Renting A Car In Cyprus: 2025 Pro Tips + Prices

The third largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus is a peculiar mix of cultures. Greek, Turkish, and British influences have all gone into the melting pot, creating a rich experience for anybody who arrives on its shores. Renting a car in Cyprus means you can really immerse yourself in all that history, as well as the incredible natural features that make hiking and swimming here such a pleasure.

We can’t imagine visiting Cyprus without a car. Being able to explore authentic villages such as Omodos or Lofou is a big part of what made our trip to this Mediterranean escape so memorable. Relying on public transport would, unfortunately, make these places almost completely unreachable.

We found hiring a car in Cyprus was a relatively easy process, and once we got used to the assertive driving behaviour of the local, it was a delightful way to zoom about the island. Here, we’ll run through everything you need to know about renting a vehicle, from general safety tips to legally required documents.

🚗 In a hurry? Browse through the cheapest car rental deals in Cyprus, which have a free cancellation policy and no hidden costs via ➡️ ➡️ Discover Cars.

#1 Drive On The Left Side

The first thing to know about renting a car in Cyprus is that everyone here drives on the left. We know that can be a bit intimidating at first. Blame the British, who ruled the island as a colony for several decades up until 1960. 

It took a little bit of extra concentration at first, but we were surprised at how quickly we made the adjustment.

#2 Is It Safe To Drive In Cyprus?

Travelling around Cyprus by car is 100% safe – otherwise, we wouldn’t recommend it! Compared to many of the Greek islands we’ve visited, the roads we drove on were in very good condition, without a pothole in sight.

Cypriot drivers may come across as a little assertive, that’s true, but we wouldn’t describe them as overly aggressive. Just nonchalantly self-assured in their right to dominate the road.

The one thing you do have to watch out for is that they seem to hate being overtaken! We had a lot of situations where a car sped up when they saw us approaching from the right, instead of letting us in. This kind of forces you to be more forceful yourself, because it is very unlikely anyone will give way. 

#3 Do You Need A Car In Cyprus?

If you just want to enjoy a beach, then no. There are several resort areas with sandy shores, so all you’ll need to do is walk a few steps and park up under a parasol for the day.

But if you’re coming to Cyprus to explore beyond your hotel and the local beach, then 100% you will need a car. Overall, public transport is not super good on the island. There are some decent intercity services, like regular buses from Nicosia to Paphos, but getting from a town in one region to a village in another is time-consuming and usually involves multiple changes.

Driving, on the other hand, is a breeze. The roads are good, and we didn’t encounter much traffic during our stay. The main exception is the highway coming into Nicosia, which gets clogged during rush hours. 

#4 How To Rent A Car In Cyprus?

We recommend getting a vehicle through DiscoverCars, which is the easiest way to find the best car rental in Cyprus. They have a bunch of deals with big companies like Hertz, Europcar, and SIXT, as well as showing smaller local outfits in their search results.

Using their interface, it’s really easy for us to see what the cheapest option is according to our preferences in terms of car model, pickup location, etc. They also do free cancellation up to 48 hours before the pickup time, which is handy if there are any last-minute issues. 

As with any car rental business, the best deals are usually available if you book online well in advance. Especially during busy times of year like the summer holidays, it’s not unusual for international hire brands to run low on vehicles, so don’t leave it till the last minute!

On our recent trip to Cyprus, we went with Alamo through DiscoverCars. Together with Enterprise, their office is just a few kilometres from Paphos International Airport, and there’s a free shuttle bus between the terminal and the office. Other car rentals are based in the airport itself, and you just follow the signs from the arrival terminal.

We paid a little extra to pick up our vehicle in Paphos but drop it off in Larnaca, just because that suited us the best for our outgoing flight. It’s an option that’s worth bearing in mind when looking at the rental cars Cyprus has to offer – or during any road trip really, as logistically paying a little extra for a different drop-off point can work out cheaper/more convenient overall.

#5 Is Renting A Car In Cyprus Safe?

We didn’t have any issues, but there are a couple of things we always do to try and avoid problems down the line.

