Upon our first visit we were expecting to find some dark, dreary, dank and smoky men’s den of some kind, but were really pleased to find a modern, clean, bright and relaxed pool and snooker hall with men and women all playing.  Also another appealing factor is that it’s friendly and there is music playing all the time which is not intrusive at all (very refreshing!), and the toilet facilities were immaculate!

They have 4 championship Brunswick pool tables, and one full size Riley snooker table, all brand spanking new as were all the other implements and accessories needed to sink a few balls.  They also have a licensed bar and serve snacks and bar food with smoking only allowed outside the premises.  The place is well lit and the owner Emete, a young Turkish Cypriot lady, looks after her venue very well, even picking up nut shells off the floor (that was our male contingent being messy as usual!).

We were also really impressed to hear that there is also a TRNC Pool league which has been running for the last 5 years or so.  Emete, a member of the league, holds practice sessions on a Wednesday and a Sunday.  But, maybe the best thing is that they are open 7 days a week from 10am until a startling 1am!!   It’s not at all expensive either – ‘happy hour’ every day up to 6pm will set you back 10ytl for one hour on the table, and after 6pm its 12ytl an hour.  Beers are not too bad pricewise with Efes at 5ytl.   Oh, and they have a plasma screen showing Premier League matches as well.

If you can’t see the map properly in our picture, turn down towards the Old Tunnel Rock Bar from the Hirondelle roundabout, either doing a right at the Anibal restaurant or the turning before that, and then straight up to the junction doing a right or left depending on which turning you have taken and then the next turning which is Balkabak Sokak and you will see it in front of you.

If you like to have a relaxing evening, where you are taken care of, drinks delivered to your table, and oh you enjoy a game of pool or snooker of course, we would say give it a go.

When arriving into Ercan airport which serves North Cyprus you are currently allowed to bring in: -

- a maximum of 400 cigarettes (half the price at duty free on arrival into Ercan airport than in the supermarkets here)

- 1 litre of wine or spirits

- 100cl of perfume

- Cameras and one pair of binoculars for your own personal use

You can also buy duty-free goods at the new harbour where boats from Turkey arrive and depart, and also from the main shipping port in Famagusta.

Tax Free Shopping

Since 2006 holidaymakers have been allowed to obtain a refund on tax for their goods when leaving North Cyprus, a decision which was made to boost the tourism trade.

Sadly for those of us living here it doesn’t count!

Many types of goods including luxury items such as gold and jewellery, designer clothing, textiles and electrical goods will all fall within the sphere of the scheme, meaning that North Cyprus is a great value destination For travellers, particularly as many of these items are already cheaper in the North of the island anyway – even before the return of duty paid.

Shops which have applied to join the scheme will display the ‘Tax Free’ sign on their premises so that you know they are a good bet for some bargains, and all you have to do is keep hold of your receipts and produce them on your departure.

There is a minimum amount on which tax can be refunded and this is based upon half the current working minimum wage, which does change every few months to keep in line with inflation, so it may be worth asking the shopkeeper for their advice.  However, it should be roughly about GBP 300 or thereabouts.

Given the amount of goods available under the scheme you may find it actually quite easy to accrue the necessary amount, as there is so much to choose from.   Tax can be refunded on anything from clothes, computers, shoes, jewellery, cosmetics, mobile phones and much more, so it shouldn’t be hard to pack your suitcase full of tax free shopping to return home with!

It’s a very easy process and is made easier by the fact that travellers only have to produce their receipts when they leave North Cyprus at the offices set up at each departure point.

Happy Shopping!

The Büyük Han (or Great Inn), located within the city walls, was commissioned by the first Ottoman Pasha to Cyprus, Musafer, in 1752, shortly after the Ottoman occupation of Cyprus. It was a familiar sight for travelling tradesman, as these types of Hans (Inns) were common in Turkey, especially in Anatolia. They were also known as ‘caravanserai’ which literally means a centre where people would commune. Apparently this Han is similar in design to only two others in the whole of Turkey, and is often compared with the Kosa (or cocoon) Han in Bursa.

The construction was specifically designed to allow the central area to provide stabling for animals, such as horses and camels, but also acted as the commodity area where sales and purchase were made. The inner ground circle of the Han would have been used for selling and buying offices whilst the upper circle was used for accommodation for the tradesman making 68 rooms in total. There are also 10 rooms surrounding the outer circle of the building.

