Getting around Cypruswithout a car.
The honest, in-depth guide to moving around Cyprus by bus, intercity coaches between the four cities, the urban networks inside each, airport transfers, fares, the Motion Bus Card, accessibility, day-trip ideas, and the few moments when the bus genuinely isn't the answer. Live data throughout.
Late afternoon on the inland road. Catching the coach the way locals do.
A hand signalling an approaching Cypriot intercity coach at a roadside stop under warm golden-hour light.
The shape of the network
Cyprus has two layers of public bus and no rail. Intercity coaches stitch the four major cities together. Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, plus the airport shuttles that connect them to LCA and PFO. Urban buses fan out inside each city, each with its own operator and livery but the same fare structure, the same card, and the same app behaviour.
All schedules are GTFS-published, which means computer-readable stops, sequences and times. Aloya is built directly on those feeds, with rider GPS for the segments operators don't yet report. Nothing on this page is invented; everything below is what a Cypriot would actually do.
Right now, across the island
The next six departures we'd actually catch today, ranked by what's closest to leaving.
Real ETAs computed against published timetables. When operators publish GPS, we overlay it. Updates every 30 seconds.
Open the live board →Plan your first trip
Pick two stops. We'll show the next three real departures and deep-link you into the planner.
Next departures…
Direct lines only. For multi-leg trips, doorstep pickup, and live tracking, open the planner in the app.
Intercity, in depth
Intercity is a single national operator (Intercity Buses, intercity-buses.com) with five lines covering every realistic city-to-city pair plus airport coaches. Coaches are air-conditioned, have luggage holds, and almost always have power outlets. You can pay the driver in cash, tap a Motion card, or buy a ticket on the website / Cyprus By Bus app.
- Nicosia ↔ Limassol, line 404, ~1h 10m, every 60 min, €5.
- Nicosia ↔ Larnaca, line 402, ~45 min, every 60 min, €4. Stops at LCA on most departures.
- Larnaca ↔ Limassol, line 32, ~65 min, every 60 min, €4.
- Limassol ↔ Paphos, line 631, ~70 min, every 60 min, €4.
- Larnaca ↔ Paphos, line 631 via Limassol, ~2h 15m, €7 with one connection.
- LCA / PFO airports. Kapnos-branded coaches direct to every city, day and night.
Coaches stop short of cancellation: roadworks add 10–15 min, public holidays follow the Sunday timetable. Weekend frequencies drop to every 90–120 min after 19:00.
Urban buses, by city
Each city has its own operator, its own colours, and its own hub. The fare is the same everywhere: €1.50 single, €5 day pass.
- Intercity Busesfrequent
- OSELfrequent
- EMELbetween waves
- Zinonasfrequent
- OSYPAfrequent
Derived live from each operator's published timetable against the current minute. Green: frequent service. Amber: thinning out. Calm: between waves, the next bus is still on the way.
Nicosia
OSEL. Cyprus Public Transport- Hub
- Solomos Square. Almost every urban line touches it; this is where you transfer.
- Key lines
- 30 Solomos ↔ Kaimakli, 158 Solomos ↔ Latsia, 259 Solomos ↔ Engomi, 100 Mall of Cyprus.
- Late & night
- Last urban departures around 22:30 from Solomos. Night-bus 8N runs Thu–Sat to Engomi / Lakatamia until ~02:30.
- Sundays & holidays
- Reduced Sunday timetable, most lines every 30–60 min, last bus around 21:00.
Limassol
EMEL- Hub
- Anexartisias / Old Port and the New Marina. Most coastal lines run the seafront from end to end.
- Key lines
- 30 Old Port ↔ Pyrgos, 25 Limassol ↔ Mall of Cyprus, 16 Limassol ↔ Polemidia.
- Late & night
- Late seafront services until ~23:30 in summer. The 30 along the coast stays frequent the latest.
- Sundays & holidays
- Coastal lines keep a near-weekday rhythm in summer; inland lines thin out after 19:00.
Larnaca
Zinonas- Hub
- Finikoudes seafront terminal. Walkable from the old town, the salt lake bus also picks up here.
- Key lines
- 418 Finikoudes ↔ Mackenzie ↔ Salt Lake, 425 Finikoudes ↔ Pyla, 618 LCA Airport ↔ Finikoudes.
- Late & night
- Airport 618 runs roughly 06:00–23:30, every 30 min. Urban lines wind down by 22:00.
- Sundays & holidays
- Seasonal. Mackenzie and Salt Lake lines stay frequent in summer, inland lines run every 60 min.
