Paphos Airport to Limassol: Transfers, Costs & Times (2026)

Getting from Paphos Airport to Limassol is one of the first logistics puzzles you will face if you fly into Cyprus on a budget carrier, because Paphos (PFO) sits roughly 65 km west of the city and there is no train and no single obvious bus. This is a straight, resident-to-resident rundown of every realistic option in 2026: a private pre-booked transfer, the Limassol Airport Express shuttle, the official fixed-fare taxi, and hiring a car at the terminal. Real prices, honest journey times, and the trade-offs nobody at the arrivals hall will tell you. Whether you are moving over for good or just visiting to scout, this guide should get you to Limassol without overpaying.

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Paphos Airport to Limassol: Distance and Journey Time

The drive from Paphos Airport to Limassol covers about 65 to 67 km, almost entirely on the A6 motorway that hugs the south coast. In clear conditions it takes roughly 45 to 50 minutes door to door, though the last stretch into the city centre can add ten minutes in summer traffic or during the evening rush. There are no tolls anywhere in Cyprus, so distance is the only thing you pay for. Keep this number in mind, because it is the honest benchmark against which every quote you are given should be judged: any transfer is a sub-one-hour trip.

Here is a quick overview of your four options before we break each one down.

Private Pre-Booked Transfer: The Easiest Way

If you are landing late, travelling with kids, or simply do not want to think, a pre-booked private transfer is the least stressful way to do the Paphos Airport to Limassol run. A driver meets you in arrivals holding a sign, helps with bags, and takes you straight to your door for a price fixed at the time of booking. No meter anxiety, no currency fumbling. The catch is that you pay a little more than the shuttle, and you must book ahead rather than walk up.

Several operators cover this route with fixed, upfront pricing. Welcome Pickups pairs you with an English-speaking local driver and is strong on the meet-and-greet experience. Kiwitaxi and GetTransfer tend to be cheaper and let you compare vehicle classes, with GetTransfer effectively letting drivers bid on your trip. intui.travel is another aggregator worth a price check. As a rule, a standard car for up to three passengers runs somewhere in the 60 to 90 euro range depending on operator and time of day, which for two or more people often works out cheaper per head than the official taxi.

• Pros: fixed price, named driver waiting, no queueing, handles flight delays.
• Cons: must book in advance; slightly pricier than the shared shuttle for a solo traveller.

The Limassol Airport Express Shuttle

The cheapest scheduled way from Paphos Airport to Limassol is the Limassol Airport Express, a dedicated shuttle bus run by the Limassol urban buses company that connects both Cyprus airports directly with the city. It leaves from directly outside the PFO terminal and drops you at the Agios Georgios Havouzas station in Limassol, where there is free parking if someone is collecting you. The journey itself is about 45 minutes, though you should factor in waiting time for the scheduled departure.

In 2026 the fare is around 9 to 10 euro for an adult one-way and roughly 4 to 5 euro for a child, with a discounted return ticket available. The service runs between three and five times per day, all year round, with departures timed loosely around the main flight arrivals rather than every hour. Because the frequency is limited, always check the live timetable and pre-book your seat at limassolairportexpress.eu before you fly, so you know whether your landing lines up with a departure or leaves you with a two-hour gap.

• Pros: by far the cheapest option; modern air-conditioned coaches; no need to drive.
• Cons: only a handful of departures daily, so a late or odd-hour flight can mean a long wait or no service at all.

The Official Fixed-Fare Taxi

Taxis wait directly outside Paphos arrivals, and fares from the international airport are fixed by law, set by the Ministry of Transport, and include luggage and VAT. That means you do not need to haggle or watch a meter for the Paphos Airport to Limassol trip. The official published fare to Limassol city centre in 2026 is 46.27 euro during the day (06:00 to 20:30) and 54.26 euro at night (20:31 to 05:59). Those rates assume no long traffic waits and are per car, not per person, so for three or four people sharing it is competitive.

A word of caution learned the hard way: the fixed fare applies to the official airport taxi rank. Private drivers touting inside the terminal, or the smarter fixed-price transfer firms, may quote 75 euro or more for the same trip, so if you want the regulated price, use the marked taxi queue and confirm the destination is Limassol city centre before setting off. Ask the driver to confirm the fare is the official fixed rate.

