Paphos Transport Hub

Paphos is one of the easiest Cyprus cities to understand once you stop looking for trains or urban-rail lines and focus on the real network: Paphos International Airport (PFO), Pafos Buses routes 612 and 613, the Harbour terminal in Kato Paphos, Karavela terminal in the upper town, Coral Bay/Tombs of the Kings tourist buses, Intercity Buses for Limassol, Nicosia and Larnaca, plus airport taxis and prebooked transfers. The city is compact, but hotel geography matters. A room near the harbour behaves differently from a room near Tombs of the Kings, Chloraka, Coral Bay, Universal, Old Town or a resort outside the urban bus corridor.

PFO is close to the city. Pafos Buses lists two airport routes: 612 between Tombs of the Kings Station and Pafos Airport, and 613 between Karavela Station and Pafos Airport. The operator ticket page lists the standard Paphos district one-way fare at EUR 2, so the airport bus is a serious daytime option when the route and hotel area match. The taxi option still matters, especially for late flights, villas, family luggage and resort zones away from the main routes.

Paphos has two main local terminals rather than one universal departure point. The official Pafos Buses site says passenger information is available at three main stations in Paphos Town, Kato Paphos and Polis. Its terminal pages identify Harbour terminal in Kato Pafos next to the entrance of the archaeological site, and Karavela Main Station in the Karavela parking area at Andrea Geroudi Street. Karavela links to villages, Polis, other Cyprus cities via Intercity Buses, Pafos Airport route 613 and Tombs of the Kings routes. Harbour is the tourist-area anchor for Kato Paphos, the castle/harbour zone and many hotel trips.

Contents

• Fast Facts
• Main Arrival Logic
• Paphos International Airport
• Pafos Buses, Tickets and Terminals
• Intercity Routes Across Cyprus
• Taxis and Private Transfers
• Where to Stay for Easy Movement
• Sources
• Paphos Transport Hub FAQ

Fast Facts

Main Arrival Logic

Paphos is simple if your hotel is on a bus spine and frustrating if you assume every resort has the same access. Decide first whether your base is Harbour/Kato Paphos, Tombs of the Kings, Old Town/Karavela, Coral Bay/Pegeia, Universal, Chloraka, Geroskipou, Aphrodite Hills, Polis/Latchi or a villa area.

If You Land at PFO

Use route 612 if you are heading toward Tombs of the Kings, Kato Paphos or a hotel that can be reached from the tourist-side corridor. Use route 613 if Karavela or the upper-town transfer point is better. Use taxi or prebooked transfer if your hotel is outside the corridor, if you land late, or if you have children, golf bags, diving gear or heavy luggage.

If You Arrive from Another Cyprus City

Intercity Buses normally use Karavela for Paphos connections. That means a visitor arriving from Limassol, Nicosia or Larnaca often needs a local bus or taxi from Karavela to the harbour, Tombs of the Kings, Coral Bay or the hotel strip. Do not book a harbour hotel assuming the intercity vehicle stops at the harbour door.

If You Are Staying at Coral Bay or Pegeia

Route 615 is the core tourist route toward Coral Bay. Pafos Buses lists 615 as Tombs of the Kings Station – Coral Bay, while the city/suburbs route page also shows 616 continuing Coral Bay – Pegeia – Agios Georgios Pegeias. For Coral Bay, a bus-based stay works well if you are near route 615 and do not need late-night returns.

Paphos International Airport

Paphos International Airport is only a short distance from the city, but the correct transfer depends on hotel geography.

Routes 612 and 613

The official Pafos Airport routes page lists route 612 from Tombs of the Kings Station to Pafos Airport and route 613 from Karavela Station to Pafos Airport. The route detail pages and livebuses interface show airport stop sequences and real-time style route information. For planning, 612 is the tourist-side airport link and 613 is the upper-town/Karavela airport link.

Airport Bus Fare

Pafos Buses’ ticket page lists one-way 2 EUR, daily 6.50 EUR and night 3 EUR products available only on the buses, with 50% equivalents for eligible passengers. Route 613’s official timetable page lists a regular Karavela to Pafos Airport pattern and shows late airport departures, making it the route to inspect for upper-town arrivals. Carry cash because bus ticket purchase rules in Cyprus often remain cash-focused on board.

When Taxi Is Better

Taxi is better for late arrivals, villas, remote resorts, tight check-in timing, passengers with reduced mobility, and groups whose fare split is reasonable. A bus can be excellent to Kato Paphos or Karavela, but a taxi can be more honest for a villa road outside the bus network.

Larnaca Airport Alternative

Larnaca Airport is not a Paphos airport substitute for most trips. It can make sense if the flight is much better or if your itinerary crosses Cyprus, but the road distance is long. Local airport transfer lists commonly show Larnaca Airport to Paphos Town around the 130 EUR range by prebooked car, so compare the airfare saving with the transfer cost.

Pafos Buses, Tickets and Terminals

Pafos Buses is the core city and district operator. Its homepage says it covers Paphos District daily and offers ticket options including daily, weekly and monthly passes.

