Transport in Cyprus: how to get around the island and how much it costs

Public transport is quite well developed in Cyprus: it is easy to get to any corner of the island. There are no railways, but buses run regularly.

As a rule, residents of Cyprus travel by their cars, so tourists mainly use public transport.

But many tourists prefer to rent a car: this is a popular service in Cyprus.

The number of transport and the schedule in summer and winter may differ: in summer there are more tourists, buses run more often.

Buses between cities stop running quite early. It should be borne in mind that intercity transport does not run until late in the evening: the last flight can be at 6-7 pm. If you are planning a trip for the day, you need to plan your return flight so that there is time to leave.

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City buses

Buses run from 05:00 to 23:25 every half an hour, sometimes once an hour. Cost of the trip for an adult:

• 5 euros during the day (0.75 euros for students)
• 5 euros at night (1.25 euros for students). Night rate in Cyprus is valid after 21:00

Travel for children under 6 years old is free, and up to 7 years old - a 50% discount.

You can pay the fare in cash from the driver.

Check the current schedule: it may change, especially on weekends. During peak season transport is full. In winter and autumn - half empty.

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Transfer in Cyprus

Cyprus has two international airports: Paphos and Larnaca . How to get from them to cities?

Larnaca

• Bus. The cheapest option. Its cost is 1.5-2 euros depending on the time of day. There are 6 routes to the city center that can be caught from 6:00 to 22:45. The road to the city will take about 30 minutes. The most convenient - bus number 417, 429, 425. The stop is located immediately on the left, near the exit.
• Transfer from the airport. It should be ordered online in advance. And then the driver with a name plate will meet you near the exit from the airport. The service is paid for at the time of booking.

• Taxi. Near the exit from the departure area there is a car park where you can easily find a taxi. The night rate is 15% higher than the day rate. Its duration is from 20:30 to 6:00. There are private and public taxis in Cyprus. You can only bargain with private traders. The average cost from Larnaca airport to the city is 20 euros, to Limassol - 60-70 euros.
• Car rental. You can rent a car directly at Larnaca airport. The cost is from 15 euros per day.
• Intercity buses. From the airport you can easily get to other resorts, such as Limassol or Larnaca. Limassol bus leaves from Paphos airport express. The fare is 9 euros. On the way, about 45 minutes to Larnaca airport.

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Pathos

• Bus. It is easy to get from the airport by public transport. The fare is 1.5 euros one way. Until 4:00 in the morning there is a night rate: travel from the airport to the city - 2.5 euros. The ticket can be bought from the driver. There are three main routes from the airport to Paphos: No. 612, 613 and 643. The journey takes about 30 minutes. But the schedule depends on the time of year. There is more traffic from April to December than from December to March. Route number 613 reaches the bus station Karavella Bus Stop, which is located in the center of Paphos. No. 643 goes to Polis to the resort town.
• Taxi. The cost of a trip to the center of Paphos from the airport is about 30 euros. Taxi is located right at the exit of the terminal.
• Transfer. The best option if you have a night arrival or a large company. It is convenient to book an airport transfer online. The reservation comes to the post office, the driver meets at the airport with a sign.
• Car rental. On average, from 15 euros per day. It is better to book the service in advance.

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Cyprus buses and their varieties

The bus is the main form of public transport in Cyprus. Each city of the island has a fairly large network of bus routes. They run exclusively on schedule and help build your route around the island. Buses run every 15 minutes during the day and about half an hour in the evening. On less popular routes, transport is less common.

• Tickets can be purchased from the driver upon boarding or at the station ticket office.
• You can enter through the front door and exit through any door.
• Buses in Cyprus are comfortable, with comfortable seats and air conditioning.
• They stop exclusively at bus stops. However, there are also stops on demand. Press the button on the handrail if you are about to exit. Otherwise, in unpopular places, the driver can simply drive through the stop.
• Stops are not announced, but you can ask the driver to tell you where to drop off. Also, tips are sometimes visible on the electronic scoreboard in buses.
• Stops in the cities of Cyprus are indicated by a canopy, sometimes there is air conditioning.
• Night buses are found only in large cities, for example, in Larnaca, Nicosia, Paphos, Limassol. They run on schedule approximately every half an hour. And in the summer, daytime routes finish work closer to midnight.
• Intercity buses can finish work at 6-7 pm.
• Sometimes buses in Cyprus can fail and not come.

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Fare in city buses in Cyprus

The ticket price depends on the number of trips and time of day. Tickets are day, night, one-time, weekly, monthly.

• The cost of a single daily pass is 1.5 euros. A single day ticket is valid for one flight and only within the city or suburbs from 4 am to 9 pm.
• A single night ticket is valid for one flight within the city and suburbs from 21:00 pm to 04:00 am. If you are traveling after 21:00, the fare is 2.5 euros.
• Day pass - 5 euros. The day ticket is valid throughout the day until 21:00.
• The weekly ticket is valid for a week from 4:00 am to 9:00 pm. A week pass costs 20 euros.
• Monthly pass - 40 euros. Valid for a month when traveling within the city or suburbs.

