Getting here & around
Practical Ayia Napa Guide: Airport, Buses, Shops, Pharmacies & SIM Cards
Last updated 7 September 2026
This is the everyday-logistics page: how to get from the airport, how to get around, and where to find the essentials around Nissi Beach. Where details like prices, opening hours and timetables change often, this guide points you in the right direction rather than quoting figures that may be out of date — always confirm current details locally.
Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa
Larnaca International Airport (LCA) is the closest airport, roughly a 45-minute drive from the Nissi Beach area. Paphos International Airport (PFO) is further, around 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Most visitors to Ayia Napa arrive via Larnaca.
Taxi, transfer, bus or car rental
From the airport you have a few options, depending on budget and plans — compared honestly, with taxi and transfer figures as of June 2026 and the shuttle and public-bus fares verified September 2026:
| Option | Price | Time | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official taxi (rank outside Arrivals, to the right) | €50–60, cash preferred | 40–45 min | Peak-season queues; agree/confirm the fare before setting off |
| Pre-booked private transfer | from ~€50 (car), ~€75–80 (minibus for 7) | 40–45 min | Book ahead; driver meets you with a name sign — the stress-free option for night arrivals |
| Direct airport shuttle (Kapnos) | €13 adult, €5 child (2–12), infants up to 2 free — per way (operator's site, 6 Sept 2026) | 55 min (stated trip duration) | Multiple departures daily; exact times vary by weekday — check the live timetable for your date. Ayia Napa stops: Ayia Napa Square (Arch. Makariou III 19) and Nissi Avenue 80 (bus stop in front of the Sunwing Sandy Bay hotel); the same route also serves Pernera Avenue and Protaras Avenue. Seasonal — the booking system showed Ayia Napa services through 31 October 2026 when checked on 6 September 2026 |
| Public bus (two legs via Larnaca) | €2.70 airport → Larnaca city (Cyprus Public Transport urban cash single, from 3 Aug 2026), then €2.00 on OSEA 711 or €5.00 on the InterCity coach — about €4.70 or €7.70 total | 1.5–3 h | No regular public bus runs direct from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa. You change in Larnaca city; fine for backpackers, miserable with luggage |
| Hire car from the airport | illustrative off-season rates from ~€20–30/day | 45 min drive | See driving notes below; rates vary a lot by dates, duration and insurance, and summer runs higher — book ahead |
Taxi and car-hire figures verified June 2026; shuttle and public-bus fares verified September 2026. Operators and rates shift — we re-check each May.
The direct shuttle is the sweet spot for most people — €13 per adult and €5 per child (2–12) each way, infants up to 2 free, a stated 55 minutes, no change in Larnaca. Kapnos runs multiple departures daily; exact times vary by weekday. For the week of 26–31 October 2026, the booking system showed services from early morning through late evening. Check the live timetable for your exact date. It uses fixed stops rather than your accommodation. In Ayia Napa those are Ayia Napa Square (Arch. Makariou III 19) and Nissi Avenue 80 — the bus stop in front of the Sunwing Sandy Bay hotel, the one to use for the Nissi end. The same route also serves the Protaras/Pernera area via Pernera Avenue and Protaras Avenue. Book on the operator's site — resale platforms mark the fare up.
Seasonal — check before you rely on it. The direct shuttle is not a year-round service. When we checked the operator's booking system on 6 September 2026, it showed Ayia Napa services through 31 October 2026, and the timetable is published in blocks. Before you book flights around it — especially from October onward — confirm your exact date on the operator's timetable page. If it isn't running, fall back to a pre-booked transfer, a taxi (€50–60), or the two-leg public bus via Larnaca.
Arriving in the small hours? Check whether a shuttle departure matches your flight on the live timetable; otherwise pre-book the transfer or take the taxi rank — the public buses will have stopped.
Confirm fares, routes and timings when you book — especially for late-night arrivals, when public transport is limited.
Local buses (and a winter caveat)
Local buses run along the coast and into Ayia Napa town. They're a cheap way to get around in summer, when they run frequently. In winter they run far less often, so don't plan around a peak-season timetable. The OSEA network covers everything a visitor needs, on three routes:
| Route | What it does | Why you care |
|---|---|---|
| 201 West Circle Line | Central Bus Station → Nissi Avenue → MUSAN → Vathia Gonia → Nissi Beach → Landa → Makronissos → Marina → Waterpark | The beach bus — it's the one that goes down to Nissi Beach |
| 101 / 102 | Waterpark → Nissi Avenue → Ayia Napa centre → Cape Greco → Protaras → Paralimni (102 = reverse) | Trailheads, Konnos Bay, Protaras — the no-car route east |
| 711 | Kapparis → Protaras → Ayia Napa → Xylofagou → Ormideia → Larnaca city | The link between this coast and Larnaca city — it does not serve Larnaca Airport |
Fares (as of June 2026): €2.00 for a daytime single journey, €3.00 for a night journey, paid in cash on the bus — carry coins. A €6.00 one-day ticket breaks even at three daytime rides and is the right call for a Cape Greco or Protaras day. Frequencies: every ~20–30 minutes in season on the 101/102, with the 201 thinning out off-season. Winter frequencies are reduced and seasonal, and no published winter 2026/27 timetable was available when we checked — look up the current OSEA schedule for your dates rather than assuming a summer interval. We re-check fares each May.
