Cyprus is an island located in the eastern Mediterranean. After Sicily and Sardinia, it is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Geographically, the island belongs to Asia, but politically and culturally it is generally considered to be part of Europe. 1.12 million people live on the island, which has an area of 9251 square kilometers (2011). Internationally, it is also known as “Cyprus”.
The island has been de facto divided since 1974, with the south being ruled by the Republic of Cyprus, which under international law covers the entire island except for the British military bases of Dekelia and Akrotiri. The northern part is under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognised by Turkey and has been under military occupation since 1974, when Greek putschists tried to force Cyprus to join Greece.

Since the Eastern enlargement of 1 May 2004, it has been a member state of the European Union.

The main town is Nicosia, the length of the island is 225 km, the width 90 km and the highest point is Mount Olympus at 1952 meters.

As in Malta, traffic on the island drives on the left due to the British colonial period from 1878 to 1960.

The following regions are distinguished in Cyprus:

In the south of the island there are 4 large cities with Nicosia Lefkosa as the capital in the interior of the island, Limassol (Lemesos) as a large port city, Lamaca and Paphos with international airports, in the north is the town of Polis. The Turkish northern part of the island is home to 3 large cities with the capital Nicosia, Famagusta and Kyrenia. Ercan Airport is located about 10 km east of the center of Nicosia/Lefkosia and offers scheduled connections to Turkey.

Cypriot cuisine includes a lot of fresh fish, which usually comes from the island's lakes rather than the sea. Calamari is also popular. A typical meat dish is kupepia, meat rolls wrapped in vine leaves, or afelia, pork marinated in red wine. One of the country's specialties is haloumi, a firm sheep's cheese that is good for baking and grilling without melting. The country's cuisine is influenced by Greece and Turkey. It is therefore often seasoned with cumin, garlic or cinnamon.
In the taverns you can find meze as a surprise menu with several courses of fish or meat.
Independence Day is a public holiday on October 1st, and on October 28th Greece celebrates its refusal to surrender during World War II. The north celebrates Youth and Sports Day on May 19th. On the third weekend in June, “Kataklysmo” is a big festival in the coastal towns in the south.
Traffic rules in Cyprus
If you want to explore the country by car, you should follow the applicable traffic regulations to avoid fines.
If you want to travel with your own car, the route is via ferry. As a member of the EU, the registration certificate part I or the vehicle registration document is sufficient for import.
A valid license plate counts as proof of motor vehicle liability insurance, so a green insurance card is not absolutely necessary.
To rent a car on the island you need a German driving license or an international one.
You should pay attention to the country's requirements to carry warning triangles, which include having two warning triangles in your car.
You should also adhere to the country's speed limits. They are:

Anyone who drives too slowly or too fast on the motorway must expect to be fined.

Traffic on the island drives on the left, as the country was a British colony until 1960. However, right-hand traffic applies unless otherwise indicated.
The alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille. If children under 16 are driving, smoking is not allowed.
If an accident occurs in which people are injured, it is imperative that you call the police. If there is damage to property, you can skip this and settle the matter yourself with the other party involved in the accident.
There is also a ban on honking which must be observed, it applies from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.
Fines from Cyprus can also be collected after your holiday in Germany, provided they are above the de minimis limit of 70 euros in accordance with the EU Framework Decision on the Enforcement of Financial Sanctions (RBGeld).
However, driving bans or penalty points are not punished in Germany. They only apply in Cyprus.

General information

The most common violations and fines:

— 0.22-0.35 ppm (‰) - 125 €

— 0.35-0.55 ‰ - 301 €

— 0.55-0.7 ‰ - 500 €

— over 0.8 ‰ – up to 10,000 € or 2 years in prison (by decision of a judge)

payment order

If you received a traffic ticket and it was attached to the windshield of the car (or handed in personally), we recommend that you pay it as soon as possible. After 15 days from the date of the offense, the amount will be increased by 50%. If no payment is made after another 14 days, the case will go to court. Non-payers may have problems re-entering the island, as well as EU countries.

The easiest way is to pay at any bank or online no earlier than one day after receipt, since during this time the fine will be registered in the system.

How to pay at the bank

To do this, you must contact the bank employee and bring the fine notice and your passport. The bank may charge a small transfer fee.

online payment on the website

You can also pay using the JCCSMART application on your mobile phone or on the website www.jccsmart.com.

How do I pay a parking fine if I lost the ticket?

If you lose the fine notice, you must contact the nearest police station to obtain a duplicate with the vehicle documents or a rental agreement with you. If you receive a fine for unpaid parking, you must contact the municipality of the area or settlement where the fine was issued, since the police do not have these fines.

How do I know if there are still outstanding fines?

To obtain information about unpaid traffic fines,

- Go to the police station and provide the following information: ID number, first and last name, vehicle registration number.

- Contact the Cyprus Police Traffic Department by phone at +357 22607545, 46, 47. Working hours (07:00-14:30) on weekdays.

Will the JCC Warrants/Fines section indicate if I have to pay a fine?

No, JCC does not currently display this. A notification will be sent by mail to the car owner's address.