Regions of Cyprus

Girne (Kyrenia)

The main tourist destination, regarded as the "jewel in the crown," of northern Cyprus, is the harbour town of Kyrenia.
The town was founded by settlers in the 10th Century BC, and was for many centuries one of the 10 Kingdoms of Cyprus. In the 7th Century it was fortified by Byzantines who built the original castle. This was later expanded, first by the Lusignans, a French dynasty, and then by the Venetians. It now holds the world's oldest shipwreck and its cargo of olive oil jars.
After the Ottomans captured the island in 1571,the town remained a minor port. In the 19th century, the British built a harbour and a quay. Under the British Empire, the town was a resting place for officers and their families.
Kyrenia remains an easy place to while away any time of the day... exploring shops, markets and local cafés in late morning, strolling in the narrow cobbled alleys behind the harbour in the afternoon, or stepping out for a brisk walk along the promenade and sea wall in the evening.
As the sun sets, the harbour again becomes the focus of activity as the locals take their evening stroll and the cafés and bistros prepare for their nightly trade. Crisp white linen and small vases of local flowers are lovingly arranged on tabletops to welcome the evening's guests to wine and dine in the cooling breeze.
The promenade has been turned into a pedestrian zone, and chic pavement cafes and restaurants conceal their kitchens behind elegant Venetian façades. Memorable evenings can be enjoyed in the restaurants and cafes, with the candlelight reflecting softly on the water and the gentle strumming of guitar music wafting out across the harbour.

Bogaz Village

Bogaz is a beautiful coastal village on the southern edge of the Karpaz peninsula, with half a dozen fish restaurants ranged round its tiny and picturesque harbour. Bogaz is well situated as a base to explore the region, only a few km north of Iskele and about 25 km north of Famagusta, and on the edge of Karpaz.

Kantara Castle

Kantara means a bridge or arch in Arabic probably so named by the Arab invaders in the past. In fact the whole setting of the terrain looks like an arch and it certainly commands excellent views of the seas on both sides and of long stretches of plain all around it. It was originally built by Byzantines against the invasions of the Saracens.
Further up the coast, about 5 km east, is the foundations of Strongylos Castle, a Byzantine watchtower enlarged by the Knights Templar in the 12th century.

Escape!

Alsancak is a very popular holiday area just 10 minutes west of Kyrenia. It is home to the famous Escape beach, one of the liveliest spots in north Cyprus for bars, restaurants, and an open-air disco. Many pleasure boats from Kyrenia moor here for passengers to take lunch and swim. There is also a dive centre for those who like their thrills under the water. With most of the best restaurants and clubs are clustered along this stretch of coast this is a very popular area for residential property.

Best Beaches

The small village of Bafra has been designated as a tourist zone to die for. Miles of golden sands are home to many five star hotels that are being built in this area, together with the infrastructure of casinos, restaurants, shops and of course residential developments.

The first golf course

Esentepe is a traditional mountainside village just 20 minutes drive from the main tourist town of Kyrenia, with its beautiful Venetian harbour, Crusader castle, shops and restaurants.
The Esentepe area boasts some of the best beaches in Northern Cyprus, for example the famous Alagadi Turtle Beach is just a five minute drive away. This beach has golden sands that stretch over several miles and during the months of June and July, you can watch the turtles nest and then see the babies hatch from their eggs and escape into the beautiful Mediterranean sea. Apart from the wonderful beach, the surrounding olive tree orchards, walking paths and picnic areas there is also the spectacular Korineum Golf and Country Club. The Korineum golf course is an 18 hole championship course only 800 meters from the development. In addition to this there is a new Yachting Marina soon to commence just 5 minutes drive away.

Away from it all

The sheer rugged beauty of this unspoiled corner of the island is simply breathtaking. If Northern Cyprus is the undiscovered secret of the Mediterranean then Sadrazamkoy must surely be one of the jewels in its crown. Here time has stood still. Shepherds tend their sheep and goats, cows are milked by hand and village life goes on much as it has for hundreds of years. This is your great escape. Great Fishing!

