Car Rental
A rental car is by far the most practical way to see Cyprus. The island drives on the left (a British legacy), roads are generally in good condition, and signage is in Greek and English. Rental prices start around €30–50 per day for a small car. Most major companies have desks at both airports.
If you plan to cross into Northern Cyprus with your rental car, check with the rental company — many standard policies do not cover the north. You will need to buy additional insurance at the checkpoint, which costs around €25–35.
Buses
The Republic of Cyprus has a reasonable intercity and urban bus network. Major routes connect Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos, with single intercity fares around €4–10 and local urban fares at €1.50. Services generally run from around 6am to 7pm and are less frequent on weekends. Timetables are available at the main bus stations and tourist offices.
Rural areas and small villages have limited or no bus service, which is the main reason a car is worth renting.
Taxis
Taxis are metered in the Republic of Cyprus and available at stands in all main towns and tourist areas. For airport arrivals, booking in advance is often cheaper than taking a taxi off the rank.
Crossing into Northern Cyprus
Since 2003, both tourists and Cypriot residents have been able to cross between south and north at designated checkpoints along the Green Line. The main ones are Ledra Street in central Nicosia (pedestrians only; open 6am–midnight) and Metehan/Agios Dometios on the Nicosia ring road (open 24 hours, cars and pedestrians). Several more crossings exist along the rest of the Green Line.
The crossing is straightforward: show your passport (or EU ID card for EU citizens), you may receive a small paper slip in the north that you must keep until you return. The whole process usually takes a few minutes. EU citizens can cross without restriction; most other nationalities can cross freely for tourism.
Keep your vehicle insurance in mind at the crossing — see car rental above.
In Northern Cyprus
Bus services in Northern Cyprus are unreliable and infrequent. Shared taxis (dolmuş) connect the main towns and are affordable. For anything beyond Kyrenia and the capital Lefkoşa (North Nicosia), a rental car is again the most sensible option.