North Cyprus ● Regions

The eastern coastal area of Gazimağusa Bay is one long, very fine beach with excellent facilities and clean, safe bathing and snorkelling. This harbour town is a fantastic destination for summer holidays as the bay itself is an expanse of golden sands.

It is also very close to the old town, an “outdoor museum” of architecture and ancient ruins. Restored and pedestrianised since 1996, the old town of Gazimağusa is a veritable outdoor museum and a real delight to explore, soak up the sunshine and people-watch in quaint cafes. Just minutes away also lies the thriving new town which is becoming increasingly popular with locals and visitors alike as a fun-packed holiday destination. It's an excellent hub for eating-out, shopping and recreation. Gazimağusa is also close to the vast Roman ruins of Salamis, and a day trip to its ruins and beaches is an absolute must on your holiday to North Cyprus.

Intrigue of the Old City
Founded by the Egyptians, the old walled city of Gazimağusa was once the richest port in the world - and so today is steeped in intriguing antiquity. The town is centred on the main square and the impressive Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque - and is rich in historic monuments, including the famous Othello Tower. Wander leisurely through its palm-lined avenues and soak up its enticingly unique atmosphere.

Beautiful Beaches
Or, venture further north, to the area close to the Salamis ruins, where the stretch of sandy beach continues with clean, safe bathing and snorkelling opportunities. This region, approximately 10 kilometres north of Gazimağusa, is perfect for those seeking a relaxing holiday as most hotels are a stone’s throw from the beach – and it is also an ideal base from which to explore the Karpaz Panhandle.

Salamis Ruins
Dating back to the 11th Century BC, the Salamis ruins are amongst the finest Roman ruins on the island, the highlights of which are the gymnasium and ancient amphitheatre that could once accommodate up to 15,000 spectators.

Charming Venetian harbour town backed by dramatic wooded hills

The long northern coastline is backed by the Beşparmak (Five Finger) Mountains with their dramatic wooded slopes and craggy summits. Sandy beaches and rocky coves await discovery along the shore and the Venetian harbour town of Girne (Kyrenia) sits in the centre in all its considerable beauty.

Venetian Harbour Town
One of the region’s many highlights is the picturesque port town of Girne which is famous for its historic and perfectly crescent-shaped harbour set against the dramatic backdrop of the Beşparmak Mountains. You will enjoy exploring the Venetian castle and facades, cobbled medieval streets, as well as the ancient stone-built warehouses, today transformed into a labyrinth of fascinating craft shops. The town forms the hub of activity in North Cyprus, as visitors and locals alike are drawn to its unhurried pace of life combined with a fantastic array of water-facing restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, including the newly-restored Bandabulya – a collection of craft shops, juice bars and cafes, complete with a Wireless Hotspot. Museums are plentiful in Girne, including the museum of folk art and public arts.

Fresh Local Cuisine
The harbour is home to many local fishing boats - you will relish a mouth-watering feast overlooking the harbour, with an abundance of fresh seafood, grilled meat and kebab dishes or traditional cuisine which makes fine use of the delicious local fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices.

Nearby, castles, ruins and religious relics adorn the Beşparmak Mountains, whilst the lower hills and lowlands are alive with lush greenery, rare species of birds and butterflies, and a natural diversity of flowers that is unmatched in the Mediterranean, including 19 endemic orchid and plant species. Nestled on the Beşparmak Mountains is also the delightful Bellapais village and Monastery which are just a short drive from the town of Girne. Here you will encounter true Mediterranean hospitality and fantastic walking and hiking opportunities.

Fragrant citrus groves and tantalising farmers’ markets

Meaning `beautiful country' in Turkish, Güzelyurt is famed for its fragrant citrus groves and fresh markets selling an array of local produce. Located in the West of North Cyprus, this market town is no ordinary tourist destination, as you can enjoy a wonderfully slow pace of life in beautiful rustic surroundings. Güzelyurt is also famous for its annual Orange Festival, a major event lasting two weeks.

Surrounded by fragrant citrus groves and famous for being the ‘fruit-bowl’ of North Cyprus , the region of Güzelyurt and its capital (also Güzelyurt) make the ideal destination for a day trip from Girne or a longer rural break . As one of the island’s greenest and richest agricultural areas, you will enjoy sampling the region’s deliciously juicy strawberries and citrus fruits (orange, lemon, and grapefruit) from the local covered market. Most of the region’s citrus fruits are exported, with the remaining made into fruit juice and canned for export and local consumption.

Saturday is a good day to visit Güzelyurt, as that is when the weekly market stretches across the whole town, with people coming from nearby towns and villages to buy and sell. You will enjoy browsing, as you can find a whole array of wares for sale, from locally hand-made carpets to an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables which are all grown locally - and many organically.

Güzelyurt is also home to the picturesque town of Lefke (the site of the island’s now defunct copper mines), the Roman ruins at Soli, and the hilltop palace of Vouni. Other attractions include a curious circular British storehouse in Lefke, one of the many churches in the country dedicated to St. Mamas, a fascinating history and archaeology museum housing a collection ranging from the prehistoric age of Cyprus to the Byzantine period with primitive tools and Bronze Age pottery, as well as an array of stunning Orthodox churches.

Spectacular unspoilt landscape where donkeys roam and dreams are made

In the East, in the district of Iskele, the finger of the Karpaz Panhandle points to Syria. This is both a remote and astoundingly beautiful landscape with deserted beaches and ancient villages with once-grand basilicas, tombs and ruins which bear testament to the area’s glorious past.

The Karpaz Panhandle extends from north of Gazimağusa to the northern-most tip of Cyprus. Covering a substantial part of the island and stretching to 80 kilometres in length and up to 20 kilometres in width, the Karpaz is one of North Cyprus’ most spectacular landscapes and still untouched by mass tourism as it is a protected Nature Reserve.

With cypress, maquis and pine swathed hills, and some of the island’s most unspoilt sandy beaches, the Karpaz is North Cyprus' nature reserve - sparsely populated and protected from development; visit this region and you will feel yourself unwind completely. Indeed, with its wild natural beauty, characteristic stone houses and ruined churches, you will discover the serenity of another era.

One of the main attractions of the area is Golden Sands, one of the world’s longest and most glorious beaches, with golden sands that stretch for more than 3km. The beach is fringed with whimsical sand dunes and it is here that green and loggerhead turtles swim ashore to make their nurseries. The Karpaz is also home to around 400-500 wild donkeys, or ‘free donkeys’, that roam across the panhandle.

Journey inwards and enjoy true Mediterranean village hospitality in the ancient village of Büyükkonuk, which has been selected as a pilot village in the Karpaz region for developing eco-village tourism. Traditional crops are grown here including olive, carob, wheat and barley and wooded hills border the village, filling the air with fragrant pine and wild herbs, while olive groves and other trees like almond, Cypress and pine speckle the landscape. It now has its first bed & breakfast guesthouse, restaurant, tourist information office and craft shop & activity centre operating, with additional accommodation planned for next year. At the village activity centre and guest house, Delcraft you can make traditional hellim cheese and olive bread with friendly locals, try your hand at milking goats, walk with shepherds behind their flocks of fluffy sheep or take a walk through bright blooming fields during the wild flower season.

Eastern-most Tip

Further along, discover the most northerly village, Dipkarpaz, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots still live side by side in peace. Also, nestled near the very tip of the Karpaz, on the remote point known as the Cape of Saint Andrea, is the Apostolos Andreas Monastery, a striking Orthodox church that provides breathtaking views of the rugged coastline below.

© North Cyprus Tourism Centre