Having said that, there are some hotel chain groups which are involved in North Cyprus such as the Merit group, as well as Accor which is a huge hotel group that owns the Mercure Hotel for example.  However, each of the major luxury hotels is still individual in design, character and décor, so it doesn’t feel as though you could be in any city in any part of the world when you visit one!

Essential Cyprus has handpicked just a handful of luxury hotels and resorts to give a taster of the facilities and accommodation available in Northern Cyprus.  With the growth in the hotel sector there are plenty to choose from, so this article will just give you a taster of what kind of luxury accommodation to expect.

The Colony Hotel, Kyrenia

The palatial and truly stunning Colony Hotel makes its visual mark on the town of Kyrenia immediately!  Its prime location at the top of the high street at its northern end makes it one of the most popular hotels for travelling businessmen and those who prefer to stay in the more upmarket hotels when in North Cyprus.  The Colony is well known for its high return of guests every time they come to the island.

The Colony, built in a sophisticated colonial style funnily enough, claims to be the only five star hotel in the town to achieve truly international standards…it is certainly one of the finest luxury hotels in the whole of Northern Cyprus incorporating the utmost in taste and class.  Elegantly decorated, the bedrooms and suites afford residents the ultimate in luxury lifestyle with all mod cons and room service at the press of a button.  The hotel boasts many other luxury facilities including restaurants, bars, spa, gym, wellness centre, rooftop pool and much more, but we will let you see for yourself!

The Rocks Hotel, Kyrenia

Located directly on the coastal promenade, but in a nonetheless quiet ‘kordonboyu’ area of the old harbour town of Kyrenia, is the Rocks Hotel.  This luxury five star hotel has been finished with the utmost attention to detail, no expense spared, finest quality fixture, fittings and furnishings.  Residents and non-residents are free to take advantage of the first class restaurants and bars including La Habanera, the live music jazz bar.  Here some of the finest jazz musicians from around the world are regularly invited to perform.

It is an ideal location for meetings, banquets, weddings, conferences and is a regular venue for the Kyrenia Jazz Festival.  The accommodation and service offered to guests is definitely five star, and The Rocks Hotel is also home to the beautiful Rocks pool area and Laguna Bar, the Rocks Casino – yet another classy establishment – together with Roxanne’s Bar and Grill – that completes the Rocks Hotel luxury line-up.

Merit Crystal Cove, Kyrenia

The Merit Crystal Cove luxury five star resort is located just 10km from Kyrenia and positioned on its own private bay, overlooking its own exclusive beach.  This magnificent resort offers its guests the ultimate in all inclusive luxury.  With 32 acres of gardens, health club, fitness centre, casino, swimming pools, bars, restaurants and conference facilities, guests at the Merit Crystal Cove will want for nothing.

The hotel offers memorable luxury accommodation and entertainment, first class dining and night life with the most incredible mountain and sea views which one can truly say are uninterrupted and unrivalled.

Savoy Ottoman Palace Hotel, Kyrenia

This 5 star gem is the latest addition to the sophisticated luxury hotel market on the island and is based just off Kyrenia high street to the eastern end.  Built with an Ottoman theme in mind, the hotel’s architecture is stunning and inside is teeming with luxury design features and opulent furnishings, making it feel exactly like a palace.  Accommodation is luxuriant to say the least, complete with a range suites fit for sultans, where no expense has been spared in creating style and elegance.

You can relax and unwind in true style, with two international restaurants run by award winning chefs, perhaps take a Turkish bath, visit the spa or just relax in your suite with room service at your beck and call.  Its unique style and design make this hotel one which should definitely tempt those eager to try somewhere a little different.

Mercure Hotel, Karaoğlanoğlu

A modern 5 star hotel with a unique design based on the Kyrenia Castle, this large hotel is located on the coast to the east of the town.  It offers guests all there is to be had in the luxury stakes and is decorated and furnished to high standards.  The Mercure’s king suites allows for private dining for your own guests with butlered service available.

The well equipped spa offers guests luxurious treatments as well as an indoor pool, Jacuzzi and sauna.  There are two large outdoor pools, and with several international restaurants located within the hotel you will be spoilt for choice for dining experiences.  It’s an ideal hotel for professional functions such as conferences, weddings and other events.

Kaya Artemis, Bafra

This huge 5 star complex located on the south eastern coastal region north of Famagusta will not fail to take your breath away on first sight.  It’s built, themed and designed on Greek mythology, Artemis being the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo.  Opulence is the major word for this resort, offering the largest room capacity in North Cyprus, with Greek statues and columns featuring heavily in the luxurious external gardens.

Kaya Artemis offers several luxury standards of accommodation including suites and individual villas to suit your tastes; it has its own shopping centre, several indoor and outdoor pools, wellness spa and beauty parlour, and the hotel has its own exclusive beach area.  A trip to this area and the Kaya Artemis resort is bound to relax and inspire you.

That concludes our choice of the luxury hotels in North Cyprus, but there are more for you to try so take your pick!  If you are looking for family hotels, boutique hotels, budget hotels, business or spa hotels then please click on any of the links.

If you’re looking for a holiday on a budget then there is plenty of choice for you and your family.  You can take your pick from self catering to half board, as well as a choice of bed and breakfast accommodation and guesthouses.  Unfortunately there is no such thing as the Youth Hostel Association here just yet, but there is plenty on offer for those watching their pennies.

