Beautiful Places To Explore In Cyprus By Car (5-Day Guide)

Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission on the purchase at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support friend!

Cyprus is an under-the-radar, beautiful island that features 300 days of sun and warmth. It’s located in the southeastern corner of Europe, almost a part of the Middle East. Cyprus is a land of diversity, beauty and rich cultural heritage. There’s ancient Greek ruins, epic beach parties during the summer, rugged mountains, sandy white beaches, ghost towns, and several UNESCO world heritage sites. One of the best ways to see and experience the island is to explore Cyprus by car.

Visiting the charming island nation of Cyprus by car is an epic adventure itself. While there’s different road laws, and an abundance of things to do and see in Cyprus, today I’m going to share with you how to road trip through the South of Cyprus.

Feel free to jump ahead!

History of Cyprus

The first thing you need to know about the island of Cyprus is there are two sides: the North and South. The North is the Turkish side and the south is the Greek side. Between them lies about a 112 mile (180 km) border that is easily accessible. If you’re visiting, you can freely explore both sides of the border.

In fact, the capital, Nicosia, is famous for it being shared by the two sides. Here you can walk across the border and spend the day in between the two sides witnessing the Famagusta gate, enjoying exquisite foods, shopping, visiting the mosques and learning more about the history of this city.

How to get to Cyprus

• 

• 

Cyprus has several major airports, but flying into the southern cities is recommended. Since the country is divided between the Southern Greek side and the Northern Turkish side, only tourists who enter airports in the south can access the southern region. However, those who enter in the south are totally free to enter the northern side of the island.

The two biggest airports in Cyprus are:

• Larnaca International Airport, the main airport for the island
• Paphos International Airport

Upon entering Cyprus we flew into Larnaca, which we really enjoyed as we meet some expats who were also from California — small world! After our trip, we departed from Paphos. In comparison, both airports are nice, but the Larnaca airport is larger and more developed.

Once you arrive at the airport, it’s very easy to get a rental car. You can book ahead or book on the spot. They do require a credit card and hold a charge on your card until the car rental is returned. These prices do vary! We had a charge of $300, but I know other travelers who had a charge of $900 and more. Just read the fine print, buy car insurance and travel insurance (many travel insurances have basic coverage for car rentals for your protection) so you can prepare.

While the credit card charge can be high, renting a car in Cyprus can be extremely cheap depending on the season you’re visiting. We visited in spring and it was only $5 a day to rent our car! It was $7 if you include the insurance we bought.

Rental companies and websites: Enterprise, Sixt, Europcar, Kayak

Exploring Cyprus by car

Since Cyprus is a former British protectorate, the roads are all set up like British roads. If you are driving in Cyprus as tourist, be prepared to drive on the left side of the road and on the right side of the car! It’s different at first, but we got used to it fast.

The roads in the smaller cities are narrow and busy, but larger cities have bigger roads. Meanwhile, the highways are spacious, well maintained and have a multitude of roundabouts to make driving extremely safe.

Outside of the cities, gas stations can be a little tricky to find. We only had an incident once where we were extremely low on gas with no station in sight, whoops. My advice, stay prepared by planning out your gas stops before you go.

Lastly, many of the island inhabitants drive stick shift, so a good number of the rental cars are too. While there are automatic cars, manual cars are both more prevalent and cheaper to rent. Although, the prices are already pretty low!

Also when road tripping in Cyprus, here are a couple more things to keep in mind.

• The Best Travel Checklist For Europe
• The Best Things To Do & See In Cape Greco
• Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas For Car Rides

Weather in Cyprus

The weather in Cyprus reminds me of weather in California. It’s sunny year round, even during the winter months. While it does get cold during winter especially from the breeze, the weather is still mild. The only place it may snow is in the mountains, specifically the Troodos mountains.

Overall, the climate is subtropical and the weather is quite temperate. During spring the weather is warm, hovering between the high 60s and 80s in Fahrenheit, while summer is quite warm.

We visited in February and March and needed a jacket everyday. However, as it started to warm up we were able to comfortably wear short sleeve shirts in March (for a couple hours) until the cool ocean breeze kicked in.

An itinerary for what to see when in Cyprus by car

Here are the best places to visit in Cyprus! Whether you’re traveling for 3 days in Cyprus or more, this guide is an excellent place to start planning your trip. In totally we spent a month and a half on the island (after spending Christmas in Kiev). But, this is our five day guide to touring Cyprus.

