Cyprus
Getting around Cyprus: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights
Cyprus has no trains, so the choice is car or bus. Hire a car (€25–60 a day, 2026 estimate) if you want beaches, the Troodos or Akamas; otherwise take hourly intercity buses between Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos (€4–7) plus an airport shuttle. Driving is on the left.
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GuideCyprus
Key facts
- Rail
- No passenger trains anywhere on the island
- Default for coast and mountains
- Hire car, €25–60 a day; €15–30 in winter (2026 estimate)
- Intercity bus
- €4–7 a trip; Nicosia–Limassol 1 h 15, Limassol–Paphos 1 h 10 (2026 estimate)
- Airport transfer
- Coach €8–15; LCA–Nicosia 45 min, PFO–Limassol 1 h (2026 estimate)
- Shared taxi
- €15–25 a seat, door to door between the main towns; book a day ahead (2026 estimate)
- Town bus fare
- €1.50–2.50 a ride (2026 estimate)
- Driving side
- Left; hire cars carry red number plates
- Domestic flights
- No scheduled services between Larnaca and Paphos
What changes by month and by traveller
Bus frequency and car prices move with the season, and your licence decides how much paperwork a hire car costs you. The table below is the short version; the detail follows in the steps.
| Situation | Best mode | Cost (2026 estimate) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| June–September, coast and beaches | Hire car | €25–60 a day | Heat, parking in Paphos and Ayia Napa, dirt-road insurance gaps |
| November–March | Hire car | €15–30 a day | Troodos roads can close after snow; carry chains if going high |
| City-only trip, no car | Intercity bus + town bus | €4–7 intercity; €1.50–2.50 town | Sundays and public holidays run a skeleton service |
| Late arrival at LCA or PFO | Airport shuttle or taxi | €8–15 shuttle; €45–60 taxi LCA–Nicosia | Check the last coach departure before you book the flight |
| EU/EEA or UK licence holder | Hire car | No extra fee | Licence must be in Latin script |
| Licence in non-Latin script | Hire car | IDP may be asked for | Carry an International Driving Permit to be safe |
| Travelling with a bike | Own bike or rental | Rental €5–15 a day | Bikes are not carried on most intercity buses |
Step by step: choosing and using each mode
Start with the shape of your trip. If it is Nicosia plus one coastal base, buses and the odd taxi are enough. If it includes Coral Bay, the Akamas peninsula, Troodos villages or the quieter beaches, a car pays for itself in a day or two.
Hire car. Book ahead for July and August, when the cheapest categories sell out. Rates run €25–60 a day in season and €15–30 in winter, 2026 estimate. Driving is on the left. Hire cars have red number plates, which makes them easy for police and other drivers to spot. Full insurance usually excludes tyres, glass and the underside, and most policies are void if you take the car across the Green Line to the north — say so at the desk if you plan to cross.
Intercity bus. Hourly services link Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos on weekdays. Nicosia–Limassol takes about 1 h 15 and Limassol–Paphos about 1 h 10; fares are €4–7, 2026 estimate. Sunday and holiday timetables are much thinner, and almost nothing reaches mountain villages. Buy from the driver or at the station.
Airport shuttle. Kapnos and Limassol Airport Express run coaches timed to flights. LCA to Nicosia is about 45 minutes, PFO to Limassol about an hour, €8–15, 2026 estimate. Book online and check the last departure if you land late.
Shared taxi (service taxi). Door-to-door between the main towns, €15–25 a seat, 2026 estimate. Book a day ahead; the vehicle may loop to collect other passengers, so allow extra time.
Taxi and ride-hailing. Licensed urban taxis use the meter, roughly €10–20 across town and €45–60 for LCA–Nicosia, 2026 estimate. Bolt and similar apps work in the main towns. Night and holiday tariffs apply; agree a fixed price for long trips.
Town buses. Useful along the Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos seafronts at €1.50–2.50 a ride, 2026 estimate. Pay by card or exact change, and expect the last useful departures before 20:00.
Bicycle. Bike-share and rentals cost €5–15 a day, 2026 estimate. Limassol and Larnaca promenades and Nicosia's moat paths are the easy rides; June to September heat makes midday cycling unpleasant.
Domestic flights. There are no scheduled flights between Larnaca and Paphos; the island is small enough that driving or the bus covers it.
Notes and traps
Crossing to the north: your hire car insurance usually stops at the Green Line. Check the rules and the crossing hours before you set off, and note that newer crossings may keep shorter hours than Ledra Street.
Parking: old towns in Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos have limited street parking; use paid lots and expect blue-zone time limits.
Fuel: petrol stations are common on main roads but sparse in the Troodos and Akamas; fill up before heading into the mountains.
Heat and snow: summer driving is easy but tiring; in winter, high Troodos roads can close after snow.
Accessibility: newer buses and airport coaches are usually low-floor, but village services and older town buses vary — ask the operator.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to get around Cyprus?
A hire car, if your trip includes beaches, the Troodos or Akamas — €25–60 a day in season, 2026 estimate. For a city-only trip, hourly intercity buses (€4–7) plus town buses and the odd taxi are enough. There are no trains.
Do I need a car in Cyprus?
Only if you want villages, quiet beaches or the mountains. Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos are linked by bus, and airport shuttles cover arrivals. Outside those corridors, buses are thin, especially on Sundays.
Are there rail or bus passes for Cyprus?
No rail at all. Intercity buses sell single tickets (€4–7, 2026 estimate) rather than a national pass. A car is usually cheaper than tickets once two or more people travel daily.
Can I take a hire car to northern Cyprus?
Usually not without arranging it: most rental policies are void across the Green Line. Tell the rental company at booking if you plan to cross, and check current crossing hours before you go.
How do I get from Larnaca Airport to Nicosia?
Kapnos airport coaches take about 45 minutes and cost €8–15, 2026 estimate; a metered taxi is €45–60. Book the coach online and check the last departure if you land late.
Is driving in Cyprus difficult?
Traffic drives on the left, roads are good on the main corridors, and hire cars carry red plates. The main adjustments are left-hand driving, narrow old-town streets and unsealed roads where insurance does not cover tyres or the underside.
Deep dive
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