Compare Car Hire in Cyprus

• The population of Cyprus as of 2019 is estimated to be in the region of 1.2 million people. This doesn't include the close to 2 million tourists this island receives every year.

• The island sits in the Mediterranean south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon; below it to the east are the lands of Israel and Palestine, and it sits directly north of Egypt.

• Cyprus' lands, much like other islands in this area, have had their rule contested by most of its neighbouring countries before gaining its independence around 1960; there were still many different nationalities there afterwards that fought for parts of the island too, with the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots both having a heavy presence there. The suburb of Varosha is now a ghost town due to these issues.

• Cyprus holds the spot of the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia.

• There are two official languages used in the country, Greek and Turkish, then there are also less common languages i.e. Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic. English is widely spoken in Cyprus and is shown on public notices, road signs and advertisements.

• The two main religions are Greek Orthodox and Sunni Muslim.

• Despite being a relatively small island, Cyprus boasts 43 universities, with influential alumni like Costas Montis, poet, novelist and playwright, who said (translated to English) "Without me what is light?"

• Visas are a requirement to enter the country if you are from outside of the EU, or your home country is listed on this list.

• There are 8 airports in total on the island; of these, 3 are for the public to enter and exit the country, the rest are military controlled.

• The electrical conversion in Cyprus is the same as the three pin system, with 240 standard voltage, in the UK.

• Larnaca is the larger of the two main tourist airports, the other is Paphos.

• The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia, which is located in the north of the island.

Guide to Cyprus

Myths, Ruins and Mediterranean Secrets

It's not all history and heritage, though that part is wonderful for anyone who wants to see the ruins of great civilisations — there's also so much more to explore aside from the stories of old. Cyprus is full of exciting attractions, ruins and things to do that stretch back thousands of years, tangled up in myth and legend at every turn.

A fascinating stop is the Tombs of the Kings, situated in Paphos on the west of the island, thought to have been built for the Paphitic aristocrats and their high-ranking partners. There's quite a lot to see there, as although it is a UNESCO heritage site like most of the island, you can venture down inside the tombs and decide whether you accept they were actually used as they are believed to have been, or whether you can come up with the new discovery that solves the mystery. Take the journey over to Kolossi Castle in the south of the island, set in amongst the modernity of today — it was once a place where the soldiers of the crusades would hang their tunics and where the Knights Templar, supposedly the world's first multinational corporation formed by guardians of the church, held for 6 years, probably burying their treasure which is yet to be found. Hop back in your reasonably priced car and head over to Palaipafos, which is linked to the great and powerful goddess of fertility, Aphrodite. Here you can see where the myth was born, and close by is the Kouklia Museum, which houses all of the antiquities that made life possible during that time.

Food & Drink in Cyprus

Quite a number of the restaurants on the island provide classic Greek dishes with what can only be described as a unique Cypriot twist, or as the Cypriots may say, a 'better version'. Take something like stuffed vine leaves, marinated vine leaves filled with seasoned rice known to all as dolmades — the Cypriots take this snack and make a meal out of it by adding either ground pork or veal, then naming it koupepia.

Where can you get one of these on the island? There is the breathtakingly romantic The Last Castle — the food here is traditional, open coal barbecue, and the place sits atop a hill almost cliff-side, staring out over the Mediterranean with an umbrella of grapevines to cherry the top of this quaint sundae. On an island the one thing that most people crave is fresh fish right off the back of the boat, and there is an old favourite near the St George's island/rock aptly named St George's Fish Tavern, where they get the catch of the day, toss it through the fryer then onto your plate with a side of chips. This is a staple for tourists so the quality can vary; however a less frequented place a little further back from the coast will suffice all your gastro desires — The Seven St Georges, where you can find organically grown and locally sourced food like tsamarella (salami made from goat), wild asparagus, pickled cauliflower, and more.

If you do make it down to St George's Beach and would like to dive into the crystal clear water to see the sights of the underworld, the island will not falter — best to dive between March and November, which is one of the longest dive seasons in the whole of the Mediterranean.

