The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a very unusual country. It is a kind of ghost state. Rather, only the Republic of Turkey recognizes it as a separate country. And all other states believe that Northern Cyprus is an integral part of the political entity of the same name with the island. Therefore, if you decide to travel to these places, you will have to take this into account. Planes fly there only from the Republic of Turkey. The visa is put not in your foreign passport, but in a special paper, which is issued only here. Even the flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus resembles the banner of its powerful patroness. It was created on the basis of the banner of a neighboring country. Only, unlike Turkey, white and red colors are located there differently. But, despite the political upheavals, you can relax here, and even have something to see. In this quasi-country are not badbeaches, hotels at fairly reasonable prices, excursions will offer you a lot and will be served very well. So decide for yourself, and here we will tell you briefly about what this region is.
How to get here
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is attractive to tourists primarily because its special political position has led to the fact that a visa is not needed to visit this country. This simplifies a lot. On the other hand, you can fly here only from Turkey. There is only one airport here, and it is called Ercan. Turkish airlines, of course, fly here, primarily Turkish Airlines and the low-cost Pegasus. It takes from half an hour to forty minutes to get from the airport to any city in Northern Cyprus - the country is quite small. In addition, from Turkish Alanya you can get here by ferry. If you have a Schengen card with multiple entries and you are in the Republic of Cyprus, you can walk to the northern part of the island through the checkpoint on foot.
How to get around here
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has a good public transport network. There are many buses that can be used to get to the capital of the island, and to other cities - Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia. Just pay attention to the schedule - public transport runs great early in the morning, but after five in the evening it becomes difficult to get anywhere. Turkish minibuses - dolmushi - also took root here. They go very often and you are unlikely to losemore than ten minutes, waiting for the right transport. And the prices here are lower than in buses. To stop dolmush, you just need to raise your hand. If you rent a car, then be aware that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has an English type of left-hand traffic. And you won’t be able to ride to the south side of the island - it’s forbidden to do it on a rented vehicle.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: beach holidays
The sea is the main thing people come here for. There are countless beaches on this part of the island. They are very different. There are public beaches, and there are private ones that belong to hotels. There are wonderful places with sun loungers, umbrellas, deck chairs, bars and all kinds of entertainment. And there are wild secluded bays. In general, a sea holiday for every taste. Of course, to go to the most famous equipped beaches, you will have to pay about three euros. But there are also many free coasts of this kind. For example, one of the most famous beaches - Alagadi, where sea turtles lay their eggs - refers precisely to public recreation areas. You don't have to pay to enter here. There are a lot of sandy beaches in Northern Cyprus, although there are also pebble ones. Entertainment here is the same as in many other seaside resorts - water skiing, scooters, "bananas", "pills" and so on. Windsurfers should look for bays in the north. You can also snorkel here. But if you are traveling with children, then you need to look for places with a gentle and shallow entrance. These are Acapulco, Deniz-Kizi, Camelot. Escape Beach is a favorite of young people - the best discos and parties take place here.
What to eat, what to buy and where to stay
You can live in Northern Cyprus almost anywhere. It depends on your wallet and requirements. There are five-star hotels of the highest standards. And there are modest hotels. But they all have a good level of service, which can be compared with a holiday on the Greek islands. Hotel owners care about their reputation and try to attract tourists. Those who have visited Northern Cyprus are advised to take home embroidery and lace products as souvenirs. Lefkara is especially famous for the latter. You can buy good quality bed linen, wicker mats and other wicker products. Northern Cyprus is also known for the same things as Turkey - good sheep's cheese, olive oil, sweets and alcohol, reminiscent of rakia. It's just called a little differently. And the cuisine here is a mixture of different Mediterranean traditions. Seafood, fish, and meze with kebabs and kyufte are well done here. But lovers of European or Far Eastern cuisine will not have to go hungry either. Dozens of restaurants at your service!
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: Capital
Nicosia, like all other large cities in the country, also has a Turkish name. Her second name is Lefkosha. It is considered the most interesting city on the island, somewhat reminiscent of Soviet-era Berlin. After all, this is also a divided city, which, however, is the capital of two states. In one part of it liveCypriots, and in the other - the Turks. According to statistics, one third of the total population of Cyprus lives here. It is a very ancient city with many excellent museums. Fans of he alth improvement also come here - local SPA centers are famous throughout Europe. You can travel around the city by bus and taxi. The restored old quarter of Laika Gethinia, the Cathedral of St. John with stunningly beautiful frescoes, the Selimiye Mosque, the fortress wall with wonderful medieval gates, as well as the luxurious Turkish palace that belonged to a noble person are recommended for inspection.
Where to go on a tour
If you like to see various sights, especially antique ones, then consider yourself lucky. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus possesses many excellent archaeological sites that belong to the cultural heritage of mankind. These sights can be listed for a long time. For example, the Vouni Palace near the city of Gizelyurt or the ruins of the city of Soloy with Roman mosaics and a huge amphitheater. And the main attraction of the country is the ancient city of Salamis. It is located near Famagusta and is located right on the sea. Here you can walk along the ancient streets, look at the remains of basilicas, baths, arenas. In Northern Cyprus there are many Christian monuments where pilgrims flock to. For example, the monastery of St. Andrew, which, according to legend, was founded by the apostle himself and has a miraculous source. There are also medieval castles, which are also worth a visit. The most famous of themis the fort of Kyrenia, which was founded by the ancient Phoenicians, and during the era of the Crusades became the favorite residence of Richard the Lionheart.
