Public transportation in Cyprus exists, but it operates a bit differently from what we are accustomed to in many other countries we visit. In this post, I will try to explain how to make use of it and how to facilitate understanding of routes and finding bus stops.
For many years of living in Cyprus, we used public transportation in a very limited way, and even when my partner had a car, we didn't use it at all. In fact, most Cypriots also do not rely on public transportation. Here, most households have 2 or even 3 cars because it is easier and faster to get everywhere. Therefore, it is rare to see locals on buses, and if you do, it is usually people living in rural areas or the elderly who no longer drive. Perhaps that is why public transportation here is less developed than f.eg. in Poland or simply because people find it more convenient to use cars! What do you think?
During the first year, I resided in the villages where a single bus route serviced the area, but throughout the entire duration, I encountered the bus only a few times.
When I tried to find out about the bus schedules, none of my friends could really tell me. They only knew where the bus stops were located - one or the other - and that sometimes a bus would pass by. I had the impression that the buses were ghosts. So I never used them, and there were even a few times when I had to walk to the city or a nearby village.
Later, after moving to Limassol, I started seeing buses more frequently, and I often used bus number 30, which runs along the entire coast of Limassol. It is the most well-known line in Limassol, and most tourists mainly rely on it. Even when renting an apartment, one of the important criteria was to be close to bus stops where the number 30 bus stops. Over time, I discovered which buses I could take to the hospital for appointments, and while waiting at the bus stop near the Old Hospital (now the main EMEL bus stop in Limassol), I started asking about various possible connections, studying maps, and route schedules. I discovered, among other things, that there is a fairly good connection from Limassol to Troodos (number 64) and villages in Troodos. There are also buses that run to various villages closer to Limassol, but unfortunately, they operate only a few times a day, mostly during hours when they transport children to schools in the city around noon, so they can return later.
In Cyprus, each district (Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca, Nicosia, or Famagusta) has its own transportation providers who take care of the transportation within their respective districts.
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| Buses waiting for the next course - Limassol, Old Hospital |
Where can I find schedules for city buses?
The schedules for each transportation provider can be found on their respective websites, and I highly recommend using their official websites because other websites may have outdated information regarding both the timetables and the location of bus stops.
Transportation providers' websites:
- Famagusta (Agia Napa and surrounding areas) -
OSEA
Below, you will find more information on how to navigate these bus line websites.
How to navigate the bus line websites?
All websites are available in two language versions: Greek and English. To switch from Greek (which is usually set as the default) to English, look for a flag icon and select English. You can also make it even easier If you're using the Chrome browser on your phone, you can choose the Translate option.
On the OSYPA homepage, we have the main categories listed in two columns (at the bottom of the page).
Paphos City & Suburbs Routes - Here you will find all the bus lines operating within the city of Paphos and its suburbs.
Polis & Latchi Bus Routes - Bus lines heading to Polis and Latchi.
Paphos Airport Bus Routes - Urban buses reaching the airports.
Paphos Villages Bus Routes - Bus lines serving the remote villages in the Paphos district.
School Bus Routes - Specifically for school students.
Main Bus Stations - Information and a map with marked locations of the main bus stations.
After selecting the appropriate bus number, you will see the departure times and have the option to choose the "Route Map" tab, where you can view the route and the marked stops on a Google map.
At the main station in Kato Paphos, you can obtain a printed timetable booklet. Alternatively, you can use one of the applications (described below).
Limassol - EMEL
The bus schedules can be found under the "Routes" tab. You have the following options: Urban Routes, Central Routes, Student Routes, and Rural Routes.
After selecting the desired route, you will see a list of individual bus stop names and the departure times below.
In Limassol, bus departure times are provided only for the initial station (this has recently changed in Nicosia and Larnaca). The estimated duration of the entire route may also be mentioned (though not everywhere).
Remember to pay attention to the direction in which you are traveling!
In the past, EMEL's website used to have maps showing bus routes and directions. However, they are no longer available. You can still find some of these old maps on the internet, but they may not be completely accurate, especially regarding certain destinations or final bus stops.
For example, bus number 13 does not end its run near Ag. Nicolau High School and does not make a loop at the roundabout. Instead, it continues north from the roundabout, then turns left near Pizza Hut and heads towards the Old Hospital, where the main bus station in Limassol is located (
see map).
However, you can still get a rough idea of the directions these buses travel by looking at the maps, which can help you familiarize yourself with the area and the possibilities of using public transportation in Limassol.
I am also eagerly awaiting the planned changes in our public transportation system.
If you are specifically interested in buses in Limassol, please stay on this page because below I will provide information about ticket prices and applications that can assist you in getting around.
In the year 2020, the public transportation in Larnaca and Nicosia was taken over by Cyprus Public Transport. Therefore, Zinonas and OSEL are no longer in operation. If you come across their timetables somewhere, they are outdated.
