The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is officially recognized only by Turkey, for the rest of the world it is part of the Republic of Cyprus. This state of affairs has existed since 1983, when the newly minted state declared its independence. This was the result of a 20-year conflict between the Greek and Turkish communities, which erupted just 3 years after Cyprus seceded from the British Empire in 1960.
After another 10 years, Greeks came to power — supporters of the annexation of Cyprus to Greece, and under the pretext of protecting the Turkish diaspora, Turkey introduced its troops to the island. Thus, the island was actually divided into two parts: the south controlled by Greek Cypriots and the north controlled by Turkish Cypriots. Negotiations in the UN about a possible unification led to nothing. Now the border separating the North from the South — called the Green Line — is guarded by UN armed forces.
What you need to know about North Cyprus
- The capital of Northern Cyprus is Nicosia, which here is called Lefkosha. The city is also the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, making it the only one of its kind in the modern world. A dividing «green line» runs through the city.
- The currency unit is the Turkish lira (TRY), but euros, dollars and even British pounds sterling are widely accepted. Currency can be exchanged at banks or exchange offices — the rates are about the same everywhere. You can easily pay with a bank card, but fees may apply.
- Banks are open Monday through Friday only from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the summer. In winter, opening hours from 14:00 to 16:00 are added.
- Many stores have a break during the day: from 1:00pm to 4:00pm in the summer and 1:00pm to 2:00pm in the winter.
- As in southern Cyprus, three-pin sockets are ubiquitous in Northern Cyprus — a British heritage — so it’s worth bringing adapters with you or buying them locally.
- The ideal time to travel to Cyprus is from mid-May to mid-October. The summer heat is quite easily tolerated due to the low humidity.
- There are 2 mobile operators in North Cyprus: KKTCELL and TELSIM. Both support roaming with Russian operators, but it will be cheaper to buy a SIM card of a local company. You don’t even need a passport for this.
How to get to Northern Cyprus
Access is by air or sea from Turkey and by car from the Republic of Cyprus. No visa is required for a period of up to 90 days.
- By airplane, Northern Cyprus can only be reached via Turkey in an hour and a half from Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya and Adana. All Turkish Airways, Pegasus, Atlas Jet and Anadolu Jet flights arrive at Ercan Airport, the only airport in Northern Cyprus.
- Ferries run from Alanya and Tashuju in Turkey to the port of Girne (Kyrenia). Ferry timetables and fares can be found here.
- It is possible to rent a car in the Republic of Cyprus and drive it to the North by crossing the land border by car or on foot through one of the checkpoints.
If you plan to see the northern and southern parts of the island in one trip, you should enter only from the south: you can enter and exit from the Republic of Cyprus to Northern Cyprus, but you cannot enter the Republic of Cyprus from Northern Cyprus. The island belongs to the Schengen zone, and you can only get a border crossing stamp if you arrive through the Republic of Cyprus — for example, Larnaca airport. If you entered North Cyprus from Turkey, then from the point of view of the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, you crossed the border illegally, so you will not be allowed to go south through the «green line».
Customs restrictions
Without paying customs duties to North Cyprus, one adult can bring:
- 400 cigarettes or 0.5 kilograms of tobacco;
- 1 liter of any alcoholic beverages.
The maximum amount of money allowed for import and export is 10 thousand $ or its equivalent in other currencies.
It is forbidden to export antiques and any archaeological finds from northern Cyprus.
North Cyprus Insurance
Medical insurance is not compulsory, but it is still advisable to have it just in case. There are some nuances with insurance.
- As North Cyprus is not a separate state for the rest of the world, except Turkey, the insurance will be taken out simply for Cyprus.
- If you enter North Cyprus from South Cyprus, the insurance is valid for the whole island.
- Before taking out insurance, be sure to check with the insurance company how it will be valid in Northern Cyprus. It is important to be meticulous and read the «small print» carefully, as the consultant may not have all the necessary information and may misinform you.
