Sightseeing
in
Northern Cyprus
2. Famagusta/Magosa/Ammochostos region
3. Region Güzelyurt/West Coast region
1. Girne/Kyrenia region
The town
Girne/Kyrenia (in Turkish Girne, in Greek Kyrenia) is the touristic centre of
Northern Cyprus. Relaxing in the medieval harbour, strolling through the narrow
streets of the Old Town, visiting the cultural highlights (Bellapais, St
Hilarion, the Castle, etc), shopping in the little stores on the side streets,
visiting Girne is a must for every guest on the island.
(Historical)
sightseeing requiring entrance fees:
St. Hilarion castle (only by full day tours possible) 2h
At a height of 730 m St Hilarion castle is the
westernmost and best preserved of the three redoubts built by the Byzantines
and Crusaders.
With walls and towers that appear to sprout out of the
rocks almost randomly, it is a fairly-tale sight living up to Rose Macaulay's
much-quoted description a picture-book castle for elf-kings and the rumour
that Walt Disney used it as a model for the castle in Snow White and Seven
Dwarfs. The legend that was spread locally says that St Hilarion housed 101
rooms, of which 100 could easily be found; the last, an enchanted garden with a
magnificent treasure belonging to an elusive queen of Cypriot folklore, most
probably a holdover of Aphrodite worship.
Bellapais
Monastery 1,5h
Located in the majestic Five Finger Mountains in
Kyrenia, the Bellapais Monastery is a fine example of Gothic architecture, and
is thought to have been started between 1198 and 1205, with more sections being
added after 1267 and after 1324.
Do not miss the refectory where you can admire a nice
sample of Gothic art. Explore the priests rooms that are located to the east
of the courtyard. You will find the dormitories and chamber of accounts on the
upper level. Explore the marble tombs in the courtyard, and take in the
insignias of the Jerusalem, Lusignans, and the Cyprus Kingdoms, which can be
found on the door behind the tombs.
In addition to enjoying the historical value and
architectural beauty of the Bellapais Monastery, you can also enjoy spending
time in a beautiful part of Kyrenia, and enjoying stunning views and
surroundings.
Kyrenia Castle 1h
Kyrenia
castle lies to the north east of Kyrenia town and stands at the entrance to the
harbour at Kyrenia. The original castle which is thought to have been
built in the 7th century A.D. by the Byzantines for the purpose of defending
Kyrenia against Arab raiders and pirates in the early 7th century. The castle
has had various additions made to it during the reign of the Lusignans and was
given its present form by the Venetians.
The castle also houses a Shipwreck Museum, which
displays the remains of a 2,300 year old Greek ship and its cargo, recovered
from the sea bed in the 1960s. The sailors apparently lived on almonds:
thousands of them were recovered from the wreck.
Folk Arts museum at the harbour 1h
The Folk Arts Museum is a truly fascinating historical
attraction, where you can spend time exploring fascinating architecture,
textiles, and more. You will find traditional Cypriot buildings when you come
to the Folk Arts Museum, and there is plenty to explore here.
You can enjoy taking in the traditional Cypriot houses
that can be found here, and you will find a wide range of Cypriot items within
the house on both the lower and upper levels. The houses are two level
properties, and are an example of pre XVII architecture. The museum itself
opened up in 1974.
Antiphonitis Church
with short walking tour (only by full day tours) 3h
The Antiphonitis Church is a beautiful and unusual
structure about 20 km away from Kyrenia. This church formed part of the old
monastery, and many of the frescoes as well as the entrance date back to the 12th
15th Century. We combine the visit with a light, about 4 km long
walking tour in the spring, where we can observe orchids, rockrose and other
botanical items of the Mediterranean Maquis.
Sightseeing without entrance fees:
Weekly Wednesday market 1h
A visit to
this market gives you the opportunity to test and buy diverse culinary
specialities of the island like traditional bread, Halloumi cheese, Olives,
Olive oil, Turkish delights, etc.
Old Town / Harbour 1,5h
Enjoy a
relaxing free time at one of the most romantic harbours of the Mediterranean Sea.