There are a number of bonuses to choosing this type of accommodation, as most budget hotels are small family run establishments – perfect if you prefer peace and quiet.  Some suit the more backpacker type of person with plenty of beach hut hostelries dotted around the Karpaz area for example, although there is plenty of slightly higher quality accommodation in this area which suits a smaller budget too.

In this article we will offer some accommodation ideas for you which fit the above criteria, and whilst we will endeavour to cover most areas of North Cyprus, there are plenty more options to choose from all across the island.

In the Kyrenia area there are many hotels and small pensions located in the areas directly behind the old harbour area of town as well as on the outskirts of the town.  The Nostalgia Hotel, a small and pleasant hotel situated behind the harbour has 18 rooms, and you can choose from bed and breakfast, half board or full board giving you different price options.  Or you could try the Hotel British – again with 18 rooms, it can offer similar accommodation and sits directly behind the harbour.  You also have the Sidelya Hotel sitting just behind the harbour – it offers pleasant rooms with some having a sea view.

Moving slightly further into town and there are some very nice hotels such as the Dorana Hotel which has 30 rooms and is located next to the Savoy Ottoman Palace Hotel, or the Bristol Hotel with 18 rooms which is located on the high street.  There is also Sammys Hotel which is within a short walking distance from the town centre, as is the Watermill Hotel.

Moving to the west of North Cyprus and the Sempati Hotel in Lapta or Club Simena in Karşıyaka both offer good standards of accommodation with modern facilities, as does the Riverside Holiday Village, although all rather larger in size than those accommodation offerings previously discussed.  Güzelyurt has a couple of nice hotels to try, The Güzelyurt Hotel has 19 rooms all with mod cons, a restaurant and a swimming pool, or the Lefke Gardens Hotel which has 21 rooms, swimming pool and wonderful gardens as well as a restaurant and which is not too far from the CMC Golf Course.

In Boğaz, just north of Famagusta, you can find a number of cheaper hotels along the coastal route, all offering decent accommodation with some offering really good value, and one such hotel being the Exotic Hotel.  A rather strange name perhaps, but it’s well located near to the old fishing village and its restaurants, as well as being a short journey from the start of the Karpaz region.

The east of the island starts to get more like the real budget side of things, and you can take your pick from some wonderful guesthouses, b&bs as well as camp sites and beach huts.  Bear in mind though, that prices are usually quoted with just breakfast included, so you should factor in cost for your lunch and dinner.

In Büyükkonuk you can try the Delcraft B&B which is run by the Cemal family, it’s a great base to experience local life from, and it offers perfectly acceptable accommodation within wonderful surroundings – it’s great value at £10 per person per night.  They only have 4 rooms, but if they are fully booked they can find you somewhere else to stay with no problem.  In the village of Dipkarpaz try the lovely Karpaz Arch Houses, which are restored buildings now used for accommodation.  Again, great accommodation at great prices with the traditional element foremost in the Arch Houses’ attraction for visitors.

Along the northern coastal stretch of the Karpaz region you can find apartments and small hotels galore which can cater for short and long stays depending on your timetable.  Try the Kaplıca Beach Hotel – or the Theresa Hotel or Balcı Plaza (we have stayed there if you would like to read our review!) which are both in Yeni Erenköy, both offer good accommodation with the latter having apartments a short walk away from a great little coved beach and restaurant.  Another lovely small establishment is the Oasis Hotel which sits next to the ancient Roman City and harbour of Ayios Philon, and with just 6 basic rooms simply decorated and whitewashed, this offers a secluded option.

Alternatively, if you want to be a real beach bum then you are catered for pretty well too!  There are various ways to sleep on the beach, you can choose from beach huts which provide a room and a shower for around £20 a night, or perhaps a tent is more your thing at around £13, and breakfast is included with the price as well.  Try Burhan’s places on Golden Beach or Livana Beach Huts, where you can lay on the beach all day, or explore the Karpaz whilst enjoying your evenings back at the ranch with other guests and a barbeque!

So, this concludes our pick of the best of the budget accommodation, and we are sure you will agree there is much to tempt you if you want to travel around North Cyprus on a restricted budget.  Check our related articles on luxury options, or more family friendly hotels, business hotels, or for those fancying a real treat there are some wonderful spa and boutique hotels to try too!

If total relaxation of mind, body and spirit is what you are looking for when booking a hotel for your holiday, then North Cyprus has a lot to offer for the earnest spa lover.  You can choose a complete spa getaway or a weekend full of the best treatments that the world has to offer, at one of the many 5 star hotel resorts.

Facilities are of the best quality, packed full of tasteful furnishings and mood calming music and lighting, so that you really do feel as if you are in a secluded and private retreat.  On researching this article, we were pleasantly surprised at how seriously the spa world takes itself here, with a wide range of treatments and pampering options to really go to town on!

In this article we will give you a few ideas of where the best places to be are when you are in need of some down-time during your holiday, or indeed for your entire holiday!

Acapulco Resort & Spa, Kyrenia

Sumptuous surroundings greet you here, with a tantalising range of therapies, treatments and beauty options to choose from.  Rooms are private, there is a Jacuzzi tub, and all treatment rooms are complemented by candles and incense to really get you relaxed.  A chill out room with full length loungers provides a comfortable area to get yourself ready for your next treatment, but the resort also has a fitness centre should you wish to pump some iron instead!  The Acapulco can offer a pre-booked spa getaway, or you can choose on arrival and it has a great range of treatments to choose from.

