Do you need to rent a car in Larnaca?

Europe > Cyprus > Larnaca

See: Why hire a car in Larnaca ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

In general, Cyprus is the sort of holiday destination where most visitors probably will hire a car, and this is hardly surprising given that there is an extensive road network on the island, including a modern motorway stretching westward along the southern coast from the capital Nicosia.

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Larnaca car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band:

Larnaca is in car rental price band: 1/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Larnaca?

Yes. Extremely cheap car hire, if booking economy vehicle outside peak holiday period.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Larnaca between the peak and the off peak season?

7/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 3/10

Non car score:1/10

Balance: 7

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

Why? Visiting Larnaca using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Larnaca ?

A hire car is ideal for exploring the interior of the island of Cyprus.
Public transport is generally poor.
There is no form of rail service on Cyprus, and buses on the island are adequate but far from ideal.

Why not? Visiting Larnaca without a car

Why don't you need a car in Larnaca ?

If you’re planning on mainly staying downtown in either Larnaca itself or in Nicosia, then you will probably get around without too much trouble using buses.
A regular express coach service is available to Paphos, and also into Nicosia.
You can tour the island on an organised coach tour.
Within the main resorts, most thigns are close to each other.
Some visitors might also want to venture into Turkish occupied Northern Cyprus. This is much better done on foot rather than in a hire car (check legal status before doing this).

Ratings: How does Larnaca compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Larnaca? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Larnaca, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Larnaca? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Larnaca (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Larnaca? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Larnaca airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Larnaca car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 7

2019 - 8

2021 - 7

Average score - 7

Notes:

R - local buses + most things close

Compared to Paphos, which is much further west, other resort areas around Larnaca are generally close to each other, but it would be a shame to visit Cyprus and not venture inland. The interior of Cyprus has numerous different scenic areas, including the Troodos Mountains National Park, and even if this is the sort of excursion that can be done by tour bus, it’s much better to have the flexibility of a rental car.

Therefore our Larnaca car hire advice is that it’s generally very useful to get one, and although our verdict here is a “yes”, it is nothing like as strong as it in Paphos.

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Larnaca ?