Hiring a Car at Paphos Airport (PFO)

If you are staying more than a couple of days, or you plan to explore the wine villages, Kourion and the coast, picking up a hire car at PFO often makes more sense than any one-way transfer. The arrivals hall has the usual desks, and Cyprus drives on the left, British-style, which surprises some new arrivals. Rates are seasonal but frequently start around 20 to 35 euro per day for a small manual in shoulder season, and the drive to Limassol on the A6 is easy motorway all the way.

Booking ahead almost always beats the walk-up desk price. Comparison sites such as AutoEurope and EconomyBookings let you filter by transmission, insurance and pickup point so you can lock in a rate before you land. Two practical tips: check whether the quoted excess insurance is worth topping up, since Cyprus excesses can be steep, and confirm the desk accepts your card for the deposit. If your inbound flight was badly delayed or cancelled, you may be owed compensation, which is worth pursuing separately.

The moment you clear the terminal you will also want mobile data for maps and booking. A local eSIM from Airalo activates before you even leave the plane, so you can run navigation and message your transfer driver without hunting for airport Wi-Fi or paying roaming rates.

Paphos vs Larnaca: Which Airport for Limassol?

Limassol sits almost exactly between the two international airports, so the choice is rarely about distance. Larnaca (LCA) is roughly 65 km east of the city and Paphos (PFO) roughly 65 km west, both around a 45 to 50 minute drive, and both served by the same Limassol Airport Express shuttle. The real decision comes down to flights and fares. Paphos is the classic budget-airline gateway, so a Ryanair or Wizz Air ticket into PFO is often far cheaper than anything into Larnaca, which is why so many expats end up doing the Paphos Airport to Limassol journey in the first place. Larnaca has more routes, more frequent shuttles and a slightly livelier arrivals hall, so if prices are similar and you want more departure choice, it can be the easier connection. Check both airports before you book; saving 40 euro on the flight easily covers the transfer either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a taxi from Paphos Airport to Limassol cost?

The official fixed taxi fare from Paphos Airport to Limassol city centre in 2026 is 46.27 euro during the day and 54.26 euro at night, per car including luggage and VAT. Use the marked official taxi rank outside arrivals to get this regulated rate, as private touts often quote 75 euro or more for the same trip.

Is there a bus from Paphos Airport to Limassol?

Yes. The Limassol Airport Express shuttle runs directly from Paphos Airport to Limassol for around 9 to 10 euro per adult, taking about 45 minutes and dropping at Agios Georgios Havouzas station. It only departs three to five times a day, so book ahead at limassolairportexpress.eu and check your flight lines up with a departure.

How long is the drive from Paphos Airport to Limassol?

The Paphos Airport to Limassol drive is about 65 to 67 km on the A6 motorway and takes roughly 45 to 50 minutes in normal conditions. There are no tolls in Cyprus, and traffic only really bites on the final approach into the city during summer evenings.

What is the cheapest way from Paphos Airport to Limassol?

For a solo traveller the Limassol Airport Express shuttle at around 9 to 10 euro is the cheapest option. For two or more people, a shared pre-booked private transfer often works out cheaper per head than either the shuttle or the fixed-fare taxi, so compare quotes before you decide.

Should I fly into Paphos or Larnaca for Limassol?

Both airports are about 65 km from Limassol and roughly a 45 to 50 minute drive, so pick on price and flight times. Paphos usually has the cheaper budget-airline fares, while Larnaca offers more routes and more frequent shuttles. Compare both before booking.

Related Cyprus guides

• the Larnaca airport transfer options
• hiring a car in Limassol
• staying connected with a Cyprus eSIM
• finding cheap flights to Cyprus

Expat Essentials for Limassol

A few quick wins make settling into Limassol easier while you work through this guide. An Airalo eSIM keeps you online from the moment you land, a pre-booked Welcome Pickups transfer takes the stress out of arrival day, and NordVPN protects your logins on public wifi. See our full list of trusted services below.

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Written by the FinePassport Team · Updated July 2026