Car Hire in Larnaca

Why hire a car in Larnaca?

One of the main business hubs of Cyprus, Larnaca is also among the island’s most popular travel destinations. In addition to a small, but well-preserved old town, the city also offers access to some lovely beaches and much of the Cypriot southwest.

Top ways to enter Larnaca

Larnaca Airport. The busiest in the country, Larnaca Airport handles over eight million travellers every year. The airport is especially busy during the summer months when it has flights by over 30 different airlines and connects Cyprus with destinations all over Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Northern Africa. The city centre is just a ten-minute drive north of the airport.

Top sights and activities

• Beaches. The number one attraction of the Larnaca area is naturally its Mediterranean coastline. Popular and developed spots include the very central Finikoudes Beach, Mackenzie Beach (near the airport, immediately to the south of the city centre), as well as Nissos and Makronissos beaches which are both near Ayia Napa, about a 30-minute drive to the east of Larnaca.
• Old city. Located just west of the city’s coastal strip, the Old Town of Larnaca is one of the main tourist draws of the city. Human habitation here dates back millennia, but the two main landmarks are of a slightly nearer age, namely, the 9th century Church of St. Lazarus and the Hala Sultan Mosque of the 19th century. 
• Archaeological Museum of Larnaca. Located right next to Greece, Turkey, Israel, and Egypt, as well as having a fascinating history of its own, Cyprus is one of the best places to explore artifacts dating back to antiquity. In Larnaca, the best place to get familiar with this wealth is the city’s archaeological museum which has a collection of art, weapons, and everyday objects of another age.

Traffic and parking

As is usually the case across the Mediterranean, driving in Cyprus can be quite hectic for the uninitiated. Most traffic regulations are often treated as mere guidelines by Cypriot drivers with laws prohibiting driving under the influence being a notable exception (due to the harsh penalties). Expect other drivers to only care about themselves, including ignoring road markings, making illegal shortcuts, failing to use their signal, and taking the best route for themselves through roundabouts. Also, note that everyone else on the road will know that you are driving a hired car due to its red licence plate (all hired cars have red licence plates).

Due to Cyprus’ history as a British territory, traffic is left-hand drive unlike in Greece or Turkey. 

There are roads on the island that are mountain roads or considered off-road meant for 4WD vehicles only. It is prohibited by all car hire suppliers to use these remote roads. Taking these roads will violate the contract and void any insurance. 

Parking may cause some concern for drivers. While there is free parking, it is often hard to find a sport without parking somewhere you are not supposed to, though many others will have done the same already. At times it can feel as if pavements are actually just car parks. The city has various municipal and private parking garages. These are often a driver’s best option. Some hotels do not have parking at all and garages must be used. 

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in Cyprus.

Ideas for day trips

• Diving. Cyprus is known as one of the best diving destinations in the European Union, and Larnaca is exactly the right place for it. The most famous attraction in this regard is the wreck of Zenobia, a Swedish ferry that sank just off the coast of the city in 1980 — but there are a number of other spots in the area, as well as several companies offering training for beginners.
• Nicosia. Although not located on the coast and therefore relatively unexplored (especially for a national capital), Nicosia might just be the most interesting city in Cyprus. Divided into two halves, it has plenty of history to explore and an atmosphere to soak up. The northern, Turkish-controlled side of the city cannot be accessed with a hired car, but you can pop over the border on foot and then return. The drive from Larnaca to Nicosia takes about 45 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most hired car in Larnaca is the Volkswagen Up, followed by the Toyota Yaris and the Nissan March. The most popular car types are economy, mini, and standard.

Car hire prices in Larnaca

• Small cars - starting at US$20 per day
• Medium cars - starting at US$22 per day
• Large cars - starting at US$29 per day
• SUVs - starting at US$32 per day
• Premium cars - starting at US$164 per day
• Convertibles - starting at US$105 per day
• People Carriers - starting at US$55 per day
• Station wagons - starting at US$46 per day

Money-saving and other tips

These are some good methods to save money on the car you hire:

• Compare rates of different car hire suppliers
• Book your vehicle well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit in the month when the car hire prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Larnaca is the cheapest in January when hiring a car is about 50% cheaper than the yearly average and 70% cheaper than hiring a car in September.