Bittaci Bakery 1h
Learn how
to bake Zeytinli and Helimli: two typical Cypriot bread sorts filled with
olives and Halloumi and topped with sesame seeds.
2.
Famagusta/Magosa/Ammochostos region
Famagusta is the centre of the Famagusta golf
in the East of the island and has the nicest sandy beaches in Northern Cyprus.
Famagusta has a unique medieval old town inside its Venetian walls, has one of
the most best kept Byzantine ruins (Salamis) and is also hometown for the
biggest university in Northern Cyprus with more than 14.000 students (EMU).
(Historical)
sightseeing requiring entrance fees:
St. Barnabas 1,5h
St Barnabas is credited with introducing Christianity
to Cyprus together with Apostle Paul. His activities displeased the powerful
Jewish community in Salamis and their reaction was to stone him to death. His
body was buried in a secret location by his cousin Mark. The story might have
ended there but, 400 years later, Barnabas appeared in a dream to the
Archbishop of Salamis and revealed the location of his tomb. A monastery was founded
on the site of the tomb in the 5th century but the present build dates from
1756. The former monks cells around the inner courtyard now house an
archaeological collection arranged clockwise from the Bronze Age to the
Venetian period. The church is now an icon museum although the best ones were
stolen many years ago.
Salamis Ruins 1,5h (by special historical / archaeological interest up
to 4h)
We visit
the excavations of the antique town Salamis, which used to have 150.000
inhabitants and was became the capital of Cyprus as far back as 1.100 BC. The
Gymnasium, the baths and the amphitheatre with a capacity of 15.000 are
preserved from its golden times. The extended excavation area covers the ruins
of the St Epiphanus basilica with its wonderful mosaics, the temple of Zeus and
the Forum.
The Royal Tombs 1h
The Royal
Tombs are a small part of the necropolis of Salamis, which has been excavated
and open for public visits. The museum exhibits samples of the grave mounds,
which can be viewed outdoor. The tombs, constructed in the 7th and 8th
centuries BC were actually built over 500 years after the events of the Trojan
War. Many fascinating finds were made such as an ivory-inland throne and bed,
plus numerous objects in precious metals and ivory.
Othello Tower 0,5h
The Othello
Tower was the last defence post on the town walls and was originally built as a
moated citadel in order to protect Famagusta's harbour. The name was given
later by the English in connection with Shakespeare's "Othello"
theatre play.
Sightseeing without entrance fees:
Old Town / Cathedral 1,5h
In the Old
Town of Famagusta you visit the gothic formerly Nicklauss Cathedral, which
serves nowadays as Lala Musafa Pascha Mosque. Beside you have the opportunity
for nice shopping and tasting the nice sweets of the renowned pastry shop Petek.
Weekly Thursday market 1h
Being the
biggest weekly market in Northern Cyprus, you find fresh vegetables and fruits,
as well as typical Cypriot agricultural products like bread, cheese, honey,
carob, etc
Swim break at Salamis 1,5h
The fine
sandy beach and the turquoise water directly next to the excavation site of
Salamis is a nice opportunity to relax and take in the deep impressions of the
historical sightseeing of the ruins.
Pastry shop Petek 1h
Petek is a
renowned popular pastry for tourists and locals in the heart of Famagusta with
a lot of Cypriot specialities like ekmek kadayifi. Do not miss it!
3. Güzelyurt/West coast region
The west coast of Northern Cyprus in the
Güzelyurt region is in a touristic development phase. Translated from Turkish
Güzelyurt means beautiful country and is the most irrigated region in
Northern Cyprus. It is the main growing area for citrus fruits and used to be
an important centre of copper mining. The ruins of the loading platforms are
still shaping parts of the landscape in this area.
Sightseeing
requiring entrance fees:
The blue house/Mavi Kösk closed on Mondays 1h
The house
of Paola Pavlidis, the allegedly advocate of Archbishop Makarios and more
renowned for his weapon smuggle activities, is one of the most curious and
interesting sightseeing in Northern Cyprus. The nicely decorated in the 50s
built property was visited by renowned celebrities such as Sofia Loren. It
exhibits some peculiar architectural features worth seeing. Today it lies
inside a military area and can only be visited with advanced notification and
upon presentation of ID / passport.
