Did you know that Northern Cyprus is the safest place in the world? There you can leave your homes and cars open, and there are absolutely no homeless people there. Do you know which city in Northern Cyprus is considered the most picturesque, as well as the most comfortable and reliable for tourists? This is Kyrenia (Cyprus), which is also known as Girne (the Turkish name for the city).
General information
The port city of Kyrenia is located at the foot of the mountains of the same name, directly at the sea – the Mediterranean.
When the independent state of Cyprus split into the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1974, Kyrenia found itself on the territory of the latter. That’s why the Turkish lira has become the main currency here, although the euro is also in use.
This small town is home to about 27,000 people, whose main source of income is tourism. After all, Kyrenia is a fairly popular resort in Northern Cyprus.
The streets in Girne are narrow, built up with low, pretty houses. Of the high-rise buildings – the only house with 5 floors.
Attention! Northern Cyprus, including Girne, is rightly considered an absolutely safe city. There really isn’t any theft. But! In any store, cafe, beach, or parking lot, they try to cheat tourists (they may overstate the price or include something extra in the invoice).
Kyrenia Tourist Attractions
Girne (Kyrenia) is a very calm and peaceful city. It is absolutely not suitable for fans of speed and fast pace of life, and even for active work. But it is one of the best cities for a relaxing holiday and unhurried walks.
This is interesting! Girna, like all of Northern Cyprus, has many casinos and poker rooms. The casino offers its visitors several pleasant bonuses. First, if the player loses money, at the end he is paid 10 % of the lost amount. Secondly, cigarettes and cigars, alcohol and any food for customers are absolutely free.
City Harbor
The most popular tourist spot in Girne is the old harbour. It is from here, from the port area, that this city began to be built several centuries ago. Therefore, the buildings themselves are located here-they stand along the shoreline of the pier.
There are also a lot of coastal cafes and restaurants that convey the authentic atmosphere of Girne.
Note to tourists! In the resorts of Seven Cyprus, the fix menu system is popular: for a fixed fee, a table with various snacks and salads is offered, and then small portions of different dishes are served every 10-15 minutes.
Kyrenia Castle and its museums
In the eastern part of the harbor is one of the most ancient structures of Girne – its foundation was laid in the time of Ancient Rome. We are talking about the Kyrenian Fortress.
There are a lot of interesting things on the territory of the defense complex. You can go to the Chapel of St. George, built in the XII century. You can view an installation on a military theme: figures of soldiers, weapons, armor of different eras and states. In the museum of ancient Neolithic dwellings there is a reconstruction of such dwellings (archaeological finds were made 9 km from Girne). The basement on the north side of the building is occupied by the torture Museum, which shows incredibly realistic scenes of torture of knights. If you want to have a snack – you can go to the cafe located in the courtyard of the fortress.
The Shipwreck Museum in Kyrenia Castle is also worth a visit. There are not many exhibits, the most interesting is an ancient Greek merchant ship that sank off the coast of Kyrenia. Divers found it in 1967. In addition to the remains of the ship, scientists raised several hundred amphorae, a couple of dozen millstones, metal and ceramic dishes from the bottom. To ensure the safety of all exhibits, the room has an air-conditioning system and a low temperature is maintained.
At the end of the walk, you can climb the walls of the bastion and walk around them around the perimeter. From the height, you can see all the buildings of the fortress, enjoy a magnificent view of the sea and mountains, and also get stunning panoramic photos of Kyrenia.
- Address: 88RC+JQG, Kyrenia 99300, Northern Cyprus. Entrance from the western wall.
- Opening hours: from April to the end of October-from 8: 00 to 18: 00, from November to the end of March – from 8: 00 to 16: 00.
- Admission is free for children under 12 years of age, while for other visitors the ticket price is 1.2€. This price includes access to all museums located in the castle.
Church of the Archangel Michael
To the west of the harbor and the Kyrenia Fortress is the Church of the Archangel Michael, built in 1860. It is a white building with beautiful arches, the high bell tower of which is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The walls of the building are carved with semicircular pediments, through the windows of which a lot of sunlight enters inside.
