TRANSPORT IN CYPRUS
How to Get There and Getting Around
Transport options to Cyprus have changed and improved considerably over the last few years and along with the scheduled airlines, there are now several lost cost airlines which fly to both Paphos and Larnaca.
Here details of the main airlines which fly to Cyprus. You will find that there are many charter flights that also fly to the island, particularly during the summer months.
Flights to Cyprus
British Airways, www.britishairways.com. Flights from London Heathrow to Larnaca and London Gatwick to Paphos
Cyprus Airways, www.cyprusairways.com Flights from a variety of UK airports and continental European and Middle Eastern destinations.
First Choice Airways, www.firstchoice.co.uk Flights from Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle.
Budget Airlines to Cyprus
Monarch Airlines operates regular flights from London Luton, London Gatwick and Manchester to Larnaca airport.
Easyjet began flights from London Gatwick to Paphos from 30th March 2008.
Cyprus Airports
Flight Information (24-hours)
Hermes Airports, who run both Larnaca and Paphos airports, has launched a new website and telephone information line for passengers. You can check arrivals and departures on (00357) 77 77 88 33 or log on to http://www.cyprusairports.com.cy.
Larnaca Airport
Cyprus' largest airport is Larnaca International Airport, situated around 5km south of the city. It's currently undergoing major expansion works to deal with the enormous growth in passenger numbers over the last few years. In just one year - between 2006 and 2007 - arrivals at Larnaca doubled from 2.5 million to 5 million. The airport will have a new terminal - the old terminal will be used as a cargo facility - and the runway will be extended. Already built is a new air traffic control tower, a new fire station, a runway extension and improvements to the road infrastructure serving the airport (A3 motorway and B4 road, new junctions to the airport). The work is due to be completed in November 2009 and it’s expected that the airport will serve 7.5 million passengers a year.
Transport from Larnaca Airport
If you’re not hiring a car, taxis are available outside the terminal building or you can take an Intercity bus connection from Larnaca airport to all major towns and cities on the island. This bus operates from 6.30am until 4.00pm. There is now also an Airport Shuttle Bus (see below)
Parking at Larnaca Aiport
Short-term parking is available in front of the terminal buildings. If you need long-term parking, there are two companies that provide it:
Park 2 Fly Cyprus – Tel: 00357 24 427 999 www.fly2parkcyprus.com
They have a new parking facility just 3 minutes from the passenger terminal. The good news for pet owners is that they also offer a pet boarding facility.
SkyPark Cyprus – Tel. 00357 24 828 399 www.skypark-cyprus.com
Parking facility just 8km from passenger terminal and free shuttle bus provided.
Paphos Airport
Paphos International airport is 15km east of Paphos town in the south-west of the island. The expansion work at Paphos airport is currently approaching completion and is scheduled to be completed by November.
The airport will have a new terminal with 24 check-in desk and increased car park space. This airport is popular with millions of tourists who visit this part of Cyprus regularly and if you're one of them, you'll be pleased to hear that a new four-lane highway is also under construction. This will link the town of Paphos with the airport so traffic congestion during the tourist season will be eased on the current routes, the B6 and the E603.
Transport from Paphos Airport
If you’re not hiring a car, taxis are available outside the terminal building or there is a regular bus service between the airport and Paphos Town. There is now also an Airport Shuttle Bus (see below)
Parking at Paphos Airport
There is short term parking close to the terminal building - there will be more car parking space once the airport expansion is completed.
One company which offers long-term parking:
Paphos Park ‘N Go – Tel: 00357 26 422 074 www.paphosparkngo.com
Free shuttle to the terminal (5 minutes)
New Airport Shuttle Bus
Departure Points:
Paphos: Central Karavela Station and Kato Paphos harbour
Limassol: Ayios Georgios Havouzas (off the Polemidia Roundabout)
Nicosia: Philoxenia Hotel
The schedule includes frequent runs to and from the airport including in the early hours of the morning, starting at 05.00 am then following the schedule of flights. The one way fare from Nicosia is €5, from Limassol €7 and a total of €14 from Paphos, there is no extra cost for luggage. Passengers are advised to make advance reservations.
For full information please go to http://www.airportshuttlebus.eu/english/index.html
Getting Around in Cyprus
Hire Cars
Multinational car hire (rental) companies such as Alamo, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty have offices in most large towns and at the two international airports.
If you’re visiting in high season, you should reserve a car before arriving. Hire cars in Cyprus are fitted with distinctive red plates with numbers prefixed with a ‘Z’ and police are usually fairly tolerant of foreign motorists, as long as you’re not doing anything illegal or dangerous! To hire a car in Cyprus you must be at least 21, and for certain categories of vehicle the age limit is 25. Drivers must have held a full licence for a minimum of a year and most companies have an upper age limit of 60 or 65.
Taxis in Cyprus
There are two types of taxis in Cyprus, the main urban taxis or the cheaper option of service taxis.
Urban Taxis work on a 24-hour basis and operate in all the main towns. Taxis can either be hailed on the spot or booked by telephone (Larnaca - 24-828 253, Limassol – 25 305 673, Nicosia – 22 807 149, Paphos – 26 940 279). Make sure the taxi you use has a taximeter. There are separate tariffs for daytime (6am to 8.30pm) and nighttime (8.30pm to 6am), and the night tariff is slightly more expensive.
Service Taxis are a low-cost option because they are shared by between four and eight passengers. They provide connections between all the major towns in Cyprus. Taxis run every half hour on weekdays and every hour at weekends, but there’s no service on public holidays and they don’t run between towns and villages. Taxis can be booked by telephone through a central number (77 777 474), which will connect you to the relevant local office.
Buses in Cyprus
It has to be admitted that bus services in Cyprus can be unreliable – if you want to see and enjoy the island at its best, a hire car is the preferred option for most visitors. However, there are three different types of buses in Cyprus; inter-urban buses that link the major towns (Monday to Saturday only), urban buses and rural buses which connect almost all the villages to the nearest town, although services are usually limited to once or twice a day. Most bus services stop at around 6.00pm and there are no services on Sundays.
Bus timetables are available form local tourist offices or from the bus company concerned (the main ones are listed below)
Intercity Buses (Green Buses) - 00357 24 643 492/24 722 700 http://www.intercitybusescy.com (Timetables available on the website).
Route: Larnaca – Nicosia – Limassol – Larnaca Airport – Ayia Napa - Protaras
Eman Travel – 00357 23 721 321 www.emantravel.com (Timetables available on the website).
Route: Ayia Napa – Larnaca – Paralimni
Other Bus companies
Lefkosia Interurban Buses Ltd, operating between Nicosia and Limassol (00357 22-665 814),
Neo Amoroza Bus Company Ltd, operating between Paphos, Limassol and Polis (00357 26-936 822).
There are several smaller bus companies that operate other routes and if you follow the link below, you will find detailed information about routes and fares, compiled by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation in August 2008.
This link also includes information about taxi services and shared taxis for a cheaper taxi service.
http://cyprusme.com/newsletter/2008Aug/domestic-transport-services-august-2008.pdf