Malpas Hotel & Resort, Kyrenia

This rather grand hotel will certainly tickle your taste buds when it comes to the treatments available on the menu at the Malpas Spa and Wellness Centre, and the variety of treatments certainly ensures you are in for a real treat.  On entering the lower floor spa, you will feel as if you are in an oasis of calm and tranquillity.  Mood lighting, soft music and helpful staff will help you choose your spa programme to suit your mood, and you will be able to take advantage of such delights as a steam room, indoor pool, Turkish bath and fitness centre as part of your spa holiday.  Professional masseurs offer a great range of massages to entice you too, with the stone therapy being amongst its most popular, along with aroma and hydrotherapy too!  Again, you can pre-book your spa holiday or book your stay and then choose what you want to experience on arrival.

Colony Hotel, Kyrenia

One of the most tasteful hotels around provides a spa and wellness centre that bases itself on rejuvenation and relaxation, with a range of tempting treatments to try as well as a modern exercise room with personal trainers on hand to assist you in choosing what’s best for your needs.  You can spoil yourself rotten with a great range of massages including Swedish, sports, deep tissue and orthopaedic, as well taking advantage of their solarium, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.  Given the environs of the Colony that just ooze class, this is a great bet if you want to be in the centre of the town, but still want to feel like you are on a desert island!  Choose your spa package when pre-booking, or book yourself in and take your time in hand picking your treatments.

Mercure Hotel, Kyrenia

Why not try this uber cool spa with a unique range of Far East inspired massage therapies, from shiatsu, thai and mandara, to reflexology and stone.  Chakra based techniques ensure that you feel at one with life and nature, and give a boost to your own well-being.  Medical massages are also available by trained specialists and are tailored to specific areas of the body.  Besides the top class treatments, you will be treated to wonderful surroundings and facilities such as Turkish bath, scented saunas, indoor pool and Jacuzzis.  Pre-planned packages are available, or book your stay and choose when you arrive.

Rocks Hotel, Kyrenia

Classy and classic, this spa ticks all the right boxes being located at the elegant and stylish Rocks Hotel.  Dark wood, tasteful décor, furnishings and discreet lighting all help to make this one of the most popular spas around. You can partake of a Turkish bath, sauna, Jacuzzi and a myriad of modern and traditional treatments.  Relax in between treatments with a herbal tea in the relaxation lounge, treat yourself to a massage from a range including stone, Thai or Bali to help rejuvenate, inspire and relax.  Being located in the centre of town, this is a great place to stay if you feel rejuvenated enough to go sightseeing after your spa pampering!

That concludes our round up of spa inspired loveliness, but again there are more spas and wellness centres around, so if none of the above fits the bill (we can’t see that happening though!) then check out our article on Spa Therapy choices in North Cyprus!

For other hotel options feel free to check out our articles on family friendly, boutique, budget, business and luxury hotels.

Considering North Cyprus is surrounded by water, it comes as no surprise that there is a wealth of water activities and sports to participate in, and in this article we will give a brief summary of what is available and some of the companies that can offer a variety of facilities to ensure you have a great time, whatever you choose to do.

Boat Trips are a very relaxing way of viewing the Mediterranean and the wonderful coastline of North Cyprus.  There are many companies offering boat trips, and they can be found in the old harbour of Kyrenia, where prices usually cost around £20 per person, with lunch provided on-board.  Leaving each morning they will take you either east or west along the coastline, stopping off for lunch and a swim before returning in the early evening.  Try Blue Dolphin which has a wonderfully crafted gullet boat.

Diving or Snorkelling is a great introduction for children and adults to water activities in North Cyprus, and there are several diving centres which either operate within a hotel resort or beach club, so they are very easy to find out about.  You can participate in trial dives if you are on holiday and then go on to do a diving course if you have time, or if you feel diving is something that you want to do more of.  Instructors should be fully qualified and be able to provide the necessary accreditation and insurance.  Why not try Amphora Diving in Alsancak, Kyrenia, who offer a great range of dive courses and some excellent dive locations to explore www.amphoradiving.com, or Famagusta is also another popular diving area so try www.themarineacademy.com. Our more in-depth article on diving in North Cyprus gives you more information should you wish to know more.

Fishing is another relaxing way to spend your holidays or free time!  Again many of the boats located in any of the harbours such as Kyrenia or Boğaz offer fishing trips, or you can even ask a local fisherman if you can join him!  The waters in North Cyprus are home to around 80 species of fish, ranging from the small parrot fish, mackerel, cod, plaice, sea bass, bream and eel to the larger tuna, swordfish and mineri, so you should be able to catch something on a trip!  Try the Amanda Suzanne Tel :  +90 (0)533 842 9965 or +90 (0)533 877 9607.

Sailing/Yachting courses can be found in the local harbour towns and is actually a very calm and tranquil way of skirting the coastline with the summer weather meaning the seas are extremely calm.  It’s become a very popular pastime since the first Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally in 1990 which visited North Cyprus as part of its route, which is now a major feature of the yachting calendar featuring around 100 vessels.

Water Sports are certainly one of the most popular ways of enjoying your holiday.  You can try anything from inflatable donuts and bananas to jet-skis, dinghies, parasailing, waterskiing or wakeboarding.  Again a lot of these facilities are available at beach clubs and hotel resorts so they are easy to find.  No websites are available but why not try Camelot or Sunset Beach Clubs in Alsancak who provide all sorts of fun water sports for the family to try.