Paphos
OSYPA- Hub
- Karavella station, behind the bazaar. Walk down to the harbour in 15 min, or take the 615.
- Key lines
- 615 Karavella ↔ Harbour, 631 Karavella ↔ Coral Bay, 645 Paphos ↔ Polis.
- Late & night
- Coral Bay line 631 runs until ~23:30 in summer. PFO airport shuttle 612 every 30 min until late.
- Sundays & holidays
- Reduced; the coastal 631 keeps a tourist-friendly frequency through the summer.
Airports, from gate to bus
Larnaca (LCA). Walk out of Arrivals, cross the pedestrian zebra to the covered island. The intercity stop is the largest one, signed in English. Kapnos (Nicosia), Intercity (Limassol), and Zinonas 618 (Larnaca city) all line up here. Most run every 30–60 minutes. Last Nicosia coach is around 02:00; last Limassol coach around 00:30.
Paphos (PFO). Smaller airport, one bus shelter directly opposite Arrivals. OSYPA 612 to Paphos every 30 min until late. Intercity to Limassol runs roughly every two hours; for Nicosia from PFO you'll change in Limassol.
Night arrivals. Coach service from both airports continues through the night, you will not be stranded. If your flight lands after 02:30 and you need Nicosia, an airport taxi is usually the only option.
Next coach in roughly 30 minutes, services run through the night.
Open this airport in the app →Next coach in roughly 30 minutes, services run through the night.
Open this airport in the app →Fares, cards & passes
Pricing is uniform across the island: €1.50 urban single, €5 day pass, €4 short intercity, €7 longest intercity leg. Children under 6 ride free.
Motion Bus Card. The island-wide stored-value card accepted on every urban and intercity bus. Buy from any kiosk for €2 deposit, top up at kiosks, online, or with the driver. Tap on (and on intercity, tap off, the system computes the right fare). Aloya links to the balance and shows the deduction in real time when you tap.
Reduced fares. Students, pensioners and persons with disability pay roughly 30% less with a registered Motion card. Discounts apply on urban and intercity. Tourists are full-fare; there is no separate "visitor" card to chase.
Tap-to-pay (contactless). Available on all OSEL, EMEL and Zinonas urban lines; rolling out on intercity. Apple Pay and Google Pay both work. The fare is the same as cash.
Accessibility
Every intercity coach and the majority of urban buses are low-floor with a deployable ramp; the driver lowers it on request. There is always one wheelchair space; on coaches it's at the front, on urban buses it's behind the middle door. Audio "next stop" announcements are standard on OSEL (Nicosia) and EMEL (Limassol) and being rolled out elsewhere; the next-stop screen is on every bus.
Step-free terminals: Solomos Square (Nicosia), Anexartisias (Limassol), Finikoudes (Larnaca), Karavella (Paphos), LCA and PFO airports. Older village stops along intercity lines are typically a kerb-side pole, phone the operator an hour ahead if you need assistance.
With luggage, a bike, a stroller, a dog
Luggage. Intercity coaches have under-bus holds, one large suitcase free, additional at driver's discretion (usually waved through). Urban buses: keep it on your lap or in the luggage corner near the driver.
Bikes. Folded bikes always allowed. Full-size bikes are accepted on intercity coach holds when there's room and on urban buses outside peak hours (07:30–09:00, 16:30–18:30) at the driver's call.
Strollers. Open or folded both fine on urban buses; the wheelchair space converts. Intercity: fold it for the hold.
Dogs. Small dogs in a carrier on every bus. Larger dogs at driver's discretion, leashed and muzzled. Guide dogs always welcomed.
Day trips, no rental needed
Curated itineraries we'd actually do on a free day. Each links into the planner with the right deep-link, with a live sunset-aware return hint so you never sprint for the last bus.
The lacework village in the hills, an hour from the coast. Aim for the 09:15 inland coach, lunch in the square, last bus back around 16:30.
Greco-Roman amphitheatre over the sea. Bus 16 from Anexartisias, get off at Episkopi turn-off, 20 min walk down. Stunning at the 6pm performances.
OSYPA 631 every 20 minutes to Coral Bay; from there the 622 reaches Agios Georgios at the edge of Akamas. The peninsula itself needs a 4×4 or boat, but the gateway is bus-reachable.
Right now, in the four cities
Weather and the sunset hour shape every plan in Cyprus. Above 32°, walking to the stop matters as much as the ride; below 12° you'll want the next service rather than the next connection. In winter the last comfortable return from a village is often two services earlier than the published last bus.