There are two entrances to the Han, one being the main larger entrance which could have accommodated a loaded camel, whilst the smaller entrance is known as the eye of the needle, and would have only been in use when the main entrance was locked. On entry into the Han there are two external stairways leading up to the upper circle area.

The central domed building in the Han is known as a Mesjid, which is a type of mosque/chapel built to accommodate travellers who wished to pray. The domed top sits upon six pillars and travellers would have climbed the outer staircase to pray in the domed vault, after first having used the buildings fountain for the ritual ablutions.

Apparently, in years gone by, the Han also served as a hostel for the homeless and destitute. After the British took over the island of Cyprus in 1878 the Han was subsequently used as the central Lefkoşa prison. It turned out to be a good option for a prison as the windows of a Han are always situated high up, and as such had deterred would be thieves and robbers who would have seen the rich merchants staying at the Han as a potential source for easy pickings, and likewise as a prison it proved hard to escape from! It then spent some time being used as a builder’s yard and sadly fell into disrepair.

The Büyük Han was only fully restored as recently as 2000, finally reopening in 2002 and it really has been done very tastefully and with attention to detail as you can see from our pictures. The result has been to bring back to life a very unique Ottoman building which is now a major architectural focal point in North Cyprus. The rooms which would have accommodated the travelling salesman are now home to shops selling a range of Turkish Cypriot handicrafts and souvenirs as well as art galleries with the central area hosting various events throughout the year. A good place to visit should you be looking for a little traditional North Cyprus shopping experience.

One very interesting man who has a shop at the Han, Mehmet Ertuğ, makes his living entertaining people with his puppet shows. He often gives performances of ‘Black-Eye and Hacivat’ from his shop on the upper circle, a tale of two gossipy workers, who were told off by their king for being lazy and not working as he had ordered!

The Han is also a major centre of art and culture, and you can often pop in to see a piano recital, or see an artist at work, visit in the evenings to hear local musicians, or watch one of the local ladies preparing traditional Turkish Cypriot cuisine.

The Büyük Han is a bustling place, but at the same time you can really appreciate its calm and relaxed atmosphere, and it certainly acts as an oasis of peace away from the main city streets. You can stop and have something to eat and drink, walk the galleried circle, take in the atmosphere or just people watch! Please make sure you visit when you are in North Cyprus, and check out our sightseeing in North Cyprus section to find more interesting places to explore.

Being invited out to dinner these days is quite a treat so it was a happy chappy who agreed to try out the new a la carte Number 14 restaurant in Kyrenia, located within the old the Turkish Quarter.

It would be rather pointless to offer directions to the venue, but if you know other landmarks such as Miss Knottleys or the Taekwondo gym then you will find it.  It’s actually located at the home of proprietors Cliff and Kay Hughes-Morgan and the property is called Yazade House.  It might be therefore advisable to give them a call on the number at the end of this article if you are unsure!

Firstly the eatery is set in their garden, which is extremely tasteful – well you can’t go far wrong from having a great venue if it’s located in one of these beautiful properties which has been restored and decorated so wonderfully well!  Seating (which is pretty much totally outdoors so summer dining only sadly!) is arranged around the roman ended pool, and there are various nooks and crannies to hide yourself away in too.  Also sadly, this stupid reviewer forgot their camera on the night, so a return daytime visit to take photos will have to suffice this time round!

To give some tasters on the menu front, you can choose from starter options (they call them ‘beginnings’) such as Ostrich pate, pork terrine with onion marmalade, avocado pear with walnuts and sweet mustard dressing to name a few, starting at 10TL.  If they aren’t enough of an example as to how tempting the menu is, the main courses (‘middles’) are really quite something too.  Choose from fillet steak with mustard sauce, cheeky pork with peppercorn and apple sauce, quail with green grapes and almonds in white wine sauce, or fish bobotie amongst others, with prices starting at 20TL.  If that doesn’t completely fill you up then desserts (‘endings’) are a must with such delights as crème brulee ice-cream, sticky toffee pudding, chocolate ganache cake and port and cheese for example with prices starting at 10TL.  We thought that the prices were very reasonable – an a la carte 3 course meal for 40TL without drinks is pretty good!