Harbour Terminal

The main-stations page says the Harbour terminal is in the Kato Pafos Harbour area, next to the entrance of the archaeological site of Kato Pafos. This is the terminal to know for the harbour, castle, waterfront hotels, archaeology visits and many tourist-area connections.

Karavela Terminal

The Karavela page says the station is in the Karavela parking area at Andrea Geroudi Street. It links to Pafos villages, Polis Chrysochous, other cities via Cyprus Intercity Buses, Pafos Airport route 613, and Tombs of the Kings routes 618 and 603. Karavela is the strategic terminal for intercity travel and the upper town.

City and Tourist Routes

The city/suburbs page lists route 610 Municipal Market – Kato Paphos (Harbour), route 611 Tombs of the Kings Station – Harbour – Geroskipou Beach, route 615 Tombs of the Kings Station – Coral Bay, route 616 Coral Bay – Pegeia – Agios Georgios Pegeias, and other district routes. For most visitors, the practical routes are 610 for Old Town/Harbour, 611 for Tombs/Harbour/Geroskipou, 615 for Coral Bay and 612/613 for the airport.

Tickets and Smart Cards

Pafos Buses’ ticket page is the local fare source. It lists one-way 2 EUR, daily 6.50 EUR and night 3 EUR available on buses, while other ticket types are available through information offices. The island-wide Motion card fare page provides broader national context for Motion card products and multi-day paper products. For a short visit, a one-way or daily ticket is usually enough; for longer stays, read the pass rules before buying.

Matching Routes to Hotel Zones

For a harbour hotel, search around Harbour terminal, Kato Pafos archaeological-site entrance and route 610/611/612/615 connections. For Tombs of the Kings, check routes 612, 615, 618 and 603 depending on the exact stop. For Coral Bay, route 615 is the essential spine, while route 616 helps for Pegeia and Agios Georgios. For Old Town, Municipal Market and Karavela are better landmarks than the harbour. For Universal or Geroskipou, route 611 and local taxi availability matter. The difference is not theoretical: two hotels both marketed as “Paphos” can require completely different transfer decisions from PFO.

Payment and Office Logic

The simplest bus ticket is bought on board, but not every product is sold in the same place. Pafos Buses says one-way, daily, night and matching discounted products are available only on buses, while other types are available through information offices in the main terminals. Intercity Buses has its own pricing policy, and OSEA’s ticket page gives a useful Cyprus-wide reminder that on-board ticket sales can be cash-only. Carry coins or small notes for the first ride, especially if arriving from the airport without a local card.

Intercity Routes Across Cyprus

Cyprus does not have passenger rail for Paphos travelers. Intercity road routes are the real long-distance network.

Limassol, Nicosia and Larnaca

Karavela is the local anchor for Intercity Buses. The Intercity Buses ticket policy page says driver sales cover regular one-way and paper monthly tickets with cash, while personalized Motion Card rules affect discounts and free transport. Use the Intercity Buses site for current Paphos-Limassol, Paphos-Nicosia and Paphos-Larnaca schedules, then plan the local connection from Karavela to your hotel.

Polis and Latchi

Pafos Buses routes 641 and 645 connect Karavela with the Polis Chrysochous district according to the Karavela page. For Polis/Latchi day trips, check the last return carefully. A taxi back from Polis can be expensive.

Coral Bay and Pegeia

Route 615 is the high-use tourist link to Coral Bay, and 616 continues from Coral Bay toward Pegeia and Agios Georgios Pegeias. If your resort is beyond Coral Bay, confirm the actual stop and evening frequency.

Taxis and Private Transfers

Official Taxi Tariff Context

Hermes Airports’ taxi-service PDF gives the tariff structure used at Cyprus airports, including initial charge, fare per kilometre, waiting time, luggage, holiday and night-rate concepts. Some values in the PDF are old enough that the exact number should be treated as tariff structure context, but it remains useful for understanding that airport taxis are regulated rather than purely negotiated.

Airport Taxi Benchmarks

Local Paphos airport taxi price lists commonly show Paphos Airport to Paphos Town or nearby tourist zones as a short transfer, with much higher prices for Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca, Ayia Napa and Protaras. One local price list shows Paphos Airport to Aphrodite Hills around 45 EUR day / 55 EUR night, Pissouri around 55 / 65 EUR, Limassol around 80 / 100 EUR, Nicosia around 150 / 160 EUR, and Larnaca around 130 / 150 EUR. For central Paphos, expect a much lower quote than those intercity transfers and compare with the airport rank.

Prebooked Transfer or Rank Taxi

Use the rank taxi for straightforward city hotels when the queue is short. Use a prebooked transfer for villas, late-night arrivals, child seats, groups, golf resorts, cruise-style luggage or rural addresses. Always confirm whether the price is per vehicle, whether night timing changes the fare, and whether waiting is included.