St. Mamas and Archaeological Museum 1h
St Mamas is
believed to be the protector of tax evaders!... and
also an ear, nose and throat specialist under the Cypriot Orthodox saints. We
visit the icon museum (formerly church) and the adjacent archaeological museum
with its newest discoveries such as The Golden Leaves of Soli.
Ruins and mosaics of Soli 1h
The mosaics
of the huge St Auxibius basilica exhibit the evolution of mosaics in the 4th
and 5th century AD. The Theatre of Soli with a capacity of 5.000
visitors offers marvellous views of the Güzelyurt Bay.
Vouni Palace 1h
The Vouni
Palace was a Persian military estate with stunning views of the Mediterranean
Sea and the Troodos mountains.
Sightseeing without entrance fees:
Dairy factory in Camlibel
Here we
see, smell and taste how the Halloumi cheese (Hellim in Turkish) is produced in
a traditional way. Opportunity for guided tasting and
shopping.
Weekly Saturday market 1h
Weekly markets
in the center of Güzelyurt, next to St Mamas with typical Cypriot products like
bread, Halloumi, Sucuk, etc
Orange garden Sahin 0,5h
Opportunity
to taste fresh pressed orange and pomegranate juices and have an insight in the
techniques of citriculture.
Orchids (in February and March) 1h
On the way
from Kyrenia to Güzelyurt we visit one of the locations, where we can see the
huge orchid (Barlia Robertiana) and the endemic Ophrys Kotschii among other
botanical peculiarities.
Lefke Town 1,5h
The Town
Lefke was in the English occupation era an important residential area for
miners. In the 10th century BC the Phoenicians started planting date
palms, which are still the emblem of the town. A coffee shop on the edge of the
valley offers fresh juices and the opportunity to taste and buy different kinds
of candy sweets.
Kormacit Village 1h
The spoken
languages in Kormacit are Greek and Aramaic (original language of Jesus
Christ). The inhabitants are members of the Maronite Church, which is a
Catholic Church with its quarter heads in Lebanon. Many Greek Cypriots and
Maronites from the South come on weekends and especially for Eastern Holidays
to assist the Holy Mass. Afterwards they eat Kleftiko (oven baked lamb) at the
renowned restaurant Yorgos.
Coast road to Sadrazamköy 1h
The coast
road from Karsiyaka to Sadrazamköy offers stunning views of the Besparmak
cliffs and is a beautiful end of a day for the way back from Kormacit.
4.
Karpaz peninsula region
The Karpaz peninsula offers mainly: untouched
nature and landscape, where interesting villages and a couple of cultural sightseeing
are embedded. The eastern noseof Cyprus is dominated by the pilgrim monastery
of St Andreas at the very far end of the island, which is managed by the
orthodox priest.
Sightseeing
requiring entrance fees:
Kantara Castle 1,5h
We visit
the Kantara castle to enjoy the amazing panoramic views of the Besparmak Mountains,
the Mesaria fields and Famagusta. By good weather we can even see the Taurus Mountains
on the Turkish mainland.
Agias Trias 1h
The ruins
of the early Christian basilica in the near of the village Sipahi (one of the
last spots of Northern Cyprus, where Greek Cypriots are still living) gain
their importance from the remarkable floor mosaics.
Iskele Panagía Theotókos Church 1h
The Panagia
Theotokus Church built in the 12th Century was dedicated to St Mary
and is a chief masterwork of byzantine architecture and fresco painting art.
Sightseeing without entrance fees:
Bogaz Fisher village 0,5h
A tiny
village on the Famagusta Bay, offering a nice coffee break opportunity on the
way to Karpaz.
Büyükkonuk Bio village 1h
In this Bio
village all agricultural products come from organic farms and are processed to get
organic bread, olive oil, cheese, handmade pasta, etc, which we get the
opportunity to taste.
Olive oil factory Karpaz 0,5h
The Olive
oil factory Karpaz offers us an insight in the olive oil production and invites
us to taste its high qualitative products.
