Your flight lands at Larnaca, but your hotel is in Kyrenia — so how do you actually get across the border? In short: a private transfer collects you at arrivals, drives to a Green Line checkpoint, shows your passport for a quick check, and continues north. The whole Larnaca-to-Kyrenia journey takes around 75 minutes door to door, the crossing itself adds only 20–30 minutes, and there is no fee for passengers. Below is exactly how it works — checkpoint by checkpoint — plus the western route for Güzelyurt and how we get you around once you arrive.
Why fly into Larnaca for a hotel in the north?
Larnaca International Airport (LCA) is the island's busiest gateway, with direct flights from across Europe and the UK. Ercan, the north's own airport, is closer to Kyrenia but is served almost entirely by connecting flights through Turkey. For many travellers that means Larnaca offers a cheaper ticket, a direct flight and a wider choice of departure times — well worth the extra half hour on the road. Because your transfer fare is fixed and agreed in advance, you can compare the true door-to-door cost of each airport before you book the flight, not after.
How long does the crossing take?
Plan on roughly 75 minutes from the arrivals hall at Larnaca to a hotel in central Kyrenia. Of that, the drive to the edge of Nicosia is about 45 minutes, the checkpoint itself is usually five to fifteen minutes depending on the time of day, and the descent over the mountains into Kyrenia is another 20–25 minutes. Early mornings and late evenings are quietest; the busiest periods are weekday rush hours and summer afternoons.
What happens at the checkpoint
Your route crosses at one of Nicosia's vehicle checkpoints — usually Metehan (Ağırdağ) when you're heading for Kyrenia. You stay in the car throughout. An officer may ask to see everyone's passport and glance at the vehicle documents your chauffeur carries. There is no charge for passengers, and the check is normally brief. Your driver does this every day and knows which lane to use and what to have ready, so there is nothing for you to prepare beyond having passports to hand.
Do you need a visa or a stamp?
Most nationalities are given entry on arrival with no advance visa, for stays of up to 90 days. Border officers routinely stamp a separate slip of paper rather than your passport, so a visit to the north leaves no mark in the document itself — useful to know if you travel onward to countries that ask about it. Rules can change, so check your own passport's requirements before you fly; but for the vast majority of visitors, the passport in your pocket is all you need.
Crossing to the west: Güzelyurt, Lefke and the Bostancı checkpoint
If your destination is in the western half of the north — Güzelyurt (Morphou), Lefke or Gemikonağı — we don't route through Nicosia at all. Instead we use the Bostancı (Astromeritis) crossing, which sits just south of Güzelyurt and is by far the fastest way in. A Larnaca to Güzelyurt transfer takes about 1 hour 45 minutes this way; from Paphos to Güzelyurt the western crossing is more direct still, as it avoids doubling back through the capital. Choosing the right checkpoint for your destination is one of the quiet ways a local driver saves you time you would never get back with a generic taxi.
Getting around once you've arrived — local rides too
A transfer doesn't have to end at your hotel door. Once you're settled, we also handle local, in-town journeys at fixed local prices — a run into Kyrenia harbour for dinner, a morning at Bellapais Abbey, a hospital or pharmacy trip, an evening at a casino hotel, or simply getting between your resort and the town centre when taxis are thin on the ground. In Güzelyurt and the western villages, where evening taxis are especially scarce, these şehir içi (in-town) rides are often the most useful part of the service: into the town centre, out to the orange groves, or along the coast to Lefke. Ask when you book, or message us during your stay.
Luggage, timing and flight delays
We track your flight from the moment it leaves, so a late landing never eats into your included waiting time and your driver is there whenever you actually arrive. Your chauffeur meets you inside the arrivals hall with a name sign, handles the luggage, and walks you to a car parked minutes away. Bottled water is waiting in the cabin. There is nothing to arrange at the roadside and no meter ticking while you load bags.
Frequently asked questions
Can a taxi or transfer actually cross the border?
Yes. Licensed transfer vehicles cross the Green Line daily. You remain in the same car for the whole journey — there is no need to change vehicles at the checkpoint.
Is it cheaper to fly into Ercan instead?
Sometimes. Ercan is closer to Kyrenia, but its flights almost always connect through Turkey. If a direct flight into Larnaca is cheaper or more convenient, the crossing is easy and the fixed transfer fare means no surprises.
Will my passport be stamped?
Usually not — officers stamp a separate paper by default. If you would prefer that, you don't even need to ask; it is the norm.
How much does the crossing add to the price?
Nothing beyond the distance. Our fares are fixed by route, with no border surcharge and no meter.
Ready to plan your crossing? See fixed prices for every route — from Larnaca or Paphos to Kyrenia, Famagusta, İskele, Bafra and Güzelyurt — or book your transfer in two minutes.