in the daily papers and on the internet. Information is also given through the following automatic telephone numbers in ENGLISH:
- Lefkosia:  90 901 412
- Lemesos:  90 901 415
- Larnaka:  90 901 414
- Pafos:  90 901 416
- Ammochostos:  90 901 413

Opening hours are as follows:
- May - September:
Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 13:30 / 16:00 - 19:30
Wednesday and Saturday: 08:00 - 13:30
- October - April:
Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 13:30 / 15:00 - 18:30
Wednesday and Saturday: 08:00 - 13:30
 


Food Safety and Drinking Water Quality

The safety of food and drinking water quality in Cyprus is monitored by the Health Inspectors of the Medical and Public Health Services of the Ministry of Health and the Local Authorities.
Food and drinking water are of high quality, absolutely safe and no food or water-borne diseases occur.
Cyprus is also free from dangerous infectious diseases. There are no vaccination requirements for any international travellers.
Climate-climatic conditions in Cyprus can be termed as excellent from a health point of view. Therefore, the climate is ideal for holiday travellers throughout the year.
 
Driving Safely on the Island

Please note the following for driving safely on the island:
- Traffic moves on the LEFT hand-side of the road, NOT on the right.
- International road traffic signs are in use, and placed along the roads and highways, on the left hand-side.
- Distances and road speed limits are posted in kilometres and kilometres -per hour (km/h) respectively.
- The maximum speed limit on the motorways is 100 km/h and the lower speed limit is 65 km/h.
- On all other roads the general speed limit is 80 km/h, unless a lower one is indicated.
- In built-up areas, the speed limit is generally 50km/h, unless a different one is indicated.
- The use of seat–belts is compulsory (front and back).
- Children must use the child restraint appropriate for their weight.
- Children can travel in the rear and use an adult belt in a taxi if the right child restraint is not available.
- Rear facing baby seats must NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air bag unless the air bag has been deactivated manually or automatically.
- Rush hours in the towns are approximately between 07:30 - 08:00 / 13:00 - 15:30 and in late afternoon 17:00 - 18:00 in winter, or 18:00 - 19:00 in summer.
- Due to the intense brightness of the clear Mediterranean sky, drivers are advised to wear sunglasses.
- Driving, or being in charge of a motor vehicle or pedal cycle with alcohol concentration in breath or blood above the prescribed limit, is an offence. The permissible limit in the blood is 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (BAC 0,5mg/ml). The permissible limit in breath is up to 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of exhaled air.
- In case of an accident, call 112 immediately.
- Hands free during driving is mandatory. During driving, the driver should take all necessary measures to ensure that his/her hands are free at all times in order to have full control of the vehicle. Therefore the use of a mobile phone is strictly prohibited.
 
Pedestrians

Pedestrians must remember that traffic moves on the LEFT side of the road. Therefore you must always:
- Walk on the pavement. If there is no pavement, walk on the right side of the road.  (ie. towards the oncoming traffic).
- Look both to your right and left before crossing any road.
- Pedestrians are not allowed to enter motorways, nor are they allowed to walk on the edge of the motorway.
 
Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Cyprus

Should you need to contact your country’s embassy on the island, detailed information concerning foreign Embassies and High Commissions in Cyprus can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.