Getting Around Cyprus: Buses, Car Rental, Taxis
Buses link Cyprus cities well and reach a few Troodos villages only thinly. Compare intercity fares, airport shuttles, taxi tariffs, Bolt coverage, and driving on the left in 2026.
Cyprus is a car island. Buses connect Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos well enough for a city-based trip, and taxis or Bolt fill the gaps, but there is no train and the network thins out fast once you leave the coast. If your trip stays inside one or two towns, you can manage without driving. If you want to reach the Troodos mountains, small coves, or wine villages on your own schedule, a rental car is close to essential.
This guide covers every way of getting around the Republic-controlled south: intercity coaches, city bus networks, airport shuttles and taxi fares, Bolt and why Uber is not an option here, driving on the left, and what is genuinely possible in Troodos without your own wheels. Prices below are approximate ranges as of 2026 and should be checked at the point of travel.
Car or bus: the honest premise
Cyprus has no passenger rail, metro or underground system of any kind. The official tourism authority states this plainly: the island simply does not have a train. Everything that is not a private car, taxi or rideshare runs on buses, so the real question is not car versus train, it is car versus bus.
Buses handle a coastal, city-based trip well: intercity coaches link the main towns, each city runs its own urban network, and shuttles reach most of the coast from the airports. What buses do not handle is anything rural: services that exist run only a handful of times a day, and small beaches or wine villages are easiest with your own car. Base yourself in one or two coastal towns and lean on buses, taxis and Bolt for a no-car trip, or rent a car if the mountains or wine villages matter.
Intercity buses between the main towns
The main intercity coach operator is Intercity Buses, linking Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, the backbone for moving between cities without a car.
The busiest corridor, Nicosia to Limassol, runs frequently, roughly every 30 minutes at peak times, direct with no transfer. The route covers about 91 km and takes around 1 hour 45 minutes (fastest departures about 1 hour 30 minutes), with a first bus near 05:30 and a last near 22:00. Treat times as approximate and check the current timetable.
Intercity single fares are modest and vary by distance and booking channel: budget roughly EUR 5 to EUR 10 one-way under the tariff in force since April 2025. The Limassol-to-Paphos leg, for example, runs around EUR 5, while Larnaca to Paphos is EUR 10.
One route catches first-timers out, though not in the way most guides put it: InterCity does run a through Larnaca to Paphos bus, but it leaves from Larnaca city, not the airport. That service calls at Limassol on the way, runs only a few times on weekdays, and takes roughly 2 hours 45 minutes, so check the current timetable before you build a day around it. Arriving at Larnaca Airport, you take the Limassol Express to Limassol first (about 1 hour, roughly EUR 10 adult / EUR 5 child), then change onto the InterCity Limassol-to-Paphos bus (about 1 hour 15 minutes, roughly EUR 5), which comes to close to 2.5 hours door to door.
City and district buses
Cyprus's tourism authority groups buses into four categories: airport transfer buses, interurban buses (covered above), urban buses (within each town), and rural buses (villages to nearest town, limited and infrequent). Each district runs its own urban network under its own brand.
- Nicosia and Larnaca: both run under the Cyprus Public Transport (CPT) brand, which replaced the older operators in 2020; older guides naming different companies are out of date.
- Limassol: run by EMEL.
- Paphos: run by OSYPA.
- Famagusta district (covering Ayia Napa and Protaras): run by OSEA.
Fares vary a little by district; treat these as ranges. A single urban ride typically costs roughly EUR 2 to 2.70 in cash, night fares run considerably higher (up to about EUR 4.70 on Cyprus Public Transport routes), and district day-ticket costs vary; the four-trip paper ticket costs EUR 8.70, with subsequent trips free if all four trips are used in one service day. Nicosia and Larnaca also sell a reloadable Motion smart card with multi-trip and multi-day options, plus an all-network day pass. Bring cash to buy tickets directly from the driver, and validate your bus card whenever you board if you are using one.
| District (operator) | Single fare (day) | Day pass |
|---|---|---|
| Nicosia / Larnaca (CPT) | EUR 2.70 cash (EUR 2.00 on a Motion card) | all-cities day pass EUR 20 |
| Limassol (EMEL) | about EUR 2.00 | about EUR 6.00 |
| Paphos (OSYPA) | about EUR 2.00 | about EUR 6.50 |
Rural buses connect villages to their nearest town but run only a few times a day, sometimes with no weekend service, so plan ahead rather than exploring on a whim.
Getting from the airport: shuttles and shared transfers
Cyprus has two international airports in the south: Larnaca International Airport (LCA) and Paphos International Airport (PFO), both operated by Hermes Airports under a concession from the Republic.
Kapnos Airport Shuttle is the main scheduled shared shuttle operator, connecting both airports with towns including Nicosia, Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras and Paphos. It has run since 2008, with frequent, pre-scheduled departures; book online up to 60 minutes ahead, cancel free up to 24 hours ahead. Larnaca Airport to Nicosia shows how it works: a direct, non-stop 40-minute trip running roughly hourly, around EUR 8 to 9 one-way, a shared shuttle price, not a private taxi fare.
