Protaras, the family resort on Cyprus's southeast tip, is best reached by hire car: Larnaca Airport (LCA) is about 55–67 km away, a 50-minute drive on toll-free motorways. You can collect at Larnaca arrivals or have a local company deliver to your hotel, and Sixt and others have a desk in the resort itself. With no tolls anywhere on the island, cheap fuel and short distances, a car makes Fig Tree Bay, Cape Greco, the sea caves and Ayia Napa effortless. The one adjustment: Cyprus drives on the left in right-hand-drive cars.
Protaras / Larnaca car rental rates by season
Economy/compact, booked ~4 weeks ahead, EUR
| Season | Economy | Compact | Automatic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Mar) | €14–25 | €18–32 | €28–45 |
| Shoulder (Apr–Jun, Oct) | €22–38 | €28–48 | €40–65 |
| Peak (Jul–Sep) | €38–60 | €48–75 | €60–95 |
Most visitors fly into Larnaca (LCA), about 50 minutes away, and either collect at the airport or arrange delivery to Protaras. Sixt and several locals (and brokers like Green Motion and Keddy by Europcar) operate in or around the resort, and Cypriot firms such as Petsas, Formula and Regency deliver from Larnaca with a good range of cars.
Family-run island operators with good service and value, delivering from Larnaca to Protaras. Often cheaper and more flexible than the chains.
Sixt has a pick-up in the centre of Protaras, handy if you want to add a car mid-stay rather than collect at the airport. Newer fleet, brand-name service, higher price.
Among the cheapest from Larnaca, but check the deposit, fuel policy and excess carefully.
Drive times from Protaras
Approximate, toll-free roads
Rates include basic CDW with an excess blocked on your card. Pre-book stand-alone excess insurance (€4–7/day) for cheaper protection than the counter waiver. Given the left-hand-driving adjustment, full cover is worth it for a first Cyprus trip.
Cyprus has no toll roads anywhere on the island – the A-class motorways (Larnaca–Nicosia, Larnaca–Ayia Napa, Limassol, Paphos) are all free, with no transponder needed. Fuel is among the cheaper in the EU, roughly €1.40–1.55/L for petrol and diesel; stations are plentiful near the airport and resorts. Distances are short and roads good, so a week of touring uses little fuel.
Fig Tree Bay is a short walk, but a car unlocks Cape Greco's clifftop trails and sea caves (15 min), Ayia Napa and its beaches (15 min), the Konnos Bay viewpoints, Paralimni and the inland villages, and day trips to Larnaca (50 min) or Nicosia. Parking in Protaras is generally easy and free at the beaches outside peak August afternoons.
Airport pickup is cheapest; hotel delivery saves the first drive while you adjust to the left.
Take the first roundabouts slowly and keep left.
About 55–67 km, a 50-minute drive on toll-free motorways. Larnaca (LCA) is the usual airport for Protaras.
Airport pickup is cheapest and gives you a car for the whole trip; if you would rather not drive straight after landing, local firms deliver to your Protaras hotel, and Sixt has an in-resort desk.
Yes – Cyprus drives on the left in right-hand-drive cars. Take the first hour slowly; roundabouts run clockwise and you give way to the right.
No – Cyprus has no toll roads anywhere, so all your drives are free.
Cape Greco and its sea caves (15 min), Ayia Napa (15 min), Konnos Bay, Paralimni and the inland villages, plus day trips to Larnaca (50 min) and Nicosia. Fig Tree Bay is walkable from the resort.
Economy rates run from around €14–25/day off-season ($15–$27) to €38–60/day in July–August; book ahead for summer as resort cars sell out.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Reviews are based on Trustpilot, Google Maps, traveller forums and direct experience. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: May 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