⚠️ The first thing we do is cross-check any cheap car rental in Cyprus that we find on DiscoverCars against reviews of the hire company’s offices on Google Maps and Trustpilot. Especially with local businesses that you may not have heard of before, it’s a good idea to see how previous consumers have rated their services, just to make sure that a cheap hire contract isn’t too good to be true!

Even with a well-known international brand, the representatives at a particular branch may have developed a reputation for shady practices, so it’s worth checking out other people’s experiences.

⚠️ The second thing we always do is take out the full coverage insurance option on DiscoverCars. That way, if you get into any disputes with the local office, you can always claim back costs. The price of the insurance varies depending on the type of vehicle you choose, but we forked out around 10 euros per day for our Cyprus trip, which felt like a small price to pay for reassurance.

We have previously had to claim money back on the DiscoverCars coverage – through no fault of our own, before you ask! – and the process was smooth and easy.

#6 Car Rental In Cyprus: Requirements

The renting a car in Cyprus rules are pretty standard EU regulations, but here’s a checklist to help you out:

Once you have your vehicle, make sure that you always keep the hire agreement and proof of insurance in the car.

#7 Cost Of Hiring A Car In Cyprus?

The price of a car depends on several factors, the main ones being the model, the rental company, and the time of year. How far in advance you book can also have a significant impact on whether you get cheap car hire in Cyprus.

For our 2-week trip in September, we paid €600 for a medium-sized car with full insurance. That’s definitely at the top end of what you would expect to spend, but we had to bite the bullet a little bit because we booked it last minute.

It really is worth booking as soon as you know your travel plans for the cheapest deal! As we’ve already noted, DiscoverCars has a generous cancellation policy, so it’s better to go ahead and snap up a good offer rather than waiting till everything is set in stone.

#8 What Kind Of Car Is Recommended?

Whatever car you find comfortable to drive! The roads on the island are really good, and you won’t be driving off-road, so it’s not necessary to plump for a 4×4. We usually look at automatic cars for rent in Cyprus because that’s what we’re most comfortable with, but manual vehicles are often cheaper if you want to save a bit of money.

#9 Road Signs In Cyprus

Signage follows the standards that are common throughout Europe. Place names displayed in Greek and English, which makes it super easy to navigate around Cyprus.

Just be aware that sometimes cities and towns have two names. For example, Limassol is displayed on road signs as Lemesos. It took us some time to figure out that it’s the same place! Another one that catches people out is that Nicosia is often displayed as Lefkosia.

#10 Speed Limits In Cyprus

Metric is the standard in Cyprus, but speed limits are also often displayed in both km/h and m/h. The maximum speed on motorways is 100 km/h (60 m/h), while for the majority of other roads it’s 80 km/h (50 m/h). In built-up areas, the limit drops down to 50 km/h (30 m/h). 

#11 Gas Station In Cyprus 

Petrol prices are very affordable – another reason renting a car in Cyprus is an awesome idea! There is normally an attendant manning the pump, but if you don’t see one, you can handle the nozzle yourself. Like most places in Europe, there’s a kiosk with basic grocery items, a toilet, and a cashier where you pay for your fuel.

We found that most (90%) of people speak English and are really helpful, so don’t worry about having to negotiate language barriers if you’re confused about something.

#12 Parking In Cyprus

A lot of parking in Cyprus is free, including at most seaside areas and natural attractions. We only paid for parking in city centres and very popular beach destinations.

To give you an idea of the fees, we forked out €2 for 1 hour by the shopping street in Limassol. The parking machine by the beach was slightly cheaper at €1.50 for 2 hours, but it only accepted coins and didn’t provide change. While we were puzzling over this conundrum, a local passing by told us that no one pays there because no one ever checks, so you could take your chances! Sundays seem to be free.

You can also expect to pay for parking in the Paphos city centre as well as Nissi Beach (€4 for a whole day).

Generally speaking, Cypriots seem to be very relaxed about how you park. We found a lot of cars in the residential areas pulled over on the pavements or on the corners of the road.