Coverage to the east coast resorts is less reliable. Scheduled shuttle service between Larnaca Airport and Ayia Napa or Protaras is seasonal and can have real gaps, so check the current schedule and have a taxi as your fallback.
Taxis: official fares and how metering works
Cyprus regulates taxi fares through the Department of Road Transport, which publishes indicative metered fares from both airports. Airport journeys covered by the official schedule use fixed fares, including luggage and VAT. The indicative airport figures below (day / night, in EUR) were published under an earlier tariff and no longer match the meter, so check the official airport fixed-fare schedule before you travel:
| Route | Distance | Day / Night fare (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Larnaca Airport to Larnaca city centre | 8.5 km | 9.63 / 11.59 |
| Larnaca Airport to Nicosia city centre | 50.6 km | 40.36 / 47.37 |
| Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa city centre | 55.9 km | 44.23 / 51.88 |
| Larnaca Airport to Protaras | 65.1 km | 50.94 / 59.70 |
| Larnaca Airport to Limassol city centre | 70 km | 54.52 / 63.86 |
| Larnaca Airport to Paphos city centre | 133 km | 100.51 / 117.41 |
| Paphos Airport to Paphos city centre | 14.6 km | 14.08 / 16.77 |
| Paphos Airport to Polis | 53.9 km | 42.77 / 50.18 |
| Paphos Airport to Limassol city centre | 58.7 km | 46.27 / 54.26 |
| Paphos Airport to Nicosia city centre | 141 km | 106.35 / 124.21 |
For metered urban journeys outside the airport fixed-fare schedule, the urban day tariff (06:01 to 20:30) currently starts at EUR 3.80 plus EUR 0.95 per km, and the night tariff (20:31 to 06:00) starts at EUR 4.80 plus EUR 1.10 per km. Waiting time is billed hourly (EUR 17 by day, EUR 19 at night), luggage adds EUR 1.40 per piece, public holidays add a EUR 2 supplement, and groups of five or six pay a 20 or 40 percent surcharge. Street-hailed and telephone-booked urban taxis use the same metered tariff, so treat any quoted fare as approximate; for journeys outside the airport fixed-fare schedule, every driver must run the meter and give a receipt on request. Pre-booked private transfer companies quote their own flat fares, usually higher for a guaranteed price, useful if you land late or need a fixed group rate.
Bolt and ride-hailing: no Uber in Cyprus
Uber does not operate in Cyprus: the island appears nowhere in Uber's own directory of cities, and there is no sign of a launch coming. Bolt is the main ride-hailing app, live in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and the Ayia Napa and Famagusta area, alongside a handful of local taxi apps.
Bolt coverage is strongest in the main coastal cities and drops off sharply once you leave them. In rural areas and Troodos villages, the app often cannot find a driver, so pre-book a private transfer for a remote ride.
Car rental and driving on the left
Cyprus drives on the left, a legacy of British rule, with right-hand-drive cars the norm. Rental cars are easy to spot: they carry distinctive red (dark red) license plates, a visible signal that locals read as "still learning the roads," so other drivers tend to give them a little extra room.
UK visitors can use a photocard driving licence for up to 30 days without an IDP (international driving permit); confirm with your rental company when booking. Minimum rental age commonly runs 21 to 25, and drivers under 25 who have held a licence less than three years typically need young-driver insurance. Cars are usually delivered with a full tank, which you pay for, and should come back full to avoid a refuelling charge; unlimited mileage is common, and expect a card deposit, typically the low hundreds up to a couple thousand euros.
Once on the road, the rules are straightforward. Speed limits are 100 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on the open (non-urban) road, 50 km/h in towns, and 30 km/h in pedestrian zones, with a 65 km/h motorway minimum. Seatbelts and child restraints are mandatory, handheld phones are illegal while driving (hands-free is fine), and the drink-drive limit is 0.5 mg/ml blood alcohol, tightened to 0.2 mg/ml for drivers under three years' experience and professional drivers. Fuel averaged EUR 1.650 a litre for unleaded 95 and EUR 1.915 for diesel on 14/09/2026, both below the EU average, and stations thin out on mountain roads, so fill up before Troodos or the Akamas peninsula.
The entire motorway network (A1, A2, A3, A5, A6, A9) is toll-free, as are all national and local roads: no toll gate, vignette or transponder anywhere. The A1 between Nicosia and Limassol is the first and longest motorway, at 73 km. See our guide to renting a car in Cyprus for what trips up first-time renters. Parking in larger cities generally follows a paid blue zone pattern in central areas, usually enforced weekdays during business hours, with some zones free weekends. Paphos has noticeably more free parking than Nicosia or Limassol, and rates vary by municipality.
