With 300 days a year of pure sunshine, Cyprus is a little piece of heaven for those who live in drier, wetter climates like the UK. That’s why every year the British make up the largest proportion of the 7.7 million tourists who visit the beatific island. Whether it’s to revel in its rich history, wonderful beaches, stunning scenery, or bustling cafes, restaurants, and bars, Cyprus has something to offer almost every type of visitor. Of the two main airports in Cyprus, Paphos Airport is the second most popular with 1.8 people passing through its gates last year.
Flights to Paphos Airport from the UK are available from a number of airlines including Thomson Flights, Aegean Airlines, Cyprus Airways, KLM and British Airways, departing from a number of airports. These are Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gatwick, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Luton, Manchester and Newcastle.
The things to see and do in Cyprus are innumerable, so arranging car hire at Paphos airport is really a must. From the tips of the Troodos Mountains, where you can take in stunning views of the region and thundering waterfalls, to the pale white sands of Coral Bay and fascinating archaeological treasures, a trip to Paphos would not be complete with a round-trip tour of all its most impressive attributes.
To rent a car at Paphos Airport you must be at least 21 years old, although some companies do not rent to people under 25 years of age. Apart from Hertz, all 8 car rental companies at Paphos Airport are located in the arrivals hall. These are Astra, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Petsas, Sixt and Thrifty. Two of the most convenient ways to get to your accommodation other than using a rental car are Paphos airport transfers, where a driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you directly to a waiting car, and Paphos airport taxis which are located just outside the terminal building. A 10 km trip to the city center should cost you between 20 and 25 euros, while a trip further to the capital Nicossia, 92 km away, can cost between 100 and 120 euros.
Obviously the cheapest alternative is to use the Paphos Airport buses, which run fairly regularly from outside the terminal between morning and evening and take between 15 and 25 minutes depending on traffic. From the center you can take buses that connect with destinations further afield such as Limassol, Ayia Nappa and Nicossia. There are no trains at the moment in Cyprus.
When you fly into Paphos airport, it is actually possible to wait until you arrive to exchange money, as there are ATMs, a bank and currency exchange desks located in the arrivals hall of Paphos airport. If you have been unlucky enough to lose luggage, it is necessary to report it to the Police Station located inside the terminal or at the counter of your corresponding airline.
For the return leg of the journey there is a cafeteria, restaurant and a bar with a terrace overlooking the landing and take-off of the planes, located in the departures hall of Paphos airport. Surprisingly, the airport offers free supervised childcare if you want to browse the duty-free shops on your own, and a parent-baby room to get away from the crowds. There is also a premium lounge opposite Gate 7 that offers an air-conditioned oasis for those flying business class and first class. It is open 24 hours and serves soft drinks and alcohol, offers fax, Internet (Wi-Fi), newspapers/magazines, television and flight information monitor. As in the rest of the airport, here there is access for the disabled. Other facilities for the disabled include specially dedicated parking spaces, boarding and deplaning assistance, wheelchair accessible restrooms, and wheelchair availability.