Cyprus transport

Cyprus has a relatively developed network of roads. There are 11,593 kilometres of roads covering the whole island. Roughly half of these roads are tarmac. Since 1950, when the railway line was totally dismantled, the land transport system has been the major mode of moving around on the island.

Cyprus Buses

Within the Capital City , Nicosia , there are two main bus companies operating. They include the Nicosia Buses and the InterCity Buses. The Limassol Urban Bus Company Ltd operates in the town of Limassol . There are also smaller companies servicing the other Cypriot towns. The bus companies operate everyday except on Sunday and Public Holidays. Rural buses however only operate one or two trips per day. Nevertheless, they are the best way of visiting the remote parts of the island.

Cyprus Taxis

There are three categories of taxi services covering the whole island. A surcharge of 15% becomes effective from 10pm to 6am. You are also expected to tip the taxi driver.

Urban Taxi Service
These are 24 hours taxi services available in all the towns and cities. They can be booked by phone or you can flag one down on the streets. All these taxis use the taxi meters and the meter starting running as soon as the passenger climbs into the taxi. Below is a guide of the charges applicable:

Between 6.01am to 8.30pm

First Charge = €3.07

Per Km = €0.59

Waiting time per hr = €13.68

Luggage exceeding 12kg = €0.99 per piece

Between 8.31pm to 6.00am

First Charge = €4.01

Per Km = €0.71

Waiting time per hr = €15.73

Luggage exceeding 12kg = €0.99 per piece

Trans-urban Taxi Service
These services run between all the major towns of Cyprus every 30 minutes. Operating hours from Monday to Friday begin at 6am to 6pm. On Saturday and Sunday, the services begin at 6am to 5pm. You can book seats on these taxis by phone or through the internet with the taxi companies.

Note: These trans-urban taxis services allow a passenger to share a taxi with several other passengers.

Rural Taxi Service
These taxis only operate in the villages. They can only be chartered to run from and back to their pickup point. Charges are based on per kilometre rate. Below is a guide of the charges applicable:

Single Trip:

Tariff I = €0.53 per km

Tariff II = €0.59 per km (between 10pm to 6am)

Return Trip:

Tariff III = €0.41 per km

Tariff IV = €0.53 per km (between 10pm to 6am)

Luggage exceeding 12kg = €0.53 per piece

Tariff I and III waiting time per hr = €12.08

Tariff II and IV waiting time per hr = €15.74

There is a minimum charge of €3.04 for the chartering of these taxis.

Cyprus Cycling

This is the cheapest way of getting around the island. It is also a very efficient way to see the whole island. Bicycles can be rented from all the resorts and towns. Prices as well as the quality of bicycles vary from places to places. The terrain of the island also provide an excellent opportunity for those into mountain biking. Due to the heavy traffic on the weekends, you are advised to avoid plying the main roads.

Cyprus Driving

To drive in Cyprus , you must be holding a valid national driving licence from your originating country or an international driving licence/permit. Major roads in Cyprus are tarmac and meets international traffic standards. Four lanes highways connect Nicosia , the capital, with all the coastal towns namely Pafos, Limassol, and Larnaka. Forest roads or minor roads are also in good conditions although they are not tarmac. In some cases, driving is the only to get to remote location around the island where regular public transports are not available. For the major roads, the maximum speed limit is 100 kilometres per hour while for minor roads it is 80 kilometres per hour. For town areas, the limit is 50 kilometres per hour. Road signs are displayed in dual languages, English and Greek. To hire a car, you will need to be at least 25 years of age and holding a driving licence for at least 3 years.

Note: It is a serious offence to drive while using a mobile phone, not wearing any seat belts and also while intoxicated.

Cyprus Flights

For flights in and out of Cyprus , one can use the national airline, the Cyprus Airways serving Larnaka International Airport and Pafos International Airport . For flights to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , one has to use the Turkish airlines coming from Turkey .

Cyprus Railways

There are no railway services operating in Cyprus. The last remaining railway line was dismantled in 1950.