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.

Of course a visit to North Cyprus would certainly not be complete until you have spent some time visiting one, or indeed all of the castles on offer, and there are four of them just waiting to be explored!

We will do our best to open your eyes to the best places to visit and will continually add more options and alternatives for you as we actually go to see them for ourselves – sometimes when you live in a country you don’t get out to see much, but for the sake of the site it’s really rather important wouldn’t you agree!

Please visit our sections which we have split into areas, West of Kyrenia, Kyrenia, East of Kyrenia, Lefkoşa, Famagusta and Karpaz, so that you can at least see what you can tackle in one day, and what to save for another.  In addition visit our articles on museums and castles to find out more about what to see and explore at these sights.  Hopefully this should give you a few ideas and point you in the right direction to find out about the many places of interest in North Cyprus.

Happy sightseeing!

Kazaphana Mosque, Ozanköy, North Cyprus

Going east from Kyrenia, there are many places to stop off and explore, some easy to find whilst some others not so easy!  The further east you travel from Kyrenia you come across many ancient and historically fascinating places that remain in good condition and make North Cyprus a beautiful place for all things ancient and historic!

Starting in Ozanköy you can see the 17^th century Kazaphana Mosque, a well kept example of Ottoman architecture, with the two graves of the architect and donator to the mosque.  There is also the Panayia Tou Potmau church built around the 15^th century, although sadly many of the frescoes inside have now deteriorated.

Bellapais Abbey, North Cyprus

Turning in land up to Bellapais you will be able to visit the stunning Abbey, originally constructed around 1200 by the Lusignans for monks who were forced to leave Jerusalem by the Saracens.  The Abbey became an extremely influential and important place for religion until it was seized by the Genoese in 1373 when it was looted.  During other occupations of the island the Abbey was left to decline, and after the Ottomans invaded in 1570 the buildings were further desecrated, with much of the stone from the Abbey being used to build the surrounding village.  Lawrence Durrell’s book Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, which everyone should read if coming to visit North Cyprus, depicts his time spent in this area and includes descriptions of the now infamous Tree of Idleness in the village, although no one really knows which tree in Bellapais Durrell was actually describing!

Hazreti Omer Tekke, Çatalköy, North Cyprus

Following the coastal road to the east at Çatalköy, the next most prominent historical building is the Hazreti Omer Tekke which stands directly on the coastline.  You can find this by turning left at the football stadium which stands on the main road and following the road through a property development which leads to the Tekke.  This was built during Ottoman times as a shrine to the above named commander and six soldiers who were killed during the Arab raids in the 7^th century, they were respected by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Buffavento Castle, North Cyprus

By remaining on the main road rather than turning along the coast towards Esentepe you will travel up the mountain road which will take you to Buffavento Castle, here you can spend a few hours exploring this wonderful example of the Byzantine era.  There is also a monument dedicated to the crew of an Talia Airways flight which crashed on the mountain in 1988.  Carrying on along the main road you will also find the Alevkaya Forestry Station which is a great place to while away the time having a picnic in the forest and visiting the Herbarium.

Sourp Magar Monastery, North Cyprus

Another historical site in this area is the Sourp Magar Monastery, built around 1,000 and dedicated to Saint Makarius of Alexandria, Armenians took over the monastery in the 15^th century and it was used as a resting point for pilgrims travelling to and from Jerusalem.  These days it’s not in a particularly good condition with decay taking its toll, but it is still a great place to visit, but do take care when walking around as some of the structure is slightly dangerous to clamber around!

Another example of a Byzantine church and monastery is Antiphonitis, located just beneath the village of Esentepe.  A simple design built in the 12^th century, there are still some surviving frescoes as well as additions from the 15^th century which make it well worth a visit.

Travelling west from this area, the village of Taşkent is home to the Panayia Absinthiotissa monastery, this is a large Byzantine structure with Gothic influences from the 15^th century.  Restored in the 1960s it’s still in pretty good order structurally speaking, but it is now bereft of any murals or frescoes.

Antiphonitis Monastery, North Cyprus

Back on the coastal road and within the Acapulco Resort is the remains of Vrysin, a Neolithic site found and excavated in 1969.  Sadly now not preserved in any way, the excavation revealed several stone huts partially sunk into the earth as well as painted pottery.

