Updated December 2nd 2020

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What do you think of when you hear that a country is in the Mediterranean? Spain, Italy, and Greece, some of the most popular destinations in Europe, come to mind for most people. The island country of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean doesn’t ring a bell for many people. While Cyprus is geographically closer to the Middle East and considered to be in Asia by the UN, it is part of the European Union.

What makes Cyprus even more confusing is that it is divided into North Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus (the southern part). Since 1974 North Cyprus has by run by a Turkish government and the southern part is an independent republic. Ever since then there has been a line dividing the country that is patrolled by the UN. While there are certain rules for crossing the border you can visit both parts of Cyprus.

The island country of Cyprus may have a perplexing political situation and not be as well known, but it is full of beautiful landscapes, unspoiled beauty, ancient ruins and delicious Cypriot cuisine!

How to Get to Cyprus

First you need to decide which part of the country you would like to visit. Southern Cyprus is the easiest to reach through Larnaca or Paphos. Larnaca has the largest and busiest airport in the country. There are direct flights from the UK and within major cities in Europe.

Direct flights to the village of Kirklar in northern Cyprus are only available through Turkey. Otherwise you will need to fly to Larnaca or Paphos first and take a connecting flight.

You can also visit Cyprus by cruise ship.

How to Get from Larnaca to Paphos by Car

While you will most likely be flying into Larnaca International Airport, that does not mean you need to spend your whole vacation in Larnaca. Many people rent a car in Cyprus to drive themselves around the island. In Cyprus they drive on the left-hand side of the road like in Britain.

You can travel between Larnaca and Paphos by taxi or private transfer for around €90 – €110. There will be taxis waiting at the airport and the stations mentioned below if you want to take a taxi at any point on the journey to Paphos. The taxi drivers appear to know the bus times and just come when a bus is arriving to both the Limassol and Paphos stations. 

If you are planning on spending the money to take private transportation to Paphos from the airport you might as well use a private transfer instead of a taxi. ShuttleDirect offers a pre-booked service with tax, fees and gratuity included. Your chauffeur is tracking your flight and waiting on arrival. As I explain below the buses do not run that frequently, so you may want to consider this option if the bus times do not line up, you are flying in late at night and/or you are traveling with a group that can split the cost. 

How to Get from Larnaca to Paphos by Public Transportation

Although it is common to rent a car in Cyprus you can also get around Cyprus by public transportation. The main cities of Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia are well-connected. There are also local buses that go to smaller towns around the island. The following steps will show you how to get from Larnaca to Paphos by public transportation. Note that each leg of the trip is with a different bus company and requires separate tickets: Limmasol Airport Express, Intercity buses, and Pafos Buses. The total cost is €14.50, which is quite a bit of savings compared to renting a car, taking a taxi or purchasing a private transfer. 

Of course if you are going from Paphos to Larnaca you can use these same directions in reverse!

Step 1: Larnaca Airport → Limassol (Lemesos):

To get to Paphos from Larnaca you will first need to reach Limassol by taking the Limassol Airport Express bus. Upon exiting the baggage claim area at the airport turn left. In the far corner there is the Limassol Airport Express desk that sells bus tickets to Limassol. Buy a €9 ticket and go out the left side exit door to find the bus with the posted sign “Limassol Airport Express”. Buses run approximately once per hour so make sure to check the schedule ahead of time.

It takes about 50 minutes to reach the church stop. Get off at the church, the last stop in Limmasol (AG Georgios Havouzas). When I took the bus it was the only stop made.

Buses are air conditioned, have free wifi on board and luggage storage below. There are no bathrooms on the bus. The station in Limassol has a small indoor and outdoor waiting area with at least one worker available for questions and buying tickets. While not the cleanest, there are free toilets available at the station. They also sell some food. This was only open during the day when I was there and not at night. There were vending machines available in the evening though. 

Step 2: Limassol (Lemesos) → Paphos (Pafos):

Once in Limassol take an Intercity bus from the station where you are dropped off (the church) to Paphos. Again check the times because they are pretty infrequent, about once every 1.5 or 2 hours. The person at the station will be able to tell you the exact time the bus will arrive as the time is slightly off the schedule. Going to Paphos it is a little later than listed because it is the last Limassol stop. There are not many buses that go through the station so you will know which to take based on the time it arrives. There is also a sign in the front window that tells the route. You pay for the €4 ticket on the bus.

It takes a little over an hour to reach Paphos. Your stop in Paphos will depend on where you staying. As most of the hotels in Paphos are around the center of Old Town Paphos or Kato Paphos (new Paphos) you will probably want to get off at the last stop, the Karavella Bus Station.

The Intercity buses have luggage storage under the bus. They claim that there is air conditioning, but I found it to be quite warm on the bus. There are no bathrooms on the bus.

Step 3: Karavella Bus Station –> Your Accommodation in Paphos

If you are staying in the Old Town you may be able to walk to your accommodations from here. Axiothea Hotel, where I stayed, is only a 10 minute walk away. The hotel isn’t on the waterfront, but it has a cheaper price. It was very clean, the family who runs the hotel was friendly and the included breakfast was great. In addition to being close to the main bus station for taking day trips around the island, there are many restaurants and other places of interest in the area. The waterfront is only about a 35 minute walk away as well. 

If you are staying at a resort along the seafront it may be too much of a walk, especially at night and/or with luggage. Check the routes and schedules for the local Paphos buses. A one way ticket is € 1.50. 

My Larnaca to Paphos Transfer Experience

As soon as my school let out for the Easter break I was out the door at 12:00 on the dot and into a taxi on the way to the airport. When I arrived at the airport at about 12:40 with one hour and 40 minutes before take off I thought, wow I actually have more time than usual! As I was waiting in line to board my flight I saw a couple of other teachers from my school. They said I was brave to book a flight so soon after school. That’s me, the fearless foreigner!

Unlike my three flight journey with three low cost airlines to Lanzarote, I only had one flight from Moscow to take me to the sunshine in Cyprus. 

I had about 25 minutes upon arrival in Larnaca to go through customs, collect my luggage, buy a bus ticket and find the express bus to Limassol. If I didn’t make the bus I would miss my connecting bus and have to pay the ~ €100 taxi to Paphos.

I’m pleased to say that I made the bus in perfect timing and only had a short wait in Limassol before taking an intercity bus to Paphos. Then it was a quick taxi ride to my hotel (I didn’t want to do the walk at night with luggage, but after staying in the city a few nights I realized it would have been perfectly fine).

I had prepared myself ahead of time on how to get from Larnaca to Paphos and thought it was a bit complicated…..I love it when things turn out easier than expected! I hope this guide helps you reach Paphos just as smoothly! 

More About Cyprus

• Paphos: Guide, Archaeological Park, Ethnographic Museum
• Day Trips: Akamas Peninsula Tour, Polis, Latchi
• Easter in Cyprus
• Food in Cyprus

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