Insurances that are definitely valid in North Cyprus can be bought on Tripinsurance, Cherehapa, Instore.travel.
How to cross the green line
Access to Northern Cyprus from Southern Cyprus is possible through one of the checkpoints located along the Green Line. Information on available border crossing points is available here.
There are three 24-hour stations in Nicosia:
- Agios Dometios (Metehan) is the main border crossing point. It is accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, cars and transportation of goods.
- The pedestrian point on Ledra Street is the most relevant for tourists wishing to get to the «northern» part of the capital.
- Pedestrian point at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the Old Town. Intended for pedestrians and cyclists only.
There are two locations in UK-controlled territory, both open from 10:00 to 19:00:
- In Pergamos (Pergamos, Bayarmudu).
- In Strovilia — convenient for trips to Famagusta.
Points in other cities:
- In Pyrgas (Kato Pyrgos, Yesilirmak) — the westernmost crossing, conveniently accessible from Paphos and Polis, open 24 hours a day.
- In Astromeritis (Astromeritis, Bostanci/Guzelyurt) — open from 10:00 to 19:00.
- In Lefka (Lefka, Lefke).
- In Derynia (Derynia, Famagusta/Gazimagusa).
You will need a passport to cross the border, but it will not be stamped — you will be given a sheet to fill in your data and the border crossing will be stamped on it. You should keep it and return it with your passport when you return.
If you are crossing the border by car, you will need to take out insurance — MTPL — for the entire duration of your stay. This can be done directly at the border crossing point.
North Cyprus resorts
Northern Cyprus is half the size of southern Cyprus, there are few resort towns, but they do exist, and those who like to laze on the beach will not be disappointed. Each town in North Cyprus has a Greek and Turkish name. Read more: What to see in Northern Cyprus.
Famagusta, Gazimagusa (Αμμμόχωστος, Gazimağusa)
Until 1974 it was the main tourist town of Cyprus. Now the elite neighborhood of Varosha, which once hosted many international stars, is a ghost town, fenced off for many years. There are excellent beaches here, and the abundance of various attractions makes for an interesting vacation. Don’t miss the opportunity to wander around the Old Town, walk around the fortress area, visit the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, and be sure to visit ancient Salamis and the Karpasia Peninsula to Cape Andreas, the most northeastern point of Cyprus.
Kyrenia, Girne (Κερύνεια, Girne)
Perhaps the most popular resort in Northern Cyprus these days, people come here for a relaxing beach vacation, for which there is an excellent infrastructure: clean sandy beaches, hotels, water parks, nightclubs, bars and stores. There is also its own set of attractions: be sure to visit Kyrenia Fortress, visit the museum of shipwrecks, go to Bellapais Abbey and St. Hilarion Castle.
Morfu, Güzelyurt (Μόρφου, Güzelyurt)
The citrus capital of the island on the shores of the bay of the same name. It is even calmer here than in Famagusta or Kyrenia. The city is famous for its Orange Festival — a bright, colorful festival held in July and August. There is also the monumental church of St. Mamas, the Museum of Archaeology and Natural History, the Ruins of Soli, the Temple of Pigathes and the Ancient Settlement of Tumba Tu Skuru.
Beaches of Northern Cyprus
Famagusta area has the best beaches in Northern Cyprus, so many tourists spend their vacations here.
- Glapsides Plaji is located near the ancient city of Salamin. It is convenient for vacationing with children due to the gentle entrance to the sea. It is also a great place for children due to its gentle sea entrance.
- Silver Plaji is right next to Salamin, so it’s very convenient to combine relaxation and ruins sightseeing.
- Long Beach is a one and a half kilometer long sandy beach, which is considered to be one of the best resorts in Northern Cyprus. It is very clean, well-maintained and has good infrastructure.
- Bafra Beach (Mehmetçik Belediye Plaji / Bafra) is one of the most popular beaches north of Famagusta near the village of Cayirova. It is a developing resort area with large hotels and excellent transportation accessibility. The beach is sandy, with a gentle entrance to the sea, umbrellas and sunbeds are available.
