15 irresistible reasons to visit Northern Cyprus

Last updated on May 18th, 2026 at 11:05 pm

A Northern Cyprus holiday? Fairytale castles, superb mountains, wild donkeys, golden beaches, wonderful hiking, wildflowers, ancient history, and of course, Turkish delight! Northern Cyprus may be a very disputed territory and unrecognized by all countries other than Turkey, but it is also a gem for the tourist and hiker! Want to know more about the best things to do in Northern Cyprus on your holiday? Read on…..

Before we start – this quick guide and the important notes below have some essentials for planning your trip….

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains

Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith These are my top picks for you:

• A day tour to the Karpaz peninsula from Kyrenia
• A cultural tour of the north – Famagusta, ghost town Varosha, ancient Salamis, Bellapais Abbey and Kyrenia harbor – for a group of up to four from Nicosia or Kyrenia
• Famagusta & Nicosia Private Tour from Kyrenia
• St Hilarion and Bellapais in a private tour from Kyrenia
• 5 hour north Nicosia city tour from Kyrenia or Nicosia

If you are traveling in the south and would like a taste of Northern Cyprus without the hassle of car hire (my first trip to Northern Cyprus was done this way), I suggest these day tours:

• From Paphos – Kyrenia – St. Hilarion and Bellapais Abbey
• From Limassol – Nicosia and Kyrenia private tour, or Famagusta with Salamis and Varosha Ghost Town
• From Ayia Napa – Famagusta & Salamis Full Day Tour

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!

On with the best things to do in Northern Cyprus, in no particular order….

1. Visit the Karpaz / Karpas Peninsula – for the beaches, donkeys, and beautiful scenery

For me, a hiker and outdoor lover, this was an absolute highlight of all Cyprus. Miles of land without much in the way of people or buildings, but wonderful rural scenes, wildflowers, empty and stunning beaches, lowland forest and then of course the wild donkeys! It is absolutely some of Cyprus’s best natural scenery.

Drive slowly enough to be able to stop if donkeys appear. At the tippy top area, there is a cattle grid and after that they will stand in the road and stop your car. (They are smart and can get grouchy!) Bring carrots for them if you want to feed them! These donkeys are descendants of donkeys left by Greek Cypriot farmers that were forced to leave in the 1974 war, so are not natives but are there, and part of the landscape now.

There are lots of beautiful bays on the way toward the top of the peninsula and the most famous beach is golden beach. I liked some other little bays more – great for swimming and snorkeling in the stunning water – but it is impressively beautiful!

Stay up in the area overnight if you can – see below for recommendations. And if you do not have a car – no problem. Take this day tour to the peninsula from Kyrenia!

2. Climb the Saint Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara Castles – simply AMAZING

I wasn’t joking about fairytale castles. Saint Hilarion was the inspiration to Walt Disney for the castle in “Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.” And it is beyond fabulous. I am not into “old stuff” but there I was, swept away with the imaginings of myself the princess in the castle opening my windows in the morning to jaw-dropping sweeping views of the mountains and coastlands below……….

You must go to at least one of these three ancient castles – all perched on top of the high peaks of the Kyrenia mountain range – which is spectacular in itself. St Hilarion is the easiest to get to with an sealed road to the bottom of the final peak and castle, and in between Nicosia and Kyrenia. If you only do one thing on your holiday in Northern Cyprus (or Cyprus full stop) this is it! Absolutely the best thing to do in Northern Cyprus! (The feature pic is the castle from below.)
Okay I will stop the rave!

After spending hours at St Hilarion, the next day I went to Buffavento. I read the reviews on the road – things like “take a defibrillator and sunblock!”
So I hiked in! I did get a lift out and the road is all sealed but its two way – with only room for one in much of it and a steep drop down the mountain to the side. But if you go slow there are plenty of places to allow passing and its okay!

As for the castle. I thought it could not possibly compete with St Hilarion, but I was so wrong. It was also magnificent. The views were to die for – to both north and south!! And nobody there! Amazing place. It is a harder walk up – but oh so worth it!

And then there is Kantara! And you guessed it – it’s also a marvel of the times gone by with views and enough to make you dream and swoon. It also has easier access so a good second choice if you are not wanting to walk far or drive a dodgy road!

