Buses are the cheapest way to get around Cyprus. There are five different companies in the country that cover districts in Larnaca, Nicosia, Paphos and Famagusta. A very useful combined website at www.cyprusbybus.com provides useful information of the bus network. Buses in the south are generally modern and punctual, and services are regular during the peak tourist season. Rural buses, especially in the Troodos Mountains, are less frequent and less reliable.

Nicosia Municipality operates the well-known Yellow Buses which will get you around the city within the city walls. There is no fare charge for these routes.

You have a choice of buying a one-time ticket or an unlimited ticket for a day/week/month. A single day ticket costs about €1.50 (night ticket €2.50), daily unlimited is about €5, and weekly is about €20.

Note: The buses don`t run late during the evening so if you want to travel around it`s a good idea to rent a car.

In the south taxis are numerous in larger towns and cities and can either be hailed from the street or found at ranks. All urban taxis should have meters and fares are controlled by the government. In rural areas taxis do not have meters, so it`s recommended to agree to a fare before setting off. The fare structure for urban taxis is complicated: it is divided into day (6.01 am - 8.30 pm) and night tariffs, with an initial charge (day around €3.42, night around €4.36) and a fare per km (day around €0.73, night around €0.85). There are also charges for waiting (per hour), for luggage (per item) and during public holidays.

In the north, taxis (marked by a `Taksi` sign on the roof) do not have meters, so you should agree a price before getting in. Taxis are not allowed to cruise, and operate from official ranks which are closed at night. In both the south and the north you can also use shared taxis, which carry between four and eight passengers, between main towns. In the south (where they are also called Transurban Taxis) these operate on a fixed half-hourly timetable from 6 am to 6 pm (Sundays 7am - 5 pm); in the north (where they are known as dolmuses), they usually wait until they are full.

There are no trains in Cyprus so the only way to travel is by using buses, taxis or service-taxis.

Most towns in south Cyprus have bike rental companies, and there are also a few in the north. But it’s best to limit long-distance bike trips to the winter, spring and autumn, as the hot summer temperatures can make biking unenjoyable. A new cycle track has recently been established in the Troodos Mountains, with nearly 37 miles of well-signposted surfaced and unsurfaced track.

The best and most efficient way of getting around Cyprus is to rent a car or, if you`re not put off by their poor safety record, motorcycles, quad bikes, scooters or beach buggies. Car rental starts at around €50 per day in summer, €25 per day in winter ( the longer the rental period, the lower the rate) but it`s worth pre-booking and shopping around. And if you intend exploring the more remote parts of the island, it is well worth looking into a 4WD rental, especially as normal rental agreements often exclude driving on dirt roads.

Motorways and main roads are of good quality but side roads, especially in the mountains, might be unsurfaced. Cars drive on the left side of the road and cars are right-hand drive. Speed limits (strictly enforced) are as follows: motorways max 62 mph, min 40 mph. Unless otherwise indicated, main roads have a limit of 50 mph; built-up areas 30 mph.

Parking is free in many villages, while town-center car parks charge around €0.50 to €3 for half a day. On-street parking in major towns is meter controlled, falling in the range of €0.80 - €2 during business hours. Parking is free on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and public holidays.

Driving in the north is similar to driving in the south: cars keep to the left, signs are international, there are plenty of petrol stations, road signs are usually in kilometers, though sometimes in miles. Because development has been patchy, you might well come across bottlenecks where good new roads disgorge traffic onto narrow unimproved ones.

Car rental in the south:
Main towns and cities are well served by rental agencies, both local and international. Those in holiday areas like Pafos and Agia Napa offer a range of vehicles in addition to cars – scooters, motorcycles, quad bikes and buggies.

Drivers under 25 who have been driving for less than three years must inform the rental agency so that special under-age insurance can be provided.

If you rent a car in the south, many companies will not allow you to cross to the north, make sure to check when arranging the rental. Where companies do allow you to cross into the north, most will not arrange insurance, you`ll need to arrange your own at the crossing point and there will be a booth where you can do this. Car rental in the North:
Since none of the big international car rental companies covers north Cyprus, you`re limited to local firms. However, most will deliver and pick up from your hotel, or from Ercan Airport, and some now include that service for Larnaka. Note that to rent a car in north Cyprus you must be at least 25 years old.

The TRNC Rent a Car Association produces a booklet annually with advice on renting cars in the north, and the phone numbers of about forty rental companies. Otherwise, try British Rentacar or Sun Rent a Car.