Northern Cyprus

North Cyprus

Located at the crossroads of three continents and just 40 miles from Turkey, North Cyprus is bursting with intriguing antiquity and a rich cultural history. A land of exceptional natural beauty, from its sweeping coastlines to the heights of its Mountains, North Cyprus oozes old-world charm, and is loved for its slow pace of life far away from the hustle and bustle of your usual routine. This value for money destination combines beautiful bays and enchanting sights with a sunny climate and the warmest of welcomes.

Northern Cyprus lies in the clear blue waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, only 40 miles from the coast of Turkey at its closest point, 60 miles from Syria, and 250 miles from Egypt. North Cyprus is approximately 100 miles long, 40 miles across at its widest point and has a total area of 1,357 square miles, comprising nearly 36% of the island of Cyprus.

Currency

The official unit of currency in North Cyprus is the New Turkish Lira, however Euros are widely accepted in the bigger cities.

Time

North Cyprus is normally two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. For summer time clocks go forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back one hour on the last Sunday in October.

Language

Turkish is the official national language, however English is widely spoken.

Electricity

In North Cyprus, voltage is 220/240 volts AC, supplied at 50 Hz and the UK style 3 rectangular pinned plugs and sockets are used although adaptors may be required for some continental 2 pin items such as some anti-mosquito machines.

Religious and Public Holidays

January 1st - New Years Day
April 23rd - National Childrens Day
May 1st - Labour Day
May 19th - Youth Day
July 20th - Peace and Federation Day
August 1st - National Resistance Day
August 30th - Turkish National Victory Day
October 29th - Turkish Republic Day
November 15th - Anniversary of the Declaration of the TRNC

REGIONS

Lefkosia
Lefkoşi is the capital and the largest city of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), with a population of around 73,000. Lefkoşia is the last remaining divided capital city in the world, with the "green line" boundary separating the island's Greek Cypriot community in the south and the Turkish Cypriot community in the north.

Kyrenia
Kyrenia is the jewel in the crown of North Cyprus, a thriving coastal town with a historic heart centered around its harbour, a perfect and elegant crescent built by the Venetians during their occupation of the island.
This charming harbour full of yachts, fishing boats and cafes as historic as their surroundings (being housed in old carob storage warehouses) is where locals and visitors alike gather during the day to enjoy a strong Turkish coffee or light lunch in the sunshine. Once the sun sets the atmosphere is transformed as restaurant and tavern owners prepare for the night and the entertainment it brings. Locals take their evening stroll, families dine at waterside tables and romantic couples take to the restaurant rooftops to admire the sunset and dine under the stars.

From here, it's just a short walk to the mighty Kyrenia Castle originally built to repel Arab raiders. The castle houses the Shipwreck Museum, which is the current resting place of the remains of the worlds oldest trading ship and one of the most remarkable marine archaeological finds in the world. In 300BC, a trading vessel was caught in a storm, and sank in open waters less than a mile from Kyrenia. The remains of the ship sat on the sea bed covered in sand until the late 1960’s, when a sponge diver led a salvage expedition team to the site. The team then spent more than a month surveying the site and mapping and labeling the wooden hull before a team of over 50 underwater archaeologists, students and technicians raised the hull to the surface in pieces.

The old town of Kyrenia is filled with whitewashed buildings and the ruins of walls and round towers that once protected this city from attack. The Custom House which dominates the west corner of the harbour, commands an excellent view of all the boats as they enter Kyrenia harbour.

Villas to Rent in Kyrenia Northern Cyprus

Bellapais
The beauty of Bellapais is legendary. Standing in the Kyrenia mountain range approximately 4 miles from the northern coastline overlooking the town of Kyrenia and the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. The streets in the centre of the village are narrow with tiny lanes hap hazardly criss crossing away from the main square and concealing many surprising and inexpensive cafes and bistros. The village was home for some years to the author Lawrence Durrell who wrote his book “Bitter Lemons of Cyprus” here. In the book, Durrell immortalised “The 'Tree of Idleness', where according to legend those who sit under the tree will become so lethargic and relaxed that they will be unwilling to work, and the unhurried, unchanged and laidback way of life here could certainly have you believing it.

The Karpas Peninsula
To the north east of North Cyprus lies the 'Panhandle', a region that juts out from the top east corner of the island and tapers into a thin strip pointing towards mainland Turkey. The area that stretches from near Famagusta to the northern-most tip of Cyprus extends to 80 kilometres in length and up to 20 kilometres in width.

