Arriving into Larnaca
I travelled to Cyprus in February, flying with British Airways and paying £325 for return flights from Heathrow to Larnaca. For a half-term-time escape, it felt like a reasonable price. Larnaca airport was lively and lots of buses were departing and arriving constantly.
My plan was simple; land in Larnaca and head straight to Paphos (or ‘Pafos’ if you prefer), then work my way back along the south coast towards Larnaca for my return flight. A slow coastal trip across the island.
Why did I fly to Larnaca and not Paphos? Turns out a lot of people on my flight did the same as me. I guess we all didn’t want to pay an additional €100 to fly directly into Paphos. Check SkyScanner for the best deals.
The Shuttle from Larnaca to Paphos
I had pre-booked the Kapnos Shuttle for €18 to take me from Larnaca Airport to Paphos. My flight landed at 1:55pm, and the last shuttle was scheduled for 3pm. Despite reading reviews suggesting it wasn’t always punctual, it was worth the risk, and although it arrived 10 minutes late, saved me hundreds on a taxi.
There was a strange moment where we pulled into a random side lane and got told to switch buses, but otherwise it was all smooth and we got where we expected to go – Paphos Airport.
While I was on the shuttle bus I met the lovely Tony who takes groups on tours to incredible places like the Sea Caves. If you’re looking for a group tour in Cyprus I can’t recommend a lovelier guy, so do check out Ciprus Pro.
Getting out of Paphos Airport in Low Season
When we arrived at Paphos Airport we were perplexed to find the airport completely void of taxis or buses. One man sat by a taxi sign did inform us he would call for a taxi but it would be €60 to get into town. In the end, I covered a much cheaper €10 Bolt taxi which got us to Tony’s car that was parked not too far away and he very kindly drove me to my hotel on his way to Pegeia.
If Tony hadn’t been around, I might have rented a car for that day alone, or succumbed to the ridiculous taxi fee.
Learn from me and make sure you consider how you are going to get out of Paphos Airport when it’s low season and public transport from the airport is almost nowhere to be seen. It might be smart to rent a car, but if that makes you nervous, or isn’t doable, then it might have to be a taxi.
How I Got Around the South
How you choose to get around is entirely up to you and will depend on how long you are in Cyprus and what your preference is.
In Paphos
On foot – In Paphos getting around on two legs is a great way to see everything. There are so many historical sites within short distances that jumping in a car didn’t seem like the right idea for me. I saw everything I had intended to see and more by walking.
By bus – For €6.50 I got an unlimited day bus ticket. I used this on one of the days to go further afield and visit the Tombs of the Kings and also to check out Coral Bay.
In Limassol
By car or taxi – Most people I met in Cyprus had rented a car for as little as €20 a day. If you’re from the UK you’ll be pleased to know the road system and cars are the same (left lane, right-hand drive). I do think having a car here would make your trip easier. The attractions are very spread out in Limassol. I impatiently booked a taxi to get to Ancient Kourion and paid for the driver to wait half hour before also taking me to Lemesos Castle. Since the weather had dramatically warmed up I didn’t want to walk for ages so it was worth the it for me. It did cost me an eye watering amount though.
By bus- If you look hard enough you will find local buses. After paying my undisclosed figure to get to the castle I asked a local person what I could get a bus back to Limassol central. She kindly pointed me towards a bus stop just 10 minutes walk away near a local school. I was thankful when 15 minutes later €2 bus showed up that got me all the way back to nearby my hotel.
In Larnaca
By bus or car – If you want to see what’s around. For the strip in Larnaca you don’t really need a car or bus if you’re happy to walk 15-20mins between the marina and the castle. A bus or car may, however, be needed if looking to travel further afield. If you want to see the salt lake to see the flamingos you could drive there. Or you could do what I did and go…
On foot – on my last day in Cyprus I walked down to the marina and jumped on a boat for a lovely 1.5hr trip along the coast and back.
I then had a wave of energy that led me to walk from the marina to the salt lake then (call me bonkers for doing this carrying my backpack the whole time) continued walking to the airport. This 3 hour-ish hike is very scenic, though I think I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t carrying my luggage! If you do decide to walk to the lake rather than get a bus to then take the route through Pattihio Forest Park for added pretty scenery.
Where I Stayed
I had arranged my accommodation in advance: two night at Dionysos Central in Paphos, two at Pier Beach Hotel Apartments in Limassol, and a night at Blazer Residence, Larnaca.
Paphos: Dionysos Central (would recommend)
This hotel was central enough that I could walk to the shops in minutes, be at the sea shore in seconds and take a reasonable and scenic stroll to the archeological park and castle. The neighbouring restaurant La Place Royale was also super friendly and had me eating not one but two delicious omelettes for dinner.
With a beautiful garden, plentiful indoor and outdoor seating areas, a fabulous pool, and frequent visits from friendly cats, what more could you possibly need?
This was the perfect place to stay to begin my trip.
Limassol: Pier Beach Hotel Apartments (would recommend)
My apartment on the sea front was spacious and clean with all the essentials anyone could need for a few nights in Limassol. A free bottle of wine as well as coffee pods and water make the welcome just perfect. I had booked into a city view room for the first night but due to a booking mistake (on my part) I was to then meant to be in a sea view room for the second night. When I arrived however, the friendly receptionist was able to move me that day.
In my opinion the standard breakfast isn’t quite worth the fee. Instead of paying for the watered down continental I would instead, at the same restaurant, pay for ok of the larger breakfast options.
One thing I would advise having had the opportunity to go inside a sea view and a city view room is that – if you are a heavy sleeper you should go for a city view room. These are quieter than the sea view rooms which are directly above the main road which is quite noisy.
Larnaca: Blazer Residence (would NOT recommend)
Let’s start with the nice stuff. 1. The staff on the front desk were super friendly and helpful, going above and beyond. 2. The apartment I stayed in was large, with everything needed to stay comfortably. 3. The lobby was oddly modern and fresh compared to the rest of the building…
Now for the not so good stuff. 1. Unfortunately, the walls were very thin so I could hear every coming and going. And although not the hotels fault – there was enough door slamming during the night to make me want to start yelling at strangers if I weren’t too tired to get out of bed. 2. Much like the noise inside the apartments, outside people were very noisy. If it wasn’t random people shouting it was people playing extremely loud music in their cars all night long. 3. The rooms were clean-ish. I felt like they had all been cleaned and were hygienic, but there were old stains and marks on the floor and walls which made the place look not so clean.
The Budget for One Week
I took €200 cash with me for one week. This covered all of my meals and snacks, all of the attractions I went to, all public transport, that one expensive taxi ride and a couple of souvenirs.
If I had rented a car I would bus an additional €30 a day minimum for rental and fuel fees. Outside of the €200 I had taken in cash, I had paid for my flight, the shuttle from Larnaca to Paphos and all three hotels online prior to arriving.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across the island but I always like to have cash on me just in case.
Have a wonderful trip
I hope you find these insights into my time in southern Cyprus useful as you plan your own adventure.
TravelJems 