Larnaca and Paphos airports at busy times: parking, buses, taxis and getting there on time

Flying over Christmas or New Year? Book your parking online with Hermes Airports before you go, or take a shuttle or bus, because the short free drop-off outside departures is not a place to wait. Below we cover parking prices, pick-up rules, buses, shuttles and taxis at both Larnaca and Paphos, plus how early to arrive and what to expect at passport control.

Both airports are run by Hermes Airports. Larnaca is by far the bigger of the two: from January to September 2026 it handled 7.23 million passengers against 3.13 million at Paphos. Expansion works that began in March 2025 are due to finish at Paphos in April 2027 and at Larnaca in September 2027, so allow for building work and changed walking routes around both terminals this winter.

How much does parking cost at Larnaca and Paphos airports?

All official car parks are self-park, so you keep your keys. These are the drive-up prices on the Hermes parking price list (Larnaka from 1 March 2026, Pafos from 1 December 2025). Hermes says booking online in advance can save up to 45%, and at Christmas a booking also means you know you have a space.

Two weeks over the holidays in Larnaka P5 therefore costs €62 at the drive-up rate (€10 plus 13 days at €4), against €212 in covered P4. Short visits are charged by time band at every car park: €1 for up to 20 minutes, €3 up to 40 minutes and €4 up to an hour (€7 for the first hour in the covered car parks). Book at least two hours before you arrive. For questions, Hermes parking is on +357 24030026 or booking@hermesairports.com.

Can you drop off or wait outside the terminal?

Only briefly. The rules on the Hermes access and parking page are:

• Larnaca: dropping passengers opposite the departures entrances is free for a 1-minute stop. Bays for passengers with reduced mobility allow 5 free minutes.
• Paphos: the drop-off area next to the taxi rank is free for 5 minutes; stay longer and you pay €10.
• Picking someone up: at both airports you must use the short-stay car park (P2 at Larnaca, P1 at Paphos), which costs €1 for up to 20 minutes. There is no waiting on the terminal road.
• Blue badge holders: up to 120 minutes free in the pick-up zones and reduced-mobility bays, with the card on the dashboard.

Arrivals at peak times can take a while: it is best to head to short-stay parking once the flight has landed, as passport control and baggage reclaim can add 30 to 60 minutes or more.

Which buses and shuttles go to Larnaca airport?

Buses leave from the west side of the terminal at arrivals level (Level 0); follow the signs.

Cyprus Public Transport runs the Larnaca and Nicosia buses (helpline 1416). Its fares went up on 3 August 2026; with a Motion card a daytime journey costs €2.00 instead of €2.70. Kapnos (+357 24008718) sells seats online up to 60 minutes before departure and at its desk in the airport, and drivers on airport routes accept bank cards. Its scheduled shuttles from Larnaca run until about 23:45, so a late-night arrival may leave you with a taxi or Bolt.

Which buses and shuttles go to Paphos airport?

Pafos Buses (OSYPA) answers on its free line 8000 5588. For Coral Bay, change at Tombs of the Kings to route 615. Kapnos added more Paphos airport services in June 2026, including direct runs to its Nicosia station, where shuttle passengers park for free; children up to 12 travel free on its Paphos airport routes. Shuttle and bus timetables are thinner over Christmas and New Year, so check the operator's site for your exact date and book a seat where you can. Fares and passes for all operators are in our public transport guide.

How much is a taxi from Larnaca or Paphos airport?

Taxis wait to the right as you leave the arrivals hall at Level 0 and run 24 hours a day. All urban taxis must use the meter for the whole trip and give you a receipt if you ask. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism's taxi guide gives these tariffs and indicative fares:

Holiday rules matter at this time of year: on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 January the night tariff applies all day, plus a €1.96 surcharge. A fifth passenger adds 20% and a sixth 40%. The guide is not dated, so treat the figures as a guide and go by the meter. If a driver refuses the meter or quotes a fixed price far above these figures, note the registration number and contact the Road Transport Department (22807000, weekdays 08:00–15:00) or the police on 1460 outside those hours.

Can you use Bolt or Uber at the airports?

Bolt serves Larnaca airport, shows the pick-up point and price when you book, and lets you schedule airport trips ahead; prices can rise at busy times. Uber does not operate rides in Cyprus. More on ride apps in our guide to useful apps for living in Cyprus.

How early should you get to the airport at Christmas?

Allow about two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul one, and add more on the busiest days around the school holidays. Your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines always come first. Leave extra time if you still need to find parking, and remember the bus timetable gaps at night and on public holidays.

At security, liquids must fit in one transparent, resealable bag of up to one litre (about 20 cm x 20 cm), one per passenger; bags are sold at the checkpoints. Medicines and baby products needed on the flight are exempt, per the Hermes liquids page.

Do passport checks, EES and ETIAS apply in Cyprus?

Schengen: Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. As of October 2026 it says it is technically ready to join, but a unanimous EU decision is still needed and no date has been set. Until then you show a passport or ID card on every flight, including to Greece. EU citizens can travel within Europe on a valid national ID card; Cyprus Airways warns that some older-format Greek and Italian ID cards are no longer accepted from 4 August 2026.

Entry/Exit System (EES): the EU's digital border register started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully running since 10 April 2026, but only at Schengen borders. Cyprus does not use it, so there are no EES checks at Larnaca or Paphos. However, the European Commission says non-EU nationals with a Cyprus residence permit are registered (fingerprints and photo) when they enter a Schengen country, so allow extra time on arrival at your destination. Non-EU family members of EU citizens who hold a residence card are exempt.

ETIAS: the travel authorisation for visa-free non-EU visitors (fee €20, free under 18 and over 70) was scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, and as of October 2026 no exact start date had been confirmed. Cyprus Airways says it will also be needed to visit Cyprus once it starts. Apply only through the official EU site when it opens.

What to do next

1. Book parking or shuttle seats now if you are travelling over Christmas and New Year.
2. Check whether your flight leaves Larnaca or Paphos: our Christmas and New Year flights guide compares the two airports and their winter routes.
3. Planning a short break? See our winter trips with direct flights from Cyprus, and if the dog is coming too, read travelling with pets from Cyprus.