Transport and Accommodation

Transport to Cyprus

Airports

The most popular holiday resort on the East and West coasts of Cyprus are within easy reach of either Paphos or Larnacal international airports. If you wish to stay at any of the coastal resorts of Paphos or Limassol you would make use of Paphos airport whereas the resorts of the East side of the island are served by Lanaca airport. During the summer holiday season you will find flights to be regular and abundant. Visitors must be aware that during the winter months things are a little different, for the major holiday companies fly only charter flights into Paphos airport during these months. Visitors should therefore do their bookings as early as possible to avoid any disappointment and to ensure that you have a charter flight available.

Ercan airport services the northern part of Cyprus and with the tourist industry on the rise in the Turkish governed part of Cyprus, it is important that visitors know that Ercan airport does service most of the major London airports, but all flights go via Turkey.

Transport inside Cyprus

Bus Services

Local bus services follow a slow schedule and visitors should take note of this when they plan their trips. The bus service does connect all the villages with their nearest towns, but bus services are limited with buses only running once or twice per day. Regional bus companies provide more varied routes and in the main cities the bus services are far more frequent, especially during daytime and also in specific tourist areas. During summer time the city bus services are extended until midnight to cater for the tourist industry.

Taxi Services

Rural taxis only operate from the taxi stands in their specific towns and you must go there to retain the services of one. In the cities you have access to private taxi services as well as the taxi services provided by the hotels. Taxis are easily accessible and can be found at taxi stands, airports and hotels as well as all the other locations that are frequent users of taxi services but visitors should be aware that their services are more expensive after 8pm at night. In northern Cyprus, it is customary that taxi drivers will charge you a fixed rate even though all taxis use a taximeter; therefore, it is advised that you agree upon the fare with the driver before you start out on your journey. Another quirky practice is that people share taxis. Passengers going in the same direction use the same taxi and share the costs; this practice is called Dolmus and a great favourite in northern Cyprus. The taxi services in all urban areas run 24/7 and you can book their services by phone or hire them from their location stands. It is always advisable to book your taxi well in advance if you will need early morning or late night transportation.

Car Rentals

It is important for all visitors to know that there is NO public transport available between the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus, and if you wish to travel across the border between the two parts you must book a rental car. There are many rental car companies available in all the larger towns and cities and you can get excellent deals at very reasonable prices with several packages to choose from. Travel by car is not difficult in Cyprus; traffic drives on the left side of the road, all the traffic signs are international and the dual carriageway system that connects major towns are in good repair.

Accommodation

Cyprus caters to the needs of all the visitors that flock to this Mediterranean paradise each year seeking the sun, good food and total relaxation. The visitor can choose from five-star luxury to mid-sized accommodation, and families have ample choice as well as those on a tight budget.

• Hotels - offer accommodation in all the categories from five-star luxury, holiday resorts and tourist class hotels. Hotels have facilities such as shops, on-site restaurants and private swimming pools. You simply need to enquire what facilities are on offer when you make your booking. You will find hotel accommodation across the whole of Cyprus, though the largest selection is to be found in the main cities.
• Holiday Villages - there are various holiday villages situated across the island with rates that vary according to class and facilities offered, and most villages have bars, restaurants, on-site shops and swimming pools.
• For the adventurous, there are the options of the several official camping sites and caravan sites that have washroom, restaurants, and toilets and bar facilities
• Vacation rentals - there is a huge variety of holiday villas and apartments available for renting in Cyprus of different styles, sizes and with a large variety of facilities. This type of accommodation is available in most locations on the island