Kyrenia (Girne)

Kyrenia is a fantastic place to visit and explore. There are plenty of shops and markets to wander around in and when you are done, you can relax in one of the many restaurants and bars down at the harbour.

In its heyday Kyrenia Harbour was lined with warehouses in which were stored the fruits of the countryside whilst they awaited export. The harbour is currently used largely for pleasure craft, and the buildings are now mostly all restaurants, with outdoor tables along the water.

At night, especially in the summer, the harbour is the place to be and to be seen. Enjoy a leisurely dinner with family or a lively drink with friends. The perfect place to unwind, meet new friends and enjoy the Turkish Cypriot hospitality.

Kyrenia castle is lit up beautifully in the evening and adds a stunning focal point to the whole harbour area. It dates back to the late 12th century, built on a former Roman fort. Today it’s an exciting visitor attraction and museum with its lofty heights free and unrestricted by guardrails for people to climb around.

Inside the castle is the famous shipwreck museum which houses one of the oldest ships ever recovered from the sea. It was raised just off the shore of Kyrenia, North Cyprus and has been beautifully preserved and offers an interesting attraction for visitors to the castle.

Historical Places to visit in Kyrenia

The town sprawls out from the harbour and is home to a number of interesting museums and galleries, as well as being a hub for local tradesmen. The old town is located behind the harbour and if you wander along the rambling narrow streets you’ll come to small secret shops, cafes and restaurants some with tiny courtyards all tucked away in the shade of the buildings.

Take time out to explore the back streets from the harbour to the mosque and then if you fancy some shopping the main shops are all fairly centrally located with a few more springing up on the main Lapta road in recent years.

You will find banks, money exchange offices, souvenir shops, pharmacies, clothes shops, taxis, estate agencies, the odd pub, bar, cafe and restaurants all located in the centre of the town.