Continuing along the coastal road you will see several examples of churches built around the 15^th century, mostly now derelict, looted and locked.  Along the coast you can also see some good examples of buildings which would have been used for storage of such export items as carob, which have stood the test of time considering their position on the coastal headland.

Kantara Castle, North Cyprus

Further along the coast you will see signs for the Byzantine Kantara Castle, to get to it you will again turn inland.  From here you can see for miles around – from Famagusta in the south and up to the Karpaz in the east.

That finishes our review of the places of interest to the east of Kyrenia.  There are many more that you may find along your travels, so please do let us know if you think something deserves a mention!  Please click any of the links within the article to find out more about a particular item, or visit other articles detailing places of interest in Kyrenia, to the west of Kyrenia, Lefkoşa, Famagusta and the Karpaz.

Peace & Freedom Monument, Karaoğlanoğlu, North Cyprus

Going west from Kyrenia, there are many places to stop off and explore – and you may be surprised to learn that there are many more than you will usually find in most guidebooks.  The further west you travel from Kyrenia you come across many fascinating and historical places that remain a proud testament to an island rich in history.

Starting in Karaoğlanoğlu (pronounced Kara-o-lan-o-loo) is the ‘Şehitleği’ (martyrs’ monument) in a well-kept garden on the coastal side of the main road.  This  is the resting place of 71 men who died during the intervention of 1974.  The Peace and Freedom museum is also located here, featuring tanks and other military vehicles and an indoor exhibit reporting on the intervention of the Turkish military.  Further along the main road is the Peace and Freedom monument, a plain concrete structure rising into the air which marks the 1974 landing place.

Tank Museum, North Cyprus

Just below the mountain village of Karaman is a Bronze Age cemetery, and it is signposted on the final bend on the ascent to the village.  It’s a small but interesting set of tombs which are believed to date back to around 1900-1800BC, before even the tombs found at Salamis.  You can walk around the site and wander in and out of the tombs, which have now long since been ransacked.  In the village itself you can also visit the church in the village centre which still retains some icons and paintings from the 19^th century.

If you take a walk from Karaman to the east, then you will be able to see two little churches long since emptied, but they still retain enough character to make them interesting enough to walk to, whilst all the time being able to gaze up at St. Hilarion Castle!

Lambousa, Lapta, North Cyprus

Heading to Alsancak and Lapta are the amazing remains of Lambousa, a city said to be have been founded by Spartan Greeks in the 12^th century.  Here on the coast (turn right at the sign for Mare Monte) you will find the remains of many tombs cut from the soft rock, as well as large fish tanks again cut from rock – and you can walk right across the headland to see the remains of the original entrance to the city which strangely sits on the eastern end of the Camelot Beach Club!

In Lapta itself you will find many back streets and shops to while away your time in, as well being able to see plenty of churches and monasteries built mostly around the 1800s – they are still in good condition today.

Mavi Köşk, Camlibel, North Cyprus

After the village of Karşiyaka you can turn right at the signs for Kayalar and Sadrazamköy which will take you on a scenic coastal route where you will find small coastal buildings, some now abandoned churches and look out posts.  Turning inland at the tip of the cape you will come to Koruçam which is definitely worth a stop for a few hours, its main reason for interest being that it is a Greek Maronite village, one of the few remaining in the north of the island with the population being of Orthodox Christian faith.  You can also find the little church of Panayia on the outskirts of the town.

Not far from here, towards Camlibel is the interesting Mavi Köşk, a splendid 1950s chateau style house lived in by the notorious gun smuggler Paulo Paolides.  The gardens have some great views over the surrounding land for miles around, and there are some interesting anecdotes to read as you explore the house and gardens.  In Camlibel itself there is the remains of the Monastery of Ayios Pandeleimon, who was the patron saint of physicians, and also a Bronze Age settlement featuring a pillar and alter which have been reconstructed.