Water Parks are another favourite for the kids – and perhaps adults too!  The Oscar (tel. +90 (0)392 815 4801) and Acapulco Resorts (tel.+90 (0)392 824 44) to the east of Kyrenia, both have great water slide parks to spend hours mucking around in, with slides, huge pools, flumes and even organised daily pool and poolside activities for children in the summer.  Both are open to non-residents of the hotel, but you should expect to pay an entrance fee for the day.  If you are on the west coast of Kyrenia then there is the slide park and wave pool at the Club Lapethos in Lapta, or in Famagusta there is the Club Exotic which has a slide park.

Swimming comes last but not least!  There are without question plenty of places to have a dip in the Med, and you can either drive along the coast to find some wonderfully secluded and sheltered spots, or spend the day at one of the many beach clubs around the central areas.  There are also indoor and outdoor pools at the major hotels that are also open to non-residents, normally being free for use if you have a bite to eat whilst you are there.

So, we hope this has given you a good idea of what is here in North Cyprus to tempt you in the way of water based activities, now all you have to do is find time to try them all!  You can find out more about land based activities in other our related article as well as a more in-depth look at diving.

Diving is a very popular pastime for many in North Cyprus, and there are some really good organisations that can provide training courses, trial dives and trips to great diving locations – both in the north and south of the island.

If you are interested in donning a wetsuit during your stay, or indeed if you’re living in North Cyprus and fancy taking up a water based activity as a hobby or interest then take a look at this article, which will give you an idea of what to expect and how you can become a qualified diver or just dive for pleasure.

Companies usually run their courses from May through to October and will be accredited to PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and/or BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club), giving them the necessary qualifications to supervise and teach new divers.  You can often have a free trial in a pool with all the kit you will need, to see if you feel able to take on the task in seawaters, and you will then have an initial classroom talk to go through the basics of diving.

Once you have decided that you really would like to progress after a proper sea based trial dive, (which usually costs around £20), then you have a wide choice of courses to participate in.  You can dive to a beginner’s standard or go on to become a master diver, a rescue diver or even a lead diver.  All courses are either PADI or BASC approved, and are suitable for all age groups with special Seal Group sessions aimed at introducing children to diving.  For serious dive lovers the Amphora dive school now offer a TEC Deep diver course where divers can really discover the deeper depths of the North Cyprus coastline.  Children can start learning at the age of 10 but need to be accompanied by a parent, or from age 12 with parental consent.

Course prices vary but a general cost for one dive is around £25-30, but you can do up to twenty dives for around £500.  You can either invest in some scuba gear yourself to reduce the overall cost and just rent the oxygen tank and weights needed, or you can rent the whole kit from the centre.  If you wanted to qualify in a particular area of diving then course prices can cost from £200 for a PADI or BASC course in Sports Diving or up to £500 for a Master Diver qualification.

Dives normally take place at set times in the morning and in the afternoon, and usually last a total of two and a half hours.  You will be taught to dive in shallower waters until you have received your basic certification, and then you will be able to dive further out from the coastline and can also join groups on excursions and trips to some of the popular dive sites around the island.

There are some great trips to take part in with some fascinating wrecks, marine life such as turtles, and plenty of weird and wonderful fish to see as well as the interesting coastline to explore.  You can take a trip to the Karpaz on the eastern peninsula or to Koruçam on the western tip for around £75, which includes the journey to the area and the dive.

There are around 20 dive sites located all along the coast in North Cyprus and you will not be disappointed as they include ship and plane wrecks, caves, reefs and an abundance of fish that will watch you with intense interest!  The popular ship wreck site, whose contents are now housed in the Kyrenia Shipwreck Museum, is a popular dive for many experienced and beginner divers.  When diving you should expect to see a large amount of fish such as Grouper, Soldier Fish, Sea Bream, Leer, Parrot Fish and sometimes Stingrays and Moray Eels.  The colourful marine and reef life really do give divers an experience to remember.

If you are feeling ultra adventurous and have passed your Advanced level diving test then try a trip to the Zenobia ship wreck located off the coast of Larnaca.  This is a top dive site and is a must for those who really want to experience a wreck which has not been touched and has that ghostly feel about it.  The ship, a roll on roll of type vessel, sank in June 1980 on its maiden voyage when the electronics malfunctioned pumping water into its ballast tanks.  It sunk just outside Larnaca and you can still see the lorry cargo it was holding, swim through the canteen and even come across preserved eggs! Dive centres in North Cyprus organise dives to this site for around £100.

As you can tell there is plenty to see if you would like to try out diving in North Cyprus, so if you fancy something a little different, or would like to see the underwater side of life here, then you are spoilt for choice!  Perhaps try Turtle Bay Dive Centre www.hotelsempati.com/dive-north-cyprus or Amphora Diving www.amphoradiving.com or Nautilus Diving www.nautilusdivingcyp.com, three of the most experienced dive centres, to check out what they can offer and for information on prices and dive sites.

There’s plenty to keep children and adults busy when visiting or living in North Cyprus, and whilst researching this article we were pleasantly amazed at the amount of activities that you can get involved in – we never knew there so much to do before!

