Cyprus operates on Eastern European Time (EET) during winter months, which is 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2). During daylight saving time, observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, Cyprus switches to Eastern European Summer Time (EEST), which is UTC+3.
All of Cyprus follows the same timezone. Major cities including Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos all observe the same time. Though geographically closer to Asia, Cyprus is culturally and politically European and shares its timezone with Greece.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. According to Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite was born from the sea foam near the city of Paphos. Cyprus has been inhabited for over 10,000 years and has been ruled by Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans, and British before independence in 1960.