The island does not have any kind of railway system. The public transportation options are limited to buses. These can be found almost anywhere and operate in a nationwide intercity network. The website Cyprus by Bus provides highly useful information on bus routes in all main regions of the country.

Nonetheless, driving remains the preferred means of transportation in Cyprus, both actively and as a passenger in one of the island’s countless taxis. A fact that you will discover right after setting foot on the island is that traffic moves on the left side of the road (since Cyprus was formerly part of the British Empire). Road conditions are generally up to the standards of developed European countries.

The local driving style is rather adventurous, though, which may account for Cyprus ranking second in the EU when it comes to fatal car accidents involving young people. Imitating the Cypriot way of driving is less than recommended, especially in mountainous areas where roads tend to be rather narrow and curvy and therefore dangerous for risky drivers and their passengers.

Visitors to Cyprus are allowed to drive a vehicle if they hold an international driver’s license or a license issued in an EU member state. Alternatively, if you hail from one of the countries that have an exchange agreement with Cyprus, you may apply for a full Cypriot driver’s license after having been a resident for at least six months. These countries include, for instance, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the US. For a complete list of such states and details on the application for a Cypriot driving permit, please get in touch with the Department of Road Transport.