last edited Dec 11, 2019
Culture and Customs of Cyprus
Location Map of Cyprus
Cyprus
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Arts, Crafts, and Architecture
Arts
Crafts
Architecture
Museums
Customs and Traditions
Local Traditions
Etiquette
Dress and Behavior
Sensitive or Taboo Topics
If there’s one topic best avoided—one that still stirs strong emotions, even if things have calmed down somewhat in recent years—it’s the island’s partition and the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Languages
Greek is the official language of Cyprus (along with Turkish in the northern part). In practice, however, everything depends on the origins of the population—Greek or Turkish. When it comes to foreign languages, English is widely spoken, given the island’s history. In tourist areas, German and French are also fairly common.
Glossary
A few useful local words and phrases to know while traveling: