North Cyprus Destination Guide

North Cyprus Destination Guide

A vacation in North Cyprus can be whatever you want it to be! Many people just come to laze on its stunning beaches, whilst others get the adrenaline soaring with the array of outdoor activities to choose from. You can paraglide off the mountains to the coast, ride huge breakers on jet skis, scuba dive, explore the fascinating shipwrecks, burn rubber on the go-kart track and play an inspired round at Esentepe golf course, the newest golf course in North Cyprus.

North Cyprus is the ideal place for both the adventurous and those looking to relax.

Our North Cyprus Destination Guide below will give you an idea of the major highlights to be found on the island. You can also book one of our interesting tours in North Cyprus directly with us to see the sights or take a look at some of our general information for traveling throughout North Cyprus.

Beaches Top

The beaches of North Cyprus make a pleasant change from the usual rocky, crowded ones surrounded by high rise hotels and buildings. They are clean and untainted by the ill-effects of mass tourism. The only crowds one can see here are the sea turtles nesting in the summer. The beaches stretch for miles along the coastline of North Cyprus and are fringed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

Sandy beaches in Northern Cyprus

The greatest advantage of the beaches of Karpas is their remote location. This ensures that not many people visit them often as a result of which they are relatively empty. Tourists who want to escape the crowds will find these beaches ideal getaways.

Famagusta Bay with its golden sands stretches endlessly to the horizon, while Altinkaya beach is ideal for families as the shallow waters are safe for children. In fact, the waters here are so shallow that tourists can wade across to the Golden Rock, a small island that shields the beach from the ocean. Altinkaya Beach is also very convenient because tourists can drive right up to the beach and its restaurants.

Turtle Watching Top

Turtles that have lived in the Mediterranean waters for over two decades come to the beaches of North Cyprus around May every year after mating. They dig 40 centimeter deep pits, lay their eggs and cover them carefully with huge quantities of sand. It is only a matter of time before newly hatched turtles come scrambling out of these pits and scamper across the beaches towards the sea. This heartwarming sight is highly popular.

Buffavento Castle Top

Buffavento Castle, in the Kyrenia Mountains, stands at a height of 950 meters above sea level. Buffavento means “Defiant of Winds” or “Gusty Winds” and the castle lives up to its name. Along with the Kantara Castle and the St. Hilarion Castle, it is an imposing and magnificent sight.

Wild Donkeys Top

Karpaz Peninsula National Park

The wild donkeys of Cyprus can either be called wild or liberated because they are descendants of Cypriot domestic donkeys which were left to roam free in the Karpaz Peninsula National Park. Unfortunately, the population of the Karpas donkey has dwindled from many thousands to a mere 500 and it is now designated as a protected species. The donkeys are black, brown or grey but most of all, they are intolerant and ill-tempered. Do take care not to get too close and instruct children to only look and not touch.