Thanks to underground water sources, the Karpas Peninsula stays green long after the rest of the countryside is baked brown, Rich in subterranean reservoirs fruit, olive groves and tobacco fields are found in abundance. Today it is in the hands of rural communities, has only a small population and remains one of the most unspoilt parts of the island. Only its remoteness has protected the miles and miles of beautiful beaches, scattered villages, ancient towns, ruins, basilicas and tombs.

Until the new road was finished in 1998, the Karpas Peninsula was virtually isolated from the rest of North Cyprus and fortunately the new road has not affected its sleepy atmosphere or unspoilt landscape and its northern and eastern shores have some of the most wonderful beaches on the island, both sandy and rocky, many of which are somewhat remote and therefore often empty.
The Karpas is home to an outstanding variety of wildlife. Spring arrives in an explosion of colour. Pine, Cypress and Marquis covered hills reach an altitude of 1000 metres, the mountains and meadows are carpeted with wild flowers, butterflies rise in multi coloured clouds and the air is alive with buzzing insects.

Sandy beaches that are amongst the main nesting grounds for the carretta caretta sea turtle and chelonia mydas are closed at certain times during they year as these rare creatures are heavily protected. An important colony of European Audouin seagulls is found on the Klidhes islands at the tip of the peninsula.

Famagusta
Once upon a time in this area of town there was a thriving and wealthy Greek community - then in 1974 before the advancing Turkish Army they fled to the south and never returned.

Perhaps the most haunting sight in Cyprus is the Maras district a lingering reminder of the relatively recent year of 1974, when the Turkish invasion took place and this whole area was barricaded off with barbed wire, becoming something of a no-man's land. The deserted beach and crumbling high-rise tower blocks remain unused and make the Varosia area of Famagusta appear rather like a ghost town, the area is sealed off with barbed wire, photography is not allowed and its streets cannot be walked, but you can stand on the "allowed" side of the fence and look into it.

KYRENIA MOUNTAINS

The Kyrenia Mountains, which run parallel to the North Cyprus coastline are known as the Five Finger Mountains in English, Besparmak in Turkish and Pentadactylos in Greek. The forests of the Kyrenia Mountains are home to the most timid of North Cyprus wild mammals, the elusive and reclusive mouflon, a type of wild sheep that you may glimpse leaping across the higher crags.
The mountains have always been a line of defence for the island, and Crusader castles lie ready to be explored between Turkish army bases, which are strictly off limits. Three Crusader castles along the Northern Cyprus coastline, St Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara, defended the island from pirates, Arab raiders and various invaders.

Crusader Castles

St Hilarion Castle, near Kyrenia, North Cyprus
St Hilarion was a hermit who fled to Cyprus to escape persecution in Palestine and made the mountain his home. The saint resisted the tempting cries of the demons who stalked the mountain with ease as he was stone deaf and couldn’t hear them. Eventually the demons gave up, and left the hermit and the mountain in peace.

Originally built as a watch tower to give warning of approaching pirates who launched a continuous series of raids on Cyprus and the coasts of Anatolia. A Byzantine chapel and a monastery were added to the site of the saint’s tomb, which was joined by a fort in the 12th century. Today, the castle at St Hilarion is a mixture of the Crusader castle captured by Richard the Lionheart, the reinforced castle of the Lusignan kings, and the down-sized castle partly dismantled by the Venetians to cut running costs in the 15th century. For some time the castle remained of strategic importance, later becoming the summer retreat of the Lusignan nobility during the summer months when the mountain air kept the castle cool and comfortable.

Thanks mainly to the work of the North Cyprus Antiquities Department the remains are some of the best preserved of all the Crusader Castles. The impressive walls, towers and battlements of St Hilarion Castle have a fairy-tale look about them, and according to rumour is said to be the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s design for Snow White's castle
Buffavento Castle, near Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus

Standing in the middle of the Kyrenia range with St. Hilarion Castle to the west and Kantara Castle to the east, Buffavento Castle is probably the most dramatic of the three. Built on a rocky cliff some 950 metres above sea level it is quite an imposing sight and an adventure to visit as it is perched on a rocky hilltop. The name, Buffavento, means “Defiant of the Winds” and the castle had various uses over the years most probably originating as a Byzantine watch-tower, guarding against Arab raiders. It is said that the Byzantine king Isaac Comnenus fled here when Richard the Lionheart invaded in 1191. The castle surrendered, and during the Lusignan period, Buffavento Castle was used as a prison, known as the ‘Chateau du Lion’. The Venetians let the castle fall into disrepair, as coastal defences became preferable over mountaintop castles. Today, Buffavento is the least preserved of the three castles, so what remains are atmospheric ruins, with magnificent views across the whole of North Cyprus right across to Famagusta in the east.