Car Rental

Car rental is common in Paphos because beaches, archaeological sites, villages, Akamas, wineries and golf resorts are spread out. For a harbour-only stay, buses and taxis may be enough. For Akamas, Troodos foothills, Aphrodite Hills or multi-resort travel, a car can save time. Remember that Cyprus drives on the left.

Taxi Versus Rental Car

Use taxis for airport transfers, nights out, one-off restaurant trips and short hops between harbour, Old Town and resort corridors. Use a rental car when your plan includes Akamas, Lara Beach, wineries, Troodos villages, Aphrodite Hills, multiple beaches in one day, or villas outside walkable bus corridors. Parking near harbour and archaeological areas can be busy in high season, so the best choice is not always the cheapest daily rental rate; it is the option that reduces wasted holiday time.

Where to Stay for Easy Movement

Best for First-Time Visitors

Stay in Kato Paphos or near the harbour if you want walking, restaurants, archaeology, simple taxi access and easy tourist buses. This is the easiest base without a car.

Best for Airport Bus

Stay near Tombs of the Kings or a route 612/615 corridor stop if you want bus access to PFO and Coral Bay. For Karavela-side arrival, Old Town can also work.

Best for Intercity Travel

Stay near Karavela or choose a hotel with a cheap taxi ride to Karavela if you plan early buses to Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca, Polis or villages.

Best for Beaches

Coral Bay is good for beach stays and route 615 access, but it is less convenient for intercity departures and airport transfers than Kato Paphos.

Best for Villas and Resorts

For Aphrodite Hills, Tala, Pegeia hills, Chloraka edges or rural villas, plan taxi, transfer or rental car. A bus may get close but not necessarily to the door.

First-Time Checklist

1. Confirm whether your flight arrives at PFO or LCA.
2. Use route 612 for airport trips toward Tombs of the Kings/Kato Paphos and route 613 for Karavela.
3. Carry cash for bus tickets unless you already have the right card/product.
4. Use Harbour terminal for Kato Paphos and Karavela for intercity and village routes.
5. Check route 615 if staying at Coral Bay.
6. Prebook a taxi or transfer for late flights, villas, remote resorts and large luggage.
7. Treat Cyprus as a road-based country; do not plan a rail connection.
8. Add buffer time in summer heat, peak holiday evenings and resort check-in windows carefully.

Sources

• Pafos Buses official: https://www.pafosbuses.com/
• Pafos airport routes: https://www.pafosbuses.com/pafos-airport-bus-routes
• Route 612 detail: https://www.pafosbuses.com/bus-routes/612
• Route 613 detail: https://www.pafosbuses.com/bus-routes/613
• Pafos ticket prices: https://www.pafosbuses.com/tickets
• Pafos main terminals: https://www.pafosbuses.com/main-bus-stations
• Harbour terminal: https://www.pafosbuses.com/main-bus-stations-1/kato-paphos-main-bus-station
• Karavela terminal: https://www.pafosbuses.com/main-bus-stations-1/karavela-main-bus-station
• City suburb routes: https://www.pafosbuses.com/pafos-city-suburbs-routes
• Route 613 airport timetable: https://www.pafosbuses.com/pafos-airport-bus-routes-1/613
• Paphos airport official: https://www.hermesairports.com/airports/pafos-international-airport/
• Hermes taxi PDF: https://www.hermesairports.com/media/cms/guide%20taxi%20service.pdf
• Paphos airport taxi list: https://www.paphostaxiairport.com/price-list
• Hermes public transport: https://www.hermesairports.com/prepare-your-journey/fly-in/public-transportation
• Paphos Limassol Intercity: https://intercity-buses.com/en/routes/limassol-paphos-paphos-limassol/
• Intercity ticket policy: https://intercity-buses.com/en/new-ticket-prices/
• Intercity official: https://intercity-buses.com/en/
• Motion card fares: https://www.publictransport.com.cy/cms/page/cash-tickets
• OSEA ticket rules: https://osea.com.cy/en/tickets/
• Paphos Nicosia Intercity: https://intercity-buses.com/en/routes/nicosia-paphos-paphos-nicosia/

Paphos Transport Hub FAQ

Which airport should I use for Paphos?

Use Paphos International Airport (PFO) when possible. Larnaca Airport can work for better flights, but it adds a long road transfer to Paphos.

Which airport bus goes to Paphos?

Route 612 links PFO with Tombs of the Kings Station, while route 613 links PFO with Karavela. Choose by hotel area, not only by city name.

Where do intercity buses leave in Paphos?

Use Karavela for Intercity Buses, village routes, Polis routes and airport route 613. Use Harbour terminal for Kato Paphos tourist-area routes.

How much is a bus ticket in Paphos?

Pafos Buses lists one-way 2 EUR, daily 6.50 EUR and night 3 EUR available on buses. Other ticket types are handled through information offices.

Is taxi or bus better from Paphos airport?

Bus is best when route 612 or 613 fits your hotel and arrival time. Taxi or prebooked transfer is better for late flights, villas, remote resorts, family luggage and groups.