Tip – wear good sports shoes and take a jacket as it can be windy. These castles were not for the unsure of feet or immobile!

If you don’t have a car – do not miss this. Take a tour – try one of these:
Kyrenia, St Hilarion Castle, and Bellapais – for up to four people from Kyrenia or Nicosia, or at a more relaxed pace, just St Hilarion and Bellapais in a private tour from Kyrenia. (Details on Bellapais below.)

3. Stroll around Kyrenia / Girne Harbor and Castle & the shipwreck museum

Kyrenia Harbor is at the center of the old town and an attractive little harbor. I imagine in summer it’s very busy but probably still quite attractive. Best for me is to walk out along the harbor wall and look at the castle on the edge of the harbor from there.

The castle itself is a Venetian 16th century castle and in amazingly good condition. You can wander around to your hearts content which is also pretty nice! Really fun is to walk along the walls of the castle with a bird’s eye view of the harbor and city center below.

It also houses the Shipwreck Museum, which has the remains of a Greek merchant ship and its cargo from the 4th century – the oldest ever found in the Med and which provided a lot of information about the shipping and trading in those days.

Its a touristy place but worth a bit of time! Having a guide on a tour will give you a lot of the backstory so if that interests you try one of these tours:

• Kyrenia deep dive – Kyrenia Harbour / Castle and shipwreck museum, the Baldoken Graveyard, and the Bellapais Monastery – from Nicosia and Kyrenia
• Nicosia and Kyrenia – including the Kyrenia Harbor / Castle and shipwreck museum and Bellapais – from Nicosia

4. Take in the views from the Bellapais Monastery – less known but beautiful

These are the ruins of a 13th century monastery of gothic architecture – and with lovely views, (though not matching those of St Hilarion or the other castles). You can explore the monastery, including the rooftop, and the village of Bellapais, which are close to Kyrenia. There are also some hikes to the Buffavento castle area that start from here.

Its attractive – the narrow winding roads to get here are interesting too. And most tours in Northern Cyprus will take you here (see the tours in the next section.) If you had to choose, then go to St Hilarion, but this is a nice addition to tours to the Famagusta area!

5. Walk on the Famagusta city wall and explore the churches within it

The wall of this walled city is quite amazing – hundreds of meters of complete wall. Its very cool to drive along! In places you can climb up the wall for views over the inner city and the harbor.

The city inside is quite compact and full, I mean full, of churches. Back in the day, they believed that people’s wealth could be measured by the churches they built. So a lot of local merchants had churches built in varying styles. These churches meant Famagusta became known as “the district of churches.”

I prefer ruins, but the most famous ‘church’ is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. It has been repurposed into a mosque, which I thought was quite a dull one. It is now called Lala Mustafa Pasha.

Tip: After collecting your churches and wandering within the walls, take a seat and a coffee or tea, plus a treat at Petek Pastahanesi!

The next three places, St Barnabas, Salamis, and Varosha, are all in the Famagusta area. If you don’t have a car taking one of these tours will get you to at least three of these things to do in this corner of Northern Cyprus, if not all four!

• A cultural tour of the north – Famagusta, ghost town Varosha, ancient Salamis, Bellapais Abbey and Kyrenia harbor for a group of up to four – from Nicosia or Kyrenia
• Famagusta deep dive – St Barnabas, Salamis, Famagusta, Varosha – from Nicosia, Kyrenia or Famagusta
• Bellapais Monastery, St. Barnabas Monastery, Famagusta Walled City and Varosha ghost town – from Nicosia or Kyrenia
• Famagusta & Nicosia Private Tour – from Kyrenia

6. See the icons at Saint Barnabas Monastery

This monastery was built in honour of the patron saint of the island, Saint Barnabas in 1756. It is run down and not very appealing inside – other than the beautiful murals!

But in a very non-descript museum outside there are some pretty incredible religious icons and priceless Cypriot artefacts. Think of 3000 year old pottery and ceramics – most of it still in tact! Some of this came from the next place on this list – Salamis. Even I thought that these things were pretty cool.

Tip: Do not pass by the lady selling freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. Its like drinking heaven – and you won’t get it this cheap again in all of Cyprus! (Let’s hope that doesn’t change!)

