Ercan Airport to Famagusta, İskele and Long Beach: taxi, bus or hire car?

Ercan (ECN) is the only international airport in North Cyprus, about 13 km east of Nicosia. Its new terminal opened in July 2023 and handled more than five million passengers in the first eleven months of 2025. Most visitors heading east, to Famagusta, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), İskele, Long Beach or the Bafra hotels, have three choices: a taxi, the KIBHAS airport bus, or a hire car.

How long is the drive from Ercan to Famagusta?

Ercan to Famagusta is about 49 km, and the drive takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic and where in Famagusta you are going.

From Ercan Airport to	Distance	Typical drive
Famagusta (Gazimağusa) centre	about 49 km	45 to 60 min
Eastern Mediterranean University	about 44 km	45 to 60 min
İskele and Long Beach	about 54 km	50 to 60 min
Bafra hotel zone	about 79 km	about 1 h 30 min
Kyrenia (Girne)	about 48 km	45 to 60 min
Nicosia (Lefkoşa)	about 20 km	about 25 min

Distances are road distances calculated in November 2026. Add time at rush hour around Nicosia and in summer traffic on the coast road.

Taxi, bus or hire car: which is best?

	Pre-booked taxi	KIBHAS airport bus	Hire car
Door to door	Yes	No, set stops	Yes
Time to Famagusta	45 to 60 min	about 50 min plus stops	45 to 60 min
Cost	One price for the car, agreed in advance, up to 4 people	about 600 TL per person (Nov 2026)	daily rate plus fuel and deposit
Night arrivals	Yes, if booked	Fewer departures	Desk hours vary
Luggage	Driver helps	2 bags up to 30 kg free	You carry it
Best for	Families, groups, late flights, first visits	Solo travellers on a budget	Long stays, independent touring

The taxi is the simplest choice if you are two or more people, landing late, or carrying heavy luggage. With a booked driver you know the meeting point in advance and go straight to your door. The price is for the car, so four people pay the same as one.

The KIBHAS bus is the budget choice. It runs between Ercan and Famagusta with stops at EMU, and a separate line serves İskele and Long Beach hotels such as the Courtyard Long Beach and Salamis Hotel area. Buy tickets in the KIBHAS app, on kibhas.org or at the terminal. Two suitcases up to 30 kg each travel free, and children under 5 ride free without a seat. In November 2026 there were 16 departures a day from Ercan towards Famagusta, including a few after midnight, and the ride took about 50 minutes. Timetables change with the season, so check the app on the day rather than an old screenshot.

A hire car makes sense for a week or more of touring. Traffic drives on the left, and many desks need a credit card for the deposit. If you only need to get to your hotel and back, two taxi rides usually cost less than several days of hire. If you do want a car, the rental Ali recommends, Kipra Rent A Car delivers to Ercan and Famagusta.

How do I find my taxi driver at Ercan?

After passport control and baggage reclaim you come out into the arrivals hall. With Ali Taksi you get the exact meeting point and how the pickup works before you fly. Ali’s car is a white Mercedes E-Class with the plate TRD 273 and a yellow taxi sign.

Send your flight number when you book. Where possible Ali follows the flight and plans the pickup around the landing time. If it is delayed, he does his best to move the pickup, depending on car and driver availability, and any waiting fee or change is told to you in advance.

What does a taxi from Ercan to Famagusta cost?

Whoever you ride with, agree the price before you get in. Ali’s taxi is licensed and has an official taximeter; for airport transfers he can give you a set price for the whole car in advance, in line with the rules in force, confirmed before you fly.

Ask for the price for your exact address and number of people. A transfer to a Famagusta address is shorter than one to Long Beach or Bafra, and a return booked together is easy to time to your check-in.

Arriving at Ercan: what to know before you land

• Flights come via Turkey. Direct flights to Ercan only come from Turkish airports. From the UK and Europe you fly via Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir or Antalya.
• Entry paperwork. Visitors usually get a separate stamped entry slip rather than a passport stamp. Keep it until you leave. EU citizens may enter the north with a national ID card.
• Money. The currency is the Turkish lira. Cash machines are in the terminal, and taxis like Ali’s also take euros, pounds, dollars and cards (and give a cash price on some transfers).

Booking a pickup from Ercan

Ask Robot (the round button at the bottom right of the page) or use the booking form to send Ali your flight number, landing time, address and number of passengers. Ali checks a car and driver are free, then sends the price and your confirmation. You get a booking reference and a page to follow your booking. For flights landing after midnight, book by the evening before. See the Ercan Airport taxi page for what is included.