Cyprus operates two international airports in the territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. Larnaca handles approximately 8 million passengers annually and serves as the primary gateway, located 4 kilometers southwest of Larnaca city center. Paphos processes roughly 3 million passengers per year and sits 6.5 kilometers southeast of Paphos town. Ercan Airport operates in the northern part of the island under Turkish Cypriot administration, accessible only through Turkey, and arrivals through Ercan are not recognized by the Republic of Cyprus or international aviation authorities except Turkey. A third Republic-controlled airport, Nicosia International Airport, has been closed and sits within the United Nations buffer zone since the 1974 division.
Larnaca receives the majority of scheduled flights from European capitals, Middle Eastern hubs, and seasonal charter routes. Terminals opened in 2009 feature bilingual Greek-English signage throughout. Immigration processing for EU and EEA passport holders proceeds through automated e-gates in under five minutes during standard periods. Non-EU nationals queue for manual passport control, which averages fifteen to thirty minutes depending on simultaneous flight arrivals. The Republic of Cyprus participates in the Schengen acquis but has not yet implemented border-free travel, meaning all arrivals face passport checks regardless of origin within the European Union.
Baggage claim at Larnaca occupies a single hall with six carousels. Retrieval time averages twelve to twenty minutes from aircraft door closure. Customs operates on a green channel/red channel system. The green channel permits passage without declaration for standard personal effects. The red channel requires declaration for currency exceeding 10,000 euros, commercial goods, restricted agricultural products, and amounts of tobacco or alcohol beyond duty-free limits of 200 cigarettes and one liter of spirits. Cyprus prohibits importation of fresh meat, dairy products, and certain fruits from non-EU countries due to African swine fever and citrus canker regulations enforced since 2019. Random inspections occur in the green channel, particularly for flights originating from Middle Eastern airports.
Currency exchange desks in the arrivals hall open during all flight operations. Exchange rates at airport locations typically run 5 to 8 percent below interbank rates. Two ATM machines operated by Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank sit immediately after baggage claim and dispense euros at standard network fees. Cyprus adopted the euro on January 1, 2008, replacing the Cypriot pound at a fixed rate of 0.585274 pounds to one euro.
Pre-arranged transfers, rental cars, and taxis occupy separate zones outside the arrivals terminal. Official taxi ranks feature white vehicles with illuminated roof signs and taxi meters. Fares operate on government-regulated rates: 0.73 euros per kilometer during daytime (06:00-20:30), 0.85 euros per kilometer at night, plus a flagfall of 3.50 euros during the day and 4.20 euros at night. The journey from Larnaca Airport to Larnaca city center costs approximately 12-15 euros and takes 10-12 minutes on the A3 motorway. Reaching Nicosia requires 45-50 minutes via the A2 motorway and costs 50-60 euros. Limassol sits 60-70 minutes southwest via the A5 motorway at 65-75 euros. Ayia Napa lies 40 minutes east at 45-55 euros. Drivers expect no tip beyond the metered fare, though rounding up to the nearest euro occurs commonly.
Rental car desks for international agencies—Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Europcar—and local operators line the arrivals hall. Reservations made online consistently cost 20-35 percent less than walk-up rates. A compact vehicle for one week averages 130-180 euros in low season (November-March) and 240-320 euros in high season (June-September) with basic insurance. Cyprus requires drivers to hold a license for minimum one year and be at least 21 years old, though drivers under 25 face surcharges of 15-25 euros per day. Traffic moves on the left side of the road, a remnant of British rule from 1878 to 1960. Signage appears in Greek and English on all major routes. The motorway network connects all coastal cities but does not cross into the northern part of the island.
Public bus service to Larnaca city operates route 425 every 30-40 minutes from 06:00 to 23:30, with reduced frequency on Sundays. The fare costs 1.50 euros and the journey takes 20-25 minutes with stops at major hotels and the Finikoudes promenade. Route 417 connects directly to Ayia Napa hourly from 08:00 to 18:00, requiring 50 minutes and costing 2 euros. No direct public bus reaches Nicosia or Limassol from the airport; connections require transfer at Larnaca central station. Intercity bus companies Intercity Buses and Kapnos Airport Shuttle operate scheduled coach services to Nicosia (6-8 daily, 9 euros, 45 minutes) and Limassol (hourly, 8 euros, 60 minutes) with advance booking available online.
Paphos Airport receives fewer flights but serves as the preferred arrival point for visitors focused on western coastal resorts and archaeological sites. The terminal building dates from 2008 and handles operations on a smaller scale than Larnaca. Immigration and customs procedures mirror Larnaca protocols. Taxi fare to Paphos town center runs 25-30 euros for the 15-kilometer journey taking 18-22 minutes. Bus route 612 connects to Paphos harbor every hour from 06:30 to 23:30 at 1.50 euros per person. Route 631 reaches Coral Bay in 35 minutes for 2 euros. Rental car availability matches Larnaca options at comparable pricing.
Phone connectivity upon arrival requires either international roaming or a local SIM card. Cyprus uses European standard GSM 900/1800 bands and 4G LTE networks. Three mobile operators—Cyta (state-owned), MTN (formerly Areeba), and PrimeTel—maintain retail kiosks in both airport arrivals halls. Tourist SIM cards with 5GB data and 100 minutes of international calls cost 15-20 euros and activate immediately upon insertion. Coverage reaches 98 percent of populated areas including mountain villages. Free WiFi operates throughout both airport terminals without registration or time limits.
The Republic of Cyprus eliminated COVID-19 entry requirements in April 2022. No vaccination certificates, negative tests, or passenger locator forms apply to any arriving passengers regardless of origin country. Travelers should verify current requirements at https://www.pio.gov.cy before departure, as infectious disease protocols can resume with minimal notice.
Arrival at Ercan Airport in the northern part of Cyprus follows different procedures. International law recognizes only Turkey as maintaining diplomatic relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared in 1983. Flights to Ercan route through Turkish airports—typically Istanbul or Ankara—and the Republic of Cyprus officially considers entry through Ercan as illegal entry to Cyprus. EU citizens crossing from Ercan through checkpoints into Republic-controlled areas have not faced prosecution, but confusion regarding documentation and vehicle insurance occurs regularly. The crossing points at Ledra Palace in Nicosia, Agios Dometios/Metehan, and Ayios Nikolaos/Strovilia permit pedestrian and vehicle passage with passport control on both sides.
Seven official crossing points operate along the buffer zone maintained by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus since 1974. Ledra Street crossing in central Nicosia opens daily from 08:00 to 20:00 for pedestrians only. Vehicle crossings at Agios Dometios/Metehan and Pergamos operate 24 hours daily. EU passport holders pass through both checkpoints without visa requirements. Non-EU nationals should verify their specific status, as entry stamps from northern authorities can create complications for onward travel within the Schengen area. Vehicle insurance purchased in the Republic does not provide coverage in the north; third-party policies valid for 1-30 days must be purchased at crossing points for 25-35 euros depending on duration.