To check the bus schedules, you can use the
"Routes and Timetables" tab under
"Service Information" on the Cyprus Public Transport website. From there, you can select either Nicosia or Larnaca and choose the specific bus line numbers.
For Nicosia (NPT), the routes are divided into: Urban Routes 1-101, Rural Routes 400-408, Routes (L) - mainly within the walls of the old city, Night Routes (N1-N5) for nighttime connections, and Assisting Routes 50-87 (auxiliary routes, including 23A).
For Larnaca (LPT), the routes are divided into: Urban Routes 417-428, Rural Routes 401-415 , Night Routes 440-455 for nighttime connections, and Airport Routes (routes passing through the airport) 407, 425, 429, 430, 431, 432, 446, and 456.
After selecting the appropriate bus line, you will see a Google map with the highlighted bus route (with numbered bus stops) and the timetables for specific days. Here, unusually for Cyprus, you will see the departure times for individual bus stops.
Famagusta (Ammochostos) - OSEA
On the transportation provider's website, under the "Bus Routes" tab, you have the option to view/download a map that shows the routes of all bus lines in the district, as well as the timetables for individual buses. Similar to Limassol or Paphos, there are no specific times provided for each bus stop.
After selecting a specific bus line, you will be presented with the bus timetable, which includes a barcode. Scanning the barcode will redirect you to the OSEA website with their map based on Google Maps. This website functions as an online application where you can plan your journey.
The website is designed quite accurately, and everything is clearly visible on the maps. By clicking on a specific bus stop on the map, you can see which other bus numbers depart from there, and the routes to various destinations are marked.
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| Vehicle traffic was stopped by a herd of goats going to Aphrodite beach |
What are the ticket prices?
Here are the ticket prices for different locations (information available in the "Tickets" section; in OSEA, additionally at the bottom of each bus number's page).
What tickets can you buy in Cyprus?
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Paper Tickets - available for purchase from the bus driver, for cash
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Paper Cards for periodic trips - available at ticket offices
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Plastic Smart Card Motion (anonymous or personalized) - available for purchase at sales points
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Electronic ticket via E-Wallet➛
Pancyprian tickets
Tickets available for purchase from the bus driver - price list
For Paphos● Single Route (from 4:00 to 21:00) - 2.00€
● Night Single Route (from 21:00 to 4:00) - 3.00€
● Daily - One Day Ticket (valid for various routes) - 6.50€
● Single Route (from 4:00 to 21:00) - 2.00€
● Night Single Route (from 21:00 to 4:00) - 3.00€
● Daily - One Day Ticket (valid for various routes) - 6.00€
For Larnaca and Nicosia
● Single Route (from 4:00 to 21:00) - Urban and Interurban routes - 2.40€
● Rural/Feeder Route - 0.60€
● Night Single Route (from 21:00 to 4:00) - 4.00€
● 4-way Paper Motion Smart Card - 7.50€
● Single Route (from 4:00 to 21:00) - 1.50€
● Night Single Route (from 21:00 to 4:00) - 2.50€
● Daily - One Day Ticket (valid for various routes) - 5.00€
Tip!
If we know that we will be using two different buses (combined route) on the way to our destination, that would add up to 4 tickets for a round trip. In this case, it is worth considering purchasing a daily ticket (in Larnaca and Nicosia it's a 4-ride card).
When using a 4-ride pass (CPT), you have the option to make up to 2 transfers within
60 minutes from the first validation (scanning the pass on the bus) without any additional
charges - meaning you'll be charged as if you had a single-ride ticket. If, within the same
day (from the purchase date until 4am the following day, you use up your 4 rides, your next rides will not be subjected to any additional fee, the ticket then serves as a daily ticket.
Paper cards for periodic journeys - Paper Motion Smart Card (non-rechargeable)
You can also purchase Paper Motion Bus Cards for 2, 3, 7 days, or a month (in Limassol and Famagusta). In Larnaca and Nicosia, you can get a multi-journey card (4 rides) and cards for 2, 3, and 7 days.
Multi-day cards or cards with a specific number of trips, e.g. 8, 10, 20, 40, are available for purchase at ticket offices. Paper Smart Cards are valid only in the district where they were purchased.
They do not qualify for any discounts.
Paper Motion Smart Card price list
● 2 days - 13.00€
● 3 days - 19.50€
● 7 days - 35.00€
● monthly - 70.00€
● 2 days - 15.00€
● 3 days - 22.50€
● 7 days - 25.00€
● monthly - not available for Larnaca and Nicosia in paper form
Plastic Travel Cards - Plastic Smart Card (rechargeable)
They can be purchased at local sales points and can be topped up many times later.