Reaching the Troodos: bus reality versus a car
The Troodos mountains are the clearest case where a car changes what your trip can look like. There is no reliable, comprehensive public transport network linking the mountain villages to each other. Rural buses run infrequently where they exist, sometimes only a handful of times a day, thinning to nothing at weekends. Sights such as Kykkos Monastery and Mount Olympus are realistically reachable only by self-drive or an organised tour.
Organised day tours to the Troodos run from Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca, the practical non-driving option for the painted churches, wine villages, or high peaks. Our Troodos mountains guide covers the villages in more depth, and a Troodos mountain hiking trip combines the drive with time on foot. If you want a mostly no-car trip but still want the mountains, book a tour for this region and keep the rest bus-based.
E-scooters and bikes
Bolt runs a shared e-scooter service in Nicosia, launched November 2023, a handy way to cover short distances around the old town without a car or a full taxi fare. Coverage elsewhere is not confirmed at the same level, so treat e-scooters as a Nicosia-only option, and check current in-app pricing before you ride.
What a no-car trip actually looks like
A car-free trip is realistic if you accept its shape: one or two coastal bases, intercity buses or Kapnos shuttles between them, taxis or Bolt for the last mile, and organised tours for Troodos and rural sights.
- Coastal-only, one base: fly into Larnaca Airport, shuttle or taxi into Larnaca, and use CPT buses plus Bolt locally. Day tours cover Ayia Napa beaches and Troodos.
- Two-city trip: start in Nicosia for the old town, take the frequent Nicosia-Limassol intercity bus (about 1 hour 45 minutes) south, then use EMEL buses and Bolt for the rest.
- Both airports: fly into Larnaca, shuttle to Limassol and change there for Paphos (budget 2.5 hours), or pick up the through Larnaca city to Paphos bus if its timetable suits you, then fly out of Paphos at trip's end.
Our Cyprus first-timers guide and where to stay in Cyprus guide help pick a base that matches your plan, and Cyprus on a budget breaks down daily costs including transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a car in Cyprus?
Not strictly, if your trip stays inside the coastal cities. Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos and the Ayia Napa and Protaras area are all bus-connected, so a city-based trip works on buses, taxis and Bolt. A car becomes close to essential once you want flexible access to the Troodos villages, small beaches, or rural sights, where public transport is sparse to nonexistent.
Is there a train in Cyprus?
No. Cyprus has no passenger rail, metro or underground system of any kind, and the official tourism authority states this plainly on its own transportation page. Buses, taxis, Bolt, and rental cars are the only ways to get around, so plan your trip around one or a mix of those rather than expecting any kind of rail link between towns.
Is there a direct bus from Larnaca to Paphos?
Yes, from Larnaca city. InterCity runs a through Larnaca to Paphos service that calls at Limassol on the way, with a handful of weekday departures and a journey of roughly 2 hours 45 minutes. From Larnaca Airport, Kapnos Airport Shuttle offers a scheduled connection to Paphos Airport that may include a short stop or vehicle change. For the city-bound route, take the Limassol Express to Limassol first, about 1 hour, then change onto the InterCity Limassol-to-Paphos bus, about 1 hour 15 minutes, and budget close to 2.5 hours door to door.
Is driving on the left hard in Cyprus?
It is manageable for most visitors after a short adjustment. Take roundabouts slowly at first, since that is where drivers most often default to habit, and take extra care on narrow, winding roads in the Troodos. Rental cars carry red plates, which locals recognize as a visitor's car, so other drivers allow some room.
How much do buses cost in Cyprus?
Budget roughly EUR 2 to 2.70 for a single urban ride, EUR 8.70 for the four-trip paper ticket, with subsequent trips free if all four trips are used in one service day, and EUR 5 to 10 for an intercity ticket, with night fares noticeably higher. Fares vary by district operator (CPT, EMEL, OSYPA, OSEA), so check the current price locally.
Should I use Bolt or Uber in Cyprus?
Use Bolt. Uber does not serve Cyprus, and no Cypriot city appears in Uber's own city directory. Bolt is live in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and the Ayia Napa area, though coverage drops off sharply outside the main coastal cities, so do not count on a Bolt driver in a Troodos village.
How much does a taxi cost from Larnaca or Paphos airport?
Airport journeys covered by the official schedule use fixed fares, including luggage and VAT. Check the official airport fixed-fare schedule before you travel.
Do rental cars need an International Driving Permit in Cyprus?
UK visitors can use a photocard driving licence for up to 30 days without an IDP (international driving permit). Other visitors should check the rules for their licence's issuing country and the length of their stay. Confirm the exact requirement with your rental company when booking, since policies vary.
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Alex Borshch
Founder and editor of the Isla365 network. Spent six months living in the Dominican Republic over the 2013-14 winter, and has since wintered in Thailand, Vietnam and Turkey. Writes and edits the guides across the network.