#13 Driving Laws In Cyprus

As with the road signage, the laws you need to be aware of when renting a car in Cyprus are similar to the rest of the EU. For instance, all passengers must wear seatbelts, and mobile phone usage is prohibited unless it’s hands-free.

Drivers can have no more than 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath (0.05% blood alcohol content). That’s roughly the equivalent of half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.

One important thing to note that’s specific to Cyprus is that you can’t take your rental car to Northern Cyprus. All hire vehicle companies will specifically prohibit this in their terms and conditions, so make sure you don’t attempt to cross over the border from the Greek side into the Turkish side!

#14 Awesome Places To Visit With A Hire Car In Cyprus

The main reason for hiring a car in Cyprus is to explore the island’s most beautiful spots. Here, we’ve put together a little list of our favs from our time on the island to get you started!

📍Ayia Napa 

Located right at the southeasternmost coast of the island, Ayia Napa is about an hour from Nicosia, an hour and a half from Limassol, and 2 hours from Paphos.

One of the most popular resort areas in Cyprus, the town is surrounded by a ton of amazing beaches. 

Nissi Beach was probably the most popular one we visited. Its turquoise waters and sandy shore attract a huge number of tourists, which make for a very lively vibe – although you might want to steer clear if you’re in search of relaxation! There were quite a few water sports going on and it was thrumming with families when we visited.

Fig Tree Bay, about 20 minutes’ drive, is another gorgeous location that’s a little smaller but also very busy – get here early if you want to nab a spot.

For something a bit more adventurous, head to Cape Greco, where we spent a great day snorkelling around the sea caves and hiking the peninsula. It’s mostly rocky landscape rather than beach, so you don’t have all the paraphernalia of umbrellas and loungers that you do at Nissi or Fig Tree Bay.

Ayia Napa has a banging nightlife scene. The main square is definitely the place to go if you want a lively vibe. There are a ton of bars and clubs that thump away late into the evening. 

It’s not all about the beach parasols and parties though, as the area also has some historic significance. Ayia Napa’s name literally means ‘holy wooded valley,’ a reference to its past when the landscape was completely covered in trees. The only building here for many centuries was a monastery, dating back to the Middles Ages. 

This monastery still exists today, although we were only able to glimpse it from the outside when we visited, as its currently undergoing restoration works. 

📍Pano Lefkara

Further inland, about 30-40 minutes from Larnaca and Limassol, Pano Lefkara was one of our favourite places in Cyprus. Edged to the north by lush green slopes, it’s a village of cobblestone streets, old stone buildings, and a ridiculous number of little chapels.

Considering how small Pano Lefkara is, it’s got an outsized reputation for its merchandise. Traditionally, it was home to high-quality silversmiths as well as lace embroidery, both of which continue to thrive today if you want to get a unique Cypriot souvenir. 

The sewing especially has such a long, storied history that it’s been recognised by UNESCO. Locals will tell you (fairly frequently) that Da Vinci is supposed to have visited the village in the 15th century and brought back a piece of ‘Lefkaritika’ to Italy, where it currently decorates Milan Cathedral. 

📍Troodos Mountains 

The Troodos Mountains cover a large chunk of Cyprus. A belt of green running through the centre of the island, the area is home to many charming villages, historic monasteries and cascading waterfalls, making it a great place to go for an energetic hike.

Despite the ruralness, the area is easily accessible if you’re renting a car in Cyprus, so set aside a day to explore!

We have to give a particular shout out to Omodos, an adorable spot in the mountains that has a stately monastery and lots of cute, rustic tavernas.

They’ve got a proud tradition of winemaking here, and there are quite a few places you can go for tastings. We headed just a bit south of town to Linos, where they have a funky bright blue wine made from the local Xynisteri grape – as well as more normal wines!

It took us about an hour to drive to Omodos from Paphos. Limassol is slightly closer (40 minutes give or take), while Nicosia is further away (90 minutes outside peak time). 

If you’re interested in chasing waterfalls, drive about 10 minutes from Omodos to Pano Platres. This old wine village is a great starting off point for bicycle rides and hikes to numerous natural wonders. We did a short, steep hike up to the Kalidonia Waterfalls – the falls were not that impressive in themselves, but the walk across the forested Troodos slopes was very pretty.