However, inevitably drinks were required and we plumped for the complete treat of Kir Royale champagnes by the glass – yum!  They were 12TL each, so depending on how quickly they are drunk you could spend quite a bit!  Each of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and the fancy ingredients and wording for each dish lived up to expectation without fail.  Whoever has come up with the menu, which does alter regularly, has definite flair for flavouring each dish and we were all very impressed.

As mentioned already, the venue is lovely, with underwater pool lighting offering diners a feeling of calming relaxation with the waitresses not being the least intrusive (although they managed brilliantly to spot when we needed another refill!) and with tables having space between each other you do not feel packed in which was very welcome.  We experienced one of those cheer inducing power cuts whilst dining, but staff were quickly placing candles on our tables to compensate which made the atmosphere evening more convivial.  Another plus as always was that is was very busy, if not full the night we dined, so the ambience was very satisfying too.

All in all our bill came to 249TL for three beginnings, three middles and three endings with about 7 champagnes, caffetiere coffee and three Baileys (well we weren’t driving and it was a treat for a good reason!) – not bad at all – in fact we had been so concerned about falling off our chairs after that lot and then receiving a huge bill that it was quite a relief!!

We would thoroughly recommend trying Number 14, but be quick as they are only open until the end of October and not open again until May time.  This makes sense as the venue is al fresco dining only!   Number 14 is located at No. 14 Yazıcızade Sokak, Girne.  Book a table via +90 (0)542 8592072 or even visit the venue and complete the booking sheet pinned on the door.  And, don’t forget to ask for directions if you need them!

Reviewed, September 2009

The Malpas 5 star hotel has been a wonderful addition to the recent surge of top class luxury hotel opening in North Cyprus, and after a few years in the making it opened its doors to guests in 2007. 

The Malpas is finished to the highest standards and it has utilised modern technology in an effort to create an eco-friendly facility particularly with regards to its plumbing and re-use of water, (a small but significant step in the right direction).  The hotel can offer both residents and non-residents a wealth of amenities and attractions too, and it has proved a welcome compliment to the range and location of hotels across the northern third of the island.

The position of the hotel is elevated as it is sited on the low slopes of the Five Finger mountain range, the position makes it even more appealing as it overlooks the traditional Cypriot village of Çatalköy as well as offering sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea.  It also takes in views of the Kyrenia mountain range.  The design and architecture of the hotel are contemporary with curving facades with tasteful and understated interiors.

The hotel also has quite a modest bed capacity compared to some with a range of 177 superior rooms which feature modern chic furniture and finishings, rounded off with luxurious Turkish linens in all rooms.  For those who want the ultimate holiday accommodation there are also 6 well-appointed suites and one presidential suite which would definitely suit those looking for the perfect honeymoon break.

If you are looking for some additional privacy the Malpas can also accommodate families and parties with several mini villas and bungalows a short distance from the main hotel, allowing you the freedom to feel as if you are in your own holiday villa whilst still benefitting from the same 5 star hotel service.

All accommodation is of superior quality with private balconies and terraces, each room, suite or villa has its own flat screen LCD TV with satellite channels, and the whole complex is served with wi-fi high speed internet access should you wish to stay in touch with the world.  There are also phone lines with voice mail and data ports for the workaholics amongst us.  In addition there are hi-tech climate control panels in all accommodation options.  It probably goes without saying that the bathrooms are pretty luxurious too, with nice finishing touches and yummy toiletries!

You can spend your holiday lounging by the impressive outdoor pool or maybe even perhaps you may fancy trying the spa and wellness centre which offers a range of quality treatments from around the world, as well as traditional pampering and beauty treats.  See our article on spas in North Cyprus. There is also an indoor pool and Jacuzzi if you fancy keeping out of the sun for a while.

The hotel hosts some quality music every week during the year, which both guests and visitors can enjoy at the hotel’s in-house Cotton Jazz Bar.  You could also spend a great evening on the hotel’s terrace listening to live music and dancing whilst dining from the a la carte menu.  The bar also does a great range of cocktails too, so you may choose to partake of some cocktails whilst playing a little at the hotel’s hi-tech casino.

The choice of dining options is varied at the Malpas, so you can choose from a buffet style dinner or dine at the exclusive Fontana and a la carte La Broche restaurants, or indeed maybe even have a meal on the rooftop restaurant during the summer months.  Even if you just fancy a light snack then there is a patisserie as well as a café and vitamin juice bar within the hotel, or you could even try the Curion pool-side bar and restaurant.

