Ayia Napa Travel Forum

We are very excited about our 1st trip to Cyprus - Ayia Napa. We're looking forward to the beach and nightlife, but we are also interested in culture. We want to go to Nicosia, but there seems to have one bus per day only. If I got it right it departs from Napa at 8H00. Should arrive to Nicosia at 9h30? and then the bus back is at 15h00. Is it possible to have an idea of Nicosia highlights in about 5 hrs? Or it would be necessary to take a company tour one-day Nicosia. In the later case at what time do those tours return to Napa? I'm trying to see if its worthy or not the price difference.

Since January 2008 Euro is the official currency, but on websites I still see prices in British pounds and what is most, those prices in £ are much cheaper than Euros given the current exchange rate. For instance Bus return fare Napa Nicosia is priced 12 Euros Vs 7.02 Pounds, making it much cheaper if you pay in pounds.

I'm from an Euro country, should I get pounds to get better deals?

Please help!
Txs

You're better off renting a car. The bus service is unreliable, and even if the times given are correct (they change very frequently) 5 hours is very short for Nicosia, even if you only visit the old town.
All prices are in Euros. You may be able to pay in British pounds in the tourist areas around Agia Napa and in Nicosias city centre, but you're never likely to get a good rate. i.e. it is always better to pay in Euros.

Txs for your reply, but we aren't renting a car, because we don't drive!

Taking that 5 hrs to be in Nicosia is quite a short time, I'd like to know if the organised day trips are longer. Any recommendation of travel agent for day trip to Nicosia? ~

Txs

Unforotunately I don't know any local A.N. travel agents organizing trips. I could give you the address of a Nicosia one, but that lilkely wouldn't be of much help. Ask your hotel : they will know reputable agents organizing day trips.

When we were in Paphos last year,there were plenty of tour operators as well as the company rep in our hotel. The promenade shops contained many travel firms and the posters advertised several "standard" tours including Nicosia, Farmagusta, etc. These were not particularly expensive as I recall but di seem to operate on fixed days so best to check them out on your first day in case you miss the opportunity before you have to return home.
You might be able to combine a trip to Nicosia with a trip to the Troodos mountains, for example.
I am sure Ayia Napa will have just as many tour companies!
The local buses are meant to be VERY unreliable.

Re the money, if you see pounds on a Cypriot website, it is not British pounds, but Cypriot ones, which are worth more. One Cypriot pound = 1.71 euros, so 7.02 pounds is round about 12 euros. Cypriot pounds are no longer in circulation, and you cannot pay in British pounds either, euro is the accepted currency.