7. Visit Salamis – an ancient Roman city

This city survived the occupation of the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. But, two earthquakes in the 4th century destroyed it. A lot of the city is now underwater, and a lot has not been excavated, but there are still some very cool ‘city sights.’

The main highlights are the the Roman columns (once the Gymnasium) and the amphitheatre with a capacity of 15,000! There are also a lot of marble headless statues (thought to have been vandalised by Christian zealots in the late Roman period). And you can actually walk on some beautiful mosaics there!

8. Wonder at the Ghost Town of Varosha – its crazy!

Now this really is crazy! I mean what a waste for starters!

Imagine a nice long Mediterranean beach, with crystal clear sea, lined with hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Its the main resort on the island. Sound good enough? It was.

But since 1974 the buildings are all ‘abandoned’ (not really abandoned but left). It’s an unbelievable sight. The 39,000 owners and occupiers were told to leave when the war broke out, and they did, presumably thinking they would be back in a few days. Varosha became a ghost town overnight and it’s been that way ever since!

You can now visit the area. There are “no photography” signs in many places but apart from that you can see it all. Its a sight for sure – a crane in mid construction rusting away, buildings with empty apartments and balconies, postboxes and gardens covered in weeds, barbed wire fences, broken windows, and a UN building in the middle of it all! All just decaying……..

9. Avoid your taxes at St. Mamas Monastery & Icon Museum – strange stories in Güzelyurt

Most people skip this part of Northern Cyprus (9,10,11,12) but it has some of the best things to do in the area! And I believe we should all visit this place on our Cyprus holiday as St. Mamas is the Patron Saint of tax avoiders! Surely that has to be one of the best things to do in Northern Cyprus!!

The legend is that the local council granted St Mamas exemption from paying taxes for life. He escaped soldiers sent to capture him for not paying his taxes, by jumping on the back of a lion that was killing a sheep and rode the lion to town – saving the sheep (I think)! They were impressed – he got off taxes forever. Good story!

Nowadays the monastery is not in use but kept in all its glory for visitors to see. It has an enormous chandelier, and the interior is full of detailed and frescoed splendour. St Mamas tomb is also in the outer walls of the monastery.

Now comes the next part of the story! A mysterious oily fluid sometimes seeps out of the tomb! It was once said that this fluid has healing properties, so people now rub the fluid onto paper and bring wax representations of (mostly) ears in the hope of relief from whatever ails them! St. Mamas is not only the Patron Saint of tax avoiders, but also of those suffering ear aches and infections!

Tip: The church is locked. Ask for a key at the Morphou Archaeology and Nature Museum next door.

10. Go for gold at the Morphou Archaeology and Nature Museum

This is a small museum with natural history exhibits on the ground floor and archaeological artefacts from the local area (particularly from nearby Soli -see the next place to go) on the first floor.

But the real highlight of the museum is the Roman-era gold jewelry. It was found in a drain in 2005, in pretty much perfect condition!! Its crazy!

Tip: look for the preserved mutant sheep.

11. See the swan at Soli – an ancient Greek city

Soli is supposed to be founded by the Athenians returning from the Trojan Wars in the 13th century BCE and the region was first known as ‘Aipeia.’ Even I am impressed with the age of that!

Excavation of the old city began in 1929 by a team of Swedish archaeologists. The Roman Theatre that was discovered is from the end of the 2nd century AD and is on the site of the original Greek amphitheatre. It holds an auditorium of seventeen rows of seats, carved in a semicircle out of the hillside rocks with some 4,000 capacity, restored though to only half of its original height.

What is super cool – despite the pilfering of a lot of the stone from here by the British to build Port Said in Egypt (OMG – yes its true!!) – is that the theatre is sometimes used today for concerts!! But most likely when you go there you won’t see another soul!

The other cool thing is “The Swan.” At the basilica are original mosaics in the flooring, that have survived for us to see now. The swan mosaic is the best one. It is in the floor of the nave, and flowers and four small dolphins circle around it. There is an inscription in the mosaic that says “Christ! Mercy to those who have created this mosaic.”

Unfortunately a lot of Soli is still underground. Who knows when it will be excavated? But its worth going.

12. Get Persian at Vouni Palace

Further down the highway from Soli, and getting close to where the road enters the Green Line on the western side of Cyprus are the remains a Persian palace – Vouni Palace!

