Driving to Paphos

[lee666]

We intend to fly Paphos to Manchester and drive down from Esentepe, don't really want to use taxi as very expensive.

We have an evening flight and don't need to be at the airport until 5.45pm.

As we are in no rush and it's approx 120 miles which will be the best crossing for us to use ??

We will obviously need to get insurance as well when we get on the Greek side, so we need a crossing with an insurance office definitely open and approx costs please ??

I intend to park my car at the airport as only around £50.

As always, thanks in advance.

[13roman58]

Metahan

[PoshinDevon]

Certainly suggest Metehan. Insurance offices a plenty. Then head out of Lekosia to Limassol and then onwards to Paphos. Paphos Airport is to the east of the town and is clearly signed from the motorway.

Plenty of places to pull off the motorway to take a break.

[Trigger]

By the time you pay for car parking, insurance, petrol... is it actually cheaper than a tax? We were using cyprus Booking.com for our journies, albeit Larnaca, and it was working out £25-£30 a single journey. Wasn’t worth the hassle plus then you can drink beer.

[tomsteel]

Esentepe to Paphos via Beyarmudu crossing is 2 hours. You'll need to sort insurance at 25€ for 1 month cover.

[waddo]

Use Metahan for sure - that is if you have already taken your car across to the South before, if never done that don't forget that you need to get your permission to drive paperwork (some call it tax, some call it MoT) which is free but only from the police post at the Metahan crossing point!

It's not about the cost always is it? It is more about the journey and the adventure and of course the freedom to make up your own mind when you leave and when you return. Take the Westabout route back again if you have the time, much better than rushing down the motorways of life - longer of course but worth it for the trip.

[lee666]

Thanks very much for all your replies, lots to think about but all replies helpful

[MoonageDaydream]

Bear in mind that you have to get a form from the Police on the South side before you get the insurance from the one of the booths, and the Police office was only open in the mornings last time I got mine (I think they shut about 13:00).

So if you plan to do this all in one day, then allow time for that. If you do you will also have time to look around Pafos town and the revamped indoor market etc, or even go round the Mall if you prefer (lots of good shops and a good value food court too) then have plenty of time to get to the airport for your flight..

[lee666]

Thanks again for the replies, by he look of it it may be best to get all this done a few days before we travel ?? Then on the day we fly there won't be any hold ups for forms, insurance etc. The insurance lasts for a month which would still cover us for the time we are away.

Is the a good day/time to get this done, just trying to pick the quietest time if there is one

Thanks again all.

[PoshinDevon]

You could travel to the border at Metehan, pick up your months insurance and maybe just familiarise yourself with route out of Lefkosia and down to Limassol. No need to drive all the way.

As for best time to cross. Probably not on a weekend or start/ finish work time as we have found they tend to be busier.

Once you are on the Greek Cypriot side, park your vehicle up ( Probably best to pull up away from the passport booths so as not to hinder those behind....so park outside the insurance booths which are 20yds further up on the right). Take your car docs and paperwork back to the booth just next to the passport ones and present them to the policeman. He will then issue you with a piece of paper valid for a year.......some call it an mot (No payment required). Then go to insurance booth with all paperwork.....ther are 3 or 4 to choose from. We always use the first one called Minerva but it doesn’t make any difference. Present all paperwork, pay the fee (25 euro) for a month. Insurance paperwork printed off. Keep it safe. You can use a bank card to pay. Drive off and enjoy.

We try to maximise the use of the insurance by planning a few visits for as long as the insurance is valid. Usually into Lefkosa, up the Troodos mountains or Larnaca/Limassol.

[13roman58]

You also have to show your UK driving license

[come_on_aylin]

Lee666,

To get the annual 'MOT' you must go to Metehan Monday to Friday (not open public holidays), I would aim to get there at 9am, certainly before 10 as it tends to be busy from then onwards. It's only open until 2.30ish from about 7.30ish, search for times on the forum there are plenty of posts about it.

If you go and get the Mot and insurance a few days before your trip then you can go via Beyarmudu. This is the way we go to Paphos from Esentepe as it is much more relaxed, no speed cameras for a start, though watch out for police with speed guns near Kucuk Erenkoy. You only pass through a couple of villages, Beyarmudu and Pyla and then it's dual carriageway all the way. We tend to come off the dual carriageway after Limissol and follow the B6 all the way to the airport which goes along the coast in parts and there are places to stop for coffee, lunch or a picnic.

Using the airport car park doesn't work out much more expensive than using an off airport car park, especially if you book it well in advance. Don't expect the car registration recognition to work, it never has for us, just take a ticket when you enter and have your confirmation email ready when you leave the car park. From memory you just give them your booking reference when you get to the barrier.

Last time we went it took just under 4.5 hours, that was going slow and stopping at Alphamega (junction 13 of A6) and for a picnic at a coastal picnic area on B6. It is possible to do it in 2 hours if you like to tank it.

[lee666]

Come_on_aylin, thanks for that info and you've read my mind as this is exactly what we plan to do, although we intend to get the 12 month MoT document next month do a foray across at Metahan just to do that and get the feel. Then when February comes I will go and get a monthly insurance certificate just before we fly then we can go via Pyla for our flight back to the UK.

Couldn't agree more with Küçükerenköy- I've already been done on the speed hand held camera, 200tl fine and 5 points on my licence .

We intend to use the airport car park, its only £50 so cheap as chips eh ??

Once again thank you for the info, love this forum for exactly that.

[Trigger]

200tl fine and 5 points on my licence .

At least you have more points than Newcastle

[come_on_aylin]

If you've got your MOT you can get your insurance at Beyarmudu, there are 2 booths Minerva and Dagli. There is a number to call if there's no one about and they come in 5 minutes, although I understand why you want to be able to get it in advance. The south side checkpoint is operated by SBA, you have to stop and show your passports there and frequently they will check baggage.