In 2008 the hotel added to its portfolio of amenities with the Corano Beach Club, so now guests are offered free transport to be able to spend time enjoying these additional facilities which include a true beach club with plenty of loungers, decked areas, shades and private sandy beach.  You can dine here too at the Corano Fish Restaurant, and at night you can really let your hair down at the beachside Mansion Club.

So, if you’re looking for a luxury hotel with plenty of additional facilities to keep you relaxed and occupied you may just want to consider the Malpas.  To find out more and for contact details visit the Malpas 5 star hotel website.

Another major site to see in North Cyprus is the ruin of Vouni which is closely linked to the nearby ruins of Soli on the west coast of the island.

You may be best advised to visit the two sites on the same day, as Vouni’s sole reason for being built in the first place was to spy on the daily goings on in the city of Soli.  Its location is actually one of its main features, sitting atop a lone plateau with a sheer 250 metre drop to the sea with nothing else around it, leaving you wondering about the amount of time and effort it must have taken to build it in such a remote but commanding place! 

You can reach the site via the coastal road, it’s some four miles past Soli and you turn right on the crest of a hill and follow a narrow road up to Vouni.  As with the other major sites to see in North Cyprus, there is a ticket office (7ytl at the time of writing) where you will be given a leaflet detailing the site’s history and the main features to look for.

Its history seems to date from the 5th century BC, and is said to have been built by a Persian sympathiser king of the nearby city of Marion.  Wishing to remain loyal to the Persians, he built the palace of Vouni to literally spy on Soli.  Its position certainly meant that sea traffic and the comings and goings to and from the city could be monitored without hindrance.

There was also the possibility that the ancient site of Aepia could have previously been located here too, as the word Vouni in Modern Greek means mountaintop, as does Aepia in Ancient Greek.  However, this assumption seems unfounded as subsequent excavations have not been able to prove this, and therefore archaeologists are confident that, given its characteristics and eastern influences, it was definitely built by Persians, or at least during Persian rule.

Vouni then came under Greek rule after General Kimon defeated the city of Marion in around 449BC, and Vouni went through a separate phase of construction and design changes.  It wasn’t long however until the greedy King of Salamis, Evagoras, declared his desire to rule the whole island and Soli was forced to join together with the enemy to defeat him.  In return the Persians reinstated Soli’s power and subsequently destroyed Vouni in 380BC altogether, therefore preventing any further threat.  Since this time Vouni has never been used.

Even though Vouni is referred to as a palace, it was never really used as such, being more of a functional operation housing business rooms, halls, kitchens, store rooms, living quarters and the like.  The layout is not as fascinating as Soli maybe, but one of its major attractions lies beneath the foundations, with a hugely sophisticated plumbing system which pre-dates that of Salamis near Famagusta by some 500 years.  Storage for rain water was made by digging out rocks to form containers.  In the courtyard a stone stele (a cylindrical stone slab used as an axis) still remains which would have been used to lift water from the cistern.  Channels were also made to link rooms to a constant supply of water, and there is also a bathhouse which has evidence of a furnace below.

One other focal point of the site is the Temple of Athena (Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill.  She was also the favourite child of Zeus).  Excavations in the 1920’s unearthed various votive offerings and several bronze statues.   There have been other findings at Vouni too, including jewellery and coins from the various surrounding cities at that time.

Vouni is definitely a place for reflection (as long as you visit on a quiet day that is!) such is its magnificent location perched so high with complete 360 degree views.  Take your time here, explore the site, but also make sure you soak up the surrounding views, as these are mostly certainly some of the best in North Cyprus.

Vouni is open in summertime from 09.00-18.45 and in winter from 09.00-16.45.

The International Federation of the Red Crescent and the Red Cross Societies (IFRC) were originally formed in 1919 and now have around 186 national societies worldwide.

Most of us would recognise the Red Cross symbol as the international humanitarian organisation, but the Red Crescent became a symbol used by the Ottoman Empire during the Turkish-Prussian war from 1876 to 1878 as it did not want to offend its Muslim soldiers.  It became an officially recognised symbol in 1929 and now 33 of the 186 national societies use this symbol due to their mainly Muslim populations.