In this article we will give you an A-Z selection of some of the more land based activities and sports available for everyone to participate in – and they range from activities suitable for thrill seekers through to those that might appeal to the more subdued among us!

Archery – a more sedate activity but still one which can be quite addictive, requiring concentration and precision – something which you might find you have in abundance if you are on holiday!  You can try the centre in Çatalköy on the east coast, contact +90 (0)533 846 7463 or also the Kaya Artemis Resort in Bafra offers archery lessons, contact +90 (0)392 630 6000.

Bowling – A new bowling facility opened in 2008 and we think it is just called Ice-Bowling – it’s on the old Lefkoşa road in Famagusta, near to the Eastern Mediterranean University.  This new bowling alley means you can now go ten pin bowling in a state of the art facility which has 10 bowling lanes!  Perfect for a great night out spent with friends – and you can also try out the ice skating at the same venue too!

Clay Pigeon Shooting – this popular sport has been going for some years in North Cyprus and the Gönyeli Gun Club near Lefkoşa is open Tuesday-Saturday from 2p.m. and offers Skeet and Trap shooting.  For more information contact +90 (0)533 8460641.

Cycling – you can hire bikes yourself via Kozan in Karşiyaka on the west coast  or partake in cycling tours with some companies very dedicated to ensure you see the best of the island.  Group tours and holidays can be organised with transportation for bikes included.  Try either Cyprus Cycling on +90 (0)542 8515500 or Cyprus Active via their website  www.cyprusactive.com or by telephone +90 (0)533 831 9072.

Go-Karting – If you fancy a race around a track why not have a go at either ZET International Karting (Tel : +90 (0)533 866 6173) towards Güzelyurt on the west coast, or Cemsa Racing (Tel : +90 (0)392 223 6235 or +90 (0)392 223 6584) in Lefkoşa.  Both have great racing tracks and modern facilities to keep you there all day if you wish!

Golf – you have the 11 hole CMC Golf Club near Güzelyurt (Tel : +90 533 840 1798 or +90 542 851 3884) or the seriously flash 18 hole championship Korineum Golf & Country Club in Esentepe.  Contact +90 392 600 150 to find out about rates for rounds and maybe even a few lessons

Horse Riding – there are various establishments which offer horse riding treks up into the mountains of North Cyprus, but be careful who you choose as the standards are sometimes not what you would expect compared to your home country.  One of the most popular riding stables is the Çatalköy Riding Club which offers lessons as well as wonderful days out on horseback with themed routes.  Check out their site www.catalkoyridingclub.com or call +90 (0)392 824 4030 to find out more.  There is also the Cemsa Riding School in Lefkoşa which has stables located next to the racing circuit facilities – the animals certainly don’t seem to mind the racket!

Ice skating – Why not test out your balancing skills and your grace and agility by having a go at the new modern venue Ice-Bowling in Famagusta.  It’s near to the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta – but note, the ice rink is not made of ice but it’s artificial – however that shouldn’t detract from the fun!

Paint Balling – there is a child inside all of us, and who doesn’t enjoy playing shoot the baddy!  Sunset Beach Club in Lapta can offer a paintball extravaganza as well as lots of other activities.  Call +90 (0) 533 865 4959 for more details.

Paragliding – ok, not entirely land based but that’s where you start off and end up!  An exhilarating experience would be most peoples’ description, and something that you should definitely try at least once!  On a clear day the views as you descend from your mountain departure are breathtaking.  One company operates this activity and that’s Highline Paragliding (Tel : +90 (0)542 855 5672) or check out their website www.highlineparagliding.com.

Quad Bike Safaris – located in Lapta on the west coast one company offers personalised safaris, day trips, half days and all tuition and for a guaranteed thrill – call +90 (0) 533 847 3732 to book your place.

Racket Sports – Badminton/Squash/Tennis – there are various facilities available usually within local belediye sports halls and facilities, university campuses and hotel resorts, so you can always find out when they are free and book yourself up for a session of wrist flicking fun!  Try the excellent facilities at the Middle East Technical University in Lefkoşa or the Ertuğrul Apakan Sports Hall in Kyrenia for badminton. Tennis courts are modern and asphalted for those who fancy a bit of ball bouncing, and most of the time you don’t need to book, just turn up and you should find a free court.  Some of the universities have tennis facilities such as the Girne American University, contact +90 (0) 392 650 2000 for more information.

Rugby – North Cyprus has a very healthy rugby scene due to the current Pumas team!  You may like to get involved and they would be more than happy to have you on board.  They train and play at Alsancak Belediye stadium and have a fixture list which includes trips to play teams in Turkey too.  Contact them via their website www.cypruspumas.com for more information.

Walking– a relatively new organisation, the Kyrenia Mountain Trail Association offers a range of walks located along the stunning 230km long Besparmak and Kyrenia mountain chain.  Contact them via their website www.kyreniamountaintrail.org for more information or call +90 (0)533 845 39 35.  There are other companies which offer walking tours such as the Hash House Harriers who organise walks every month.  For more details please check our walking groups article.  Or how about walking with dogs from the Kyrenia Animal Rescue centre in Arapköy?  They are always in need of dog walkers so what better way to see some scenery and get some fresh mountain air!  Call +90 (0)533 8694098 for more information, opening times are 10am-1pm Monday to Saturday.  For more information on walking tours, activities and holidays please visit our Specialist Tours & Operators article.

