Every year, welcoming Cyprus receives millions of tourists, most of which arrive on the island by plane. Despite the small size of both the island and its main airports, the level of service in this “heavenly haven” is at a high level. Cyprus has 6 airports, two of which have international status and are located in Larnaca and Paphos.
Larnaca airport
Larnaca Airport is the largest on the island. It occupies an area of about 112 square meters, which, by the standards of big cities, is quite a bit, but well-established processes help avoid long queues at passport control and check-in desks.
The most scheduled flights depart and arrive here, including direct flights to Cyprus from Europe, UAE, China and other countries.
In the summer months, there are also charter flights from different countries at Larnaca’s airport. In total, Larnaca’s Airport takes about 8 million passengers from around the world annually.
The airport is located about the same distance from all the major resort towns in Cyprus and its capital, Nicosia , at about 50 km from Ayia Napa, Protaras, Limassol. The exception is Paphos, the distance to which is around 100 km.
In order to get from the airport to any of the Cypriot resorts you can take a taxi (about 50 euros to the major resorts and around 100 euros to Paphos), rent a car, which you can find at the airport or get the bus.
You can get a taxi at Larnaca’s airport right at the exit of the airport; services of private drivers at the airport in Cyprus are not available.
Shuttle bus services from the airport to Limassol run daily from 3:00 am to 12 at midnight. The fare is 8-9 euros, including the cost of luggage. To board the bus at the airport, you need to follow the signs to the special zone left out of the airport.
You can take the bus to the Larnaca’s airport in Limassol in front of the church of Agios Georgios Havouzas or in Agios Athanasios. Taxi fare from the place of the bus stops to the center of the tourist zone will be about 15 euros.
The only disadvantage in this case is that the bus does not go into the center of the tourist area in Limassol or to the outskirts of the city, so if you plan to use this means of transportation, you will need to get to the hotel or apartment by yourself. However, this option is the most economical.
You should arrive at Larnaca’s Airport 2 hours before departure in order to go through all the standard procedures and have a cup of coffee in the relaxed atmosphere there. You can also make tax free purchases at the airport. Please note that the purchase will be required after passing the registration, so do not put them into your luggage.
After the check-in desk and passport control you will be able to visit the duty-free shops, where you should go through the cosmetics, imported alcoholic drinks, etc.
But the traditional Cypriot souvenirs, local wine and sweets, are better to be bought in advance, as the airport has less choices and the prices are higher.
Paphos’ airport
The second international airport in the Cyprus Republic is the Paphos’ airport, located about 15 km from the resort. This airport is much less bigger than the one in Larnaca, but the service is equally-well organized.
The airport in Paphos usually receives and sends charter flights to European countries (mostly low-cost flights, for example, the company Ryanair, carrying out flights from Cyprus to many European countries).
To get to the airport by taxi costs about 20 euros from Paphos. The distance of the airport to Limassol is about 60 km, the cost to travel by taxi is about 70 euros and from Ayia Napa and Protaras it is about 170 km. Direct bus services to other resorts in Cyprus from Paphos’ airport are not organized.
From Paphos’ airport there are two shuttle buses – Route 612, next to the harbor of Paphos (the bus follows the route approximately once per hour), and Route 613 from the station near the Caravel market (twice a day). The fare is 8 euros. From Limassol, Paphos’ airport is also accessible by express bus – the fare will be 9 euros.
At the Paphos’airport, the standard rules of arrival / departure are in effect and their features and details are available at the airport’s website. Here there is a well-developed infrastructure: a variety of shops and cafes, car rental companies and ATMs.
Airports in Northern Cyprus
Currently, the main airport in Northern Cyprus is “Ercan”, located to the north-east of Nicosia. The airport is small and the passengers usually go from the aircraft to the terminal on foot.
If you are planning a trip to Northern Cyprus, you can arrive at the airport “Ercan” only through Turkey: direct scheduled flights to Northern Cyprus are not carried out. You will arrive at Antalya or Istanbul, and then take a flight to the island.
To arrive in the Cyprus Republic you should only go through the airports in Larnaca and Paphos; entry from the territory of Northern Cyprus is against the law. Traveling to the Turkish-occupied side (Northern Cyprus), you can use either Larnaca or Paphos airports and airport “Ercan”.
In order to not have any problems in the future with a visit to Greece or the Republic of Cyprus, at the border control ask for the stamp to be put on a special form, but not in your passport.
On the Turkish-occupied side, there is also an abandoned airport in Nicosia, which was the main international airport of the island before the Turkish invasion.
How many airports exist in Cyprus?
In addition to the civil airports in Cyprus, there are also two military airports, which are located on the territory of the British bases – Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These airports are not used in civil aviation, and are intended only for military purposes.
Conclusion
So, before you travel around Cyprus, you will arrive at one of the island’s international airports – Larnaca or Paphos. As a rule, regular flights from most countries are carried out at the airport in Larnaca.
Charter flights of major tour operators (“Biblio-Globus” tours, “Tez Tour”, “Pegasus”) are carried out at the airport in Larnaca and Paphos, depending on the resort selected by tourists. Service flights of budget companies (for example, Ryanair) are carried out at the airport in Paphos.