The North Cyprus Turkish Red Crescent Society was formed on November 6^th 1974 and gained its national society status in May 1975 after the declaration of Independence for North Cyprus.  Today, it has branches in Lefkoşa, Famagusta, Güzelyurt, Esentepe, Yeni Iskele, Kyrenia and Dipkarpaz as well as its main headquarters in Lefkoşa.  They work under the principles of the Federation which are to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for the human being and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

The society holds regular fund raising activities via its volunteer groups, attends festivals and other social gatherings to encourage new membership and deals with international appeals for help such as the Palestinian/Gaza conflict for example.  Often with its partners like mobile phone operator KKTCell they will work to source funds through monetary appeal campaigns, with funds being spent on medical, food and other aid supplies.  Teams from the society also often travel to countries of conflict, working alongside other national societies of the Red Crescent.

The Society is also on hand to work in conjunction with other emergency services in North Cyprus such as the fire, ambulance and civil defence teams in times of need and potential disaster.

Started in 2004, the North Cyprus Friends of Karpaz Association is comprised of local residents and other interested parties who wish to protect the much coveted Karpaz region in North Cyprus.

In conjunction with the Management Centre, an NGO organisation involved in helping civil society, members were sought from local areas within the Karpaz to help launch the association.  Their mission was to create more awareness of the historical, environmental and also the cultural richness of the region.  The awareness factor is not just focussed locally either and is equally aimed at an international level through lobbying and advocating of this truly diverse area.

As an association they are also non profit making, certainly non-political and are determined to influence the powers that be that there is room for sustainable rural development which can benefit North Cyprus as a whole.  Many holiday makers the world over are now looking for unique and culturally rich holiday experiences and Friends of Karpaz aim to provide for that, whilst also convincing local authorities that there is a market out there.

The association isn’t just about eco-tourism in North Cyprus either, it also aims to help and provide for the local community.  Sadly in these rural and more remote areas, people are leaving to find work in larger towns and cities due to shortages in local employment.  Friends of Karpaz aims to help in different ways such as providing alternatives in crop farming for example or introducing activities which involve and help support women and the younger generations.

Local community events are also another away of involving the community with initiatives such as tree planting which have proved to be very successful.  Festivals, such as the North Cyprus Büyükknouk Eco-Festival, and the promotion of all things associated with Turkish Cypriot culture such as folk dancing, crafts, cuisine and local skills are also something which the association is keen to promote which would also benefit the local community.

The ultimate future aim is to open a Karpaz Cultural centre where anyone from locals to holidaymakers can visit to find out more about the local flora and fauna, future events being held and much more.   Together with fund raising and donations from organisations such as the UNDP (United Nations Development Projects), which has afforded them enough money to open an office in Pamuklu village.

Again other aims are to open more traditional style pensions, small bed and breakfasts offering more traditional accommodation providing menus with locally grown produce that will help to promote local culture and to further protect the environment from pollution created by the larger hotel complexes.

There are many more groups and charities in North Cyprus, all aiming in their own way to protect the beauty and uniqueness of this wonderful place on earth, and you can read about most of them by clicking the link above!

When visiting or indeed living in Northern Cyprus, there is so much to see in the way of historical sites, and there are some sites which are an absolute must see.  In this article we will detail the delights of Soli, a fascinating site in terms of world history.

Soli is located to the far west of North Cyprus beyond Güzelyurt, it’s just past the village of Gemikonağı along the coastal road.  There is a sign for Soli just after Gemikonağı that indicates that you should turn left, but for some reason the sign’s not particularly big so look out for it carefully as people have been known to completely miss it!  From the turning follow the road up and you will come to the site located on the lowland slopes where there is ample parking and a ticket office, (cost of a ticket at time of writing is 7ytl), where you will be given literature about the site.

On first glance Soli doesn’t look very big at all, all you see is just a covered area to protect the various ruins and mosaics (amazingly this was only done a few years ago!), but as you explore you will find the amazing amphitheatre as well as realising that this site has not been excavated to anywhere near its true size.

First records of Soli’s history date back to around 6000BC, when it was called Si-il-lu, one of a list of cities that paid dues to the Assurian kings.  One common theory about its current name appears to have come from the myth that Aepean King Philokypros moved his capital city here after a recommendation from Athenian philosopher Solon, and subsequently it was named Soli after him.  Who knows if this is indeed true, but it’s a nice theory anyway.

Despite the best efforts of the Ionian Revolution, which included the people of Soli, Persians took hold of the city around 498BC.  During their time the city became an important centre of the Orthodox faith during the birth of Christianity.  Soli had always been a very prosperous city due to its copper mining activities (sadly still all too evident to this day) and this continued well into the 4^th century until the harbour either finally silted up or was deliberately filled in to prevent the entry of invading ships.

