Flights to North Cyprus

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

There is only one passenger airport in North Cyprus, it’s called Ercan Airport and in recent years it has seen massive refurbishment and now serves people wishing to travel to and from North Cyprus.  It’s located a 40 minute car journey from the harbour town of Kyrenia and 15 minutes from Lefkoşa.

Direct flights are not officially available to North Cyprus from anywhere other than Turkey.  If you’re flying to and from the island from any other destination you have an hour’s stop-over on the Turkish mainland.  On the way to Cyprus passengers can alight in Turkey for onward destinations whilst other passengers remain on-board and new ones embark for the one hour continuation flight to Northern Cyprus.  Plans for the future include challenging the UK government on their ban of direct travel to North Cyprus, so watch this space!

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Flight Options into North Cyprus

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When travelling to and from North Cyprus these days passengers can find themselves spoilt for choice in terms of the airline they choose and the airport they fly into!  It wasn’t so long ago that you had to fly into the old and unfashionable Geçitkale airport whilst Ercan, the current passenger airport, was undergoing a major refurbishment.  With the border opening to the south, the choice is even broader too.

Several airlines now offer flights to Ercan airport via Turkey, and it’s worth checking them all out before committing to purchase your tickets.  All of them have the facility to purchase tickets online, with many now changing over to an e-ticket solution meaning no good old fashioned triplicate slips!  However, for some it’s still more preferable to have a travel agent do the searching for you, and to pay in cash at their offices or via credit card on the phone.

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Flight Options into South Cyprus

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Since the borders opened between the north and south of the island, the option of travelling into either of the two airports in the south, Larnaca and Paphos, has steadily gained popularity.

The main reasons are sometimes cheaper flights, as most major airlines can be very competitive with their pricing, and the fact that there is no obligatory stop-over in Turkey.  From most European destinations it is only a 4 or 5 hour journey time to the south, whereas it would be a 5 or 6 hour journey time to the north because of the stop over in Turkey.

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Specialist Tour Operators for North Cyprus

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you are looking for something different whilst planning a trip to North Cyprus and you enjoy the great outdoors, then there are a growing number of specialist tour operators adding itineraries to accommodate the likes of the walkers, bird watchers and divers amongst us.

North Cyprus has so much to offer those who love an environment orientated holiday, and the world seems to be taking a stand of sorts against mass tourism these days, so it’s nice to see that there are companies who are grasping all that is beautiful about this part of the island and promoting its unique qualities in terms of nature and the environment.

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North Cyprus Package Holidays

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Package holidays are a relatively new but developing business in North Cyprus.  With this side of the island mainly a destination for the independent traveller until recently, holiday companies are now offering attractive packages to suit most budgets and requirements.

Due to the embargoes and restrictions placed upon North Cyprus you probably won’t find much in the way of glossy marketing material in your local travel agent, but there are plenty of dedicated companies offering package deals over the internet, so this is probably the best place to start your research.

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Tourist Information Offices in North Cyprus

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

There are plenty of places in North Cyprus where you can find information on what’s available to see and do here, although we at Essential Cyprus of course provide just as much information if not more!

Each major tourism area has its own government run Tourism Office, and you can find them at the following addresses:

Kyrenia

30, Kordonboyu Sokak (western end of the Old Harbour), Tel: +90 (0)392 8152145

Famagusta

5, Fevzi Cakmak Bulvari (eastern side of the city walls next to the hospital), Tel: +90 (0)392 3662864

Ercan Airport

Terminal Building, Lefkosa, Tel: +90 (0)392 2314737

Lefkoşa

Girne Caddesi (Kyrenia Gate building at entrance to old city), Tel: +90 (0)392 2275051

These offices can provide you with maps of the particular area, brochures and pamphlets about the things to see and do, as well as recommending any tours that may be running at the time of your visit.  Please note that at the time of writing the areas of Güzelyurt, Karpaz and Iskele do not have tourist information offices.

North Cyprus Tourism UK

Prior to a visit to North Cyprus you can always contact the Northern Cyprus Tourism Office, which is based in London, via their website www.simplynorthcyprus.com where you can request a brochure or visit their offices which are normally open Monday to Friday with normal office hours: 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3ED.

Another alternative source for information are bookshops, with the trusty Rustem Bookshop on Girne Caddesi (main road from Kyrenia Gate into the old city in Lefkoşa) selling guides books, information booklets and maps as well some excellent pictorial hardbacks.  Also the Deniz Plaza shops in Kyrenia and Lefkoşa sometimes have useful guide books too.  Hotels usually have plenty of pamphlets that you can take as well, with some of the tour companies displaying boards with tours and activities available.

Alternatively you can always swot up before you arrive and there are numerous books to help you with that.  Why not have a read of our Books on North Cyprus article which should prove helpful.

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North Cyprus Sightseeing & Attractions

February 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Visitors to Northern Cyprus are spoilt for choice when it comes to ‘places to see,’ and whilst you might feel that there is not enough in one place you can always take a day to explore places, fit in some shopping, have some lunch at one of the many restaurants around, and take in the sights in one area. 

Perhaps you might like to see some of the history of a town or city such as Lefkoşa or Kyrenia, and there are several museums that can occupy you for hours on end and all within walking distance of each other in either location for example.  The area of Famagusta is a real treat for those who love a day out spent exploring ancient ruins too, you must visit the mystical Othello’s Tower.

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Castles in North Cyprus

February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you’re considering taking a break in North Cyprus why not spend some time exploring North Cyprus’s ancient castles?  Even if you aren’t a keen walker or you’re coming to the island in the heat of the summer sunshine when walking too far is pretty impossible, you can still get close enough to each magnificent castle to be impressed – we promise you!

North Cyprus is home to a trio of Lusignan Gothic Crusader castles: St. Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara, as well as the Byzantine built Kyrenia Castle.  Each dominates its location so that you can’t miss them really!  A word of warning though, there are steep climbs at fairly high altitudes to the Crusader castles, and parents need to keep a close eye on children, and those who suffer vertigo should hold the hand of someone they trust!  Another tip would be to have fluids readily available and to not visit in the heat of the midday sun in the summer time, as it can get a little too hot for many!

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Activities on the Water in North Cyprus

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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.

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Activities on Land in North Cyprus

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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!

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