# Getting around Cyprus > Car, bus or taxi: what makes sense for the time you have and where you want to start exploring the island. Author: olé. Published: 2026-04-28. Updated: 2026-09-23. Original page: https://byole.com/en/stories/getting-around-cyprus The question comes up almost as soon as you book the flight: do you need a car in Cyprus? The honest answer is "it depends on the trip you want". That is not a slogan. It is the difference between a comfortable trip and one that feels incomplete. We have explored the island by car, by bus and with occasional taxis. Each option has its moment. What does not work is expecting one formula to suit [Protaras](https://byole.com/en/places/protaras-paralimni), Nicosia and [Troodos](https://byole.com/en/places/troodos-villages) equally well. ## Car: freedom (and learning to drive on the left) If you want hidden beaches, mountain villages, [Akamas](https://byole.com/en/places/akamas) or simply to hop between bays without checking timetables, the car wins. Cyprus makes more sense when you can stop wherever the scenery catches your attention. The real cost is not the hire price but the concentration needed for the first few days. You drive on the left. Roundabouts make you rethink your instincts. In high season, book ahead and read carefully what the insurance includes. You can collect the car when your flight arrives, even if you land at night. There is usually less traffic, and arriving at that hour does not mean you have to avoid driving. What matters is how you feel: darkness reduces visibility and flight fatigue can take its toll. If you do not feel confident starting on the left at night, leave the car until the next day. People tend to underestimate parking at the best-known beaches and the fatigue of mountain roads. A day in Troodos is not a "quick jaunt": it means climbing, bends and a slower pace. It is worth it; just do not plan it for the same day as an early flight. For us, a car comes into its own on trips of a week or more, or when your base is far from what you want to see. If you are staying beside a walkable seafront promenade, you may not need it every day. There is also RideNow, a car-sharing option you can hire through your phone. We will devote a full article to explaining how it works. If you plan to [cross to northern Cyprus by car](https://byole.com/en/stories/visiting-northern-cyprus), confirm the hire company's permission and the scope of your insurance beforehand. Do not assume the usual cover applies on the other side of the Green Line. To plan a mountain day with those distances in mind, start with our [route through the villages of Troodos](https://byole.com/en/stories/troodos-villages-route). > olé tip: For the first journey, plan the route to your accommodation and give yourself time to get used to the car. If you arrive at night and feel tired or lack confidence, wait until the next day; the time alone is not a reason to postpone it. ## Bus: more useful than it seems (with clear limits) Intercity Buses connect the Republic's main cities (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Ayia Napa/Paralimni) with reasonable frequencies for most of the year. Single tickets are paid for in cash when boarding; the "Cyprus Bus" app helps you check timetables and arrivals. For travelling between cities without parking stress, buses work well. They also suit anyone who does not want to drive on the left. The journey is slower than by car, but cheaper and more restful. Buses fall short along the scattered coastal bays and in the mountains. Reaching a particular Troodos village, an Akamas cove or a trail without a change or long wait is often difficult or impossible within one comfortable day. In the east, local services between [Ayia Napa](https://byole.com/en/places/ayia-napa), Protaras and the surrounding area work for beaches and walks if you are not in a rush. Timetables change in winter: check the day before, rather than improvising at the stop with a towel over your shoulder. If that will be your base, compare the [beaches near Protaras](https://byole.com/en/stories/beaches-near-protaras) to decide which to combine and when to go. ## Taxis and transfers: a useful occasional shortcut A taxi makes sense for short journeys, when several of you can share the fare, or if you prefer someone else to drive when you land. From the airport to the hotel, it is a comfortable alternative if you arrive tired or do not feel confident driving at night and would rather collect the car the next day. For full-day outings, taxis quickly become expensive. Some people hire a driver for Troodos or a particular route: it is comfortable, but it is no longer "a taxi"; it is a planned service. Apps and local phone numbers vary; in tourist areas, there is always someone available. Agree the destination and fare clearly if there is no visible meter. ## How we would decide for each trip Based in Protaras or Ayia Napa, with beaches and little else planned: you can start without a car and hire one just for days in Cape Greco or Paralimni. Based in Limassol or Larnaca, with city exploring and a few outings in mind: an occasional car, or buses between cities. Troodos, Akamas, wine villages, several coastlines in the same week: a car. We would be quite firm on that. The map can mislead you about distances; the clock cannot. If you are coming for a few days and want to keep things simple, choose one area and stay there. Cyprus does not reward the person who covers the most kilometres. It rewards the person who reaches the table with time to spare and the water while there is still shade on the sand. ## One last practical tip Transport is one part of arriving. To prepare for money, language and customs too, read [what to know before travelling to Cyprus](https://byole.com/en/stories/what-to-know-before-visiting-cyprus). Mix and match. Many people do well to collect a car halfway through the trip, once they know the pace they want. Others return it before the last day so they do not have to worry about the tank or a rushed drop-off. What matters is not "getting it right" according to a forum. It is choosing transport that suits the Cyprus you came to find: relaxed, exploratory or somewhere in between. All three exist. They just do not fit into the same plan at once. ## Places and sources - [Protaras](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Protaras%2C%20Cyprus): A base for exploring the eastern beaches. - [Nicosia](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Nicosia%2C%20Cyprus): The island's capital. - [Troodos](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Troodos%20Mountains%2C%20Cyprus): Villages and mountain routes. - [Akamas](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Akamas%20Peninsula%2C%20Cyprus): Peninsula on the west coast. - [Limassol](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Limassol%2C%20Cyprus): A city and starting point for excursions. - [Larnaca](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Larnaca%2C%20Cyprus): Another base for combining city and coast. - [Paphos](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Paphos%2C%20Cyprus): A western city with bus connections. - [Ayia Napa](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Ayia%20Napa%2C%20Cyprus): Beaches and local transport links in the east. - [Paralimni](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Paralimni%2C%20Cyprus): A getaway from the Protaras coast. - [Cape Greco](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Cape%20Greco%2C%20Cyprus): Coast and scenery between Protaras and Ayia Napa. - [RideNow](https://ridenow.tech/): Car sharing through your phone. - [Intercity Buses](https://intercity-buses.com/en/routes-2/): Routes and timetables between cities. - [Cyprus Bus](https://motionbuscard.org.cy/app): Official app download page. ## Related stories - [A route through the villages of Troodos](https://byole.com/en/stories/troodos-villages-route) - [Visiting northern Cyprus: crossings, currency and roaming](https://byole.com/en/stories/visiting-northern-cyprus) - [What to know before travelling to Cyprus](https://byole.com/en/stories/what-to-know-before-visiting-cyprus)