- Nicosialoading
- Limassolloading
- Larnacaloading
- Paphosloading
Hot afternoons (32°+) and a 19:30 sunset shift the math: plan the return before the last comfortable bus, not the last one on paper.
Etiquette & practicalities
Hailing. Hand out, palm down, eye contact with the driver. Cypriot drivers will stop for you even mid-block if it's safe. They will not stop if you stand with your back to the road.
Signalling your stop. Single button press on the handrail, one ding, once is enough. The "STOP" sign at the front lights up.
Paying. Exact change preferred. The driver will change a €10, rarely a €20, never a €50. Card-tap is the cleanest option for everyone.
Language. Drivers speak Greek and enough English to handle fares and destinations. Stop and route names are signed in Greek + Latin. Aloya shows both, plus audio in EN / EL.
Lost & found. Call the operator's hotline (printed at every terminal) within 24 hours; most coaches are searched at end-of-line.
When the bus isn't the answer
Honest, because pretending otherwise wastes your day: the Troodos villages above Platres, the Akamas peninsula beyond Agios Georgios, and late returns from rural night-outs (after ~22:00) are not bus territory. A rental for the Troodos day or a shared taxi (Travel & Express, ~€11 Larnaca–Nicosia at off-peak) is faster and saner.
For everything else, every coastal town, every airport, every city centre, the bus is cheaper, more pleasant, and (with live data) competitive on door-to-door time. That's what this guide is for.
Frequently asked
+Can you get around Cyprus without a car?
Yes, for everything that matters. Intercity coaches connect all four major cities several times a day, every city has an urban network, and both airports have direct coaches to every city day and night. The exceptions are the inland Troodos villages and the Akamas peninsula, for those a rental or a shared taxi makes more sense.
+How much does a bus ticket cost in Cyprus?
Urban single €1.50, urban day pass €5, intercity short hop €4, longest intercity leg (e.g. Paphos–Nicosia) €7. Children under 6 free. Students, pensioners and persons with disability pay ~30% less with a registered Motion card.
+What is the Motion Bus Card?
The island-wide stored-value card. Costs €2 deposit, top up at any kiosk, online or with the driver. Tap on every urban bus, tap on and off on intercity. Aloya shows your balance and fare deduction in real time.
+Can I tap my phone or contactless card?
Yes on every OSEL, EMEL and Zinonas urban bus, and rolling out on intercity. Apple Pay and Google Pay work. Fare is the same as cash.
+Do Cyprus buses run on Sundays?
Urban buses run reduced Sunday timetables in every city. Intercity runs a near-full schedule with longer gaps after 19:00. Public holidays follow the Sunday pattern. Aloya's live times reflect the actual day of the week.
+How long does the bus take from Larnaca Airport to Nicosia?
Roughly 45–55 minutes on the direct Kapnos coach (route 425), every 30–60 minutes from outside Arrivals. Larnaca–Limassol is ~70 minutes; Larnaca–Paphos ~2h 15m with one change in Limassol.
+Are Cyprus buses reliable?
Urban services are generally reliable but can run 5–10 minutes late in afternoon traffic. Intercity coaches are very reliable and rarely cancelled. Aloya overlays live GPS where available, so a late bus shows as late, not on-time.
+Are the buses accessible?
Yes, every intercity coach and most urban buses are low-floor with a deployable ramp. One wheelchair space per bus, audio next-stop announcements on most lines, step-free terminals at every major hub.
+Can I bring luggage / a bike / a dog?
Luggage: one suitcase free in the intercity hold, extra at driver's discretion. Bikes: folded always, full-size on intercity if there's room, off-peak on urban. Dogs: small in a carrier always, larger leashed and muzzled at driver's discretion. Guide dogs always welcomed.
+Is there a night bus?
Nicosia has the 8N (Thu–Sat to ~02:30). Limassol's coastal 30 runs late in summer. Airport coaches run through the night from both LCA and PFO. Cities outside that depend on a taxi after midnight.
+Does Aloya work offline?
Yes. Stop names, routes and the day's published timetable cache on your device. Live ETAs need a network, when you lose signal, Aloya falls back to scheduled times so you still know when the bus would be.
+Where do I get help if something goes wrong?
Each operator's lost-and-found and complaint hotline is printed at every terminal and in the app. For lost items, call within 24 hours, coaches are searched at end-of-line. For a missed last bus, the in-app planner switches to taxi-share options automatically after 23:00.