Lapta

Lapta is one of the biggest villages in north Cyprus, situated seven miles west of Kyrenia. Here you can enjoy historical sites, beautifully restored buildings and a wide range of hotels, bars and restaurants.
Lapta lies on the narrow strip of land that stretches from east to west between the Five-Finger Mountains Range and the sea, and can be described both as a mountain village and as a coastal town.
Lapta and its surroundings provide some of the most beautiful scenery on the island. The area is highly popular with the English, Germans and other nationalities, who not only come to stay in the many hotels, but also choose to buy houses and settle there. It marks the beginning of the citrus indsutry which stretches out to the west.
In the winter months the air is full of the smell of orange, lemon and tangerine blossom. The abundant water supply also enabled tree planting in the mountains around the village, resulting in a strong tradition of carpentry. The quintessential Cypriot-style wooden chests, still produced in Lapta, are famous throughout the island and have long been a standard feature in houses.

Views to die for!

Bellapais is an ancient village of charm and tradition; its narrow streets and local shops create the feeling that you are still in old Cyprus. It is superbly situated on a natural rock escarpment, halfway up the northern hill slopes, with magnificent views of the Kyrenia coast below and the rugged pinnacles of the Kyrenia Range tower behind.
For the visitor on holiday there are plenty of places in which to stay. The hotels are small, family run and offer personal service. A variety of good restaurants give plenty of choice without venturing very far. For visitors who like to walk there are a variety of trails all starting from the village; for those who want to relax and enjoy the views there is no better place to be.

Commercial but historic

Lefkosa is the capital city of North Cyprus, the center of the administrative district, and currently the only divided capital in the world, with the northern Turkish and southern Greek portions divided by a "Green line"; a border maintained by the United Nations and now a border to the EU.

History

The name of the city dates back to approximately 2,250 years when it was known as Ledra or Ledrae. This name was changed soon to Lefkotheon but was also referred to as Ledron. The name changed once again in the Byzantine era to Lefkon which means "popular grove". The city served as a seat of the kings of Cyprus from 1192, it remained the capital of Cyprus since the 17th century, except for a brief period starting from 1489 when it was taken over by Venetians. Cyprus was taken over by Turks in 1571 and Nicosia became the Capital again. The city went through major development during the Venetian's rule as they built huge, thick ramparts around the city. Nicosia (Lefkosia) was fortified with imposing stone walls and massive gates.The walls are three and half miles long and have eleven towers and three gates. The famous Famagusta Gate still stands today, proudly protecting the still-ancient town within from the modern city outside.

Turtles!

Alagadi is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and framed between the picturesque mountains. It is only a two-minute walking distance to one of the finest beaches in North Cyprus known as "Turtle" beach. This is a protected reserve where the rare Carretta-Caretta and Green Turtles lay their eggs in season every year and is open to the public everyday.
Alagadi is only a 5 minute drive from Esentepe, which is a beautiful, picturesque village, nestled in the mountains and 10 minutes away from the historic and romantic city of Kyrenia.
From every point of Alagadi there are magnificent sea, bay and mountain views. This creates a natural unspoilt environment for residents, in which the government have established and set up building regulations to protect this beautiful area. Apart from the wonderful beach, the surrounding olive tree orchards, walking paths and picnic areas there is also the spectacular Korineum Golf and Country Club. The Korineum golf course is an 18 hole championship course only 800 meters from the development. In addition to this there is a new Yachting Marina soon to commence just 5 minutes drive away.

Sought after

One of the most popular villages in Northern Cyprus, Catalkoy is famous for its stunning views, extensive olive groves, wide range of international restaurants and great local beaches. Being only 8 kilometres east of Kyrenia and only 30 minutes from Ercan International airport it has increasingly become a sought after address for those wishing to buy coastal property in Northern Cyprus yet retain easy access to local amenities and airports.

Best Restaurants

Karaoglanoglu is a sought-after suburb of Kyrenia, about 5km to the west of the town. The village is famous for its lemon and olive groves. Its increasing popularity has created several hotels and restaurants on the coastline.
The Chapel of St Fanurios, carved inside caves on the coast is a must see. The rocks under the chapel are known to contain fossils, rumoured to be that of a hippopotamus! Fanurios was an early Christian who while living in Asia Minor, followed the call of Christ and converted to Christianity and settled in Cyprus. According to the myth, while climbing the steep cliffs one day he fell off and died on the spot where the chapel is now.