This information is to help you plan your trip. Each location is different so please ensure you read the section relevant to you.
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This information is to help you plan your trip. Each location is different so please ensure you read the section relevant to you.
Thank you for joining our efforts to provide dignified support to people on the move. Below you will find guidance, information and links to help you plan your volunteer period with us.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Refugee Support Family!
Before leaving
Before you leave, email the Office with your telephone number. We will add you to the Volunteer WhatsApp group so you can coordinate what to do when you get there.
Be mindful of your arrival time. If you are due in at the weekend or Monday morning, consider emailing the Office the Friday before departure.
Covid-19
Please ensure you check the relevant, official Government guidance regarding Covid-19, as rules and restrictions can change at short notice.
By plane
Please note we cannot provide airport pick up or drop offs so you need to arrange independent travel to and from Nicosia.
If you have a late flight into Larnaca or Paphos, we recommend spending the night there before onward travel to Nicosia as there may not be taxis available in the late/early hours to take you where you need to go.
From Larnaca Airport:
Kapnos Shuttle Bus runs 24 hours a day, costs around 9€ per person and takes 40 minutes. You can take the Shuttle to the edge of Nicosia, and from there a taxi to your accommodation (about 8-10€). Kapnos Bus Shuttle Schedule: Larnaca – Nicosia
From Paphos Airport:
Kapnos Shuttle Bus also runs from the Paphos Airport to Nicosia, costs around 16€ per person and takes 90 minutes. Please note, the Paphos Shuttle Bus is not 24 hours and has a limited schedule: Paphos – Nicosia
Taxis:
Volunteer Apartment
Beds and amenities
We have a comfortable and safe, shared apartment close to the Centre (30 minutes walk). It has 3 bedrooms and can host up to 5 people. If there is space in the apartment during your volunteer period, you will likely be in a shared room. We do not book mixed gender rooms.
The apartment has a shared lounge, kitchen, bathroom, washing machine and air-conditioning. All bedding and towels are provided.
Location and arrival
The address of the apartment is: 9 Archiepiskopou Makariou III, Apartment 001 (1020 Kaimakli – Nicosia).
It is important to mention the area, KAIMAKLI, when you get a taxi.
Please note, if you are going to arrive after 10pm, you will need to find your own accommodation for that night.
Please note, if you are going to arrive after 10pm, you will need to find your own accommodation for that night.
Cost and payment
The apartment is 15€ a night. The total cost of your stay is due on your first day volunteering with us and is payable online via the website.
Checking availability and requesting to book
If you would like to stay in the volunteer apartment, you must first confirm your volunteering dates with the Office. Only then should you email accommodation@refugeesupporteu.com to check availability and request to book a bed. Please note: Volunteer apartment requests and bookings can only be made via this email address!
Subject to availability, you can book one night before and one night after your volunteering period. If you wish to do this, please make this clear when checking availability. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer more nights either side of your volunteering as demand for beds is very high.
Please remember, this apartment is to assist with volunteer accommodation and is run on a first-come, first-served basis. We are not running a hotel or hostel service. Our focus is on the Dignity Centre and its members.
Other Accommodation
There are many Airbnbs in the area ranging from 25€ for a private bedroom to between 30-60€ for an entire apartment. You can also find good deals for hotels and hostels via agoda.com. or booking.com.
Locations to look for accommodation
The red circle on the map in the PDF below is the Old City; where much of our work takes place. The dotted line that runs through the Old City (and beyond) is the UN buffer zone between the Cypriot side (south of the line) and the Turkish side (north of the line).
We recommend looking for accommodation either within the Old City walls or in the blue circles below. Anywhere close to roads B1 and B14 will put you near bus routes that can take you into town. Staying in the South can be more convenient but generally there is no problem crossing the border; you will just need to allow a little more time.
Most of our work is based at the Refugee Support Dignity Centre on Perikleous Street. Find us on Google Maps
We work from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm.
Buses
Much of Nicosia is easily walkable especially inside the Old City walls. There is also an extensive bus network, which is good for getting around outside the old centre. You can check the routes on the Cyprus by bus website.
