North Cyprus Guide

North Cyprus is the Pearl of the Mediterranean furthest east you can venture in the Mediterranean, with Turkey just 40 miles away. And yet the European influence means that miles mix with kilometres on road signs while everyone drives on the left; British plug sockets are the standard mains connectors, and all produce is weighed in kilos.

Castles, ruins and religious relics hide in the mountains of the North while the lower hills hide woodland walks and rare species of birds and butterflies. The lowlands give shelter to a natural diversity of flowers and creatures that is unmatched in the Mediterranean. The coast has an ancient harbours and beaches that stretch for miles while the depth of the sea offers many Mediterranean’s best dive sites.

In towns, there are sophisticated places to enjoy the finer things of life, with an oriental influence to add spice to shopping trips and eating experiences - and an exchange rate to make a necessity of indulgence, in the villages there is simply and abundance of friendship from people who still find their annual visitors interesting.

Getting to North Cyprus

There are frequent scheduled and charter flights out of England and other European countries to Ercan airport. At the moment North Cyprus only has direct air links with Turkey, so all flights coming from Europe have to touch down in Turkey for 30/40 mins, there is no need to leave the aircraft. Flight time from the U.K (including stop off) is 5.5 hrs , Transfer time to Kyrenia or Famagusta is 30mins.

Due to the larger selection of low cost flights available, many visitors to North Cyprus prefer to fly into Larnaca airport. If you take this option the flight time is less but you do have longer transfer times and the need to cross a border. Flight time from the U.K is 4.5 hrs , Transfer time to Kyrenia is 1hr 30mins and to Famagusta is 50mins.

Climate in North Cyprus

From the middle of May to the end of September, the sun shines about twice as mush in North Cyprus as in London and it rarely rains. Low humidity and light sea breezes means that high summer temperatures of around 30 C, comfortable and the temperatures is unlikely to fall below 15 C in any but the three winter months.

The seasons of spring and autumn may be a little changeable but and break in the weather will be short-lived. March and October each average more than 250 hours of sunshine.

Warm sea temperatures-still around 20 C in December - mean shock-free swimming and one of the longest sub-aqua seasons in the Mediterranean.

Cypriot Culture

North Cyprus is a relaxed place. the people respect one another and their visitors, so there is virtually no crime, and pestering of any type is rare. Religious observance is very low key with shops and restaurants open all weekend - and even during the traditional fast of Ramadan.

Health in North Cyprus

Happily, the greatest health risk in North Cyprus is the sun - the latitude here means that the sun is higher than most parts of the Mediterranean. Cool breezes off the sea may fool you into thinking that it's not too hot but avoid sunstroke, drink lots of fluids (alcohol not included!) cover up, use hats and high factor sunscreen and shelter from the midday sun.

Passport and Visas

Visas are not required for British or EU (European Union) citizens wishing to visit North Cyprus. The only requirement is to have a valid passport at the time of travel.

Currency in North Cyprus

The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TL), however, UK Pounds Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are acceptable forms of currency, as are travellers cheques and major credit cards in banks, larger hotels and some restaurants. They may not, however, be accepted in some petrol stations and shops.

North Cyprus Traffic Information

Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. Traffic and road signs are International. Maximum speed is 100 km/hr. Vehicles entering North Cyprus must be insured upon arrival. Seat belts must be worn. Drinking and driving is illegal.

North Cyprus Car Hire

A British or international driving license is acceptable for the first twelve months of stay. Car hire is relatively inexpensive and is widely available through tour operators or car hire companies in North Cyprus. Visitors are advised to check when booking as both left and right hand drive cars are available for hire.

North Cyprus Public Transport

An efficient, inexpensive network of buses and mini-buses operates between all the main towns. In addition, there is a Dolmus service (shared taxis) operating on the same routes. Taxis are widely available but do not carry meters. However, there are standard journey charges, they all have a copy of fixed charges and will be happy to show you upon request.

North Cyprus Health Services

Health services are on duty 24 hours a day. Visitors can obtain free emergency treatment at State hospitals. Treatment at private clinics or hospitals is subject to a consultancy and/or treatment fee.

Language

Turkish is the main language spoken in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), however, English is used widely as a second language.

Partners Abroad - Customer Care

The teams at Partners Abroad are on call to answer any questions that you may have about Northern Cyprus. We are also able to offer a range of services to help make your visit or property purchase in North Cyprus an enjoyable one.