Car Hire in Cyprus

Why hire a car in Cyprus?

Best known for its long and idyllic coastline, the Mediterranean island of Cyprus is a surprisingly diverse destination if you scratch beneath the surface. Inhabited since antiquity and equidistant from three different continents, it boasts fascinating culture, architecture, and cuisine that is a joy to explore.

Note: This article is about the Greek-speaking southern part of the island. It doesn’t include information about the de-facto independent Northern Cyprus, the Turkish-speaking part of the island.

Top ways to enter Cyprus

• Larnaca Airport. The busiest in Cyprus, Larnaca Airport handled 8.2 million travellers in 2018. The airport is especially active during the summer months when it has flights by more than 40 million airlines.
• Paphos Airport. Located in the island’s southwest and serving the city of the same name, Paphos is the other international airport of Cyprus. As Larnaca, it is especially active during the summer months. The airport is popular with low-cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet.

Top cities and places to visit

• Nicosia. Although not located on the coast and not having an international airport, the capital of Cyprus is the most interesting city in the country. The city’s many heritage sites and well-preserved architecture create a special atmosphere, and there are also a number of interesting cultural spaces like the Byzantine Museum, Natural History Museum, Cyprus Folk Art Museum, and Municipal Arts Center.
• Paphos. Considered to be the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, Paphos has been inhabited since antiquity. The city’s archaeological park is the largest in the country and boasts two impressive Roman villas while the Tomb of the Kings archaeological site will impress even those who do consider themselves lovers of history. On a more recent and family-friendly note, Paphos also has a large water park.
• Larnaca. You wouldn’t guess it from the city’s developed coastline and industrial prowess, but Larnaca is often named as one of the longest continually-inhabited cities in the world. A number of interesting historical sites remain, although nowadays most people visit for one of the beautiful nearby beaches, diving to explore the sunken ship of Zenobia, or Larnaca Salt Lake, where you can sometimes spot flamingos.

Most popular hire car

The most hired car in Cyprus is the Suzuki Alto, followed by the Volkswagen Up and the Toyota Aygo. The most popular car types are mini, economy, and compact.

Driving licence requirements

• The Republic of Cyprus recognizes foreign driving licences if they are written in either the Greek or a Latin alphabet and if you’re visiting on a trip that’s shorter than six months. If you’re visiting on a longer trip or if you’re a permanent resident of Cyprus, you need to acquire a local driving licence.
• If your driving licence is in another alphabet (e.g., Cyrillic or Arabic), you need to have an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Even if you have an IDP, you still need to also provide your valid driving licence from your country
• You must carry your driving licence, not a copy of it, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driving licence for at least two years.
• Some car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the car hire conditions before booking.

Crossing borders

The Republic of Cyprus, which this article is about, is a European Union member and consists of the southern half of the island of Cyprus. Its only neighbour is Northern Cyprus, a political entity that is only recognized by Turkey but is a de facto independent state. Depending on your citizenship, you may or may not need a visa to visit Northern Cyprus (even if you didn’t need a visa for entering the Republic of Cyprus), so it’s a good idea to consult your Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance.

Most car suppliers in the Republic of Cyprus do not permit taking a vehicle to Northern Cyprus. You might find a few that do (always ask in advance), but even in this case, you won’t be able to drop off the car in Northern Cyprus — you will have to return to Cyprus and drop off your car there.

Top driving routes

• The Troodos Mountains. Despite being both quite small and an island, Cyprus boasts more impressive mountains than a good number of European countries. The forested highland region is known for its beautiful hikes and drives, authentic village life, and, naturally, stunning views of the island and the sea below.
• The Akamas Peninsula. Taking up the westernmost part of the island, the Akamas Peninsula is another great nature destination. Home to long beaches that are significantly more relaxed than those at the main tourist resorts, the region is also known for its beautiful gorges, coastal walks, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. 
• Limassol. The largest coastal city in Cyprus, Limassol’s biggest tourist attraction is its well-preserved old town. Strongly influenced by its former Crusader, Ottoman and British rulers, it boasts a number of notable churches and palaces. There are also interesting nearby day-trip destinations such as the Kuorion amphitheatre to the west and the former royal site of Amathus to the east.

Car hire prices in Cyprus

• Small cars - starting at £11 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £14 per day
• Large cars - starting at £23 per day
• SUVs - starting at £22 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £98 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £29 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £49 per day
• Convertibles - starting at £62 per day

How can I save money on my hire car?

There are several good methods to find a cheaper car for hire:

• Compare rates of different car hire providers
• Book your vehicle well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit in the month when the prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Cyprus is the cheapest in March when hiring a car is about 20% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 38% cheaper than hiring a car in December.