Cyprus has two international airports in the Republic: Larnaca (LCA) on the south-east coast and Paphos (PFO) in the south-west. They’re about 140 km apart by road, so picking the wrong one can add a couple of hours of transfers to each end of your trip.
The short answer
- Staying in Paphos, Coral Bay or the west: fly into Paphos.
- Staying in Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras or Nicosia: fly into Larnaca.
- Staying in Limassol: either works. Limassol sits between the two airports, and both have airport bus links.
- Traveling in winter: check Larnaca first. It generally has more year-round routes.
Side-by-side comparison
| Larnaca (LCA) | Paphos (PFO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras, Nicosia | Paphos, Coral Bay, Polis, Akamas |
| Size | Larger, Cyprus’s main airport | Smaller, mostly tourist routes |
| Year-round routes | More, including full-service flights to London | Fewer in winter; many routes are seasonal |
| UK airlines | British Airways, easyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2, TUI | Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, British Airways |
| Public transport | Bus 425 to Larnaca, shuttles to Nicosia, Ayia Napa, Limassol and Paphos | Buses 612 and 613 to Paphos |
Transfer times to popular areas
Approximate driving times in normal traffic:
- Larnaca Airport to Larnaca seafront: 10–15 minutes
- Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa: about 40 minutes
- Larnaca Airport to Limassol: about 45–50 minutes
- Paphos Airport to Kato Paphos: about 20 minutes
- Paphos Airport to Limassol: about 45 minutes
- Larnaca Airport to Paphos: about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours
When it’s worth flying into the “wrong” airport
If a flight into the other airport is much cheaper or better timed, the cross-island transfer can be worth it. An airport shuttle links Larnaca Airport and Paphos in around 2 hours, and a rental car gives you full flexibility. Factor in the transfer cost and time, especially with children or a late arrival. If you’d rather be met at arrivals, you can pre-book a private transfer with GetTransfer (affiliate link) and compare offers from local drivers.
Open-jaw trips
For a one-week tour of the island, consider flying into one airport and out of the other. Separate one-way tickets on low-cost airlines make this easy. Check one-way car hire fees if you plan to drive.
Compare both airports
- ✈ Check flights: London → Larnaca
- ✈ Check flights: London → Paphos
- ✈ Check flights: Manchester → Larnaca
- ✈ Check flights: Manchester → Paphos
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Related guides
- Flights to Larnaca from the UK and Europe
- Cheap flights to Paphos from the UK
- Where to stay in Paphos
- Where to stay in Limassol: Old Town, seafront, Tourist Area and beyond
How we research: this guide is based on official sources and published airline and transport schedules, not on a sponsored visit. Information was checked on October 8, 2026. Schedules, routes and prices change, so confirm with the airline, operator or venue before you travel.
Sources
- Hermes Airports (Larnaca and Paphos airports): hermesairports.com
- Cyprus by Bus: cyprusbybus.com
- Kapnos Airport Shuttle: kapnosairportshuttle.com
- Limassol Airport Express: limassolairportexpress.eu
- Airline websites: britishairways.com, easyjet.com, wizzair.com, jet2.com, ryanair.com, tui.co.uk
Featured image: Larnaca International Airport arrivals area. Photo: Austria12, November 2010, via Wikimedia Commons (Cyprus Larnaca Airport arrivals room.JPG), CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and compressed.
We research Cyprus and Greece trips for travelers from the UK and Europe, using official tourism, airport and transport sources and published airline schedules. No sponsored rankings. How we research · How we earn