Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), briefly Northern Cyprus, is a de facto state that declared its independence in 1983. As a de facto state, only Türkiye accepts its independence; however, it welcomes tourists from many parts of the world. It is also a member of various organizations and has representations in some states.
So, is it worth visiting the north of Cyprus Island in the Eastern Mediterranean? Everything you need to know and wonder about is here...
What's in this Post?
- A Few Facts
- How to Go to Northern Cyprus?
- Visa Procedures
- Where to Go in Northern Cyprus?
- What should You Eat in Northern Cyprus?
- Hotels in Northern Cyprus
A Few Facts
- The official language of the country is Turkish and the currency is Turkish Lira.
- The time zone in Türkiye is UTC +3. In Northern Cyprus, UTC +2 is applied and in summer, UTC +3 is applied.
How to Go to Northern Cyprus?
There are several ways to go to Northern Cyprus. First of all, I want to talk about the fastest one. You can go by air. The other two options are either by sea or by road from the south...
How to get to Ercan (Nicosia) Airport?
There is an airport in Northern Cyprus. The airport is Ercan International Airport (IATA: ECN), located within the borders of Nicosia; however, it is sometimes referred to as Nicosia Airport.
In order to go to Northern Cyprus by air, you must find a connecting flight to Türkiye. With some airlines, you can save time by going from your country to Türkiye and then to Ercan. You can also come to Türkiye with one company and then go to Ercan Airport with another company.
AnadoluJet, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines offer direct flights to cities such as Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya. Tourists from outside Türkiye can also go to Northern Cyprus, usually by transferring in one of these cities.
According to my estimation, most flights are arranged from Istanbul Airport. You may want to consider this option to spend the least amount of time at the airport.Transportation from the Airport to Some Centers
First of all, left-hand traffic is applied in the country. There are offices of different car rental companies at the airport. Also, you won't have a problem finding a taxi. I also recommend asking your hotel, as some hotels offer free transfers.
KIBHAS is a private company that organizes bus shuttles to central places. With KIBHAS you can go to places like Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta, Morphou and Lefka.
How Else Can You Go to Northern Cyprus?
It is also possible to reach Kyrenia or Famagusta by sea from the Turkish ports Taşucu or Mersin. Since I am not very good with sea travel, I have never tried these options.
There are open border gates between north and south. You can pass by car or on foot. If you prefer Larnaca Airport, you can choose one of the border gates in Famagusta or Nicosia. If you have used one of the airports of Limassol or Paphos, the border crossing in Nicosia may be easier.
Visa Procedures
- Citizens of Türkiye can travel to Northern Cyprus with their identity cards.
- Citizens of Syria, Nigeria and Armenia are required to apply for a visa at the Northern Cyprus diplomatic representations before entering the country.
- If you are a citizen of an EU member state, you can enter the country with an identity card or valid passport. (Since the process is done at the airport, you do not need to take any action beforehand)
- Nationals of third countries can enter with a valid passport. (Since the process is done at the airport, you do not need to take any action beforehand. At the time of entry, the passport must be valid for at least another six months.)
Those who come for touristic visits and stay in a hotel or other accommodation facility, and those who have rented a house for this purpose, are granted a visa for a maximum of 30 days upon their declarations in this regard.
Where to Go in Northern Cyprus?
Considering that you will have a limited time, let's briefly touch on the main places...
Famagusta
If you like open-air museums, that is, if you are interested in historical places, I recommend you to spend at least two days in Famagusta. Here are some details: Famagusta Walled City.
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| The ruins of Church of St. George of the Greeks (Famagusta Walled City) |
If you want to see a place like Ephesus, you can reach Salamis after a short journey from Famagusta center to Karpas direction. If you go in the summer, I think you should bring an umbrella with you. Also, while you're all the way to Famagusta, you should at least spare a few hours for Varosha.
Kyrenia
Kyrenia Castle is one of the must-see places. Details here: Kyrenia Castle.
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| Kyrenia Castle |
Bellapais Abbey and Saint Hilarion Castle are also among the places worth seeing in Kyrenia. When it comes to nightlife, Kyrenia will be the first place that comes to mind. Names change from time to time, but if you ask locals or the reception at your hotel, you may want to consider their suggestions.
Nicosia
The capital, Nicosia, would be ideal for a day in my opinion. One of the places you can visit is Selimiye Mosque and here are the details: Selimiye Mosque.
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| Selimiye Mosque |
You can drink Turkish coffee and buy souvenirs at the Grand Inn (Büyük Han) in Nicosia. You can relieve the tiredness of the day in one of the cafes, restaurants or pubs on Dereboyu Street. Before that, I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Barbarism to witness only a small part of the Bloody Christmas.
Bonus: Karpas Peninsula
Compared to Türkiye, the summer season in Northern Cyprus lasts longer. We can even find a difference when compared to Antalya. If you are going to Northern Cyprus between April and October, I suggest you stop by Karpas Peninsula. You can at least rent a car and make a day visit. Apostolos Andreas Monastery is one of the places you will want to visit. There are many beaches on the peninsula; but the place you should definitely see and swim if possible is Golden Beach...
What should You Eat in Northern Cyprus?
Turkish Cypriot cuisine has a very rich content that interacts with the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish and Greek cuisines. Kebab lovers? Sheftalia is a local kebab and I definitely recommend you to try it. Another dish you can try at Kleftiko is also... I don't know if you can find it in restaurants, but if you're visiting during the winter, colocasia with lamb can be a nice option.
Hotels in Northern Cyprus
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| Merit Crystal Cove |
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