The interior of the room is strict and modest at the same time. The wooden three-tiered iconostasis is crowned with the Crucifixion of Christ, the statue of the Mother of God and John the Theologian.
Since 1990, the church has been operating a museum, which presents the largest collection of icons in Cyprus. Most of the icons were painted in the XIX and XX centuries, but there are copies of the beginning of the XVII century. All icons are placed on the site of the women’s gallery in 3 levels. Nearby there are railway displays that contain information about the meaning of each icon.
- Address: 88R9+RCG, Atilla Sk, Girne 99300, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
- Visiting hours: on Thursday from 8: 00 to 17: 00, on other days of the week from 8: 00 to 15: 30.
- Entrance fee: 0.6 €.
St. Hilarion Castle
There wasn’t much left of the castle. In fact, these are ruins that fit quite naturally and beautifully into the rocks of the Kyrenian plateau. The top of the castle is located at 732 m above sea level, from there you can see not only the entire city of Girne (Kyrenia), but also the entire Kyrenian coast of Northern Cyprus.
To get to the top, you need to go through 3 tiers of castle buildings. The first level, where there were utility rooms and servants ‘ quarters, is easy to pass. Climbing the path to the second tier, where the church and the royal chambers were located, is a little more difficult. And to the third tier, where the Lusignans ‘ chambers were, there are rather steep stone steps.
- Location: 876J+HCG, St. Hilarion, Karmi, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
- It is open every day at this time: in April-October from 9: 00 to 17: 00, in December-February from 8: 00 to 14: 00.
- Entrance fee is 0.5 €. Parking is free.
Note to tourists! Parking near the castle is designed for 10-15 cars. You can park in the morning without any problems, but by 11:00 there may not be any free places.
Bellapais Abbey
On a steep slope at the foot of the mountains, in the small village of Bellapais, there is a complex of the abbey of the same name. Picturesque ruins of ancient limestone buildings surrounded by flowering vegetation – an amazing monument of Gothic architecture.
You can learn more about this attraction in Northern Cyprus in a separate article.
Girne Beaches
On the shore of Girne, private beach clubs and recreation areas belonging to hotels and restaurants are mainly located. Admission to the private beach costs € 2-7. 5, including a sun lounger with umbrella, toilet and shower. Employees of tourist offices in the city harbor and on the territory of private beach clubs offer numerous activities: diving, paragliding, water skiing and motorcycles, sea tours.
The great advantage of Kyrenia’s beaches is that despite the level of pollution on the coast, the water near the coast is always clean.
Alagadi Turtle Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Cyprus is located in Girna, more precisely, 15 km from the city center. This is the Alagadi Protected Area, better known as Turtle Beach. This name is quite justified, because it is there, on the sandy coast, that sea turtles lay their eggs. These masonry structures, which are located along the entire length of the shore, are marked by volunteers with white barriers.
The protected beach area is long and wide, it occupies several coves. The most spacious and popular one is located behind the parking lot, which is very crowded on weekends.
The sea near the shore is warm and clear, although sometimes the waves carry a lot of algae. The entrance to the sea is gentle with extensive shallow water, the bottom is sandy and without stones.
Amenities include changing cabins, paid shower and toilet facilities. All this is available only on the coast of the western (more remote) bay of Alagadi prestige.
Attention! There is no place to hide from the sun on Alagadi, so you will have to take your own umbrellas.
Lara Beach, Wakiflar Beach
In the Girne area, near the town of Voursi, there is a private landscaped Lara Beach. There is everything for a lazy pastime: sun beds, umbrellas, changing rooms, showers, toilets, a restaurant.
The beach is well maintained, although the opposite impression can be created due to the dark volcanic sand. And the water near the shore is really a little muddy.
Large waves often rise, creating the most favorable conditions for surfing and windsurfing.
