Gay Cyprus Island Guide

 

Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. A member of the EU, Cyprus gained independence from the UK in 1960 and has been divided since 1974 following a military coup which led to the occupation of Northern Cyprus.

Though now peaceful, a symbolic UN peacekeeping force still controls the buffer zone between the two regions, and new peace talks in 2017 seemed to promise a resolution.

Tourism is a huge industry on Cyprus. The island has an average of 340 days of sunshine a year, beautiful beaches and impressive archaeological sites, all of which attract around 2 million tourists each year.

Cyprus is divided into 6 major districts: Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.

Nicosia is the capital city and the last 'divided capital' in the world. A "Green Line" cuts the city in two. To the north is the capital of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey). To the south is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus.

 

Gay Scene

Cyprus is a gay-popular destination, although the island's LGBT community and gay scene may come a bit short of expectation. The island had one gay sauna, Vinci Sauna,which has now closed. Other LGBT-friendly and gay-owned establishments can be found all over the island.

The port city of Larnaca has a lively bar & nightlife scene along Mackenzie Beach. Limassol is home to The Elysium Bar Complex, located 20 minutes' drive from the city centre (off the road towards Germasogeia).

The capital city of Nicosia has some gay venues and an open-air cruising spot in the National Gardens frequented by Turkish Cypriots. The beautiful beaches in Paphos are popular with gay sunbathers and nudists.

 

Gay Rights in Cyprus

Whilst socially conservative, Cyprus has enacted LGBT laws to comply with EU requirements. Same-sex activity is legal and there are limited anti-discrimination laws.

Similar anti-discrimination protection came into force in Northern Cyprus in 2014, although gay life continues to be discreet with very few openly gay venues.

 

Where to Stay on Cyprus

There are some great hotel choices throughout the island, more so in Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos. Check out the latest hotel discounts in Cyprus on the Cyprus Hotels page.

 

Visa

Cyprus is a member of Schengen but has not yet fully implemented it. For citizens of EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland, an approved ID card (or passport) can be used to enter. Others will generally need a passport for entry.

International travelers are expected to go through regular immigration, except those travelling from an EU country. If Cyprus normally requires a visa for your nationality, then this may be waived if you already have a valid Schengen visa.