Cyprus was one of those destinations that lived on my “I want to go there” list for a long time, but with little idea of what to see, how to get around, and where to start. Early 2026 would have it that my original plans to go to Tunisia were scratched due to a cancelled flight from the USA’s historic Arctic Blast, and after a quick detour to Rome, Italy, a $40 flight brought me to Cyprus on a whim.
There’s nothing like learning first-hand, and like most Cyprus guides out there will tell you, traveling through Cyprus is much easier with a car. While you can base yourself in Larnaca or Paphos and take day trips, you’re going to save a lot of time and money by simply renting a car. However, like road tripping anywhere in the world, there are a few things to know before you drive in Cyprus.
So, if this New Yorker who seldom drives can manage in Cyprus, I promise you can, too. Here’s what to know about road tripping this Middle Eastern island nation (because, yes, Cyprus is technically in the Middle East!).
Cyprus Drives on the Left Side of the Road
If you’re coming from the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, or Japan, you’re in good luck, because this won’t be anything new to you. However, to my fellow Americans and other right-side drivers, godspeed. In Cyprus, the law of the land is driving on the left. This sounds much more difficult than it is, and once you drive for a little while, you’ll get used to it. The trickiest thing, from my experience, is turning. It can be a mind-trick, especially when turning right. Slow and steady wins the race.
Cypriot Drivers Veer on the Aggressive Side
As much as I took my sweet, grandma time driving, Cypriot drivers did not. I was tailgated, honked at, and most certainly cursed at. Luckily, little phases me, and I cared more about being safe than not pissing off other drivers, so I continued to just focus on the road. But, if you’re easily startled when driving, this is something to consider.
Automatic or Manual?
You won’t have any trouble finding automatic cars here, especially if you rent directly from the airport. If you book your car ahead of time on Expedia, simply choose Automatic. Pro-tip: you can also see exactly how much money the rental car company will hold on your credit card (some are quite high in Cyprus) and choose a car accordingly.
Getting Your Car From the Airport
While I can’t personally speak for Paphos, I flew into Larnaca, and as soon as I exited the airport, a free shuttle bus was available to take me to the car rental lot. I booked ahead of time using Expedia, and ended up with an Alamo which shares a lot with Enterprise. The shuttle is free for everyone who is on the list for renting a car, so just ensure you have a reservation ahead of time and you’ll be guaranteed the free service.
What are the roads in Cyprus like? Is it Difficult to Drive?
Aside from mentioning the left side of the road policy and the slightly unhinged Cypriot drivers, what exactly is driving in Cyprus like? The roads in Cyprus, from my experience, have two categories: smooth as ever and straightforward on the highways with clear road signs (including arrows to point you in the correct directions), and pure chaos in the twisty turny backroads.
I simply stayed along the southern coast (more on that below). Driving through Larnaca was fairly straightforward, and getting onto the major highway was easy as ever. However, as I got closer to Paphos, traffic picked up steam and after getting off of the highway, I was in for a brutal awakening with narrow roads (similar to southern Italy) paired with aggressive drivers and the whole, driving on the other side of the road factor. At one point, I accidentally side-swept a wall of plants, strong enough to push my rearview mirror in. So, though many will tell you driving in Cyprus is easy and smooth sailing, while that is true for the highways, you need to take a lot of extra precaution when driving on the back roads.
Where to go on a Cyprus Road Trip
Of course, this is entirely up to you, because part of the freedom of having a car is choosing your own adventure. For me, I knew I just wanted to stay along the southern coast. I began in Larnaca, visited the Kourion Ampitheatre, and ended at Edro III Shipwreck. While a car is definitely not required for Larnaca, it was absolutely crucial for Edro III Shipwreck since seldom tours go there (it’s also very far from Larnaca). A lot of tours also go to Kourion Ampitheatre, but since I had the car, I decided to do it on my own.
One of the most popular places to visit in Cyprus is the northern Turkish territory. While I did want to do this, I was not able to during my visit, and my understanding is while you can drive to Nicosia and get close to the UN Border, you need a guide to cross.
Is a car in Cyprus right for you?
The only person that can answer that, dear reader, is you! I would ask yourself the following before making that decision:
- Are you comfortable driving on the left side of the road?
- Can you stay calm in moments of being met with aggressive drivers who will honk at you and swerve around you?
- Can you navigate back roads that might be more narrow than you’re used to?
- Do you want the freedom of making your own itinerary, which saves you time and money, or do you prefer to rely on day tours?
All in all, I’m happy I rented a car, even if there was one point during my journey, where I said, “I cannot wait to get out of this thing and be a passenger again!”
DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!