- Golden beach is located on the peninsula of Karpasia — not far, but the most convenient way to get here from Famagusta. The huge wild beach with golden colored sand is one of the most beautiful and clean.
The beaches in the Morphou area are suitable for tourists who prefer solitude: Caretta beach is a large, crowded beach covered with pebbles and sand. There is virtually no infrastructure here, but there are great waves — hello surfers! Turtles also come here to lay their eggs, so the beach is recognized as a nature reserve.
Kyrenia also boasts some interesting beaches:
- Alagadi Plaji, a shallow beach 20 km from Kyrenia, is known for the sea turtles that lay their eggs here between June and October. As a sign of respect for the reptiles, access to the beach is possible only from 8:00 to 20:00.
- Diana beach is an artificial beach with imported sand 2 km from Kyrenia. The beach is chargeable — regardless of age you have to pay 15 liras to enter.
- Acapulco Beach is a very clean long beach 20 minutes drive from Kyrenia. There are almost no waves here due to its convenient location in the bay. The beach has an excellent infrastructure and a lot of entertainment, including an aqua park, children’s and adult pools, playgrounds for various games. All because the beach belongs to the five-star hotel of the same name, but for 12 liras guests can use it as well.
Where to stay in North Cyprus
There are hostels, guesthouses, apartments and hotels to suit every budget. The level of service is not much different from the Republic of Cyprus, but the prices are lower.
Among chain hotels there are only Turkish Merit International Hotels & Resorts, Kaya Group and local chain Oscar Group.
Public transportation and cabs
Like the southern part of the island, the North has an extensive network of bus routes. Buses connect all major towns and villages in the country, but they do not go to most tourist attractions. The name of the route can usually be read on the windshield.
The buses have no fixed schedule, they run at 20—30 minute intervals: in summer — until 20:00, in winter — until 18:00. The ticket price is 3—4 lira and you have to pay directly to the driver. Here you can see the intervals of buses on the most popular routes.
In addition to buses, there are shuttle buses between the cities every 10—20 minutes — they are called «dolmush». The fare is about the same as the bus fare.
Cabs in North Cyprus are equipped with meters, but they are not always used. The fare depends on the route.
Rent a car
Renting a car in North Cyprus is not a problem. There are plenty of rental offices, especially in Kyrenia. The car can be delivered to the airport or hotel. Some companies even provide a transfer from Larnaca airport.
The driver must be over 25 years old to rent a car. A national or international driver’s license is required.
North Cyprus, like southern Cyprus, is right-hand drive and mostly right-hand drive cars. The speed limit on the highways is 100 km/h and speeding is monitored by cameras.
Most gas stations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., but there are also 24-hour gas stations.
A few options of car rental agencies with offices at Ercan Airport are Cyprus Elite Rentals, Pacific Rent A Car, Trip Rent A Car. International aggregators such as Rentalcars can be used without any problems.
What to bring from Northern Cyprus
I recommend bringing edible souvenirs — they are distinctive and interesting here.
- Turkish sweets: lukum, pismaniye (pismaniye) — resembles cotton candy, pekmezi — syrup from carob pods, honey and nuts in honey.
- Olives and olive oil.
- Hellim cheese is soft, brick-shaped, salty or unsalted. Great for frying or grilling.
- Turkish coffee is flavorful and full-bodied.
Local artisans make interesting and unusual items for the home: striped mats, home textiles, shawls and stoles with traditional Famagusta ornaments, while willow twigs are used to make baskets, furnishings and even paintings.
I have been to Northern Cyprus twice. Both times we came here from the South by rented car. We flew to Cyprus on a pro-visa, without a Schengen, and never had any problems crossing the Green Line.
This is a method I’m willing to recommend to all adventurers, as it gives you the opportunity to cover a whole bunch of very different things in one trip.
The North seemed more like Turkey to me. A dash of Oriental flavor adds color to Cyprus and makes the vacation brighter — as if I had been to two different countries in one trip.
