Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Cyprus - cash only, or do cards work too?
I loved using the Intercity Buses in Cyprus. I was staying near Ledra Street in Nicosia and often took buses to Limassol and Larnaca. At the Solomos Square bus terminal, I was able to buy my ticket with a card, which was really convenient. Local buses in Paphos were old-fashioned, but at €1.50 in coins, they were cheap and reliable. So it’s not 100% card-ready, but the mix of options made traveling simple. If you’re coming from the airport, keep coins for the first bus, then switch to cards.
The inconsistency in Cyprus was annoying. At Larnaca Airport, I boarded a bus to Ayia Napa and the driver demanded cash - no card machine. Later in Nicosia, the kiosk happily took my Visa for the Intercity Bus. In Paphos, it was back to coins again. I stayed near Coral Bay and had to buy bus tickets daily in cash, which got old fast. Tourists never know when cards will work. If you want stress-free rides, just carry coins - otherwise, you’ll keep running into “cash only” drivers.
I took the 425 bus from Larnaca Airport to Finikoudes, and it was cash only - €1.50 paid to the driver. Later, I used the Intercity Bus from Limassol to Nicosia, and that accepted my Revolut card at the kiosk near the Old Hospital station. Staying in Ayia Napa, the night buses were definitely cash-only though. Basically, bigger routes sometimes allow cards, but most city buses rely on cash. Having both options ready made life easier.
Cyprus doesn’t have a metro, but buses run well in Nicosia, Larnaca, and Paphos. You can pay cash directly to the driver, but contactless cards also worked for me on Intercity Buses. From Larnaca Airport to Nicosia, I tapped my Mastercard and it went through. In Paphos, the local OSYPA buses sold me a paper ticket for €1.50, cash only. So it’s a mix: cash on some local buses, cards accepted on the larger intercity routes. Keep coins handy just in case.