Kantara Castle, near Famagusta, Northern Cyprus
Kantara Castle is the lowest of the three great Crusader castles standing on a small hill just 33 miles from Famagusta, right at the neck of the Karpas Peninsula. Unlike the other two castles, Kantara is built almost into the hillside, with just one extremely well defended entrance. Very little is known of the castles early days although it is thought to have been built by the Byzantines, probably after the last of the Arab raids in the late 10th century and then just like the other two castles, it saw action when the Crusaders invaded, and was abandoned during the Venetian period. However, Kantara Castle was remodelled by the Lusignans in the 13th century as they often stayed here when hunting in the local forests, and during the next few hundred years, the castle often served as a shelter for defeated barons and kings. Today, you can walk into Kantara castle between the twin entrance towers and explore the maze of rooms, living quarters and barracks and enjoy the most magnificent views from the northeast tower.

BEACHES

The coastline of North Cyprus boasts dramatic scenery, pretty coves and most importantly, miles of unspoilt sandy beaches. There are so many great beaches in North Cyprus, it is not possible to list them all as some of them are tiny secluded coves and bays on the Karpas Peninsula, where you can have the whole place to yourself all day, but below is a list of a few of them.

In 1991, the government of North Cyprus designated some of its beaches as public beaches and introduced charges for some of the other beaches. The private, fee-charging beaches have facilities such as umbrellas, snack-bars and showers, and are kept in good clean condition. The public beaches tend to have more limited facilities and can become very busy at the weekends with the locals who enjoy bringing their own food and having barbecues, which is something that is not permitted on the private beaches.

Altinkaya Beach
A great beach for families as the Altinkaya beach has sweeping sands and shallow water ideal for paddling. It is even possible to wade across to Golden Rock, a tiny island at the mouth of the bay that protects the beach from the open sea.

Escape Beach Club
Located just 5 miles from Kyrenia this beach curves round a gentle bay fringed with trees and protected by the foothills of the Kyrenia mountains. The Escape Beach Club restaurant is open from 9am to 11pm at night, watersports are on offer and at night the Escape Beach Club changes into one of the hottest open air club venues in North Cyprus.

Denizkizi Beach
Officially owned by the hotel of the same name this is a clean beach in a sheltered bay with great swimming you’ll need to pay a small fee but its worth it to be on this North Cyprus beach paradise for the day.

Horsehoe Bay
If you don’t mind pebbles, Horseshoe Bay is a great beach offering particularly good snorkeling for adults and a beach restaurant for long lazy lunches.

Mare Monte
You can walk along this rock and sand beach to the ancient Roman fish tanks of Lambousa. In existence since possibly the 13th century, Lambousa flourished during the roman times. Although much of the remains of Lambousa are inside the fence of an army camp, it is still worth taking the 15 minute walk from Mare Monte beach to admire the “fish tanks”. These large rectangular pools cut into the rock, some as big as Olympic swimming pools, were carved out to keep the fisherman’s live catches fresh for market and designed in such a way that cool, fresh water entered them with the tides and the warmer water exited through another channel.

Acapulco Beach
Acapulco beach in North Cyprus has got the lot; sand, shallow water, great facilities and fun water sports. The beach belongs to the holiday village of the same name, and its well worth the entrance fee to sit on a golden sand beach lapped by crystal clear waters in a private cove surrounded by the most magnificent flora and fauna. The beach hotel offers a wide variety of facilities including the largest aqua park in Northern Cyprus and a great range of watersports.

Alagadi Turtle Beach
Alagadi beach has the longest stretch of beach on the northern coast. This public beach has miles of golden sand fringed by sand dunes with wonderful views of the Five Finger Mountains and is enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. Alagadi beach is one of the major beaches in Northern Cyprus where the loggerhead and green turtles come to nest, and so is sometimes called "Turtle Beach". Please remember you must not disturb the turtles in any way they are an endangered and protected species.

Karakum Beach
Only 3km from Kyrenia is this small village with a dark sandy bay.

Lara Beach
This pretty little bay is the kind of beach kids love when they want a little more to explore and a great beach if you are not keen on getting sandy as the western end is a natural terrace of smooth limestone rocks offering fascinating rocky places where kids can spend hours discovering marine creatures in the natural rock pools.

Karaagac Beach
The beaches of North Cyprus are often near historic sights, but this tiny shingle bay tucked away from the road actually is a historic sight as it was once the harbour of the ancient town of Kharcha.

SIGHTS

Bellapais Abbey, North Cyprus
The main feature of Bellapais is without a doubt the impressive remains of the wonderfully atmospheric Abbey. Situated on a rock escarpment with a cliff on the north side that drops over 30m straight down, the Abbey stands guard over the whole of the northern coastline. A walk through the original fortified gatehouse leads you to the picturesque ruins of great Gothic arches and towering stone walls. The six arched windows of the Refectory dining hall offer one of the best views in Northern Cyprus, out over the hillside and down to the harbour at Kyrenia.

