Cyprus is on of the most preferred retreats in the med due to its long history and rich cultural heritage. With a combination of inimitably attractive factors ranging from its tax friendly treatment of pensioners to its fantastic climate, it is one of the most popular countries in the world to move to among British retirees. Although a small island, Cyprus is the third largest in the Mediterranean Sea, an island paradise of splendour, culture and hospitable people with magnificent beach resorts contrasted by the splendour of the Troodos Mountains. Cyprus is an island immersed in history and has a rich cultural heritage.
Overall the island has some of the most stunning architecture with a history going back hundreds of years. Located in the Eastern Mediterranean making it a strategic crossroads between three continents and has been used by travellers in their various journeys throughout history. Visitors can still trace the diverse history of Cyprus evident by its ancient settlements, Greek temples, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Roman theatres and early Christian basilicas. For the visitor looking for a permanent base in Cyprus or thinking of buying a retirement home, there are enough properties available and within the budget of most people.
There are an endless number of reasons to buy property in Cyprus, not least of which is Cyprus’ location. Property in Cyprus is a fantastic investment opportunity because the Island is in the middle of a huge property boom and the prices are reasonably low when compared to the UK in particular. An additional factor when purchasing property in Cyprus is that English is widely spoken and most shop and road signs are in English as well as Greek. Perhaps the best way to see everything Cyprus has to offer is to travel by car and car hire is recommended so that you can visit places on the Island.
Car rental is widely available throughout the island, at very reasonable fares, and can usually be arranged upon arrival at the airport, or even beforehand through a travel agent. The cost of car rental is reasonable and, like the UK, driving in Cyprus is on the left. However, travelling by car is not essential as there are plenty of buses in Cyprus, which are frequent, reliable and very cheap. Hotels, restaurants that are of excellent quality, but inexpensive and numerous places of entertainment abound in Cyprus.
There are many restaurants of varying cuisines and prices are very low in comparison to elsewhere in the Med. The welcome is warm and friendly in all the top class restaurants and even more so in the local restaurants where your taste buds will be delighted with the local cuisine. Excellent food, including French, Italian, Chinese, Thai and the popular local food is served in the plentiful restaurants that are found in every resort. Tasting the local food is one of the highlights of visiting Cyprus.
With all year round sunshine Cyprus is a safe and scenic island with an ideal climate, changing seasons, fresh air, friendly people, and a sense of culture and history. Cyprus is a modern country that effortlessly marries European culture with ancient enchantment and is one of the warmest islands in the Mediterranean. It has a typical Mediterranean climate but its proximity to the landmass of southwest Asia makes it one of the hottest parts of the Mediterranean in midsummer. From mid-May to mid-September the sun shines on a daily average of around 11 hours and the coastal areas benefit from a balance to the hot, dry Mediterranean climate.