Well we hope this article has given you a good insight into how much you can do here in North Cyprus, and no doubt we shall be adding additional articles in the future.  We haven’t even covered football, volleyball, martial arts, darts, snooker and so on, but you can always do your own digging to find out more!  For more information on water based activities, turtle watching and an in-depth article on diving please click on the links.

If you want to see the best of North Cyprus you can get to appreciate the landscape via the healthy option of a good bracing stroll across the mountains and lowlands, and there are a few organisations who have sought to accommodate people’s desire for walking and hiking too.

(Please note: in our other articles on land activities and water activities you will find a whole host of things to keep you occupied, things which could even become a hobby or interest which you would like to become proficient in, such as diving for example.)

Some people prefer to spend a day outside, discovering new parts of the island which they had previously been unaware of, taking time to enjoy the local surrounds, nature and wildlife whilst being part of a group which enjoys doing the same thing.  You would be surprised at the amount of open space there still is in North Cyprus, despite the property development over the last few years, and there are some very knowledgeable people who can ensure that you do see as much of it as possible.

In this article we will detail some of the groups and walking opportunities organised by people who have an expert knowledge of North Cyprus, its flora and fauna, and who at the same time help to promote what is best about this little place on earth.

North Cyprus Hash House Harriers

Originating in Kuala Lumpur in the late 1930’s the Hash House Harriers were originally a group involved in running, walking, jogging and then drinking and eating afterwards!  Each harrier group is known as a ‘kennel’ with groups now based all over the world with members and interested parties joining together for a jog, walk, run and then a beer!

The North Cyprus ‘kennel’ holds a walk/run and then a picnic on the first Sunday of each month with meeting points advertised in the local Cyprus Today newspaper.  They have the use of a coach which will collect walkers and drive them to the designated route for the day, and will transport people back at the finish.  They also have a Facebook group which you can join, and you will then be notified of any events taking place.

It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends, so if you would like to take part in the group, or just pop along to see if you enjoy the day, then they would be more than happy to have you aboard.  Contact them via their Facebook Group www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=8762508468&ref=ts or you can telephone Tony Hutchinson +90 (0)392 7213013 or +90 (0)542 8544329.

Walks and Wild Orchids

Orchid walks have been run by Maureen and Tony Hutchinson for over 10 years, these walks are a great way of learning about the rare and exotic orchid population in North Cyprus.  Based in Hasırköy on the southern slopes of the Kyrenia mountain range, Tony and Maureen are experts in the local area and its flora and fauna and they should be able to introduce you to at least 20 or more species of orchid that grow around the island.

Apart from their orchid hunting activities they have also produced a book on the walks and bird spotting opportunities available in North Cyprus, and they also hold activity days which allow visitors to help make traditional Turkish Cypriot cuisine specialities such as Pekmez (grape molasses).

Very sadly Maureen passed away in January 2012 of cancer.  This loss cannot be expressed enough in words suffice to say she was a blessing for lovers of North Cyprus and did so much to promote its environmental wealth and culture.  She is to be held in high esteem for her contribution to the island.  Maureen could be found at the Carpenters market in Karaoğlanoğlu on a Friday, where she sold handicrafts and home made delights such as marmalades and jams, and was more than happy to pass the time of day talking about the activities that you can experience on an orchid walk with her and Tony.

At the time of writing we presume that Tony will carry on with their activities but please do check their website www.walksnorchidsnorthcyprus.com or via email thutchinson@iecnc.org, or by telephone on +90 (0)392 721 3013 or mobile +90 (0)542 8544329.

Kyrenia Mountain Trail Association / North Cyprus Trails

This group has been active since 2007 and their aims are to produce a way marked trail that covers the whole of the Kyrenia mountain range – which is around 230km long, stretching from the east to the west of the island.  They also want to assist in the development of infrastructure such as picnic areas, information boards, and providing data about things to do and see on the walks.  This group offers one a fantastic opportunity for walking and hiking we are sure you would agree!

The group is actively promoting this aspect of tourism as a viable and sustainable business option, and with a huge amount of visitors each year choosing walking holidays, they are doing an excellent job in ensuring the island is prepared to accept them.  At present they are in the process of mapping the routes, which will take some time, but will be a real boost for walkers with professional maps and signage when completed.

The organisation does not specifically have a walking group, but does offer the opportunity to find out more about where to walk, what to see and how you can join specific walking tours and days out which are organised by other operators.

You can contact them via their websites which have some excellent links for other organisations too who provide other trekking options such as cycling, 4×4 tours and more – see www.northcyprustrails.org or via email nick@bointon.com or info@kyreniamountaintrail.org , or by telephone +90 (0)533 845 39 35.

Union of Cyprus Turkish Tourist Guides (KITREB)

KITREB can offer tailored walks and tours around Lefkoşa which are completely free.  Usually meeting on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am at the Tourist Information Office at Kyrenia Gate, and at 10.30am at the Lokmacı Border Crossing, they will guide you around many of the historical landmarks within the city.

The walks usually last for around 2 hours, and are a great way to familiarise yourself with the rich history of this great city, visiting many of its famous landmarks and buildings.  You can contact them via email kitreb@hotmail.com and for the future their website is www.kitreb.org (being worked on at time of writing) or by telephone +90 (0)392 2284127.  Alternatively you can check out our article on places of interest in Lefkoşa.

