Cyprus is a Eurasian island country located in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey, north of Egypt and east south-east of Greece. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and as it is a former British colony, the country is very popular with British tourists.

If you're looking for the perfect beach holiday that combines a top party destination along with a vacation that allows for historical and cultural pursuits, then Cyprus is the place.

There are plenty of flight offers available this season, so prospective tourists should find flights online and secure that last minute holiday quickly before they are all taken this summer.

Traditions and culture in Cyprus

The traditions and culture of Cyprus are a mixture of Greek and Turkish influences, which reflect the ethnic make up of the island.

Traditional folk music in Cyprus has many common elements with Greek mainland and island folk music, including dances like the sousta, syrtos, zeibekikos, tatsia, and the kartsilamas.

A form of musical poetry known as chattista is also common in Cyprus, which is often performed at traditional feasts and celebrations.

When it comes to more modern forms of music, local pop songs are generally influenced by the Greek pop Laika scene, with several artists such as Anna Vissi and Evridiki gaining widespread appeal.

The cuisine in Cyprus is a fusion of Greek and Turkisk culinary traditions, but is also influenced by Arabic, Middle Eastern, Italian and too a lesser extent, Anglo-Saxon cuisine.

Halloumi, (a cheese made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk) originates from Cyprus, and is commonly served sliced and grilled as an appetiser.

Seafood dishes are also popular in Cyprus and include calamari (squid), octopus in red wine, red mullet and sea bass.

Recommended in Cyprus

Easter is more important in the Greek Orthodox Church than Christmas and is the biggest celebration of the year. Tourists can expect candle-lit processions, fireworks and plenty of feasting.

The Cyprus Museum is a great place to appreciate some of the most important archaeological finds on the island. The museum's highlights include a display of terracotta figures, discovered in 1929 at Agia Irini and a group of three limestone lions and two sphinxes found in the Tamassos necropolis south of Lefkosia in 1997.

Weather in Cyprus

The Cypriot climate is typically Mediterranean, with very hot summers in July and August. Inland temperatures can exceed 40 degrees C (around 105 degrees Fahrenheit).

Cyprus has been known to suffer from droughts and summers are usually cloudless and nearly always completely dry.

Winters are typically moderately wet, with temperatures averaging between five degrees C (42 degrees Fahrenheit) and 15 degrees C (59 degrees Fahrenheit).

Destination checklist for Cyprus

As of 2007, Cyprus had a population of 788,457.

The official language is Greek and Turkish so a holiday guide with helpful local phrases is a good idea.

The currency in use is now the euro.

Cyprus is two hours ahead of GMT.

The island's international dialing code is +357.