Geçitköy Reservoir, North Cyprus

Following the coastal route to Akdeniz and just beyond, you will find an ancient temple site called Paleokastro.  Found in 1929 but no longer here, having been carted off by excavators, were the remains of around 2,000 terracotta statues in various shapes and sizes believed to have originated in the 6^th to 7^th century.

On the drive through to Güzelyurt you will also the find the Geçitköy reservoir where you can take a break and while away some time taking in the views and perhaps watching some of the birds which come to drink there.  Güzelyurt itself is a bustling town and there is the Nature and Ecology museum to spend an hour or two at, interesting finds here include some stuffed animal oddities and archaeological finds dating back to the Neolithic period.

Vouni, North Cyprus

Next to the museum is the equally interesting Ayios Mamas monastery which is in very good condition and remains pretty much unchanged as a Greek Orthodox Church, and there are not many of those around these days.  St Mamas was the patron saint of tax evaders, having been arrested for not paying taxes as he thought it unfair that a hermit such as himself should pay them, he became a saint after having calmed a lion on the way to see his accuser, the local Byzantine duke, who was so impressed by this bravery that he exempted Mamas from taxation forever more!

A whole day visiting Lefke, a town which has always been Turkish, would hopefully be enough time to spend hours exploring the surrounding ancient sites of Vouni and Soli, both breathtaking in their own right with much to see and explore.  Also along the coast at Gemikonağlı you may perhaps find the remains and devastation left by the CMC mining factory – a place of interest, albeit a sad one, with the coastline still suffering the effects of copper waste and slag.

Soli, North Cyprus

That winds up our review of the places of interest to the west of Kyrenia.  There are many more that you may find along your travels, so please do let us know if you think something deserves a mention!  Please click any of the links within the article to find out more about a particular item, or visit other articles detailing the castles in North Cyprus, places of interest in Kyrenia, to the east of Kyrenia, Lefkoşa, Famagusta and the Karpaz.

If you are visiting the city of Lefkoşa whilst on your travels in North Cyprus, or just fancy spending some time looking around whilst you may have business to attend to, it’s well worth taking time to explore the sights, of which there are plenty.

Beside the abundance of museums covered in our separate article, there are some great examples of period architecture, some of which have been restored in recent years and some which are still partially intact, enabling you to at least get a feel for the history of this ancient city.  Lefkoşa is believed to have begun as Ledroi in around 280 BC, and was further developed during the Byzantine era and further still by the various occupiers of the subsequent centuries, and has always been a place of importance.

Kyrenia Gate, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus

Kyrenia Gate is an interesting first stop, which is where the entrance to the city was based after the Venetians fortified the city with walls, and you can still see the date of its construction in 1562 on a plaque above the entrance.  Kyrenia Gate now houses the Tourist Information Office for the city.  As you enter the city via the gate you will immediately see monuments to Atatürk and Dr Fazıl Küçük, a famous Turkish Cypriot who represented his people in the 1950’s and was the first Vice President for Cyprus.

Further along travelling up the Girne Caddesi on the left hand side you will see the domed Mevlevi Tekke Museum which houses a collection of artefacts from the sect of whirling dervishes who used this building.

Mevlevi Tekke Museum, Lefkosa, North Cyprus

Continuing to the top of the road you will reach the city Meydanı or Square.  In the middle of the roundabout is a Venetian column made from granite where you can see the coat of arms at the base, with a newer British installed copper globe at its peak, rather than the original Lion of St Mark which had previously adorned it.  There are also some very interesting buildings in this area too, which you may be able to tell are from the British colonial era.

Other places of interest include the Arabahmet Mosque, (named after the architect of the Mevlevi Tekke), which is of Byzantine construction and is strangely paved with some gravestones taken from other churches, some of them coming from the original Venetian church which originally stood on this spot.

Armenian Church, Lefkosa, North Cyprus

Right in the centre of Lefkoşa and sitting within the Green Line is an Armenian Church probably originally built around the 14^th century.  You can see it from both north and south, and although in bad condition at present, there are apparently plans to restore it.

The Büyük Han or Great Inn is another popular place to visit, and has been well restored.  Originally built in around 1572 as a stop over centre for travelling merchants with accommodation, stabling for horses and camels, warehouse and market, it’s a two storey building with a central courtyard in which stands a small octagonal mosque.  You can now browse around the handicraft shops and partake of some well-earned refreshments whilst taking in the peaceful nature of this place, or attend one of the intimate musical festivals during the year.

