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Schools
Children are required to attend school until they are age 15. Most stay on until they are 18 and gain a high-school diploma, which is required before they can apply for university or a job. All free schools are Greek-speaking. The Cyprus Government wishes to ensure that children from other EU countries continue their education while they are in Cyprus.
To facilitate this, children with other native languages who do not speak Greek can receive special lessons in the language so that they can go to a state school.
There are also more than 30 private English-speaking schools, of varying quality. Fees for these schools are from CYPŁ2,000 to CYPŁ3,000 per year.
Pre-school education is offered by Greek-language state schools and private schools operating in other languages. It is provided for children aged from three years to five years and eight months. Attendance is voluntary. Attendance at a private nursery school costs from CYPŁ70 to CYPŁ150 per child per month; the cost at the state schools is lower. There are also private and state baby nurseries for children up to three years of age.
Primary education is provided free of charge at state schools for children aged from five years and eight months to 11 years and eight months. Age is the only criterion for the entry of children into primary education. The school year is divided into three terms of three months, with attendance on five days of the week. The system of afternoon attendance is being extended to primary schools.
Currency / Banking Hours / Credit Cards
Cyprus Pound Exchange Rate
Currency - Exchange Rates
The currency of the Republic is the Cyprus pound - CYŁ, which is divided into 100 cents.
Notes and coins currently in circulation are as follows:
Banknotes: CYŁ20, CYŁ10, CYŁ5, CYŁ1.
Coins: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents.
Commercial Banks quote daily the exchange rates of the Cyprus Pound against all major foreign currencies.
Banking
Commercial banks in Cyprus offer a wide range of banking services in Cyprus pounds, as well as in foreign currencies, and have correspondents in most major cities around the world. They are also full members of the Society for Worldwide Interbrain Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). Commercial banking is based on UK banking law and practice and commercial banks are supervised by the Central Bank of Cyprus.
Banking hours for the public
September
Monday-Friday 08:15 - 13:00
Monday 15:15 - 16:45
October to April
Monday-Friday 08:30 - 13:00
Monday 15:15 - 16:45
May to August
Monday-Friday 08:15 - 13:00
Banks are closed at weekends and on public holidays and Easter Tuesday. Christmas Eve is a working day for banks.
Banks at Larnaka and Pafos International Airports provide exchange bureaux services on a 24-hour basis. Similar facilities are also available at Lemesos harbour.
There are many Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) outside most branches of banks in all towns and in the main tourist resorts of Agia Napa and Paralimni.
Hotels, large shops and restaurants normally accept credit cards and traveller's cheques. Banknotes of major foreign currencies are also acceptable. Rates of exchange are published daily in the local press and are broadcast through the media.
Further information of Cyprus's banking system is available at the Central Bank's website www.centralbank.gov.cy or the website of commercial banks.
Credit Cards
Visitors in possession of any of the following international credit cards may contact the appropriate bank for the withdrawal of cash.
VISA CARD: Bank of Cyprus Ltd., Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd., Hellenic Bank, Alpha Bank Limited, National Bank of Greece, Arab Bank, Commercial Bank and Co-Op branches.
DINERS CLUB, CARTE BLANCHE: Bank of Cyprus Ltd.
MASTERCARD: Bank of Cyprus Ltd., Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd., National Bank of Greece, Hellenic Bank, Alpha Bank and Co-Op branches.
AMERICAN EXPRESS: Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd.
More than 15.000 shops, restaurants and hotels accept at least one of the above Credit Cards. Establishments with P.O.S. accept also VISA ELECTRON and MAESTRO. Usually the Card symbol is displayed in the shop window or at the reception.
Eurocheques and travellers cheques are also accepted by all banks, shops, restaurants etc.
This information has been provided the Cyprus Tourist Organisation.
Telecommunications
The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) is a corporate body established by law and is responsible for the provision, maintenance and development of telecommunications facilities, both local and overseas. Since the beginning of 2003 the telecommunications market has been liberalised so is now open for other telecommunication providers.
Services provided by CYTA include fixed telephony, mobile telephony (pay monthly and pay as you go), data transmission, telegraphy, maritime, TV transmission/ reception, private leased circuits, audio text, video conferencing, ISDN, DSL, Internet and ATM/Frame Relay.
Fixed Telephony Services
Customers can access from Cyprus essentially all countries in the world through telephone and telefax (for countries that do not support telefax service, telex is also available).
Off-peak Telephone Rates
CYTA offers reduced telephone rates (fixed telephony) for national and international calls during off-peak hours as follows:
Off-peak hours for National calls: 20:00-07:00 during weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Off-peak hours for International calls: 21:00-08:00 during weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Directory Inquiries
By calling the number 192, you can get a 24-hour service for directory inquiries regarding customers in Cyprus, whereas for foreign customers, country codes and area codes you can get information by dialling 194.
Public Card phones and Payphones
Public telephones of CYTA are installed at various central locations in all towns and villages as well as at International airports, harbours and other locations. There are three types of public telephones, Coin phones, Outdoor card phones and indoor card phones. All public payphones can be used for both national and international calls. In all payphones, dialling instructions as well as charges rates are posted.
Telecards of Ł3, Ł5 and Ł10 can be purchased at any CYTA shop, at banks, post offices, kiosks and other shops.
Coin-operated payphones accept coins of 2,5,10 and 20 cent denominations.
Public telephones of other providers are also installed at various central locations.
Prepaid calling cards (CYTA COMMcard)
CYTA COMMcard, is a prepaid calling card that allows you to make calls from your mobile phone, your hotel phone or any other fixed telephone and charge the calls to the card instead of the phone you are calling from. Using the service is very simple as you are guided all the way through a series of friendly prompts.
Visitors Yellow Pages
The Cyprus Visitors Yellow Pages is a new guide especially designed to give easy access to any information a visitor might need during his/her stay in Cyprus. In the guide a visitor can find useful tourist information, plenty of ideas for entertainment and leisure, maps and a comprehensive classified directory which can be used as a complete shopping guide. In the guide, the "Visitors Discount Card" is also included. This discount card can be used in a wide range of shops and enterprises that advertise in the guide, allowing you to obtain reduced prices for your purchases. The guide is available free of charge in most hotel rooms.
This information has been provided the Cyprus Tourist Organisation.
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