Discounts are provided for students: tickets are sold for 50% of the cost, but there must be a student ID.

Children under 6 years of age or students with a student ID are allowed into the salon free of charge.

By the way, these tariffs are valid not only in the city, but also in the suburbs.

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The cost of intercity buses in Cyprus

Different types of intercity buses run between the cities of Cyprus. They do not depart as often as city ones. The current schedule should be checked on the websites of the carriers themselves or at bus stations.

Each region of Cyprus is served by separate companies. Many of them have purchased new buses. As a rule, the name of the company is written on the bus on the windshield or on the body. One of the best - Intercity buses: usually big green buses. The schedule can be checked at intercity-buses.com. They offer to purchase both a travel card for a long period, and for a week or a one-time trip.

Approximate cost:

• Larnaca - Paphos - 7 euros
• Larnaca - Famagusta - 4 euros
• Larnaca - Limassol - 4 euros
• Nicosia - Larnaca - 4 euros
• Nicosia - Limassol - 5 euros
• Nicosia - Famagusta - 5 euros
• Nicosia - Paphos - 7 euros
• Limassol - Paphos - 4 euros
• Limassol - Famagusta - 5 euros
• Paphos - Paralimni - 7 euros

When you travel on an international flight, it is more profitable to immediately buy tickets in 2 directions. Basically, it's like a day pass. An example of savings with 2-way tickets:

• The trip from Limassol to Nicosia will take about 2 hours. The fare is 5 euros one way and 9 euros two ways.
• From Larnaca to Nicosia, the trip takes 75 minutes. The fare is 4 euros and 7 in two directions.
• Nicosia - Paphos: ticket price 7 euros and 13 euros for a 2-way ticket. On the road two hours.
• Larnaca - Limassol: 4 euros and 7 euros in two directions. The journey takes about 90 minutes.
• Larnaca - Ayia Napa - Paralimni: fare - 4 euros or 7 euros for a trip in 2 directions.
• Paralimni - Ayia Napa - Larnaca - Paphos. The cost is 17 euros, the journey takes 3 hours.
• Limassol - Paphos. The fare is 4 and 7 euros respectively.

Naturally, if we are not planning a return trip, it is more profitable to take a one-day pass. If we are going to come back, take two at once.

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Rural buses

Village buses are a different story. They are cheaper and run between small villages that connect them to the nearest cities. You can travel not only between the main cities, but also see the surroundings. For example, if you are traveling from Larnaca to Ayia Napa, you can leave by intercity bus Intercity. But there is also a rural bus option that takes longer but costs less. These buses are not as comfortable, but still quite convenient for tourists. Village flights are few.

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Taxi cost: day and night rate

City taxi operates around the clock. All taxis in Cyprus are equipped with meters. But sometimes taxi drivers can offer a flat fee.

There are three tariffs: day, night and holiday.

• The daily rate is valid from 6:00 am to 20:30 pm. The cost of a kilometer is 0.73 euros, landing is 3.42 euros, waiting is 13.66 euros per hour. Payment for baggage weighing more than 12 kg - 1.2 euros.
• Night rate: valid from 20:30 to 6:00. Landing - 4.36 euros, 1 km - 0.85 euros, waiting - about 16 euros per hour, surcharge for luggage weighing more than 12 kg - 1.2 euros.
• Surcharge for holidays - about 2 euros.

For example, the cost of a trip to Limassol is about 20 euros. Sometimes calling a taxi is even more profitable than renting a car. But this does not apply to long trips. If you want to travel from Limassol to the village of Lefkara, famous for its lace, and the duration of the trip in two directions will be 4 hours. Its cost is about 100 euros.

You can catch a taxi on the street or call by phone. Apps like Uber also work.

Before boarding that taxis turn on the meter or agree on a fixed fare before the trip starts.

Most often taxis in Cyprus are Mercedes with air conditioning. Especially a lot of Mercedes in Ayia Napa.

Surcharge is charged for demurrage, excess baggage (bags weighing more than 12 kg), you can transport pets in cages.

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Fixed-route taxi "dolmushi"

Fixed-route taxi is a separate type of public transport in Cyprus. They are also called dolmushi. The car can accommodate 4-8 passengers and runs between cities every half an hour.

• The fare is from 10 to 20 euros, depending on the carrier and the time of day. The fare is higher than the bus, but you will pay less than a taxi.
• Payment is made in the car.
• You can find the schedule at bus stations or at bus stops.
• Seats can be booked by phone, passengers are picked up and dropped off within the city on demand.
• They run every half an hour from Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 18:00, and on Saturday - until 17:00.
• On public holidays, this type of taxi does not operate.

One way cost example:

• Limassol - Larnaca airport - about 14 euros
• Limassol - Paphos - about 11 euros
• Larnaca - Ayia Napa - about 10 euros
• A trip around the city - 10-12 euros.
  
  

Rural taxi

It differs in that it does not have counters. For a fixed fee, a taxi rides between small towns and nearby villages. Taxi is located at special stands in the villages, which are the final drop-off point for passengers. The cost of such a taxi is approximately 15% lower than the city taxi.