PDF download of this information is available HERE
By plane
There are a range of large and budget airlines that fly directly to Chisinau (check Skyscanner). Increasingly, flights with Air Moldova are cancelled last minute. As an alternative, there are regular flights to Iasi (pronounced Yash) or Bucharest in Romania, with onward bus and plane connections to Chisinau.
Travelling from Chisinau airport to the city
The airport is conveniently located about 14 kilometres from the city and a taxi from the airport will cost about 300 MDL (10-15€).
You will need to find a taxi that will accept cash payment. Always use licenced taxis and agree the price beforehand. Most taxi drivers also accept euros.
By bus
Bus from Romania
There are regular bus services to Chisinau from Iasi and Bucharest in Romania. Iasi is a shorter journey of about 3 hours whereas Bucharest is about 6 hours. Ensure you book your bus via the official company, SVS, directly.
Chisinau has three different bus stations, but it will stop where you ask along the route. The easiest is to ask to be dropped in the city centre, at UNIC mall. It is a short walk from there to the volunteer accommodation and there are many cafes and restaurants in the area with free wifi to connect with the others or Google maps.
By train
Train from Iasi, Romania
Trains from Iasi are inexpensive at around 8€ one way and tickets can be booked online via the official website. Trains to Chisinau run from the secondary station in Iasi (Iasi-Socola), which can be reached by bus or taxi from the airport or town centre. Trains arrive/depart in Chisinau very close to the Dignity Centre.
Taxis
Regardless of how you continue your journey (bus or train), you should always use licensed taxis. In the case of Iasi, take an official taxi from outside the airport.
Train from Bucharest, Romania
Trains from Bucharest run three times a week. The journey takes 13 hours but is nice. It includes a one hour stop at the border while they change all the wheels. This is by design to prevent East-West invasion during the Cold War!
Other travel information
Taxis
Car hire
Volunteer Apartment
Beds and amenities
We have a comfortable and safe, shared volunteer apartment close to the Centre. It can host up to 6 volunteers and has 3 bedrooms, each with 2 beds. If there is space in the apartment during your volunteer period, you will likely be in a shared room. We do not book mixed gender rooms.
The apartment has a shared lounge, kitchen, washing machine and 2 toilets. All bedding and a small towel are also provided.
Location and arrival
The location of the apartment is https://goo.gl/maps/CEUcE3k67paBCuwx9. It is 10-15 minutes’ walk from the Dignity Centre and close to the Stefan Cel Mare Boulevard and city centre.
Please note, if you are going to arrive after 10pm, you will need to find your own accommodation for that night.
Cost and payment
The apartment is 15€ a night. The total cost of your stay is due on your first day volunteering with us and is payable online via the website.
Checking availability and requesting to book
If you would like to stay in the volunteer apartment, you must first confirm your volunteering dates with the Office. Only then should you email accommodation@refugeesupporteu.com to check availability and request to book a bed. Please note: Volunteer apartment requests and bookings can only be made via this email address!
Subject to availability, you can book one night before and one night after your volunteering period. If you wish to do this, please make this clear when checking availability. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer more nights either side of your volunteering as demand for beds is very high.
Please remember, this apartment is to assist with volunteer accommodation and is run on a first-come, first-served basis. We are not running a hotel or hostel service. Our focus is on the Dignity Centre and its members.
Other accommodation options
There are a many hotels as well as some AirBnB options. The Dignity Centre is very centrally located and close to the main bus station.
Most of our work is based at the Refugee Support Dignity Centre: Boulevard Yurii Gagarin 7, num 62. Find us on Google Maps.
We work from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 9.30am to 1pm.
Using your phone in Moldova
Using the Moldovan network without a Moldovan SIM card is extremely expensive and/or sometimes doesn’t work. We therefore strongly advise you not to use mobile data until you purchase a Moldovan SIM. You can buy an ORANGE SIM at the airport, any kiosk or ORANGE shop in the city for 39MDL (around 2€) with data for 2 weeks and calls included. It is easy to top up.
Without a Moldovan SIM, you may not be able to send SMS to communicate your arrival. If you are unable to purchase one, we recommend using the Wi-Fi in a local café or restaurant (which is readily available) and messaging the team via WhatsApp.
Money
Sightseeing
PDF download of this information is available HERE
Help keep our Dignity Centre in Cyprus open this winter by donating by 5th December. The more we raise, the more people we can support!