If you’re living in North Cyprus there’s often the question of what to do as an expat, especially if you like to participate in social gatherings and want to get involved in local activities which are of a more social nature. 

There are a whole host of social clubs in North Cyprus and it’s likely you’ll find something that appeals to you, whether it be a walking group or dance class – but the good thing is, even if you don’t or you have a particular passion for a specific kind of social activity, you can always set up your own club or social gathering!

Nowadays there seem to be so many activities we can’t possibly cover them all in this article, but there may be articles on specific groups in our See & Do section, so do please check there if you want more in depth information on some of the major social groups, sports clubs and activities here in North Cyprus.

One of the best places to look for listings, events and contact details for all the various clubs and activities is of course in the good old Cyprus Today newspaper (where would we be without it!) – but you should also get online and find the forums that are active for residents, property owners and expats of all denominations, creeds and backgrounds living on the island, although be warned, some of them can be pretty colourful!

The information we provide here however, will of course give you a good feel for the sorts of activities and events available and show you which social clubs in North Cyprus are already in existence, but of course things change all the time, so check Cyprus Today and if you have a new social club that you want listing in this article, just contact us with all the details.

Markets

We mention markets as they are a form of social networking, with people often going to meet up with friends and to browse the various goods available.  Traditional expat markets have been going for years in North Cyprus, with Pegasos in Karaoğlanoğlu being the longest standing.  Nowadays there are others to meet demands in various locations, such as the market at Chateau Lambousa in Lapta, Tolga’s in Karşiyaka as well The Carpenters in Karaoğlanoğlu and others across the coastline – both east and west of Kyrenia. You can also find out more about the weekly markets and other shopping experiences in our See & Do section.

Entertainment

A wide variety of social entertainment groups are around, and if you like karaoke there’s the chance to sing every single night of the week at different venues around the Kyrenia area; you will often see karaoke events advertised outside venues on a regular basis.  There’s the chance to join a more professional singing group too, it’s called Chorus Lambousa and it sing songs from the shows and other light musical numbers, they also arrange regular concerts – don’t worry though, you don’t have to audition to join!  Call +90 (0)533 843 1176 for more information.

Or if ballroom dancing takes your fancy perhaps, you can join one of the various dance clubs that exist.  Call Grahame on +90 (0)533 843 3554 for more information… Or if that’s a bit too strenuous try the line dancing group Kibris Liners in Alsancak instead, who hold regular evenings for all abilities, and who can be contacted on +90 (0)542 883 4422 or +90 (0)533 876 3410

Other than this there are badminton and bridge clubs, church groups, amateur dramatics societies, darts clubs, keep fit, slim and stay trim groups, mother and toddler meetings and you can even learn to speak the local Turkish language too with various organisations and private tutors offering classes.  Kids are also catered for with a wide range of activities such as dancing, piano lessons, craft clubs and lots more.  You can find out more in our See & Do section so please visit here to see the whole range of things available.

For those of us who are interested in the island and its history, then the Medieval Society is just the ticket, and you can join evenings where presentations are given on the Crusades, and can also join group days where members are taken on tours and walks across North Cyprus.  They do have a website, but it is password protected and you are required to send a payment to become a member http://www.allcrusades.com/, or you can contact Hans Doelman on +90 (0)533 8415419 or by email mcf.trnc@gmail.com.

If you’re thinking about moving to live in TRNC and you’re concerned about finding entertainment in North Cyprus to keep you occupied, or to get you out and about and meeting people – don’t worry!  Trust us, once you arrive and start looking around for things to do you’ll soon find you’re booked up 24/7!

Due to the island’s geographical position, it is inevitable that over the centuries this has proved to be both Cyprus’ downfall as well as her greatest asset. 

Ancient History

c. 7000/6500BC – The Neolithic Period saw settlers arriving from places such as Syria, Turkey and Palestine.  Their main settlements seemed to be in coastal areas such as Zafer Burnu on the eastern peninsula, Lefke, Catalkoy and Güzelyurt.

c. 2500BC – The Bronze Age saw Cyprus prosper with the rapid development of ship usage and copper mining, and she was firmly placed on the map of the international trade routes.  More settlers arrived from such places as Anatolia, they forged cultural and trade relations with Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria and Mycenaean Greece.

c. 323-58BC – The Hellenistic Period saw Cyprus change hands several times after the death of Alexander the Great.  He had brought victory to Cyprus over the Persians, who had ruled over the island for two centuries.  Eventually Cyprus was ruled for some 250 years by the Egyptians, and peace prevailed and the island again prospered.

c. 58BC – 395AD –The Roman Empire, which was by now the strongest power in the Mediterranean, annexed Cyprus, handed it to Alexandria, and then it was given to Cleopatra as a gift by Antony before Cyprus became a civil province in 22BC under the control of Emperor Augustus.

c. 395AD -1191 – This was the Byzantine Period, during which Cyprus was ruled for another two centuries by a now depleted Roman Empire from Constantinople or Byzantium (now Istanbul).  Cyprus saw some tough times during this period with a famine in 324 for example, and earthquakes in which Salamis was destroyed.  It was later rebuilt and named Constantia.  It was also a time for the construction of many Christian churches and monasteries on the island, but also a period during which Cyprus endured nearly 300 years of invasions from the Muslim east with the rise of Islam.

1191 – Richard the Lionheart arrived on the island after discovering his fiancée’s ship had run aground there whilst on the way to confront the Seljuk Turks who had taken Jerusalem.  However he sold the island on to the Templar Knights to raise funds for the Crusades.  Their control was short lived however, due to the lack of control they had over the population who refused to pay increases in taxes to recoup the cost of the purchase, and Richard was obliged to take the island back!  He however then turned it over to Guy de Lusignan in compensation for the loss of Jerusalem.

1192-1489 – The Lusignan Period was arguably the most successful in Cyprus’ history thus far, with three centuries under the rule of the family which originated in France.  After a period of poverty and destitution the Lusignans helped Cyprus become celebrated worldwide for being a cultural centre, attracting academics from afar.  Famagusta became one of the wealthiest cities in the world and some of the most well known buildings such as Bellapais Abbey and St Nicholas’ cathedral were built during this period.

1489-1571 – The Venetian Period started with the death of Lusignan ruler Jacques II, and the subsequent rule of Cyprus by his Venetian wife Caterina Cornaro.  The Venetians spent most of their time fortifying Cyprus against the threat of the Ottomans, which was hopeless as Lefkosa’s defences were soon breached, although Famagusta lasted for 10 months.  The Venetians only ruled over Cyprus for a total of 82 years.

1571-1878 – The Ottoman Period lasted for three centuries and was a period of relative calm and peace amongst the different communities, despite the fact the rulers turned Catholic churches into mosques!  However the island suffered from a serious lack of investment, suffered a huge plague and went into decline, with the population having to pay heavy taxes which disappeared to Constantinople.  When the Ottoman Empire declined, Cyprus was leased to the British under the Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1878.

Click this link to read more about the islands recent history