Two different Larnaca services, often confused. OSEA route 711 is the district bus that links the Ayia Napa/Protaras area with Larnaca city. Separately, InterCity Buses — a different company — runs its own Larnaca ↔ Ayia Napa & Paralimni coach, €5 one-way / €9 return, roughly 1 h 15, with Larnaca stops in the city (Nicolaides Building, the port, Jumbo, the seafront hotels), checked 7 September 2026. Neither of them calls at Larnaca Airport. A budget airport journey therefore always has two legs: a Cyprus Public Transport bus from Larnaca Airport into Larnaca city first — route 425 is the current airport–city service, but check the current CPT timetable — then 711 or the InterCity coach onward. By daytime public transport the airport-to-Larnaca-city leg is €2.70 cash (CPT urban single, from 3 August 2026), so the total depends on which onward service you take: roughly €4.70 via the 711 or €7.70 via the InterCity coach, before any extra local connection you may need between stops.
Bus operators and schedules change seasonally — always check the current timetable rather than relying on an old one.
Supermarkets near Nissi Beach
There are supermarkets and smaller mini-markets within easy reach of the Nissi Beach area for groceries and beach supplies. Core supermarkets usually operate year-round, while smaller shops may vary by season. If you're self-catering, it's worth a first shop on arrival.
Bakeries and everyday shops
You'll find bakeries for fresh bread and pastries, plus the usual everyday shops for essentials. These are part of normal local life, though exact hours and winter opening can vary.
Pharmacies (and the duty-pharmacy system)
Pharmacies are easy to find in town for everyday health needs. For out-of-hours needs, Cyprus runs a duty-pharmacy rota so that some pharmacies are open outside standard hours on a rotating basis.
Duty-pharmacy schedules rotate — check the current duty pharmacy locally or online when you need one, rather than relying on a fixed list.
SIM cards and mobile data
Cypriot mobile operators offer prepaid tourist SIM cards, and eSIMs are widely available too. You can usually buy a SIM at the airport or in town. Visitors from the EU may be able to use their existing plan under roaming arrangements — check your own plan first.
Plans, prices and coverage change — compare current options rather than relying on a specific deal quoted online.
ATMs and payments
Cyprus uses the euro, and cards are widely accepted. ATMs are easy to find. It's still worth carrying some cash for smaller or seasonal vendors, beach attendants and tips.
Driving on the left
Driving in Cyprus is on the left, which is convenient for UK visitors and straightforward for everyone else. Roads are good and signposting is clear. Remember that parking near Nissi Beach fills quickly in peak summer, so arrive early.
Check current licence and hire requirements with your car-hire company before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you get from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa?
- Taxi from the rank: €50–60, 40–45 minutes. Pre-booked transfer: from ~€50, meets you in Arrivals. Direct Kapnos shuttle: €13 adult / €5 child (2–12) per way, infants up to 2 free, a stated 55 minutes, with multiple departures daily that vary by weekday; in Ayia Napa it stops at Ayia Napa Square (Arch. Makariou III 19) and Nissi Avenue 80 in front of the Sunwing Sandy Bay hotel, and the same route also serves Pernera Avenue and Protaras Avenue. It is seasonal — the booking system showed Ayia Napa services through 31 October 2026 when checked on 6 September 2026 — so confirm your date on kapnosairportshuttle.com before relying on it. Public bus: no regular public bus runs direct from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa, so you take a Cyprus Public Transport bus from the airport into Larnaca city (€2.70 cash daytime from 3 August 2026; route 425 is the current airport–city service, but check the current CPT timetable) and then either OSEA route 711 (€2.00 daytime) or the InterCity Buses coach (€5.00 one-way, checked 7 September 2026) — roughly €4.70 or €7.70 in total depending on which you take, cheapest but slow.
- Is there a bus from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa?
- No regular public bus runs direct from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa. OSEA route 711 links the Ayia Napa and Protaras area with Larnaca city, and the separate InterCity Buses coach runs Larnaca city to Ayia Napa and Paralimni for €5.00 one-way (checked 7 September 2026) — but neither calls at Larnaca Airport. By public transport you first take a Cyprus Public Transport bus from the airport into Larnaca city (€2.70 cash daytime from 3 August 2026; route 425 is the current airport–city service — check the current CPT timetable), then continue on 711 (€2.00 daytime) or the InterCity coach, for roughly €4.70 or €7.70 in total. The direct alternatives are the seasonal Kapnos airport shuttle, a pre-booked transfer or a taxi.
- Do buses run in Ayia Napa in winter?
- Yes, but on reduced seasonal timetables rather than the summer frequencies. We do not quote a winter interval here because no published winter 2026/27 OSEA timetable was available when we checked — look up the current OSEA schedule for your dates before planning a journey.
- Where can I buy a SIM card in Ayia Napa?
- Cypriot operators sell prepaid tourist SIMs, usually available at the airport or in town, and eSIMs are widely available too. EU visitors may be able to use roaming on their existing plan — check first. Compare current plans rather than relying on a quoted deal.
- Can you pay by card in Ayia Napa?
- Yes, cards are widely accepted and the currency is the euro. It's still handy to carry some cash for smaller vendors, beach attendants and tips.
- Which side of the road do they drive on in Cyprus?
- On the left. Roads are good and well signposted. Check current licence and hire requirements with your car-hire company before you travel.