Cypriot culture reflects the island's position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with influences from Greek, Turkish, Byzantine, Venetian, and British traditions. As a result, Cyprus offers a rich tapestry of cultural expressions, from its cuisine to its festivals, music, and arts.

Key elements of Cypriot culture include:

• Religious traditions: The majority Greek Cypriot population primarily follows the Greek Orthodox Church, while the Turkish Cypriot community is predominantly Muslim. Religious festivals and celebrations play a significant role in cultural life, with Easter being particularly important in the Greek Orthodox tradition.
• Folk music and dance: Cyprus has a rich musical heritage with distinctive instruments like the bouzouki, laouto (lute), and pithkiavlin (flute). Traditional dances such as the syrtos, sousta, and karsilamas are performed at celebrations and cultural events, often in traditional costumes.
• Arts and crafts: The island has a long tradition of craftsmanship, including pottery, silverwork, basket weaving, lace-making (particularly the famous "lefkaritika" lace from Lefkara village), and woodcarving. Many of these crafts date back centuries and reflect both practical needs and artistic expression.
• Literature and poetry: Cyprus has a rich literary tradition in both Greek and Turkish languages. Notable Cypriot writers include Costas Montis, Nikos Kranidiotis, and Mehmet Yaşın, whose works often reflect the island's complex history and identity.

Hospitality (filoxenia in Greek) is central to Cypriot culture, with visitors often welcomed warmly into homes and offered food and drink. Social life revolves around family, with extended family gatherings being common, particularly for Sunday lunches and religious holidays.

Cypriot cuisine embodies the Mediterranean diet with its own distinctive character:

• Halloumi cheese: Cyprus's most famous culinary export, this semi-hard cheese is traditionally made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk and can be grilled without melting.
• Meze: A selection of small dishes served as appetizers or a complete meal, often including dips like tahini, tzatziki, and taramosalata, as well as olives, grilled halloumi, and various meat dishes.
• Souvla: Large chunks of meat (usually lamb, pork, or chicken) slow-cooked on a long skewer over a charcoal barbecue.
• Koupes: Fried bulgur wheat shells filled with minced meat, onions, and herbs.
• Loukoumades: Small honey-soaked doughnuts flavored with cinnamon or syrup.
• Commandaria: One of the world's oldest named wines, a sweet dessert wine produced in the Troodos Mountains and dating back to the 12th century.

Coffee culture is important in Cyprus, with traditional coffee houses (kafeneia) serving as social hubs where locals gather to play backgammon (tavli), discuss politics, and enjoy strong Cypriot coffee. The island also has a growing wine industry, with indigenous grape varieties like Xynisteri and Maratheftiko gaining international recognition.