Guide to Driving in Cyprus

Getting to Cyprus with your own car it’s complicated; you have to opt for specialized transportation methods as there are no direct roads to this country. That’s why the best option is to rent a car once you get there. Most of the roads, especially in large cities, are well maintained. The center of the country consists of mountain roads which can become slippery when wet. Also, there are numerous small cities and villages; in such places the non-paved roads shouldn’t be a surprise. In the coast regions traffic can get pretty rough, especially during the summer; avoid these areas if possible. Local drivers usually keep their cool as long as you keep a defensive style. When it comes to mandatory equipment, all drivers must ensure that there are 2 warning triangles in their cars before hitting the road. Usually, parking uses no toll system and there are several parking lots in large cities. Outside built-up areas you can park the car only if there’s enough room to allow the traffic to run smoothly.

Police officers around Cyprus have the right to pull drivers over just to check for documents, or to see if they’re driving under the influence. Police cars are painted in white with thick blue stripes on the sides. There are two words printed on the cars, one is ‘POLICE’ and the other one means police but it’s written in Greek, with special characters. Required documents include your domestic license, the car’s registration certificate and your identification card.

Essential Driving Information

• The use of a mobile phone without a hands-free device attached to it is considered illegal. Fines start from €20 and can go up to €100.
• You must use the dipped beam only when the visibility conditions decrease. Make sure to turn them on as soon as the sun starts to lose its power.
• You won’t find any toll roads on the surface of Cyprus; every street is free to drive on. However, it’s your responsibility to avoid damaging the surface of the roads.
• It’s mandatory for all the passengers of a vehicle to fasten the seatbelts as soon as they get in the vehicle.
• You’ll encounter numerous road signs that will be displayed in Greek or Turkish; it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of what they mean. However, speed limits are displayed using Arab numbers.