Here is a list of preferred beaches, towns and cities to visit while staying in Kyrenia. Below is other information such as preferred car hire and things to do.

BEACHES

The nearest good beach is Escape, although this is now a bit over-developed. Entry is about £3 person for the showers and sunbeds. Turn left when you go down the hill into Karaoglanoglu, and it is about three miles along the road on the right. There is a large concrete monument close to the beach, so it is hard to miss. It has a small restaurant and bar.

Along the same road is Deniz Kizi, attached to the hotel of the same name, which is in a pretty bay. Further along the coast you come to Mare Monte, which is well protected in windy weather. A little further on is Alsancak beach, also known as Camelot. This has a rather off-putting triumphal arch by the car park but the beach is clean and simple.

As a rule, for beaches near Kyrenia, you have to buy a ticket which costs about £3 and this gets you sunbeds and the use of showers. On beaches further afield where there are no services there are no charges.

The best beach for a day trip is "Turtle Beach' - a long, open sandy beach about 10 miles east of Kyrenia and about half an hour's drive from the house. It is often almost deserted and has a small beach bar where you can rent umbrellas. It is a protected area, and at certain times of the year you can see turtles hatching and scrambling down to the sea.

A memorable excursion is a trip to the Karpass peninsula or panhandle. The whole area is entirely untouched, and is a nature reservepopulated by flocks of goats and wild donkeys. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to get to there, and it is a good idea to spend the night at the Blue Sea Hotel. This is a one star hotel with no mains electricity but is not without its own special charm. The main attraction, apart from the monastery, are the numerous little bays along the road and the massive expanse of sand at the end, which is certainly one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean .

CASTLES

Kyrenia Castle is worth a visit, and can easily be fitted in during a visit to Kyrenia. It contains the shipwreck museum and some rather lurid waxworks depicting dark goings-on in the dungeons.

St Hilarion is also attractive, and is easy to reach by car. Buffavento is very pretty, but is much more difficult to reach, as you have to climb up the mountain to get to it. Kantara is a long way and probably not worth the effort unless you are passing on the way to Famagusta .

In all these castles, there are some sheer drops in unexpected places and the railings are not adequate.

MONASTERIES

There are two ruined monasteries along the road the other side of Five Finger Mountain (Besparmak). These could be visited in a single day, but it is probably better to see them on separate days.

WALKS

In the hall there is a small guidebook giving details of walks you can go on. From the house it is actually possible to walk to St Hilarion, though this is only likely to appeal to the most dedicated walker. It is well worth the effort though and the views are fantastic. The walk takes about an hour and a half and you could always get a taxi back from the castle!

When walking in the hills, it is advisable to wear suitable shoes as a precaution against snakes. Brown ones are poisonous but relatively rare; black ones are more common but are completely harmless.

OTHER TOWNS

The ancient ruins of Salamis , which are near Famagusta , are interesting and the beaches nearby tend to be sandy and go on for miles. You should allow a full day if you are planning to go to Salamis .

The old part of Nicosia has a number of lovely ancient buildings all in fairly close proximity. Recommendations include the Turkish baths, the mosque (which used to be a cathedral), the market and the 'Big Inn'.

RESTAURANTS

There are lots of restaurants in and around Kyrenia serving Turkish and international food. They are usually reasonably priced, and normally display a menu with prices in Sterling .

In Kyrenia, the harbour is an attractive place to eat in. The Harbour Club (which is not a club) is one of the oldest restaurants. It has a slightly colonial feel, and I think it is worth visiting for the atmosphere rather than the food.

The Brasserie is at the top of the steps near the Harbour Club. Again, it is a lovely building (the old Governor's residence), and has a simple international menu. More for adults than children.

There is another restaurant just beside the steps in the middle of the harbour, which is an old converted carob warehouse. The restaurant, which is on the roof, has a lovely view of the harbour, but the food is fairly standard. Turkish food is a better bet than the European food.

Almost any of the other restaurants on the harbour serve reasonable meals - some tend to be 'hamburger and chips' establishments, some offer more local food, but you can normally judge the quality by the number of people.

For children or just for a quick meal, the chicken restaurant called ‘ Ezic’ in Kyrenia (on the main road, on the right as you come in from Karaoglanoglu and opposite the supermarket) is brilliant. They do take-away barbecued chickens as well.

The best restaurant, however, is generally reckoned to be the Address , which is in on the sea in Karaoglanoglu, at the bottom of the hill. It serves Turkish and English food and is immensely popular. Coming down form the house, turn left in Karaoglanoglu and look for the large sign on the right. The full kebab is excellent. Reservations are advised.

Closer to home, the two kebab places in Karaoglanoglu do perfectly acceptable local food. The ‘ London Butcher ’ on the crossroads does Kleftiko (long slow-cooked lamb) once a week as a take-away, but you have to order it in advance. He is a good source for meat, and he speaks good English as well.

Jashan's in Edremit serves very good Indian and European food either on the premises or as a take-away, and even does childrens food. It is half way up the hill from Karaoglanoglu to the house. Click on the logo and you will see their prices ( notice that they are all in £ sterling!).

In Karmi, you can eat at the Levant or at Treasure , where the portions are huge; immediately behind the house is Hilarion Village , which has a restaurant that is open to the public.

Other places along the coast (going west) are Guler's , which is an authentic Cypriot restaurant (as opposed to Turkish). It is called 'Guler's Fish Restaurant' but serves meat as well.

For a feel of an old Cyprus house, you can visit Planter's , which serves European food.

SCUBA

The waters around Cyprus are clear and warm and often a T-shirt and tank is all you need to go diving. There is an excellent scuba outfit attached to the Jasmine Court Hote. Dives with all equipment are about £25 and he will take you where you want to go to. I would not recommend the aircraft cockpit however as the dive is quite dull apart from the cockpit.The visibility is usually excellent but there is a lack of fish probably due to overfishing.

                                                                                      KARTING  

Go Karting is a must and Zet Karting in Nicosia is the 3rd Largest race track in Europe, also advised is the water sports at escape beach and the paragliding from the Karaman mountain.

Kyrenia Harbour

Kantara Castle

Kyrenia Castle

Salamis Ruins Famagusta