Büyük Hann, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus

You may also pass by the Turkish Bath or Buyuk Hamam, but you need to have your eyes peeled as its entrance sits slightly below ground level.  It is apparently still in use today, although whenever we have been we have not seen a soul enter!  It actually used to be a 14^th century church called St George of the Latins.

Selimiye Mosque in the city centre is a wonderful building, built as a cathedral named St. Sophia in around 1209, it was finished in later years by French architects who were travelling with the Crusades.  Sacked in the 1300s by the Genoese and then the Mamelukes, it also suffered earthquake damage and was subsequently trashed by the Ottomans in 1570, when it was thereafter altered with the addition of minarets and changed into a mosque which still functions as such today.

Selimiye Mosque, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus

In between the mosque and the indoor market area you will find the Bedestan or St. Nicholas Church, it was originally a 12^th century Byzantine building, although altered and added to during the Lusignan period.  It also suffered the same fate as Selimiye, suffering earthquake damage and then being left to decay during the Ottoman era.  It is now part of a restoration project which should bring this wonderful structure back to life.

The Gamblers Inn or Kumarcılar Han is a late 17^th century building, again used as a centre for travellers of a certain trade.  It is assumed that this building was built on top of the remains of a monastery as it has a gothic arch still remaining.  As of 2008 this site is set for restoration, and if it is done as carefully and thoughtfully as the Büyük Han, then you should be able to sample the original atmosphere when it’s complete.

Turkish Bath, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus

The Eaved House and Haydar Paşha Mosque are other restored buildings worth a visit, as they now form part of the burgeoning arts scene in Lefkoşa, regularly hosting exhibitions and displays.  The Turkish Cypriot Folk Arts group HASDER also has its home at the old St. Luke’s Church built in 1758 during the Ottoman era.

To appreciate the recent history of Lefkoşa as a divided city, the Ledra Palace Crossing is definitely a place of interest for many.  As you walk across no man’s land or stand in the small park nearby you can see the old Ledra Palace Hotel which is now occupied by UN soldiers, and see all the old buildings which were shot up during the military intervention.  It’s quite a strange experience the first time you walk across this border…it’s eerie and a bit strange, but some of the buildings, with sand bags and oil drums still intact, were very attractive in days gone by.

Ledra Palace Hotel, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus

That sums up our round-up of the places of interest in Lefkosa, but there are many more to see so we will leave you to seek them out!  You can also join walking tours of the city, or follow the Blue Line walk which will take you past many of the sights we have mentioned. Please click any of the links within the article to find out more about a particular item, or visit our other articles on museums and places of interest in Kyrenia, to the east of Kyrenia, west of Kyrenia, Famagusta and the Karpaz.

Güzelyurt is said to have been inhabited since Bronze Age times, and it was also a major centre for copper mining during its history.  Today, it is more commonly associated with being the citrus growing centre of North Cyprus.  Under the British rule the town was also a major part of the transportation network, it was connected by rail to Lefkoşa and Famagusta  mainly for transporting of copper.

Although Guzelyurt is not as culturally or architecturally rich as other towns and cities in North Cyprus, it does have deep historical roots, and it’s certainly worth visiting to see the Archaeology and Nature museum and the St. Mamas monastery.  Taking in the easy laid back way that life appears to meander along in Güzelyurt is also another good reason to visit!  Visitors may be tempted to plan their trip around the bustling market day on a Saturday, so as to make a day of it.

There are some lovely stretches of sandy beach within reach of Güzelyurt too, although these can be hard to find if you don’t have a good sense of direction!  They are accessible offering the sandy and shallow waters of Güzelyurt Bay, and we will attempt to offer decent directions in other articles!

If you’re looking for the ‘real’ Cyprus, drive out to Güzelyurt, explore the town and the surrounding villages and get lost in a Cyprus that time has forgotten and left untouched.  We will tell you more about Güzelyurt and its surrounding areas like Lefke in our related articles, so please take a look if you would like more information.