There are two types available:
Non-Personalized Card / Anonymous Card - can be used for season tickets of 7 or 30 days. It can be purchased at a local sales point for an additional fee of 2.00
€ (except in Larnaca and Nicosia, where it's 5.00
€). You can top it up using a voucher from a kiosk, through the
PAME app (Larnaca and Nicosia), via E-wallet, online (on the
CPT website or using the
JCC app), or by using a vending machine.
Personalized Card Smart Card - 7- and 30-day, monthly and year-round tickets.
It can be purchased at a local sales point for an additional fee of 5.00€ for all districts (except Paphos, where issuing this card is free of charge).
To obtain the card, you'll need a photo and an ID or passport.
For 50% discount or free travel, to be able to take advantage of these discounts, you need to obtain a Personal Card (with a photo).
Plastic Smart Card Motion price list
A weekly ticket with an anonymous card costs:
● 25.00€ in Larnaca and Nicosia,
● 35.00€ in Paphos, Limassol and Famagusta.
A weekly ticket with a personalized card is:
● 25.00€ in Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia, and Famagusta.
Check the price of a monthly or annual card on the carrier's websites (
OSYPA,
EMEL,
CPT,
OSEA (el)). For more information about Motion cards and where to purchase them check
here (el).
Check the price of a monthly or annual card on the carriers' websites (OSYPA, EMEL, CPT, OSEA (gr)). More information about Motion cards and where to purchase them here (gr).
Electronic ticket via an electronic wallet (E-Wallet)
E-Wallet is available for both personalized and non-personalized plastic cards. When you have a Plastic Bus Smart Card Motion, you can also use an electronic wallet (E-Wallet) where you can store up to 50.00€. With this ticket, you can make up to 2 transfers within 60 minutes from the first validation (scanning the pass on the bus) without any additional charges - meaning you'll be charged as if you had a single-ride ticket.
Using this payment method for tickets grants access to lower ticket prices. (For Larnaca and Nicosia, it's 1.20€ within 60 minutes from the first validation and 1.80€ after 1 hour).
Discounts of 50% are also available for rides using E-Wallet.
What other bus tickets might interest you?
If you plan to use various bus routes across Cyprus, you may consider purchasing a Pancyprian ticket (National Ticket).
This ticket can be used on routes operated by carriers from all districts and on intercity buses. 50% discounted tickets are also available.
Daily - 15.00€
Weekly - 75.00€
Monthly and yearly options are also available - see more details
here, for example.
Are there discounts on bus fares?
Yes, there are discounts available for bus rides. Here are the details:
Free rides are available for:
- Children up to 6 years old,
- Soldiers and personnel of the National Guard (upon presentation of a military ID),
- Individuals holding Cypriot pensioner's and low-income retiree's cards,
- Families receiving Social Welfare assistance,
- Individuals with a disability card (European Disability Card), including wheelchair users, blind individuals with a guide dog, and their caregivers (if the card has an 'A - Assistant' designation), as well as caregivers of individuals with disabilities,
- Primary School students, only on school routes (in Paphos).
50% discount applies to:
- Children aged 6-18 years (upon presentation of a student card),
- Students with a valid student card from Cypriot universities specified by the transport companies,
- Students with European Youth Card,
- Individuals with a Cypriot Social Card (or Social Letter).
*Students from other schools should contact the Cyprus Youth Organization to obtain the European Youth Card.
You cannot purchase discounted tickets from the bus driver. You need to obtain a personalized plastic Motion Bus Card at ticket sales points at major bus stations.
In Larnaca and Nicosia, there is an additional fee of 5.00€ for the card, in Famagusta and Limassol, it's 2.00€, and in Paphos, it is free of charge.
In Agia Napa District non-Cyprus students if they have a European Youth Card issued by the relevant organization of another European country or have a student card linked to the European Youth Card for students and has the appropriate logo. Please note that these discounts may be subject to specific requirements and documentation.
Sometimes I receive the question "Do students receive discounts on tickets?" I think it has already been explained above. To receive a 50% discount, you must obtain a personalized card.
You can receive it if you come from schools recognized by Cyprus (the lists of these schools can be checked on the carrier's websites) or you have a European Youth Card.
In the case of discounted tickets, I may have omitted some categories of people who are entitled to discounted or free tickets because each carrier specifies them slightly differently. So if you belong to a group that should often have such discounts, please check the websites of each carrier carefully.
NOTE: In case of not having a valid ticket, the fine is paid on the spot to the inspector.(According to the information provided on the OSEA website, this fine is 150 EUR)
Where can I purchase tickets for the rides?
Paper one-way tickets, daily tickets (5.00€), night tickets, and corresponding tickets with a 50% discount, as well as in Larnaca and Nicosia - the supplementary ticket (0.60€), are purchased only from the bus driver. All other tickets are purchased at the main bus stations.
