Shopping in Cyprus

After a romantic trip to Cyprus, it is nice to take some back home souvenirs as a gift for friends and relatives as well as a happy reminder of the time spend in the island. Cyprus offers good opportunity to the tourists for shopping for mementos and other unique objects.

Leather in Cyprus is of very good quality. The shoe shops are stocked up with latest in styles and are very reasonable priced. Handbags, suitcases and jackets also make for a good bargain. Shoes, jackets, men’s suits and shirts can be made-to-measure within week’s time.

Handicrafts are some of the best things to buy from Cyprus. They are abound on every shopping street of the country. However, the best place to look for them is the Cyprus Handicraft Centre in Lefkosia. Small items of the distinctive traditional pottery, copperware, and woodwork and basket ware make as good gift items. Jewelry is an art, which has been practiced in Cyprus since the Mycenaean period. Craftsmen produce some very fine pieces of jewelry in contemporary and traditional styles. Silver spoons, forks and silver filigree can be bought from the island.

'Lefkaritika' or 'Lefkara Lace' is the most poplar thing for shopping in Cyprus. It is famous all across the world as one of the products most closely associated with Cypriot workmanship. It got its name from the village Lefkara situated on a hill on the Nicosia–Limassol Road. Folk weave, needlework, crochet, woven curtains, tablecloths and silks are a few more of the things that the visitors would like to take home with them.

As far as edible items are concerned, the tourists can shop for Cyprus brandy, wines and spirits available at very little cost.  If you like, you can take with you the Cyprus cheese, halloumi as well.

The opening hours of the shops are different in winter and summer. In the winters, i.e., 1 November to 31 March, the shops remain open from 09:00 am to 19:00 pm except on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays when they close at 14:00 pm, 20:00 pm and 15:00 pm respectively. During summers, i.e., from 1 April to 31 October, the shops are open from 09:00 am to 20:30 pm except on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays when they close at 10:00 pm, 21:30 pm and 17:00 pm respectively. Between 15 June and 31 August, the afternoon rest becomes effective. Therefore, the shops are usually closed between 14:00 pm and 17:00 pm. VAT (KDV) is levied on most goods and services with rates ranging from 20% down to 2%.

By: Shuchita Bist

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