For more information on planning your vacation, read through some of my other popular post on Cyprus.

• How to Forage Wild Asparagus in Cyprus
• A Guide to Cape Greco
• Best Vegan Restaurants in Larnaca

First stop: Larnaca

Best things to do in Larnaca: Medieval castle, beachfront, Europe Square, churches, restaurants, clubs

Larnaca is a lovely city, one I would consider to be the most modern city in Cyprus. We spent much of our time in this gorgeous city as our accommodations we nearby.

The first day we explored the old city, winding the cobblestone streets awash with vibrant colors. As we meandered through the old alleyways, we stumbled upon a square centered around a beautiful
church, Church of St. Lazarus. It had amazing steeples that drew you in and three large apses of white limestone that striking contrasted against the blue sky. The patron saint of this church, St. Lazarus, has a tomb that is still underneath the altar of the church today.

From the Church of St. Lazarus we headed down to the lively beachfront, enjoying the wide street lined with restaurants, clubs, and bars next to historical sites such as the Europe Square, Peridies Museum, and the Medieval Castle.

Dine at the delicious Maqam al-Sultan, a restaurant with gluten-free and vegan options. We ate here with the friends from California we previously made on the flight, then walked down the Mackenzie beach to enjoy the famous Cyprus sunsets and fresh ocean smell.

During the summer, Mackenzie Beach is a popular party spot during the with a plethora of upbeat bars and restaurants built right into the sand. It’s a vibe! We definitely plan to return someday and enjoy it during the summer.

Overall, this city vibes are modern, a mix of ancient Greek, old medieval, Orthodox churches, and modern party culture all coming together in harmony.

Directions from Larnaca to Ayia Napa

From the Larnaca airport, take road A3 north out of town until it turns east. Do not take road A2 as this continue north toward Nicosia! Continue along A3 through the multiple round-abouts until you reach road E306, then turn left to go south into the main town. From the intersection of A3 and E306, it is only about a mile into the main section of downtown, so enjoy!

Second stop: Ayia Napa (part 1)

Best things to do in Ayia Napa: Beaches, Cape Greco, nightlife, clubs, spas and resorts

After Larnaca, head to one of the biggest party towns in all of Cyprus — the bustling Ayia Napa. Don’t let the party beaches and luxury hotels fool you. This little town has plenty of old world charm and a nearby stunning natural wonder, Cape Greco.

Yes… Ayia Napa has a lot of tourist attractions, including a Hard Rock Café, a Sculpture Park, and a huge water park, but this is the fun of Ayia Napa. Similar to Las Vegas, Ayia Napa offers themed hotels and uniquely decorated restaurants. In fact, I’m pretty sure you can dine with the Flintstones!

Since we visited during the off season, most of the dining options and water park were closed. But that meant we were able to slow travel and meet more of the locals/year-round residents. If you’re new to slow travel, click here read my popular post about how to have deeper travel experiences.

While we love exploring local restaurants, we seemed to always find ourselves visiting the Hard Rock Café. It’s honestly the best place to visit during the off season as it has live music several nights a week and allergy friendly food options.

For Valentine’s Day, we visited one of the luxury hotels in the area. Each of the spas are equipped with saunas, massage treatments, steams rooms, showers, cold water pools and various other amenities. We spent time soaking in the spas and relaxing from our travels.

If you’re planning to visit a hot spring or spa in Europe, read this popular post for all the best tips for visiting spas abroad.

Afterward, we ended the night with a romantic dinner at a Chinese restaurant that was gifting free roses to its guests, making it a special Valentine’s Day abroad.

Directions from Ayia Napa to Paralimni

Take E306 east out of town until you reach the intersection with E307. This intersection will be well marked with signs toward Cape Greco, which has a small visitors center and plenty of free parking.

Second stop: Cape Greco (part 2)

Best things to do Cape Greco: hiking, swimming, trekking, foraging for asparagus, nature walks

In the southeastern most point of the island lies Cape Greco — a breathtaking expanse of verdant green fields that stretch down to the stunning clear turquoise waters. The limestone cliffs create the famous Blue Lagoon and Lovers Bridge, some of the purest nature you can find in the entire island.

