Hire a car in Cyprus: local car rentals in one place

Payments

​Fines for speeding in Cyprus:

• Up to 30% over the speed limit the fine will be €1 per km/h with between 0 - 2 penalty points
• Between 31% and 50% over the speed limit, the fine will be €2 per km/h with 2 - 4 penalty points
• Between 51% and 75% over the speed limit, the fine will be €3 per km/h with 3 - 6 penalty points

Example: when caught with a speed of 130 km/h on a road with a permitted speed of 100 km/h - a fine will be €30. If the actual speed would be 131 km/h, then the fine of €62 applies.

Other fines:

• Crossing at a red light - a fine of 85 euros;
• Failing to give way to pedestrians - 85 euros;
• Unfixed seat belt - 85 euros;
• Using a mobile phone without a headset - 85 euros;
• Eating or drinking while driving - 85 euros;
• Failure to obey a police order - 55 euros;
• Using horn except to avoid accidents - 25 euros.

Alcohol restrictions

Driving the car after drinking alcohol is allowed in Cyprus. The alcohol limit is 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath (indicates "0.22" on the breathalyzer's display) or 50 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. For drivers with an increased risk/liability, the limit is 9 micrograms alcohol of breath or 20 micrograms of blood - this group includes inexperienced drivers, motorcyclists, taxi drivers, drivers of buses and trucks.

Fines for exceeding the limit of 22 micrograms allowed alcohol in the exhaled air:

• from 23 to 35 micrograms - a fine of € 100;
• from 36 to 55 micrograms - a fine of € 200;
• from 56 to 70 micrograms - a fine of € 300;
• more than 71 micrograms - a fine of € 150-400, imprisonment or deprivation of the right to drive a car for 1 year.

Roughly, 22 micrograms correspond to a man of 75 kg drunk 200 grams of dry wine/champagne, or 50 grams of vodka, or 0.5 liters of beer.

Usually, police randomly test drivers in the evenings and at night times after the bars and restaurants close. You can be fined or be imprisoned depending on the amount of alcohol taken over the legal limit.

Don't drive drunk and don't spoil the holidays for yourself or other people who may suffer as a result of an accident!

Sightseeings

Ancient Kourion

• Distance from the Larnaca Airport - 85 km;
• Distance from the Paphos Airport - 60 km.

The ancient city of Kourion was built in 1200 BC. The centerpiece is the antique amphitheater, which impresses with its size. Also, the ruins of an early Christian basilica and the temple of Apollo have survived to this day. The remains of that era provide an opportunity to plunge into history and enjoy the time spent surrounded by ancient architecture.

We highly recommend including a visit to this place in your plans. Sightseeing Kurion can take from one to three hours. Having plenty of walks and taking photos, you can fully dine in one of the restaurants on the beach.

Kykkos Monastery

• Distance from the Larnaca Airport - 125 km;
• Distance from the Paphos Airport - 70 km.

Kikkos Monastery is located high in the mountains, near Mount Olympus. It is best to get to the monastery by car or by bus. The road is long because passes through the mountains, so we recommend that you prepare in advance for it. A ticket to the monastery itself costs about 5 euros. Opening hours: from November to May 10:00 - 16:00 hours, from June to October 10:00 - 18:00.

Petra tou Romiou or the Aphrodite's Rock

• Distance from the Larnaca Airport - 110 km;
• Distance from the Paphos Airport - 20 km.

According to legend, it was at this place that Aphrodite, the god of love, came out of the seafoam. The second name of the place - Petra tou Romio or Rock of the Roman, came from another legend: allegedly the Byzantine hero Digenis Acrit, Roman (Greek) by birth, tore off and threw one of the peaks of the Troodos Mountains at the invading Saracen army.

Local cuisine

Halloumi

Halloumi is a world-famous dish, but the real taste of Halloumi can only be felt in Cyprus. This cheese is made from a mixture of different varieties of fresh milk and is distinguished by a layered structure and delicate flavor. The traditional method of cooking Halumi is roasting on the grill: the combination of the delicate salty taste of cheese with the flavor of the grill gives a special delight, so appreciated by gourmets.

Souvlaki

Souvlaki is an analog of kebab, only this dish is prepared not on metal skewers, but on wooden skewers. For cooking souvlaki pork, lamb or chicken is used. Meat is marinated in a special sauce and cooked on an open fire. This dish is considered a Greek fast food, so you can find it on almost any corner. We recommend that you choose places that specialize in the preparation of this particular dish - for example, in traditional Cypriot (Greek) taverns.

Koupepia

Local dolma, but cooked in a slightly different way - minced meat is wrapped in grape leaves. The Greek way of using this dish differs from the Turkish one in that a lot of lemon and olive oil are added to the dish, this dish reveals its aromas and spicy smells more strongly. You can try this dish in Cypriot taverns.

Kleftiko

Kleftiko - traditional and one of the most popular dishes in Greece and Cyprus. Cooked only from lamb by long baking in the oven.

Driving Tips

• Cyprus has left-hand side driving, use the right lane for overtaking other cars;
• On the highway from time to time, you may meet police mobile posts, measuring the speed. In the case of a police inspection, the officer may ask you to present your driver's license and car insurance;
• If your car broke down on the highway or on other roads - contact your rental company to resolve the issue and follow the instructions provided by the manager. Your car will be replaced as soon as possible or the problem will be solved on the spot;
• Parking in Cyprus is relatively cheap - about 50 euro cents per hour. Starting from the second half of Saturday and until Monday morning, as well as on holidays, you can park for free.

POPULAR QUESTIONS

Can I use my mobile phone while driving?

You can not use a mobile phone holding it in your hand if you are driving a vehicle. It is allowed to use a mobile phone using a telephone head-set or an in-vehicle hands-free speakerphone.

What time of year is considered the most optimal for visiting the island?

The tourist season in Cyprus starts from the end of May and lasts until October. The highest temperature in Cyprus is in July and August. The velvet season is in September when the air temperature drops to 26-28 °C and the water has a temperature of 25-26 degrees Celsius.

When is the best time to rent a car in Cyprus?

If the car is needed in the summer, it is better to book a car 2-3 months before the trip. It's much harder to book a car during the high season because most of the cars will be already booked by tourists.