A Traveler’s Guide to Kyrenia

Kyrenia is a small town in Northern Cyprus, right on the northern coast. The town has a population of about 63,000 people.

The town of Kyrenia has a long, dry and hot summer. Monthly temperature averages vary from 16° in January to 33° in July/August. The nearest airport is Ercan, which is approximately 35KM away from Kyrenia.

There is plenty for tourists to see and do in Kyrenia. Attractions include beaches, boat trips, buildings and monuments, castles, water sports and more. There really is something for everybody in Kyrenia.

Local Attractions

Beaches

• Alagadi – This is a public beach enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Green Turtles and Loggerhead Turtles come here to nest, so it is nicknamed “Turtle Beach”. The beach is the longest on the coach, it doesn’t have the facilities of some of the other beaches but it is free. Beach visitors will be able to find a variety of food and drink options.
• Denizkizi – This beach is privately owned by the hotel of the same name – Denizkizi Hotel. There is a fee for the beach, but most people will think its well worth paying. The beach is clean; there are changing cabins, showers and umbrellas. There is also a children’s play area and also plenty of places to buy food and drinks.
• Escape – This again is privately owned and is located immediately below the Kyrenia mountains range. All the facilities you will want are there such as loungers, umbrellas and changing rooms. The water is fairly shallow and the sands are golden so parents and children alike will love this beach. There are plenty of food and drink options available at the Escape Beach Club.

Bellapais Abbey

About 6KM from Kyrenia is the Bellapais Abbey in the village of Bellapais. Commanding a prominent position over the Mediterranean Sea and looking to Kyrenia the Abbey is now a ruin originally built in the 13th century by monks. It’s definitely worth spending a few hours visiting the Abbey and the village as well.

Girne Harbor Boat Trips

Between May and October you will be able to board Girne Harbour boat trips. These take guests on a wide variety of trips, make ideal travel videos and are a great way of getting to see the Northern Cyprus coast. With the sea breeze, it’s also a great way to cool down in the summer months.

Kyrenia Castle

The current Kyrenia Castle was built in the 16th century but is laid upon the ruins of previous structures. There are a variety of attractions, which make a trip to the Castle worthwhile. There is a shipwreck museum, courtyard (including living quarters), dungeons and everything you would want from a trip to a medieval Castle.

Kyrenia Mountains

The Kyrenia mountains range is a short distance away from the town of Kyrenia. The mountains were a popular location to build castles, Buffavento Castle, Kantara Castle and St Hilarion Castle can all be visited on trips to the mountains. Measuring about 160KM in length the mountains can be a nice escape from the heat of the beach, the highest peak is Kyparissovouno, which is about 3,360km in height.

Salamis

Salamis is an old Roman (and pre-roman town), which is on the eastern coast of Cyprus. Salamis is within easy distance to reach of Kyrenia and offers a packed day of activities. At Salamis you can view the ancient ruins, which include a theatre, a gymnasium, many statues, public baths, mosaics and much more.

Kyrenia is an exciting place for tourists, with plenty to see and do. There’s lots of photos to take, a great travel video to make and it’s also very affordable. There are plenty of —hotels, villas and holiday rentals in the area to give tourists a choice of holiday options. There are attractions for everybody whatever the age, so why not think about Kyrenia when you book your next vacation?