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Trains in Cyprus

Alas, now there are no trains outside of Cyprus. By the way, there really was a railway in Cyprus: it was built by the British. Its length was more than 120 km. The railway transport functioned in Cyprus from the beginning of the last century until the 50s, connecting 39 stations. The railway connected the port city of Varosha with the capital of the island, Nicosia. The terminus went to the Troodos mountains.

How to get directions in Cyprus

City buses allow you to make a kind of city tour and see the most interesting. For example, you can take a ride to the best places in Limassol on bus number 30, which runs through the very heart of the city. In Paphos, a good option for exploring the city is bus number 631. It goes from the Harbor to the Stone of Aphrodite and makes stops near the main attractions of the ancient capital of the island.

• Look at the sites intercity-buses.com, publictransport.com.cy and get acquainted with the routes of the main cities, such as Limassol, Paphos, Nicosia, Larnaca, Famagusta, Ayia Napa.
• Plan a route from one point to another by bus, taking into account the current schedule. If you plan to return on the same day, check the return schedule.
• When you enter the point of departure on the site, you will be shown the travel time, transfers, as well as route maps. For example, we are laying a route from Larnaca airport to Ayia Napa: the trip can take one and a half to two hours, depending on the transport, and we will need to make 2-3 transfers. You can also see the points where you need to make a transfer, find out how many stops await us along the way.

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Car rental in Cyprus

Of course, it is difficult to travel around all the beauties of Cyprus by bus. But by car you can look into the most amazing corners of the island. For example, go to Golden Beach Beach, get to the Akamas gorge, Polis, look deep into the island, climbing the mountains.

Car rental in Cyprus is very popular. You can rent a car from 15 euros per day. But there is also a fly in the ointment: left-hand traffic, which Cyprus inherited from the British, who previously colonized the island. This is somewhat inconvenient for those who are used to the right-handed order.

What you need to know when renting a car in Cyprus

• Before the trip, you can compare car rental sites and choose the best option by booking a car.
• What are the conditions for car rental in Cyprus? They can take an advance payment of 15%, although the amount of the advance payment depends on the distributor. But there are times when cars are rented without a deposit. They can accept cards and cash. Franchise conditions can be with a minimum deposit of 50 euros or up to several hundred euros.
• You can rent a car immediately upon arrival. It will be delivered free of charge to the airport of Larnaca or Paphos.
• There are services with free cancellation and a full refund of the prepayment if the cancellation is made a day before receiving the car. Be careful, specify the amount of the deposit: a fairly significant amount can be frozen on the card. For a week of rent, 900 euros can be frozen as a guarantee on the site. It is worth considering when planning the budget of the trip. In this case, you can buy additional insurance for 5 euros per day to reduce the deposit several times.
• Book a car in advance during the season. The island is small, and there are many guests who wish to rent a car.
• Not everyone is ready to accept a cash deposit, so check your card before you travel.
• Traffic is left-handed as in England or Southeast Asia. Think about whether you can cope with left-hand traffic, or is it still better to take a car for a day with a driver and view the beauty of the island.
• All rented cars have red license plates. So the tourist can be seen from afar, so the locals are sympathetic to the peculiarities of foreign driving.
• You cannot drive a car rented in the Republic of Cyprus into the territory of Northern Cyprus. Insurance issued in the Republic of Cyprus does not cover troubles that came in the Northern part of Cyprus. But the problem is solvable: it is enough to buy insurance at the border. Its cost is only 20 euros for 3 days.
• Your car insurance will expire when you drive onto a dirt road.
• For mountainous areas, choose a car with a 16 liter engine or an SUV. A more modest car just might not be able to handle the climb.

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What do you need to rent a car in Cyprus?

• To rent a car in Cyprus, you will need a driver's license, in which the data is indicated in Latin letters. By the way, it is not necessary to have international rights in Cyprus. And also take a passport to the car rental office.
• The age of the driver must be over 25 years old, although some car rental companies rent cars to drivers over 21 years old.
• Driving experience must be at least 3 years.

You need to carefully inspect the car and record all damage and scratches so that they are not later deducted from your deposit.

Before signing the contract, check whether everything works in the car: air conditioning, turn signals, headlights, electronics. All damage should be photographed. The car is rarely brought with a full tank: more often, only a quarter of a liter is poured.

Car rental cost

• The cost of car rental in Cyprus starts from 15 euros for a car with a manual transmission.
• Mechanics with air conditioning - 15 euros per day.
• Small car on the machine - from 25 euros per day.
• Middle class - from 35 euros per day.
• SUV - from 60 euros per day.
• Convertible - 90 euros per day.

The longer the rental period, the cheaper the car will cost per day. For example, a weekly rental costs 55 euros, and for three days - 70 euros.

Tips:

• Book a car with collection and delivery at the airport. This will save you extra money on taxis.
• To save money, you should book a car in advance. In place in the season of the same machine may not be.
• Gasoline in Cyprus is quite expensive. Ideally, choose a small car if you are not going to conquer the mountains. Gas stations are mostly self-service, the machine does not give change.

Transport in Cyprus is so well developed that if you wish, you can easily travel around the entire island in a couple of weeks, seeing all the beauty.

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