Dipkarpaz village 0,5h
Dipkarpaz is
one of the rare places, where Greek Cypriots did not leave after the events of
1974 (division of the island) and are still living there in peace, together
with North Cypriots and Turks.
Agios Philon 0,5h
Here we visit
the ruins of the antique town Karpasia, with a fine sandy beach and a nice Restaurant.
St. Andrews Church 1h
The church
has been built on the spot, where - according to the legend- St Andreas found a
water source having healing properties for ophthalmic and cutaneous diseases.
The place is an important pilgrim destination for orthodox Christians,
especially from Southern Cyprus.
Golden Beach 1-3h
The long
untouched fine sandy beach on the southern coast is not only a nesting location
for Caretta turtles, but offers also a matchless swimming experience in its
crystal clear turquoise water.
Coast Road 1,5h
The road
along the northern shore has been renewed almost until the Dipkarpaz village,
offering stunning panoramic views, as it winds between the Besparmak Mountains
and the sea.
Kaleburnu 1h
Kaleburnu
is a little village on the southern shore of the Karpaz peninsula away of the
main roads. In 2004 surprising funds from the bronze era have been made in the
Kings hill. The public beach of the village is a very good alternative for
the Golden Beach.
5.
The
capital Nicosia
The town Nicosia is the capital of both
Northern and Southern Cyprus and is therefore the last divided European
capital.
Sightseeing
requiring entrance fees:
Stone museum
In the stone
museum we can admire the vestiges of the state palace of the Lusignans built in
gothic style.
Derwisch Pascha House
An ethnographic museum in the house of Derwisch Pascha, who was the
editor of the first newspaper in Cyprus.
Mevlevi Monastery
The monastery
of whirling dervishes was closed in 1953 and serves today as a museum for Sufi
culture.
Southern Cyprus: Ledra Museum KH Debenhams
Panoramic
view on both parts of the town (North and South) from the 11th floor
of the Debenhams mall
Southern Cyprus: Byzantine museum in the Archbishops palace
A stunning
collection of byzantine art
Southern Cyprus: Archaeological Museum
The archaeological
museum exhibits the history of 10.000 years. Reserve a half day for it!
Southern Cyprus: Dragoman house
Dragoman was
the mediator between the Greek speaking population in Cyprus and the ottoman
government.
Sightseeing without entrance fees:
Girne Gate
The
Northern gate out of three entrances to the town
Samanbahce
This is the
first inner-city project in Cyprus dating back to the 30s. The houses are
built with straw-clay bricks.
Venetian
column:
Power
symbol of the Venetian era in the centre of the town
Checkpoint Lokmaci
The Checkpoint
in the centre of the Old Town was opened in 2008 and links both parts of the
town for pedestrians.
Büyük Han
The Great
Inn is a masterpiece of ottoman architecture and is a popular meeting point in
the Old Town of Nicosia. It offers also a nice shopping opportunity for
different kinds of souvenirs.
Arasta quarter
This
quarter is renowned for its bazaar (traditional market) and still offers great
choices.
Arabahmet quarter and mosque
In the
Western part of Nicosia, all around the Arabahmet mosque are typical ottoman
houses, recently renovated as part of a big EU-project.
Büyük Hamam
The Turkish
bath of Nicosia was recently renovated and is a welcomed opportunity for
bathing and massages in a typical ottoman Hamam.
Selimiye Mosque
The
formerly Sophia Cathedral is a masterpiece of gothic architecture in Northern Cyprus
and serves since the 16th century as a mosque.
Hasdar Foundation for folk art
Here you
can see how typical artefacts of the Cypriot folk art are designed such as
chairs, embroideries, coffers, etc. Shopping here is for fair prices and helps
preserving this folk art.
Bandabuliya market hall
In the
market hall built in the English era we find vegetables, fruits, but also
souvenirs and sweets.
Southern Cyprus: Museum Levantis
The
Levantis museum exhibits the development of Cyprus in the middle age and
byzantine era.
Southern Cyprus: Joan Church in
the Archbishops palace
The church
is abundantly decorated with frescos and counts as one of the oldest byzantine
artworks in Nicosia.