Diana Beach
Diana private beach area is located in a small bay, it is 300 m long and no more than 40 m wide. The borders of the beach are closed by stone breakwaters, so the sea is always calm near the shore. The entrance to the water is gentle, the sea floor is covered with stones, and the shore is covered with pebbles mixed with fine imported sand.
Attention! Recently, tourists often complain that there is a large amount of garbage in the sand, and that the sea floor is heavily overgrown with algae.
Infrastructure for a comfortable stay on Diana Beach is present: toilets, changing rooms and showers, for an additional fee there are sun beds and umbrellas. Entrance to the territory is paid, and even for a child – 7.5 €.
Diana Beach is located near Ozankoy Village. It is separated from the highway, along which the beach strip stretches, by stands of olive trees. Near the road there are several shops, supermarkets and restaurants.
Even at the height of the season in Cyprus, Diana Beach is quiet and sparsely populated.
Kervansaray Halk Plajı Beach
Kervansaray is a public beach, which means you can stay on its territory on your own towel for free. However, at the height of the season there are always a lot of vacationers, and there may not be free space.
Equipment-sun beds with mattresses and umbrellas-paid. The entire infrastructure on the territory of Kervansaray was updated a couple of years ago, and you can use it for free. These include shade sheds, toilets, changing rooms, showers, and footwash taps. There are also well-equipped children’s and sports grounds.
The beach strip reaches a length of 300 m, all of it is covered with soft golden sand. The entrance to the water is smooth, the bottom near the shore is also sandy. Along the edges, mounds are made that go far out to sea – thanks to them, there are practically no waves in this area.
Escape Beach Club (Sunset)
The private beach Club Escape is located 9 km from Girne in Alsancak Village. This is one of the most picturesque coastal areas of Northern Cyprus, where there are always a lot of tourists.
The well-groomed territory consists of: a green lawn, a pontoon, as well as a recreation area with a sandy and large-pebble surface, along which paths made of planks are laid. Near the shore there is a pretty rocky island that protects the bay from sea currents. Fans of taking pictures get to it along a narrow sandbank. Along the entire length of the beach strip, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and the water is clear.
The price of the visit (2.5 € for everyone over 10 years old) includes the use of a sunbed and umbrella. On-site facilities include changing rooms, showers and bio toilets, as well as free Wi-Fi.
On the territory of the Escape there is an entertainment complex, where vacationers are offered a variety of water activities.
Note to tourists! There are so many people who want to get lessons from certified instructors that you need to register for a diving school several months in advance.
Where to stay
Since Kyrenia is located on a long and narrow strip between the mountains and the coast, any part of the city is located in a picturesque area close to the sea. But still there are some features:
- Hotels located in close proximity to the sea are also located near the main road. The main shops and restaurants are located along it, and public transport runs only along this road in the city.
- Hotels that are closer to the mountains are far removed from the road. It will be very difficult for their guests to move around the city, and they will need to rent a car.
- The center of Kineria is the most densely populated area of the city, where all visiting students rent housing. A hotel in the center is not the best choice for a relaxing holiday. But, living in this area, it will be convenient to move around the city on foot.
Northern Cyprus is quite an expensive holiday destination. But it is still much cheaper than Greek Cyprus, because there are many times fewer tourists in Northern Cyprus.
Double rooms in the most luxurious hotels in Kyrenia with amazing internal service (for example, in Merit or in Post Cratos), will cost about € 100 per night.
More budget hotels – comfortable, but not luxury – offer accommodation in a room for two for 35-50 € per day. For approximately the same amount, comfortable apartments are rented daily in the city.
How to get there from Nikossia
You do not need a visa to visit Northern Cyprus. However, Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey and therefore any transport connection takes place exclusively in the direction of “Turkey-Northern Cyprus” and back.
If you have a Schengen visa and a car, you can go to Southern Cyprus, and from there to Northern Cyprus. The best place to cross the border is in Nicosia, the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Kyrenia is only 25 km from Nikossia, and a 20-minute rental car ride will take you there. The Nicosia-Kyrenia (Cyprus) shuttle bus with North Cyprus is a 30-minute drive away.
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