The basics
Paphos Airport sits 15 km south-east of Paphos city, just off the A6 motorway. It's a compact, single-terminal facility opened in its current form in 2008. Roughly three million passengers pass through annually — about a third of Larnaca's volume — which translates into shorter queues, simpler navigation and a much calmer arrival experience.
For visitors staying in Paphos, Coral Bay, Latchi or anywhere on the west coast, PFO is the obvious choice. For Limassol it's comparable to Larnaca in distance. For Ayia Napa, Protaras and Nicosia, Larnaca Airport is significantly closer if your airline offers both options.
Inside the terminal
Departures and arrivals share a single building. On departure, check-in is on one open concourse, security is fast outside peak charter waves, and a single airside hall houses duty-free, a handful of restaurants and the gates.
On arrival, passport control sits immediately past the jet bridges. Baggage reclaim is a short walk further on, and the arrivals hall — small enough to scan in a glance — opens directly to taxis and shuttles outside. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole terminal.
What's not at PFO
Be realistic about scale. There is no dedicated airline lounge open to walk-up payment, the airside retail mix is limited, and overnight food options thin out after 22:00. Plan to eat before security if you have a late departure.
Onward transport — distances and times
- Paphos city / harbour — 15 km, 15–20 minutes
- Coral Bay — 25 km, 25–30 minutes
- Latchi / Polis — 50 km, 55 minutes
- Limassol — 65 km, 45–55 minutes via the A6
- Larnaca — 130 km, 1 h 20
- Nicosia — 145 km, 1 h 30 via the A6 / A1
- Ayia Napa — 175 km, 1 h 50
- Protaras — 200 km, 2 h 10
Long east-coast transfers from Paphos are entirely normal for us — many clients arrive at PFO on a cheaper flight and we drive them straight to Ayia Napa or Protaras while they sleep in the back. Fixed price, child seats free, one direct journey.
Taxi, shuttle or private transfer?
Paphos Airport has the same three-option pattern as Larnaca, with a few practical differences.
Licensed taxi
A working choice for short hops into Paphos city during the day. Metered, no child seats, and availability tightens after late-evening flights.
Public bus & shuttle
Buses run between PFO and Paphos harbour throughout the day, and intercity shuttles connect PFO with Limassol. Frequencies thin in the evening and on Sundays, and there is no direct shuttle to Ayia Napa or Protaras.
Private transfer
The most predictable choice for any drop-off outside Paphos itself. Meet & greet in the small arrivals hall, fixed price, flight tracking, free child seats and a single direct trip — particularly worth it on the long east-coast journeys where comfort matters.
Choosing between Paphos and Larnaca
If your airline lets you choose between PFO and LCA, the rule of thumb is simple. PFO wins for Paphos, Coral Bay, Latchi and the west coast. LCA wins for Ayia Napa, Protaras, Paralimni, Nicosia and Larnaca city. For Limassol the two are roughly equivalent — pick based on flight price and schedule.
A common mistake is to assume Larnaca is always the right choice because it's the bigger airport. For half the island, PFO is closer, calmer and gets you on the road faster.