Drinks & Nightlife

Ayia Napa plays host to some of the world's most renowned clubbing locations. If there's a desire to hit the dance floor till you're old, or the want to get in on the action and feel young again, then Castle Club can provide with its five arenas, ranging from commercial dance, hip hop and R&B to the luxury VIP, where for a couple hundred euro you can have your own lounge with up to 12 guests and table service to party the night away. If that seems a little too rich for your tastes and you just want to get down to partying like they do in those American road movies, then Starsky's is the place for you.

If you're after something with a little more of an underground vibe, a place where the serious clubber can go and listen till the sun comes up, then don't you dare go past Klubd — all your DJ dreams will come true. The thing to remember about the island is that the nightlife is seasonal: from around April the clubs start to open, with the majority bursting by May. The price of entry is usually between 10–25 euros, and there is no dress code, so expect to be surprised and shocked by the personality that comes out of people's wardrobes.

History of Cyprus

Such a long and drawn out existence this island has had, with its ownership being fought over for so many years, its borders being constantly changed and even its airports being taken hostage (a long time ago); it really is a country filled with a complex and fascinating past.

12,000 Years of Cypriot History

The earliest inhabitants of Cyprus are thought to have lived there around 12,000 years ago, although similar to other islands in the Mediterranean, this may have been passers-by who used the island for a bit of R&R. The majority of those people were probably hunter-gatherers of the sea, however this is up for debate, similar to the rest of the history on the island. The first established historical point that has had some agreement is about 9,000 years ago, where archaeologists found the presence of obsidian, a volcanic rock that is not native to the island. Khirokitia is the archaeological site where this portion of the Neolithic history of Cyprus can be viewed.

The Late Bronze Age

Skip forward to the late Bronze Age when the first signs of Greek life came to the island, in the forms of traders who arrived around 1400 BC to check out what the island had to offer. The role of Cyprus is imperative to Greek mythology, with some of the very structures of culture being born here: Aphrodite the Goddess of love, passion and procreation; Adonis her mortal lover and son; Teucer the founder of the city of Salamis and brave soldier in the Trojan War. The list goes on to make this island an intricate tapestry of myth and legend that can be seen even today.

19th Century

Into the more modern times of the island, around the late 1800s, Cyprus was offered out to the British, who took over the running of the place, turning it into a military base, although it was still under Ottoman rule until the British decided in November of 1914 that, as the Ottomans had joined the opposing side, the British would now take Cyprus under its own protectorate.

On 6 August 1960, independence was granted to Cyprus after the Zurich and London agreement between the UK, Greece and Turkey. This was to protect all three countries' interests in the island, however because of the complicated system in place there was much upset from all camps. 14 years later this upset boiled over into a coup d'état with Greece wanting to unite the island with its lands; Turkey stepped in a few days later wanting to restore the balance. This didn't happen, and so now the island is split into the Turkish Cypriot portion and the Greek Cypriot portion. All of this and more makes for a long trail of history that the island boasts as many of its attractions.

This is a truncated history and there is so much more to be learned about this desperately desired paradise.

Hiring a Car in Cyprus Airports

There are two main commercial airports in Cyprus, Larnaca and Paphos. Larnaca processes around 7 million passengers per year and Paphos just under 3 million. Paphos is located in the southwest of the island and Larnaca is in the southeast of the island.

Paphos Airport (PFO)

Paphos Airport has numerous car companies operating out of it, with the big names having physical desks — Avis, Hertz, Sixt and Europcar — then the more local Petsas Car Rental and Astra Car Rental. Some companies do operate a 'full to empty' policy, which means they provide you with a full tank and if you return without a full tank of petrol then they will charge you for one.

Larnaca Airport Car Hire (LCA)

The single terminal airport of Larnaca is the larger and generally more popular of the two. It was built hastily in the 1970s after Nicosia Airport was taken. The airport has around 5 million passengers travelling through it every year; there is also a separate private terminal that is used for political leaders and other high-priority guests. The companies that operate out of Larnaca Airport are Thrifty, Europcar, Alamo, Hertz, Global, Budget, Ace, Kem, Dollar, Economy, Avis and SurPrice. The airport facilities include 1 VIP room and 2 CIP (Commercially Important Person) lounges, many refreshment options for the stomach and the body, and assistance for people with reduced mobility — all very handy for when you go to hire a car and want to wait somewhere comfortable.