Pano Platres is also not far from Mount Olympus. We’re not talking about the legendary home of the Greek gods, obviously, which is on the Greek mainland, but the Cyprus version, which is the island’s tallest mountain.

It gets up to about 2,000 metres (more than 6,400 ft) and is apparently popular for skiing in the winter. It wasn’t snowy when we were there in September though, so we were able to go on a nice hike through the pine forest up to near the peak. The very top is occupied by a military base, but you can get quite high up by following the Artemis Trail from nearby Troodos village.

📍Paphos 

Paphos is where we flew in on our recent trip to Cyprus and where we picked up our car. It’s one of the oldest cities on the island – and has the best mythology! Legend has it that the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the sea near Paphos, making her way onto the land after being birthed from the waves. 

We need to make a quick distinction here between Old Paphos and New Paphos. Old Paphos is, well, the old city. It’s where the Ancient Greeks originally set up shop, worshipping Aphrodite in a purpose-built sanctuary that you can still visit today. 

Old Paphos is about a 15-minute drive down the coast from New Paphos, which is a harbour city that was founded a bit later – but still several thousand years ago! It’s here that some of the more impressive ruins are located, at Kato Pafos Archaeological Park.

The site is mostly rubble with a few pillars, arches, and a reconstructed odeon. The cool bit that makes it worth visiting is the Roman mosaics, which are preserved in covered pavilions. We were glad to go inside to have a look just to escape the heat, which was brutal in this exposed location without much shade!

A bit further north there’s another archaeological area called the Tombs of the Kings, where you can go down into parts of a subterranean necropolis.

New Paphos is now part of modern Paphos, which is the fourth-largest city in Cyprus. It’s a convenient base because there’s a big choice of accommodation, restaurants, and shops here. Plus, there are lots of west coast beaches that are just a short drive away.

📍Avakas Gorge

Half an hour’s drive north of Paphos, the Avakas Gorge is one of Cyprus’ most famous hiking locations. The most striking part of this natural wonder is near the beginning of the route, where the trail narrows and slices cleanly through high cliff walls.

For the full experience, though, keep going over the boulders and bushes for about an hour and a half as you clamber deeper into the gorge. It’s a linear route, which means you’ll eventually have to go back the way you came, but there’s plenty of nature to enjoy along the way – as well as a few goats munching on moss!

Try to get here early, as it was getting surprisingly busy by the time we left at about midday. Getting here in the morning also means you’ll avoid trekking during the hottest part of the day – always a bonus!

📍Nicosia

Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus, as well as being its largest city. To be brutally honest, we found a lot of it, well, ugly. Having said that, there were enough interesting places to check out that we’d still recommend popping in for half a day or so.

First off, Nicosia is one of the few divided cities that still exist in the world. Ever since Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, one side has been under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus, while the other is controlled by Northern Cyprus.

A big wall runs down the middle of the city, separating the two halves. Despite this looming symbol of the division that still exists on the island, it’s totally safe to cross over on foot into the other side to experience the different vibes between the two area. 

If you do head over into the Northern Cyprus side, there’s a cool Ottoman market area from the 1500s to check out called Büyük Han where you can grab a coffee and explore some souvenir shops. Nearby, there’s an impressive gothic cathedral-turned-mosque that’s more than 500 years old.

Back in the Greek portion of the capital, the old town has a couple of cute streets with its own collection of old religious buildings like the Archangel Michael Trypiotis Church and the Panagia Faneromeni Church. 

There’s also a decent museum that has a collection of statues, pottery, and other artefacts that have been recovered from archaeological sites across Cyprus.

Renting A Car In Cyprus: Final Word

There are a lot of benefits to renting a car in Cyprus, starting with the fact that it means you’ll be able to get away from the packed beach resorts! Don’t get us wrong, we had a great time soaking in the sun and the vibes on the sand of the bustling coastal towns, but it was also lovely to get away from the crowds and discover more of the interior of the island with its small wine villages and lush hiking trails.