There is also an abundance of trails that wind through the area passing along the water, throughout the fields and the forest above.

While we were hiking one day, we met an older gentleman who told us spring was the perfect season for foraging wild asparagus. After conversing for five minutes, he instantly led us to some patches of brush without another word, showing us how to push aside the thorny shrubs with our boots to snatch flawless asparagus shoots.

Thanks to his sweet guidance, we were now unofficially certified as “wild foragers of asparagus” by a Cypriot. Well, not really (pause for dramatic effect). But we did learn foraging skills and were able to pick enough to incorporate them in our next two dinners in our Airbnb!

Cape Greco was one of our highlights from our time exploring Cyprus by car, and we will never forget the time we were taught how to pick wild asparagus by our Cypriot foraging mentor.

From Ayia Napa, it’s approximately 6 miles away (11 minutes). It’s worth your time to drive along the beautiful coast and see the smaller towns of Pernera, Paralimni, and Deryneia on the way to Famagusta, the ghost town of Cyprus. Adventuring through these smaller towns are one of the best parts of seeing Cyprus by car! It’s much harder to see them by bus.

These towns have wonderful hidden beaches, small hotels with beachfront bars, and restaurants. This is a prime region to party and enjoy the sun, so be ready to spend long nights dancing the night away.

Ultimately, this is just the beginning of the amazing things you can experience at this beautiful national forest park. You can find more things to do and see by reading this post — guide to Cape Greco.

Directions from Cape Greco to Paralimni

From Cape Greco, continue on E307 until it reconnects to E306 heading north. Stay on this road until you reach the round-about in Pernera where you can continue north. From Paralimni you can take a guided tour across the border into Famagusta.

Liking the post? Share it here

Third stop: Paralimni and Famagusta

Best things to do Paralimni and Famagusta: secluded and romantic beaches, take a private tour of ghost tour Famagusta, ocean aquarium, churches

When we explored Cyprus by car, we booked accommodation in Protaras and instantly fell in love with the quiet beachy vibes. The smaller town has a cute little Ocean Aquarium and several stunning churches in the area. We really enjoyed this little aquarium and the beaches nearby, including Kapparis Beach.

It’s a secluded and intimate beach that’s much quieter than other beaches near Ayia Napa. These beaches are wonderful for romantic sunset strolls while basking in the white beaches beaches and crystal clear water. Some even have cozy board walks which are great for skating, walking, running and biking.

Just north of Paralimni and Protaras is the old beach hub of Famagusta. During the armed conflict between the Turkish North and the Greek South, the city was invaded and the residents were forced to flee. What was once one of the largest and most well-developed beach city now stands isolated and empty, a former shell of the vibrant city it once was.

While inhabitants do still live here, the majority of the city is abandoned, including the massive former beachfront hotels. There are currently guided tours through this city, but you have to book in advance to be able to visit this fascinating location. While we didn’t make it to this spot while we stayed in Cyprus it did capture of curiosity and imagination as we have visited other abandoned cities such as Chernobyl.

The ghost tour is at the top of the list for when we return. Here’s a couple ghost tours to consider:

• Ghost Town Famagusta by Mr. John
• Full-day Famagusta Ghost City Tour

Directions from Paralimni to Nicosia

Starting in downtown Paralimni, take road E327 south until you reach the A3. Take the A3 west toward Larnaca until you reach the junction with A2. At the roundabout, take A2 north until you join with the A1. From there, the road goes straight into Nicosia and there is clear signage to get to the old walled city.

Fourth stop: Nicosia

Best things to do in Nicosia: Famagusta gate, Selimye Mosque, cross the border and explore the North, restaurants

• 

• 

The famous city, Nicosia, is the only capital in the world that is divided in two. To end the conflict between the north and the south, an agreement was drawn up where the city was left in the exact state of division it was in on the day of the cease fire.

We knew we had to explore this fascinating location. After parking in the south side of Nicosia, we meandered through Eleftheria Square and by the old D’Avila Bastion. This area is a great introduction to a place that lives in juxtaposition between old and new, peace and war, north and south. The cobbled streets of the old walled city were full of twists and turns, lovely food stalls and souvenir shops, as well as quiet homes and lively doorways.

Ledra Street is another shopping district in town and used to be the main shopping area before the division of the city. After visiting Ledra Street we followed the Green Line — the border made of haphazard old barrels, boards, brick, stone, and other materials that create a boundary, abruptly halting many alleyways and streets.