Just as impressive at night time, it is definitely worth returning after the crowds have left to enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants around the Abbey (including one in the grounds themselves) and admire the stunning sunsets that tint the ancient arches and ruins in shades of red and gold before the sun completely disappears and the Abbey is illuminated at night.

Fans of classical music should definitely visit Bellapais during May, when the Bellapais Music Festival takes place. Top of the list for any classical music lover the festival attracts international ensembles and soloists to perform in the magnificent Refectory Hall, which is not only highly atmospheric but has excellent acoustics.

Monastery of Apostolos Andreas
At the tip of the Karpass peninsula is one of the pilgrimage centres of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, the Monastery of Apostolos Andreas. It is dedicated to St Andrew, a follower of John the Baptist, and the first to be called by Jesus Christ to spread Christianity. The monastery was supposedly founded here, as during a journey to Palestine, the ship which was transporting Andrew went off course and struck the rocks here. On coming ashore, Andrew struck the rocks with his staff, at which point a spring gushed forth. The waters proved to have healing powers, and restored the sight of the ship's captain who had been blind in one eye. Thereafter, the site became a place of pilgrimage, and in the 15th century, a small chapel was built close to the shore, where to this day, you can still collect the healing water.

The church of the main monastery dates to the 18th century, while the main buildings are 100 years younger. You will first notice a large open courtyard, with cells around the edge that contain single rooms where Pilgrims once stayed. These buildings can be dated as far back as 1867, but due to their disrepair, appear to be much older. Beneath the bell tower, you will find a modern church.
There are two days of the year on which Pilgrims travel to this spot to bring offerings, the 15th August (Assumption day) and the 30th November (St. Andrews Day) which brings both Muslims and Christians to the area.

The Hazreti Omer Mosque and Tomb
The Hazreti Omer Mosque and Tomb is the final resting place of the 7th century Commander and his men who are said to have died whilst defending the area of northern Cyprus against the Arabs. In this picturesque location the small whitewashed structures stand out quite distinctively from their rocky surroundings. Constructed by the Ottomans, the tomb dates back to the Arab raids of the seventh century, although there was almost certainly a local pagan shrine before then. Renovated in the 1950s, today the tomb is a curious mix of tomb and library with fascinating tapestries and rugs as well as piles of books. This tomb is one of the most popular religious sights to visit in North Cyprus, particularly during the Muslim month of Ramadan.

The Kyrenia Folk Art Museum
The Kyrenia Folk Art Museum is housed in a Venetian house on the harbourside and exhibits many traditional items that illustrate the rural life of the area and the house itself is just as fascinating as it comprises three storeys of classical Venetian architecture. On the ground floor, there are items such as an olive press, plough, agricultural instruments, large earthenware fan and traditional workbench. On the upper floor there are examples of craft and handy works including crochet work, materials embroidered with colorful, threads, bedspreads, table covers, head scarves, pillow cases, woollen socks, bowls etc.

Kirsokava
It is thought that this area takes it name from the gold that was possibly mined here. During Roman times it was used first as a cemetery and then as a quarry for limestone. Quarry workers realised that the quarry walls could double as walls for their houses by simply inserting timber beams to hold a roof structure and evidence of these houses can been seen in the walls of the quarry and the steps carved into the rock, leading down to the houses. These North Cyprus quarries were eventually abandoned, most likely because of Arab coastal raids, but possibly because the water supply was not sufficient for the growing population. What makes Kirsokava so unusual is the church of St Mavra, which is built in one of the rock-cut Roman tombs. The church houses some rare 10th century frescoes fragments painted onto the rock face itself.

Sourp Magar Monastery
Situated in a picturesque location on the edge of a cliff and at the beginning of a deep ravine the monastery’s lands originally ran to about 3,000 acres of fruit and olives trees, as well as crops, all watered by the monastery’s own irrigation system. During the 15th century, Sourp Magar Monastery was a popular pilgrim resting place for Armenian pilgrims on their way to and from the Holy Land. The Armenian community of Nicosia used it as a summer retreat, and the monks ran a school for orphans. Despite the fact that the last monks left in the early 20th century, pilgrims continued to visit here and stay overnight, until the events of 1974.

CASINOS
North Cyprus boasts more than 20 casinos nation wide and the island attracts thousands of gaming tourists each year who come seeking thrills and jackpots. The city with the most casinos is Kyrenia, home to some of the best hotels on the island many of which feature discrete but luxurious casinos which are open to both residents and non-residents and offer games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, slots and more.