The future of Soli was finally decided after the Arab invasions during the 7^th century when it was sadly ransacked and destroyed.  This together with its economic decline meant that it was never rebuilt or used as a city again.

Today you can see just some of what remains, with much of the city still covered by earth which is ultimately protecting it from the elements for years to come.  A lot of the photos you may see of the remaining mosaics will possibly mislead you as the mosaics do now appear quite faint; having been open to the elements for years they have faded somewhat.  However, the pictures and indeed the mosaics themselves do give one an idea of the grandeur and detail that went into the building of this amazing city.

The main site of Soli consists of a basilica which was built around the 4^th century, it holds the vast majority of interest because of its beautiful mosaics which feature birds, fish and geometric patterns.  The layout of rooms, corridors and other parts of structures such as columns, seats, and inscribed tablets are also still visible.  Remains of a later 12^th century church built within the basilica can also be seen.

There is plenty of signage to guide you around each section of the site, indicating various pieces of interest to take a look at.

Walk further up from the basilica and you will come to the amazing Roman amphitheatre which dates back to the 2^nd century.  It has the most amazing views out to sea – and is set in the perfect location for an amphitheatre.

Walking to the top, only then will you realise its size, apparently having been able to seat around 4,000 spectators.  Sitting atop this site you can see both to east and west for miles and it’s a serene place to be and take in the surroundings and imagine Soli’s place in history.  Sadly much of the original stone from the site was taken by the British to be used for the building of Port Said and the Suez Canal, which is quite hard to swallow, being British!

Other areas of interest around Soli include the Agora, which would have been the area for market trading, as well as the remains of three temples, Isis, Aphrodite and Serapis, although there is not much to see now.  You can still see a statue of Aphrodite from this site housed in the Cyprus Museum in the south of the island.  Further up above the amphitheatre there are also remains of other Hellenistic and Roman necropolises.

That concludes our article on Soli, a wonderful example of history and architecture still in good enough condition to be amazed by in our opinion.  If you are visiting Soli then you should also make time to visit the nearby site of Vouni, whose sole purpose was to spy on Soli making them unavoidably intertwined.   More on that in another article!

Soli is open to the public from 09.00-18.45 in summer time and 09.00-16.45 in winter.

Practising ones religion in North Cyprus is important for many people no matter what their religious inclination may be.  However the predominant religion of Islam means many Muslims will fast for one month each year.  Ramazan or Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and is classed as one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith.  Physically healthy Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset for 30 days.  This does not apply to children or elderly people, although we know of one 96 year old lady who still fasts and won’t be told otherwise!

Ramazan is also a time for reflection, refraining from gossiping, lying and slandering.  It’s a time for good deeds and generosity, thought for those less fortunate and a time to be more conscious of Gods presence.

Fasting during the day can be quite tough to start with, especially when Ramazan falls in the summer months – in 2012 it starts in July of all months.  Most of us could not cope without water to drink during the day, so you can imagine that it can be quite draining for people who are fasting.  However, we are told it is purely mind over matter and after the first week it becomes easier to cope and the breaking of the fast with Sahur (morning) and Iftar (evening) becomes routine.  Meals usually start with something light such as soup so as not to feel completely bloated too quickly!

Towards the end of Ramazan in North Cyprus preparations are made for making such delights as hellim and olive bread and sweetbreads to take to friends and family as well as guests that may visit.  Mosques are visited for Sahur on the last day of Ramazan for prayers.

Ramazan Bayram in North Cyprus (also known as Şeker Bayram) is the holiday given over to various festivities such as full on Turkish pop star entertainment at the local hotels and restaurants with families gathering together to celebrate and shops often holding sales to tempt people! Older generations are given upmost importance during this time by the younger folk and sweets are given out to children.

Depending on which day Şeker Bayram falls there is a 3-4 day public holiday so be warned as government offices and banks will be shut for the whole period, whilst privately run businesses will usually shut for at least two days.  Our guide to Bayrams and Public Holidays in North Cyprus will give you more detail on future dates as Ramazan is a moveable event each year.

We hope this article has given you an insight into the significance of Ramazan and if someone refuses a drink or something to eat don’t be offended, they could well be fasting!  Iyi Ramazan Bayramlar everyone!!