Travel Globally » North Cyprus

Enjoying the Beautiful North Cyprus

travel globally — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:24:51 +0000

North Cyprus is a self proclaimed state that covers the northeastern portion of Cyprus. Although its political state has placed the area in some challenging situations, it’s a safe place to visit and there are so many places to enjoy, especially during the summer season. With a little preparation, tourists can easily get in and out of North Cyprus with little problems.

Getting in the State

The most challenging part for any tourist to go through before they can enjoy North Cyprus is to obtain the necessary papers. Citizens coming from highly industrialized counties such as US, Europe and Japan can get the required papers they need right at the border. However, those who came from other countries should obtain the papers from North Cyprus’ offices in London, New York and Washington DC.

Travel Options

The best way to get in the country is by plane. However, tourists cannot fly directly to North Cyprus from outside the country. They have to go to Turkey first before taking another plane to Ercan (the capital. Bus is another good transport option although it takes hours before you arrive at the border.

Activities to Consider

North Cyprus is one of the best places on earth to enjoy scuba diving. Tourists could also visit historical structures such as the St. Hilarion Castle and the Kyrenia Castle, which has an amazing picturesque setting overlooking the sea.

Visiting these great locations in North Cyprus is only possible through taxi. Public transportation isn’t great and so I would recommend taxis as the best mode of transportation. Just be sure to haggle with the driver so that you can save on fare.

Overal the country offers tourists some great experiences and we would definitely recommend a holiday in North Cyprus.

The very best of Kyrenia

travel globally — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:14:29 +0000

Even though it was mentioned in the previous post Kyrenia is a destination which has so much to offer to its visitors and it deserves more attention and a post of its own. An escorted tour is a good way to get introduced to this destination and you can return and spend more time later as there are so many things waiting to be discovered by you. The town of Kyrenia is a highly accessible city that provides more than just typical beaches. Tourists around the world constantly visit it to enjoy its unique flavour and attractions. Accessible by plane and boat, this small piece of paradise is just a few hours from Turkey.

Any first time tourist will immediately appreciate Kyrenia because of its unique layout of structures. The beach front structures are not populated with expensive hotels. Tourists will instead see structures that were built centuries before Kyrenia (or Cyprus) became a known destination. Tourists can literally visit the beach and then proceed to visit beautiful structures in the city in minutes.

The Kyrenia Castle

The most popular tourist attraction is the Kyrenia Castle. Believed to have been built as early as the 7th century, it’s a towering structure easily seen by everyone in the harbor. Its current state was from 1570 when the Ottomans ruled Kyrenia. A heavily fortified castle, the structure is also home to a museum featuring collections from a shipwreck from 306 BC. This structure should be in the tourist’s itinerary as it also provide a picturesque view of the town.

Combining the Old with the New

What also made Kyrenia a favourite spot for many tourists is the way the city is laid out. Instead of succumbing to commercialism, there are still a good number of open air markets and traditional restaurants near the castle. A stroll nn the shore is your best chance to shop for souvenirs and try out the traditional meals of the island.

Mosaic Holidays: North Cyprus Signature Tour

travel globally — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:33:29 +0000

The best way to make the most of your holiday is an escorted tour: you get to see the most important attractions in a region and your guide will always be there with extra interesting information. A tour in Northern Cyprus will unveil the beauty of this region. Start with Kyrenia, one of the most beautiful cities in North Cyprus, visit Kyrenia Castle and the Abbey of Bellapais (Abbaye de la Paix) to admire the gothic architecture of the Lusignan period. A visit to the Abbey is a must and getting there is very convenient as it is only 10 minutes from Kyrenia.

The next objective of your tour should be Famagusta and the ancient city-state Salamis with ruins dating from the Roman period: the theatre and gymnasium have been restored and there are baths with little bits of mosaic. The Byzantine ruins include a Basilica of Bishop Epiphanos containing a baptistery.

After the fall of the Berlin wall Nicosia remained the only divided capital in the world. On your visit to the city you will see the barriers separating the two sides of the city. A must see in Nicosia is also the Venetian city wall dating from the 16th century and the Gothic cathedral of Saint John (1665).
Touring through Northern Cyprus will help the visitor discover other hidden treasures of this region: caves, castles or picturesque villages full of history, each day of your tour will bring something new.