Hermes Larnaca Airport: Your Introduction to Cyprus
Hermes Larnaca International Airport is Cyprus’ main international gateway, with millions of international visitors flying directly to Larnaca from around the world. Larnaca itself is rugged, yet seductive, with the charm of a main promenade flanked by palms and populated with lots of cafes and bars to choose from. The old Turkish section of Larnaca is filled with studios and houses, many homes to some of the oldest crafts on this island, which has a rich ancient history. You’ll see pita-bread makers, blacksmiths, and candle-makers nearly cheek by jowl with modern chain fashion stores frequented by worldly young girls enjoying a day out. Larnaca is the embodiment of Cyprus’ mixture of the ancient and the modern, with the new airport representing a jewel of modern design.
Particularly since joining the European Union in 2004, Cyprus has become a major Mediterranean tourist destination, and more than 5 million air passengers a year use the Hermes Larnaca International Airport. The airport is still undergoing expansion, though many of the expansion plans set forth in 1998 have been completed, including the new control tower, runway extension, and fire station. Infrastructure surrounding the airport has been improved too, with upgrading and completion of surrounding motorways. That means getting to and from the airport is easier now than ever.
With the latest terminal building opening in late 2009, the airport now has 16 jetways, 67 check-in terminals, several self-serve check-in kiosks, and 48 departure gates. This new terminal can better cope with the influx of tourists discovering the beauty and wonder of Cyprus, with the capacity to handle 7.5 million passengers a year. By 2013 the new terminal is scheduled to be expanded and a runway extension is to be added. The design of the new terminal building was specifically created to resemble the proportions of Larnaca’s medieval-era aqueduct. In its current and anticipated forms, the international airport at Larnaca is considered to be the best-designed of its size in the world.
Once you arrive at the airport in Larnaca, how do you get where you need to go? You can take shuttle buses to Limassol and Nicosia, and if you’re staying in Larnaca, some of the hotels offer shuttle services, but not all. Buses will be added to your airport transport options soon, but as of now, your best bet is to take a taxi into the city. The city center is about 7 km from the airport, and taxis are available around the clock outside the main entrance to the airport. The fares are shown on a fare board in the airport’s Arrival Hall. Some of these taxi services offer tours and minibus services as well and can arrange to meet you inside the airport arrival hall or at your hotel’s reception desk. Taxi drivers from the best services are fluent in English and the cars themselves are modern and air-conditioned. The airport transfer rates for taxis are fixed and all-inclusive.
If you plan to visit Cyprus, there’s a good chance that the Hermes Larnaca International Airport will be where you will first encounter Cyprus. Upgrades to the airport have made it convenient and pleasant and extensive taxi services make it easy to get from the airport to your final destination, whether in Larnaca or elsewhere in Cyprus.
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