Cyprus Travel Health

Travel Health

There are no vaccinations required for entry into Cyprus however tetanus and hepatitis A are recommended. To avoid risk of contracting avain influenza from infected poultry stay away from domestic or wild birds and ensure poultry products are always well cooked. Tap water is safe to drink and always cook and peel all vegetables. Medical insurance is advised as healthcare may be very expensive. For European residents free or reduced cost treatment is available upon production of a valid European Health Insurance Card. Free medical treatment for all tourists is only available at government run hospitals or clinics. Should travellers require in-patient or out-patient doctor visits then payment will be required. Most areas throughout Cyprus have local doctors and pharmacies; check the local newspapers for these listings.

Cyprus is a very safe country with little violent crime. Take usual precautions of keeping your possessions, valuables and money safe. There is a tug of war for control of the island between Greece and Turkey and this is evident in the form of demonstrations and protests. It is advised to exercise commonsense precautions and avoid large political gatherings as a general safety measure. The crime rate is relatively low and there is little history of terrorism however Westerners in Limassol have been targeted by taxi drivers working in collusion with organised crime gangs. Exercise caution when summoning a taxi at night there. Extra caution is required near the ‘Green Line’ that divides the Greek Cypriot south from the Turkish Cypriot north where some violent incidents have occurred and land mines are present.

Most crime involves petty theft and pickpocketing as well as theft from vehicles so ensure that valuables are locked in the trunk, park in well lit areas and secure doors. Avoid nightspots advertising themselves as ‘cabarets’ as these are generally associated with organised crime and there are reports of foreigners being assaulted late at night outside these businesses. Cyprus has a zero tolerance drug policy and penalties are severe. The police force is professional however response time may vary according to the time of day. In case of emergency call 112 throughout the island.

We strongly advise that all Australian travellers check the latest travel advice on the Australian Government Smart Traveller site.