Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Driving in Cyprus and exploring by car is undoubtedly the best way to see the island on your visit. Although it’s a fairly small island and there is public transport between major cities, it’s much easier to get around by car – whether you want to visit the ancient ruins in Paphos, head into the Troodos Mountains, or discover the Tzelefos Venetian Bridge. Of course, driving in Cyprus – like any foreign country – is slightly different to driving in your home country. Thankfully, driving on the island is fairly easy and there is nothing too daunting that you need to be wary of. This guide covers everything you need to know about driving in Cyprus, with tips and information for exploring the island by car.
Renting a car in Cyprus
Driving in Cyprus is the easiest and most convenient way to get around, and thankfully renting a car on the island is easy and affordable. The easiest way to rent a car is to arrange it online via the Discover Cars website, as they compare between a number of operators to get you the best possible price!
We regularly book rental cars through their website for our travels, and there is the option to upgrade to full insurance for peace of mind. When booking through Discover Cars, renting a car in Cyprus can cost as little as €10 per day depending on the season – which is brilliant value and makes it fully worthwhile in our opinion!
Click here to find the best rental cars deals on the Discover Cars website!
Tips for driving in Cyprus!
Left hand side
One of the most important things to know when driving in Cyprus is to drive on the left hand side of the road. The reason they drive on the left is due to the island being a former colony of the United Kingdom.
Driving on the left hand side is normal in the United Kingdom and its former colonies, so is relevant in our articles about driving on the Isle of Skye and our 3 week East Coast Australia road trip itinerary!
If you haven’t driven on the left hand side before it may seem a little daunting at first. Truthfully it’s pretty easy to adapt and you will feel confident very quickly.
One of the best ways to make sure you are driving on the correct side of the road is to make sure that the steering wheel is on the closest side to any oncoming traffic – as it is specifically placed on either side of the car in any given country to give the driver the best view of oncoming traffic. Of course there are some differences when driving on the left hand side of the road, for example you go round roundabouts the opposite way and left turns are easier than right turns.
Parking in Cyprus
One thing that makes driving in Cyprus much easier is that there tends to be plenty of car parks and parking spaces around the island. In major cities like Larnaca, Limassol, and Nicosia it’s common to have to pay for parking, but outside of these areas most parking tends to be free.
If you are driving in some of the more remote parts of Cyprus then parking may be a bit more limited, in which case it can be a good idea to arrive early to secure a parking space – particularly during peak season. Popular places like Nissi Beach and Fig Tree Bay can be very busy in the summer, so it’s easier to get a parking space if you arrive earlier.
Although parking is free in many places in Cyprus, it’s always a good idea to have some spare change in case you do need to pay. In some instances payment can be made via a mobile app or even text message, but having some change is a good back up!
Villages
There are plenty of amazing villages in Cyprus, but we recommend limiting your driving in the villages themselves if possible. Villages in Cyprus tend to have very narrow roads which can be hard to navigate, and often there is only enough space for one car.
If you happen to meet an oncoming car on one of these tight roads it can mean some awkward reversing in order to allow the other car to pass. Thankfully this can easily be avoided by utilising the free car parks found on the outskirts of most villages. It’s much easier to park on the edge of the village and avoid having to worry about driving on the tight roads!
Quality of roads
The roads in Cyprus are in great condition and are well maintained, which makes driving by car easy. In particular the motorways in Cyprus are in very good condition and make it easy to drive between most major cities on the island.
Of course, like in any country you will find the occasional pothole as you drive – but it wasn’t something we encountered often. It’s also worth noting that villages may have cobblestone roads as opposed to paved roads, but as we mentioned above you can easily avoid driving in villages!
Roads in Winter
Driving in Cyprus during winter is relatively similar to any other time of year, with the exception being if you drive up into the Troodos Mountains by car. The Troodos Mountains do get snowy during the winter months, and depending on the weather there are some road closures – particularly on the roads around Mount Olympus.
In some cases the roads remain open for any 4 Wheel Drives or cars with anti-skid chains, but unless you are used to driving in these conditions then we don’t recommend starting in Cyprus! The rest of the island isn’t affected by the snow, so you can drive as normal. Click here for the latest information on any road closures.
If you are going to be visiting during the winter months then make sure to read our guide to visiting Cyprus in winter!
North Cyprus Border Crossing
If you want to cross the border into Northern Cyprus then you will have to buy additional insurance, as your normal car insurance does not cover you to drive on this part of the island. Northern Cyprus has been Turkish occupied since 1974, and until 2004 it was not possible to cross between the north and south parts of the island.
The additional insurance to drive in Northern Cyprus costs €40 for one month and can only be purchased at the border crossing. Unfortuntaely it is not possible to buy the insurance for a shorter amount of time, and so it isn’t great value if you do only plan to cross over for one day.
Fortunately it is possible to cross into Northern Cyprus on foot at the Ledra Street Border Crossing in Nicosia. This is the best option if you want to avoid paying the additional insurance cost to cross the border when driving in Cyprus.
Speed Cameras
A lot of speed cameras in Cyprus tend to be mobile speed cameras, particularly on motorways. It’s fairly common to see police cars at the side of the motorway, creating speed traps to ensure that speed limits are being followed.
There are also some fixed speed cameras in Cyprus, but in our experience mobile cameras are more common. Obviously as long as you are not exceeding the speed limit then the speed cameras are not of too much concern, which brings us to our next point on speed limits below.
If you are caught speeding whilst driving in Cyprus then you will be issued a fine, the amount of which is determined by how far over the speed limit you are.
Speed limits in Cyprus
Following on from speed cameras, it’s logical to talk about the speed limits in Cyprus. There are four main different speed limits when driving on the island, depending on the area you are in and the type of road you are on.
In built up areas of Cyprus the speed limit is generally 50 kilometres per hour, but may be 30 kilometres per hour between speed bumps or on corners. On country roads the limit is 65 kilometres per hour, and on national roads the limit is 80 kilometres per hour.
The speed limit on motorways in Cyprus is a maximum of 100 kilometres per hour, and there is also a minimum limit on motorways of 65 kilometres per hour.
Driving Licence requirements in Cyprus
It’s important to be aware of the relevant licence requirements when driving in Cyprus. European citizens are able to use their own country’s driving licence, whereas non-European citizens may use their own licence for a maximum period of 30 days provided their licence is written using the latin alphabet.
If your licence is not written using the latin alphabet then you will need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to legally drive in Cyprus.
If you hold a full valid driving licence written in the latin alphabet then an international driving permit is not required for a maximum period of 30 days for non-European citizens.
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