I’m in the beginning stages of planning a cycling trip around Cyprus later this year. Is there anything I should be mindful of considering this route?
I’m in the beginning stages of planning a cycling trip around Cyprus later this year. Is there anything I should be mindful of considering this route?
23 comments
Karpaz, Sadrazamkoy, and Akamas peninsulas have low maintained dirt/paved roads. If you’re taking a road bike, these parts will be very difficult if not impossible.
Hey, this sounds great! I hope it works out!
I biked from Paphos to Nicosia through the island’s central mountains in 2020. I quite like Cyprus, but be warned, the drivers can be very fast and, ah, a bit careless.
Aside from this, expect to get honked at and yelled at every now and then– but I say that with the acknowledgement that this kind of thing can be much worse elsewhere.
I’m sure this will be a pretty positive experience, on the whole, and best wishes, once again!
Yes, the green (ceasefire) line and the lack of roads in all areas around the coast. Especially in the west you can only cross on one area (astromeritis)
It’s gonna be fucking hot
can you show your bike?
You mean apart from Cypriot drivers?
Doubt you can cross the borders so easily. So when is the territorial integrity of Cyprus going to be restored?
Don’t fall in the sea 😛
The kink to the west of Limassol as well as a place called Dhekelia outside of Larnaca are British military bases. You can cross through them but I don’t think they will let you do the route you designed exactly. Also be mindful of where the checkpoint crossings are from Cyprus into the occupied area. I’m not sure there are any open ones at the points where you are crossing.
Some redditor will know better which will be the nearest open crossings for your route
Be prepared for 3 things
– to take alternate route due to poor/gravel roads at other side
– heat
– bad drivers, bad parking, bit careless, 99.9% of the drivers don’t indicate, etc etc
Riding in a pack or partner will be safer.
Border crossings is not a problem
Why is no one talking about his route going through Amochostos the famous ghost town (no entry from both sides is allowed)?
Yes. The road doesnt exist.. the north side is occupied and you have to pass through controlled areas
Looks to me he’s gonna cycle through the british miliaty lol
I don’t know if your route takes this into account but there are supposed to be EU funded cycle routes. I’ve never seen them so I assume it’s a classic case of Cyprus misodoji but here is the site anyway: https://en.eurovelo.com/cyprus
Watch out when you enter ammochostos, don’t trust your GPS too much (some roads who were once used are closed, so you should be properly paying attention to where you’re going) and be mindful of where you should and shouldn’t go.
Weather and drivers
The peninsula at the bottom is raf Akrotiri. You won’t be able to get to the coast there. Have to cut it out the route completely
**Non-Political Stuff:**
* Prepare for the weather. It’ll be incredibly hot, and since you seem to have planned to be near the coast at all times, humid too. Rain is not impossible though.
* Sun cream is a must.
* Water. Lots of water.
* Cycling infrastructure outside the cities is non-existant; and within the cities they’re not very well planned and are prone to just abruptly end and throw you into the road (*especially* in the north). The drivers will ***not*** help you, and might even do something stupid, cause some people get aggravated at the mere sight of a cyclist.
* So basically have a bike that is prepared for some rough terrain.
* The coastal areas are *technically* flat, but do be prepared for having to climb up and down; Cyprus is a very mountainous island.
* [The Akamas peninsula](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Akamas_Peninsula_location_map.jpg) is a protected area, do be careful with what you do there.
* [The Karpas peninsula (the green part at the top-right of this linked image)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/FamagustaDistrictRizokarpaso.png) has donkeys.
**Political Stuff:**
* As long as you have all the paperwork done there shouldn’t be any problems; the north very much loves having ~~money~~ tourists and is unlikely to cause trouble. As for the Republic (south), it too is unlikely to cause problems with you crossing to the north, but being an EU citizen always helps, so if you are one, good for you 🙂 . [Here are all the civilian crossings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Buffer_Zone_in_Cyprus#Crossings).
* The [*dingly bit at the very south*](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/CIA-Akrotiri.png) and [*a part at the lower west peninsula*](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/CIA-Dhekelia.png) are [**British territory**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia). I’ve never went there, so I don’t know how it might go. It seems there [isn’t a border at all](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borders_of_Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia)? But it is best you ask someone who actually knows.
Are you informed about the kokkina enclave on the North coast? I think they were planning a cross-point but I’m not sure if it’s open yet. Otherwise it used to be that you had to go up into the mountains to go round it.
Yeah, I’m not sure you can cross the border there. I’ve never crossed the border myself so I don’t know how it’s like and what you need.
1)Mofos drives like crazy
2)You will have to cross the border + British bases which might be problematic
3)Navigation sucks in Turkish side
4)There is niether proper lighting nor cycling roads
5)Mofos drives like crazy
You should consider the mountain route between Polis and Pafos.
How bout doin a bike run for a cause? get the media to follow you round from both sides and make some money for- i dunno- cancer treatment, your local institution or something. Tell us here and we support you- get points of access,places to rest eat and water etc etc etc!!! we support you anyway!!!!