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| Bus stop in Akrotiri, Limassol |
Intercity Buses - INTERCITY
Where can I find schedules for intercity buses?
To find schedules for intercity buses in Cyprus, you can visit the
official website, and choose tab “Routes”.
With the Intercity bus, you can travel to every major city (schedules available).
Routes between:
Weekly, monthly, and yearly tickets are also available for purchase on Intercity buses. More information about their prices can be found on the carrier's website – Ticket Prices. There is a 50% student discount available on all types of tickets.
On Intercity buses, you can also purchase weekly, monthly, and yearly tickets. More information about their prices can be found on the carrier's website –
Ticket Prices.
A 50% student discount is available on all types of tickets.
If you see "Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays" in the schedule, "Holidays" refers to public holidays, including state and religious holidays.
Tip!
If you purchase a daily Intercity ticket for a bus route, such as Limassol to Larnaca, to visit a place like Chirokitia and plan to return on a different bus from Nicosia to Limassol (both buses stop at the same bus stop here), you will need to purchase an additional ticket. This applies even if it's due to a lack of seats on the appropriate bus.
We had an incident where the driver in Larnaca refused to let us board the bus because it was overcrowded. Such situations can occur more frequently on weekends, regardless of the season (we were traveling in March). He assured us that we could take the bus from Nicosia with our daily ticket, which would be departing "soon." The customer service representative also confirmed this and even said she would inform the bus driver in Nicosia about the situation. However, when it came down to it, if we hadn't purchased a new ticket for the Nicosia-Limassol route, the driver would not have allowed us on the bus. We were halfway through the journey, but the fare is charged for the entire route, so we ended up paying double for the return trip. Next time, we won't attempt to save 1 euro by traveling through villages along the way and will purchase individual tickets instead.
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| Crowds heading for the bus back to the villages (Sunday madness) |
What else is worth knowing and remembering when using public transportation in Cyprus?
Air Conditioning
During the summer, bus drivers use air conditioning, which is set to around 20°C lower than the outside temperature. Outside temperatures can reach around 40°C, even up to 50°C in the sun, but when you enter the bus, it's around 20-24°C. Knowing that I will be using the bus, I always carry a thick sweater or hoodie; otherwise, it can lead to getting sick.
During the colder months, buses are always heated, I would even say, a bit too much.
Timetables at bus stops
Bus stops usually do not have timetables (at least most of them). Currently, in Limassol, electronic displays have been installed that shows the estimated arrival time of the next bus for a particular line. But most of them do not work.
On-Demand Stops
In Cyprus, buses do not stop at every bus stop. When you see an approaching bus, you signal it to stop by waving your hand (this indicates that you are interested in traveling on that particular route). The situation is different at the initial bus stations where buses wait for passengers.
When you want to get off at a specific bus stop, you need to press the bell ("Stop" button), which notifies the driver to stop at the next stop. Often, these buttons do not work, so it's best to shout to the driver.
Many tourists ask/request the driver to inform them when to get off at their desired stop, and then the driver shouts the name of that stop (if they don't forget, which sometimes happens). In many buses, electronic displays are increasingly installed, showing the next stop, and sometimes there is also a voice announcement system (pay attention to whether they are functioning correctly when you board the bus - sometimes they display different stops or are out of order).
Boarding and Exiting the Bus
Always board the bus through the front doors and exit through the back doors. Mothers with strollers enter through the middle doors and, after securing the stroller or leaving it under someone's care, they go to the driver to purchase a ticket.
Eating and Drinking Prohibition
Eating and drinking are not allowed on buses. Drivers are vigilant in enforcing this rule. Sometimes, on longer journeys, this can be quite inconvenient, especially when it's hot and you feel thirsty.
Paying Culture
When boarding the bus, it's advisable to have exact change to quickly and efficiently purchase a ticket. The driver will not give you a change (and you may have to leave the bus) if you hand them a note larger than 10€ (or 20€).
If you give them a 20€ note, they will start shouting, while a 10€ note might make them angry (if you're buying a single ticket). A 5€ note is usually fine, but yellow coins might cause frustration. If you give them a 50 euro note, you can be guaranteed that you won't be able to ride.
How are Intercity buses marked?
Intercity buses are either green or white and do not have any numbers. They display orange letters or, more commonly, a sign with the name of the city they're heading to.
Planning the Return Trip
If you're planning a trip outside the city, always check the schedule for the last bus back and plan your return accordingly. Many villages have buses returning around 15:00-16:00.
Even though some cities have precise schedules displayed for each bus stop, it's important to remember that you're in Cyprus, so it's good to allow for some margin of error - I would suggest a buffer of at least +/- 5 minutes if not 10.
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