For more information on castle walks, then please visit this link. You can also find out much more about tours, tour companies offering walking, hiking, bird watching and orchid hunting holidays in our related articles within our Tourism section, by clicking on any of these links.

Even though we understand that the true definition of the French term À la carte is ‘from the card,’ and that the term is generally used to suggest that a restaurant offers an open menu where individual meal choices are detailed with a separate price for each item, we are cheating slightly and using this phrase to give you our take on fine dining in North Cyprus

If you fancy a special meal or evening out whilst visiting or living in North Cyprus, there are a number of venues that cater for those times when you would like to spoil someone perhaps or host a birthday party or some other special occasion where a more quality and à la carte menu is required!

With the rise in the 5 star hotel based resorts on the island so there has been an increase in the number of really good places to eat.  Some hotels are home to several world class restaurants, and you also have a really good choice of cuisines to try too with specialist chefs employed to ensure that standards are excellent.

Valley Restaurant

We will give you an idea of what types of cuisine you can try, as well as the establishments which have really changed the way we dine out here in North Cyprus.  The main area that you should be concerned with is Kyrenia, as this is where the majority of the 5 star hotels and à la carte restaurants are based these days because Kyrenia is the most popular holiday destination in North Cyprus.  Obviously with these types of dining venues prices are slightly heavier on the pocket, but nevertheless, most are still quite affordable for a treat!

À La Carte Restaurants

Patina Restaurant

Let’s start with the Korineum Golf Course and its Valley Restaurant.  Based within the golf complex in Esentepe, the Valley Restaurant has a relaxed dining area with a fresh, modern design.  It serves a variety of delicious starters and main courses, and there are some fine wines to try too.  The waiting staff are actually very good here, and you can tell that they have been trained in top class dining etiquette.  Prices are not too expensive either, so we think it’s perfect for an evening out if you want to dine at a classy venue!  Tel +90 (0)392 6001500.

The Patina à la carte restaurant in Ozanköy is a little gem well worth trying.  They really do put a lot of effort into their dishes, some of which you can see on their website www.patinacyprus.com.  Patina is a great choice if you fancy something different – such as sea bass baked in banana leaf perhaps – with many other quite mouth-watering and innovative dishes available.  Prices are not too bad either with a 3 course meal for two with wine costing around 120ytl (approx. £48). Tel : +90 (0)392 8245400.

Lagoon Restaurant

Di Figaro in Karaoğlanoğlu is run by Salih Harmandagli – he also helps run the well known Sarastro Restautant in Covent Garden, London.  Di Figaro is a popular venue for first class dining and is very tastefully decorated too.  It serves a mix of Ottoman and Mediterranean food, all freshly prepared, and you can enjoy your meal on their spacious terrace overlooking the Med.  Tel +90 (0)392 8224040.

If you fancy some good à la carte fish restaurants there are some good quality establishments that you can try.  Lagoon, part of the Niazi Restaurant chain, is located next to the Dome Hotel in the centre of Kyrenia, a small but definitely cosy venue that is certainly a must for fish lovers.  You can totally spoil yourself with fish mezes and main courses, and this place really does get busy any time of the week, but creates a great atmospheric evening to enjoy.  Tel : +90 (0) 392 815 6555.

Other good fish restaurants include Missina in Karaoğlanoğlu, tel : +90 (0)392 8223833, Capitano in Alsancak, tel : +90 (0)392 8213025, and the longstanding Altinkaya 1, tel : +90 (0)392 8218341, all of which having great reputations for serving up good quality fish dishes in relaxed and modern venues.

Missina Restaurant

There are some other really wonderful venues such as the well restored Efendi’s House restaurant located in the old Turkish Quarter of Kyrenia; for years now Efendi’s has been a favourite for those who want to dine in a unique atmosphere.  The restaurant always comes up trumps with their select menus which offer something a little different but still at affordable prices.  Tel +90 (0)392 8151149.

Some other favourites for diners who would like a first class evening and dining experience would be The Ambiance in Karaoğlanoğlu, tel +90 (0)392 822 2849 – here you find an extensive menu featuring meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, and the restaurant sits just on the edge of the coast with a wonderful outdoor dining terrace with views out over the Meditterannean.

Ambience Restaurant

Another quality venue is The Verandah also in Karaoğlanoğlu, tel +90 (0)392 8222053, this is an old favourite with a really warming atmosphere and rich décor, again offering a variety of dishes to suit most preferences.  You might also like to try St.Tropez on the main road in Alsancak, it is well known as a stylish dining venue offering French cuisine, and it’s a good option if you want something a little more fancy.  Tel +90 (0)392 8218324.

That nearly completes our run down of a la carte dining, but not totally as you can also check out our article on Hotel Dining which features some other establishments certainly well worth trying out.   There are always more restaurants opening to try, so please explore them and let us know if you feel you have dined at a really great place that you believe comes under this category and we will add it for you!

Check out our other articles on family restaurants, international and European cuisine, traditional Turkish Cypriot cuisine, as well as take-aways and fast food.  Additionally our article on hotel dining could also come within the à la carte dining scenario with some fine dining options!

We have so far managed to write quite a few articles on the dining out and eating in options available in North Cyprus, and we can certainly add one more to the list – namely ‘hotel dining.’ 

With the prolific hotel building going on here in North Cyprus there has also been the creation of many a fine dining establishment, and you can add to this the fact that there are also some older, more well-established hotel dining venues available and straight away you can tell that there are going to be some worthy mentions if you’re after an alternative dining experience.

