When we talk about cinema in North Cyprus, we don’t just mean the usual blockbuster movies that anyone can see no matter where in the world they live, we also mean that North Cyprus does have its own budding cinematic scene. So, you will find the usual cinema facilities in the city areas, but there are also a number of art house cinema venues which are popular places for people wishing to see something different.
If you’re living in North Cyprus with children of any age you may feel that there is not a lot for them to do. This may have been the case a few years ago, but with the arrival of many younger families from all over the world, there are now many kids’ groups which are active in the community and provide great sources of entertainment for children of all age groups.
North Cyprus has a healthy regard for art, and perhaps due to the island’s centuries long history, there is a surviving enthusiasm for culture that has lasted down the ages, keeping it alive and well amongst the local population. What’s more, Cypriot art and culture is equally popular and of interest to visitors, and some of this interest has resulted in foreign artists producing their own books about art in North Cyprus.
Trade Fairs in North Cyprus are not just trade fairs, they are a form of entertainment too!
The village of Bellapais, (also known as Bellapaix or even sometimes Beylerberi), sits majestically on the slopes of the Kyrenia mountain range and can be reached from the eastern side of Kyrenia by turning right at the traffic lights and following signs for Doğanköy and Beylerbeyi. It is about a 15 minute drive from Kyrenia. You can’t really miss the village actually, given the sight of the glorious Bellapais Abbey sitting in the centre of it!
Zeytinlik, (zeytin meaning olive), is located on the western low-lying outskirts of Kyrenia. As you may guess by its name, Zeytinlik was the centre of olive oil production in the past, and it still retains some of its original character with people having kept the trees in their gardens and some of the old olive groves still remaining too.
The village of Büyükkonuk, (formerly Komi Kebir), in North Cyprus is located in the lowland foothills of the Beşparmak mountain range on the far east of the island. It’s situated about 6km north-east of Boğaz, just before the start of the Karpaz Peninsula region. It is also a village of some note due to it recently being designated as an area for eco-tourism, and has subsequently even been filmed by foreign film crews for international culture programmes.
The pretty coastal harbour town of Boğaz is located on the south east coastal road next to the main town of Iskele in North Cyprus. It can be reached from Kyrenia for example by the Gecitkale road via Lefkoşa, you turn left at the coastal junction and then just a few miles afterwards you will find the town as the road narrows as you’re passing through it. Alternatively, for a more scenic journey take the north west coast road from Kyrenia via Esentepe, turning inland at Mersinlik or Kaplıca, and following the signs for Iskele and Boğaz.
Boğaz, whilst a small town, is a bustling place and is home to a pretty harbour, some small hotels and b&bs as well as harbour restaurants, with fish obviously playing a large part in the menu on offer at any establishment! It’s a pleasant place to while away a day, and has some nice little stretches of beach either side of the town to enjoy. The quayside of the harbour is also a busy little place with pleasant well-tended gardens that are a joy to visit.
