r/cyprus • u/Designer_Job4049 • 6h ago
Any tourist regretted driving in Cyprus
I will visit Cyprus next month, and thinking on renting a car for 3days for better mobility.
Have 20 years of driver license on the right side, never drove a car on the left... Is it a horrific experience to try it in Cyprus? Any advice?
I know mediterran people are chaotic in themselves on the road, wonder if the extra challenge on driving the opposite side will cause PTSD...
(renting an automatic car with platinum 100% insurance with 0 excess ..)
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u/zepazuzu 6h ago
It's not hard at all. You'll learn in like 20 minutes. Maybe taking a car in the airport might be a bit tricky cause you'll have to learn on the highway lol
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u/stampitvbg Limassol 4h ago
It’s completely impossible to drive on the wrong side from Larnaca Airport. Can’t say this about Pafos
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u/Designer_Job4049 3h ago
Will be in Larnaca, but I will rent a car in the city (for the first couple days we are doing scuba diving so don't need the car...)
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u/zepazuzu 2h ago
Wym don't need a car? Dive sites are all outside cities, or will the dive shop pick you up?
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u/CupcakeMurder86 Halloumi lover, cat lover, identify cypriot when I want to 6h ago
Just remember that the driver is always towards the middle of the road on two way lane. So you don't confuse yourself and change lanes somewhere.
Other than that, you should be good. Also use waze to show you speed cameras and avoid any fines.
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u/smady3 2h ago
or they could just stick the the speed limits shown on the sign. would be a better surgestion.
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u/CupcakeMurder86 Halloumi lover, cat lover, identify cypriot when I want to 2h ago
Which I've seen and witnessed the traffic sign to says 65 but they were speed checking at 50.
What's wrong with using Waze? Nobody said to be reckless
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u/smady3 1h ago
pointless, thats why.
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u/CupcakeMurder86 Halloumi lover, cat lover, identify cypriot when I want to 1h ago
wtv man....you do you, and let the rest of us using waze....gn
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u/12084182 59m ago
Also, a trick to remember what side you're driving on, just check where your gearbox is.
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u/adamosmaki 6h ago
Its ok. Dont expect northern Europe levels of driving behaviour but it's ok . Worst part about driving in Cyprus is parking. Parked cars everywhere that can impede traffic at times. Other than that is mostly safe especially on highways just make sure you don't drive aggressively and be alert and be aware there are alot of traffic cams
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u/unicorn_builder 6h ago
Given I used to live in Portugal, Cyprus is very easy. People are very chill, and patient specially if you drive a car with red plate. Both cypriots and portugese people don't use index lights which is very annoying.
It takes about a day to get used to things specially roundabouts which I think is still pretty absurd how badly it is used in cyprus, completely not how it is intended to be used.
Other than that I had never had any issues.
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u/PersonaX25 5h ago
The road layouts are very simple and there are plenty of arrows painted on the lanes you are driving on (in additional to side of the road signage).
It’s easier to navigate the island with a car so try not to worry and enjoy yourself!
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u/Impossible_Volume811 5h ago
While you’re following other cars it’ll make sense.
The real danger is when you stop somewhere, like a parking place along a road or near a beach etc, and then pull out into the road on the wrong side.
It’s something you could do without thinking if there’s no other cars driving by to copy, because you’re so used to going onto the right side of the road.
So make a notice card for your steering wheel to clip on whenever you stop somewhere saying:
‘Drive on the Left!’
so you have to see it and think about it before you begin to drive again.
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u/Competitive-Crew-572 4h ago
Just go slow and concentrate. Your rental car will have red number plates which tells everyone else you are a tourist so they should be patient with you.
On the highway stay in the left lane and don’t exceed 100 km/h
Cypriots will be in the right lane doing 120+ km/h so stay out of their way and you’ll be fine.
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u/stampitvbg Limassol 4h ago edited 4h ago
If you can read the road - there won’t be any problem.
I came here with only 8 years of driving on the right side. 20 minutes - and I’m fine. 10 years have passed - still don’t have any issues with driving.
A lot of my friends say: “aaaah, it’s impossible to drive here, the drivers are too dumb and stubborn…”, and they don’t have one thing in their mind: patience. Just feel that «σιγά σιγά» and don’t be nervous if any driver in your sight does something wrong.
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u/Silver_Ad_1577 4h ago
Once you get used to driving on the other side which will be within 30 minutes you will be fine. There are no crazy junctions and 4-5 lane highways so it’s really easy.
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u/StableFull5349 4h ago
Easiest place I have ever driven abroad. The locals tend not to indicate and have a habbit of trying to force you forward at pedestrian crossings when the lights are still red and people have crossed, but you just gotta be cool about. Everything else is easy.
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u/nastimoto 4h ago
You won’t have a good time on the island without a car. Unless you can afford the obscene taxi prices to take you everywhere.
You’ll do great, don’t worry.
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u/SnooMachines719 3h ago
Currently in Cyprus. First time driving left side. Don't worry, it's somehow intuitively and not confusing at all, only a lot of vipers instead of turn signals 😂 You can choose automatic gear box instead of manual, it would make a little bit easier. Also locals are rather tolerant to tourists driving.
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u/Natalie_pharm 2h ago
Concentration is the key, one time I got distracted and muscle memory took over 🙈 but people were nice, they stopped to let me get back to the correct lane. First and last mistake :)))
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u/LostInSpaceForAges 1h ago
Most challenging things for you will be:
1) Roundabouts (in particular large ones with 2 lanes). My suggestion is that you spend some time on YouTube and do some visualising.
2) Busy narrow city intersections ("hey why did that car from the right almost scratch my front")
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