This palace is from the 5th century BC! Honestly the amount of ancient “stuff” here is crazy! This palace doesn’t have a lot left to it – some foundations and low walls. But the location itself, on a cliff top 250m above sea level, is very cool and makes it worth your time! Its only 15 minutes from Soli so why not?

13. See “the flag” up close

The big flag on the slopes of Mount Pentadaktylos!!

When you drive into Nicosia from the south, or when you go up the Shacolas Tower in south Nicosia this smacks you in the face. Its so huge, you can see it from space, and it is in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest flag in the world.

The flag, and the slogan beside it – by Kemal Ataturk ‘Ne mutlu türk’üm diyene’ (How happy is he who call himself a Turk), is 200 000 square metres (the size of four football stadiums). It is 425 metres wide and 250 metres high. Thousands of light bulbs light it up at night.

In the 1980s, a group of patriotic Turks used white stones to mark out a giant version of the Northern Cyprus flag on the side of the mountain. On 28 October 2003, the Greek National Day, the huge flag was lit up for the first time. The main aim being that it should be as visible as possible.

I can’t get into politics – the country has a lot of tension around the Turkish occupation and Northern Cyprus as an entity, but you can imagine how the Greek Cypriots feel about it. What I really dislike is that special teams are brought over to Cyprus from Turkey to maintain this flag, using special chemical dyes. That’s not even remotely environmentally OK!

14. Wander on the Turkish side of the green line in Nicosia & visit Atatürk Square and Samanbahce Evleri

There is a lot of beautiful architecture on this side of the green line as well as the southern side. Its worth just wandering again and seeing what you find. The Ataturk Myd / Atatürk Square area has some beautiful buildings to see (plus plenty of outdoor cafes). And the Girne Gate is another of the old city gates in good nick!

Samanbahce Evleri is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the area. It was built around 1900 as a social housing project. It is pretty with its narrow streets, whitewashed walls, red tiled roofs, and plants outside most of the homes! Worth taking a peek!

There are also some great cafes on this side of the line – and of course they serve some very Turkish delights.

If you want to see it all with a guide that will give you the inside story try this 5 hour north Nicosia city tour from Kyrenia or Nicosia.

15. Enjoy the Selimiye Camii Mosque, Büyük Han and the Kumarcila Han

Unfortunately, there were major renovations happening to the mosque when I visited so I couldn’t go inside. But it is impressive even from the outside. It is the largest and oldest surviving Gothic church in Cyprus – it was once a Roman Catholic cathedral. Hopefully they will finish the reno’s before you go there!

The Büyük Han is a touristy spot but quite pleasant – although I was there mid-winter without the crowds! This is a 16th century caravanserai (inn) with a small mosque in the center. Restaurants and shops shelter in the shade of the covered walkways around the courtyard.

The nearby Kumarcila Han was the inn for “merchants using donkeys” and “the inn for travelling musicians.” I liked its simplicity!

Bonus: Relax at the Home for Co-operation Cafe – coffee and chilling inside the Green Line!!

So you can cross the border in Nicosia on Ledra Street like everyone else. Or you can take a much more interesting route and cross on Markou Drakou Street! This way you get to wander through the no-mans-land within the Green Line and UN Buffer zone and see all the former homes and hotels there. You also get to see the watchtower in the moat surrounding the city walls, gehind a wall of barbed wire. But best of all, you can stop for coffee at the Home for Co-operation Cafe!

It’s right opposite the former Ledra Palace Hotel which now serves as the UN headquarters. It is a unique community centre with a fabulous cafe and spaces for events and meetings. Its soul aim is to have a safe space where separated communities can come together and share in one another’s culture. Very cool – and hopeful!

Tip: Sit by the window if you can. You will see the blue-beret UN peacekeeping troops who often pass by as you enjoy your coffee. It is bizarre but novel thing to do on your Northern Cyprus holdiay!

Frequently asked questions about Northern Cyprus:

Q: Is Northern Cyprus safe for tourists?
A: Yes, despite any warnings or fear you may have, it is generally very safe for tourists.

Q: Do I need a visa for Northern Cyprus?
A: Most nationalities do not – you get a visa on arrival at the border. But if you are from Armenia, Nigeria, or Syria you do need a visa in advance. I have no idea why!

Q: Is Northern Cyprus a real country?
A: Not officially – it is only recognised by Turkey.