Following the Green Line to the edge of the old walled city, Nicosia invited us to roam along the old battlements. Here we explored the stunning Famagusta Gate, an old Venetian battlement that has been restored to its full former glory. Within the city there’s also several green parks situated on top of the bastions to enjoy the clear skies, warm weather and picturesque sunsets.

After lunch we headed north and crossed the armed border. Following a quick stamp of our passports, we ventured to the northern side. It was just as busy and exciting as the southern side!

The North side of Nicosia

• 

• 

The Turkish influence could be witnessed by the beautiful architecture, mosques, and lively street vibes. It was bustling with friendly shop keepers and vibrant souvenirs that glowed amongst the cement-type flooring. The Selimye Mosque, a building that was converted from a Gothic cathedral to the main mosque on the island under Ottoman rule, astonished us by it’s fascinating beauty.

It’s another site that reminds you of all the cultures that have occupied this space. From the mosque we were beckoned down more cobblestone streets until we happened upon the Bayan Han. The site could be a movie set straight from Hollywood with perfect sandstone arches, a fountain in the middle of the courtyard, and luscious plants throughout.

We really enjoyed the beauty on the northern side of the divide and managed to find some fantastic street art. There is a street near the Bibliotheque restaurant that is covered in bright, multi-colored umbrellas that makes for magical pictures, so make sure you go! It reminds us of all the vivid murals in Singapore.

While we really enjoyed our day in Nicosia, there’s several activities to explore in the area including many museums, churches and other cultural sites that we missed. If time allows, you could easily spend several more days in the city.

Directions from Nicosia to Paphos

Head back to Larnaca along the same route you took to arrive. From Nicosia follow the A1 road until you reach Limassol, where this road becomes the A6. Continue west until you reach the city of Paphos.

Fifth stop: Paphos

Best things to do in Paphos: Tombs of the Kings, Nea Paphos, walk the waterfront promenade, restaurants

Paphos was our final destination of touring Cyprus by car before we headed to Malta — (check out my guide to Malta here.)

Quick note. While we road tripped through Cyprus for five days, we did stay in Cyprus for over a month, so we had the pleasure of visiting Paphos a couple times. If you have more time, I highly recommend staying here 2-3 days to see all the city has to offer.

Our first day, we walked through the waterfront restaurants and shops next to the harbor. It was fun wandering through the cute shops, talking to owners and sampling the famous Aphrodite nuts. Along the harbor we noticed several ancient structures adding to city’s milieu — a blend of antiques, chill beach vibes and trendy eateries with the ocean as the backdrop.

The small yet intriguing Paphos Castle stood on the edge of the harbor, a token of a past time in which the people had to defend against seaborne invaders.

Nea Paphos

On the other side of the harbor stood the entrance to Nea Paphos, a large archeological site from Roman times. For fees and opening times click here.

Inside we reveled in the various ruins, columns, villas, and beautiful mosaics floor. The houses beautifully illustrate aspects of Greek Mythology including: Aiona, Orpheus, Dionysus, Theseus, and the Four Seasons. We especially enjoyed the amphitheater, the tombs posited on the hillside and the lighthouse set above it all. The views here are truly incredible.

Tomb of the Kings

On our second day, we explored the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Tombs of the Kings. This is one of the most famous ruins in the country as it’s an archaic necropolis. It’s also one of the main reasons many tourists visit Paphos.

There are several large tombs carved into the cliffs and the ground of this area. Several of the underground mausoleums are massive in scale, with multiple burial chambers attached to the central atrium. It almost felt like an underground house.

More thoughts on visiting Cyprus by car

We loved exploring Cyprus by car! It’s a truly special place in Europe. Thanks to its location and its long history, Cyprus is melting pot of multiple cultures. Here are additional things to keep in mind when creating your own itinerary.

At the end of the day, a visit to Cyprus can be super transformative travel experience thanks to the beauty, the kind people, and the incredible diversity. We loved our time on the island and highly recommend exploring Cyprus by car.

Resources for travel in Europe

• Beautiful Photos of Transylvania
• Barcelona Travel Guide
• Best Tips for Visiting Christmas Markets in Europe
• Zagreb, Croatia Travel Guide (Christmas Edition)

• 

• 

•