The fact that the newer 5 star hotel resorts are certainly aimed at an affluent international and middle eastern market means there are various cuisine options available to satisfy those of us who wish to try something new, and below we will aim to give you a run down of the things that you can find here in North Cyprus.

Firstly the Savoy Ottoman Palace in Kyrenia, which is one of the newest establishments in Northern Cyprus, has really gone to town in attempting to offer a very eclectic mix of international tastes for you to try.  There is the Sarayburnu Restaurant, offering first class Ottoman and Lebanese cuisine with exquisite buffets and meals prepared by gold star chefs, or perhaps try the Far East Square Restaurant which offers a mix of far east fusion cuisine.  A meal for two can cost around £55 with wine, which is really not that bad considering the quality of food you get!

Again, another relatively new 5 star hotel, namely the Malpas in Çatalköy, is home to a premier a la carte restaurant called La Broche, it offers a menu full of local and international dishes to try in a rather glitzy setting!

The Mercure Hotel in Karaoğlanoğlu offers a more internationally franchised set of restaurants including the Steak House, where you can partake of surf ‘n turf or traditional Porterhouse and Mignon steaks cooked to your liking.  Sushi Co. is a popular choice for sushi and traditional Japanese and Thai influenced cuisine, and it gets very busy with locals and foreigners at the weekends.

Back in central Kyrenia you have the Rocks Hotel which has the L’Hirondelle Restaurant, offering a mix of local and Turkish cuisine in the typically top class surroundings you would expect from this establishment.  Or attached to the hotel is the Dragon Chinese Restaurant, a popular choice again for sushi and Chinese food.

The Colony Hotel has its well known and popular Premier Restaurant where you can dine in style with a choice of local and international cuisine, and a great wine menu!  Just outside of central Kyrenia is the Jasmine Court Hotel which houses the The Babaçakka Fish Pub where you can try freshly prepared and cooked fish cuisine in a relaxed venue with great views of the Mediterranean.

If you are fan of the Slow Food Association then head for the Bellapais Gardens Hotel restaurant which is open to non-residents.  It’s a welcome break from the sometimes all to rushed dining experience, when all you want to do is relax with friends over a meal and take your time between courses. Sample some of their wonderful traditional Cypriot cuisine, steak and fish dishes as well as some fine wines.

There are no doubt many more hotel dining experiences to be added to the list in the near future with new hotels opening all the time, so watch this space, but in the meantime if you fancy a treat why not spoil yourself and try some of the above listed quality establishments.

For more articles on European and international eateries, traditional Turkish Cypriot cuisine venues, family friendly restaurants, a la carte dining, as well as take-away and delivery options then please feel free to click any of the links provided.

The Casino scene in North Cyprus has been hitting seriously dizzy heights over the last few years, and a mix of holiday makers and big spending gamblers from Turkey, the south of the island and the Middle East make the industry one of the highest profit earners on the island.

Gambling is not legal in many countries and therefore people are prepared to travel to North Cyprus to satisfy their wish to hit the jackpot, as it were!  A law dating back to 1975 actually allows for licensed betting and casino premises to open on the island, but only in the1990s did the trend for gambling really become popular and since then more and more casinos have been built to accommodate this now popular pastime.  Besides casinos there are a number of specialist high street betting shops these days as well, where horse and dog race betting is popular and of course having the odd flutter on football games too!

There are a fantastic array of gambling options with table games like American and French roulette, Las Vegas craps and Black Jack.  Poker, chemin-de-fer, punto banco, baccarat and keno are also played, and some casinos are allowed to offer games such as chug-a-lug, wheel of fortune, rummy and backgammon on which participants can bet.  Even if you have never played any of these games you can watch others play so that you can understand the rules and then have a little flutter yourselves, although if you are not that adventurous some even have bingo!

While serious gamblers have been adding significantly to the economy of Northern Cyprus and the fortunes of some of the most successful casino operators, even expatriates living in North Cyprus enjoy a few rounds at the casino on occassion!  One of the main attractions for those with just a few pounds in their pocket is that the whole occasion is one of excitement, you can enjoy others’ successes and losses at the casino without having to get too financially involved – oh and free alcoholic drinks and food are often on offer too, and a relaxed dress code is permissible!

Many of the casinos have the highest technologies available in gaming and are more often than not run by large gaming companies which have locations and operations all over the world.  They are also generally located within and are affiliated to hotels, making the experience a complete package for many of the visiting gamblers as they can spend time in the casino whilst their wives and partners can have a pampering holiday break with spa treatments, shopping and can also dine at one of the many restaurants and bars within the hotel premises or just laze by the pool or beach club for example.

Despite the fact that some within the North Cypriot community frown upon the fact that Northern Cyprus casinos even exist, believing that they should be banned on moral and religious grounds, others wholeheartedly embrace the fact that casinos are available for their gambling pleasure up to 24 hours a day!  Whichever side of the fence you’re on one thing’s for sure, the casinos in North Cyprus are so successful that more are being built annually and drawing increasing numbers of weekend visitors who are boosting the economic fortunes of the island.  It’s worth noting in this article that presently Turkish Cypriots are the only ones NOT permitted to gamble!  This could however be due to change in the near future.

Please check our articles on selected casinos in Lefkoşa and Famagusta, as well as Kyrenia which we hope gives you plenty of choice.