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Driving is the easiest way to get around southern Cyprus. Roads are generally good, with motorways connecting Nicosia with Larnaca, Limassol, Pafos and Agia Napa. Distances are short – it is less than 160 km (100 miles) from Pafos to Nicosia.

Car hire companies have offices in all four major towns in the south (Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Pafos) and at Larnaca and Pafos airports. A full national or international driving licence is required, and drivers under 25 may require additional insurance cover. Rental cars may not be taken from the south into Northern Cyprus.

Cypriots drive on the left and road signs are in English as well as Greek in the south. Distances and speed limits are in kilometres – 100 kmph (60 mph) on motorways, 80 kmph (50 mph) on most other roads and 50 kmph (30 mph) unless otherwise indicated in built-up areas. There are on the spot fines for speeding and for failing to wear seatbelts. Drink-driving (more than 39 micrograms per 100ml) is a criminal offence, as is using a mobile phone while driving.

There are at least six bus services daily between the four main southern towns. Local buses also connect outlying communities with the nearest main town, but they are geared to the needs of schoolchildren and villagers so departures are only early morning and mid-afternoon.

Metered taxis operate in all the main towns. Unmetered rural taxis serve most larger villages, charging 15–25 cents per kilometre. Shared “service taxis”, which take passengers door to door, operate half-hourly between 6am and 6pm (7pm summer) Monday to Friday, and 7am to 5pm at weekends between all the major towns. Telephone the numbers below to order a ride.

Find out-of-the-way beaches and explore the wilder shores of the south of the island with a “self-drive” speedboat, hired by the day at Pafos and some other resorts. This is a great way to see the remote, uncrowded Akamas Peninsula in particular (see Akamas Peninsula).

Bicycles can be hired by the day or week in Agia Napa, and are ideal for commuting to the beach. For more energetic cyclists, several specialist holiday companies offer escorted mountain-bike tours of the High Troodos and other wilder, remoter parts of Cyprus. Details are available from the Cyprus Tourism Organization (see Tourist Offices).

Motorcycles, mopeds and scooters can be rented at all resorts and are a fun way to get around. A national or international motorcycle licence is required.

Metered taxis operate in main towns and unmetered taxis operate to rural villages; for both, agree a fare before setting off. Shared taxis also operate between main towns at set fares, but tend to leave when full rather than operating to a schedule.

Car rental is available in the North but the main international rental companies are absent and vehicle maintenance standards may be patchy. Make sure you have adequate insurance to cover all risks.