Q: Can I travel from Northern Cyprus to Greek Cyprus (southern), Greece or the EU?
A: No – because Northern Cyprus is not recognised by any country other than Turkey, you can only travel to Turkey from Northern Cyprus without getting into a big visa mess! Don’t bother trying! I also would not try flying into Northern Cyprus and then try and enter Greek / Southern Cyprus.

Q: What money is used in Northern Cyprus?
A: Officially the Turkish Lira, but you can easily use Euro, GBP and bank cards. You will need some lira for street stalls and the like. Change will usually be given in lira.

Q: What side of the road do they drive on in Northern Cyprus?
A: British style – the left!

Travel Tips for Northern Cyprus:

Placenames

Names are now Turkish in the north if they weren’t historically Turkish. So, Kyrenia is Girne, Nicosia is Lefkosa etc. You will see signs in Greek, English and Turkish. There are sometimes various spellings of the same placename just to add to the confusion!

Car hire

I highly recommend you hire a car if you can – from Northern Cyprus. Car hires from the south can go to the north, but you have to buy insurance at the border, and this is only 3rd party insurance. Your car hire company will not help you if you have any issues in the north. So its just best to hire one in the north. The easiest place to do this is from Nicosia as you can walk across the border and get to the car hire company easily. There is a long walk to Famogusta if you cross the border there – unless you can arrange with a hire car company to pick you up.

Public Transport

There is not a lot of public transport in Northern Cyprus. About the only regular bus available is from Nicosia / Lefkosa to Kyrenia / Girne. These leave from near the Kyrenia Gate in Nicosia / Lefkosa. It is just a street stop not a main bus stop. Ask someone for help. By using the bus to Kyrenai and then tours from there, you can see most of the highlights of the north!

Phone sims

A Cyprus sim will be blocked the minute you cross the border into the north. You need a Turkish eSim. EU roaming rules usually do NOT apply in Northern Cyprus!

Watch what you say!

The people are great all over the country. But passions can get high re the war and the division of the land. In the south do not refer to the north as “Turkish” Cyprus. As far as most there are concerned, it is “illegally occupied Cyprus.” Just stick to saying Northern Cyprus.

Where to stay in Northern Cyprus

As always there is a lot of choice, and your budget and what you want to do has a big part to play in what is right for you. I recommend you book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor, or, a hostel with Hostelworld.
These recommendations are a good place to start. They all have at least a 9/10 rating on reviews at the time of writing (unless noted)!

In Salamis / Famogusta area

High End – Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel & Casino or Mystic Guest House Famagusta

Mid Range – La Terrazza Hotel or Golden Palms Guest House & Cafe

Budget – Mystery Garden Guest House or Caddem Inn Hotel

In Kyrenia (Girne)

High End – Bellapais Gardens, or Merit Park Hotel & Casino

Mid Range – Kyrenia Palace Boutique Hotel, or Kemerli Konak Boutique Hotel

Budget – The Horse Farm Hotel or Bare Hill Holiday Village

Hostel – Enter Hostel (lower rating but I stayed here and found it okay).

In the Karpas Peninsula area (– you will definitely need a car to get to these!)

High End – Karpaz Gate Marina Hotel or Blue Sea Karpasia Hotel

Mid Range – Sea-Blended Nature House, or Burhan’s Hotel

Budget – Glaro Garden Hotel or Celebi Garden Hotel (I stayed here and it was great!)

In Nicosia / Lefkosa

High End – the Concorde Tower Hotel, or MAP Boutique Hotel

Mid Range – Budget – Old Stone Boutique Hotel or Djumba Hotel & Cafe, or, Nicosia Eagle Eye

Hostel – Nex Hostel or Urban Habitat Hostel (actually in Southern part of the city but with high ratings so I would stay here!)

Related Posts

The 16 best hikes in Cyprus – aka your Cyprus hiking Bucket List!

The 12 best things to do around Ayia Napa – when you’ve had enough of the beaches and bars!

10 must do’s when you’re in Nicosia / Lefkosa

10 things everyone should do at least once on holiday in Cyprus

Larnaca – more than just the beach!

Just letting you know – Travelling the Wild Side contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for your support – it helps me keep writing articles for you!
PS – You can read more about how affiliates work here.