About North Cyprus
Location
Cyprus is an island in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Cyprus has been divided into two parts since 1974. The “Green Line” divides the island between North and South - Turkish and Greek. The Northern part of Cyprus covers about 36% of the whole land mass while the Kyrenia mountain range dominates Northern Cyprus with the Mesoria plane in the centre of the Island. The population is estimated to be around 351,000 people, most of which can be found living in the capital Nicosia and the main touristic town of Kyrenia.
Language
Turkish is the main language, although the Cypriots have their own local version with a distinctively stronger accent including a lot of slang words in comparison to mainland Turks. Most Cypriots are able and willing to speak English as well but are delighted when you try to speak at least a little Turkish.
Religion
Turkish Cypriots are mostly Sunni Muslims.You will see mosques and might come across a few ladies walking around with their heads covered but Turkish Cypriots are extremely relaxed and more non-practising muslims.
Currency
The currency is Turkish Lira. Although in recent times the Turkish Lira has become very unstable and therefore you will find that many of the activities and restaurants price in Euros. This is also because a lot of tourists come across the border from the South side where Euro is the currency.
You will always get a better exchange rate on the island rather than changing your money in the UK, and every business owner accepts British Pounds so if you arrive with no Lira at all, it is certainly not a problem.
To change your money, use one of the many money exchanges found all along the main tourist route and in Central Kyrenia and all the towns and villages. Most businesses accept credit cards now, but be aware that the exchange rate and charges might not be in your favour. There are plenty of ATMs where you can withdraw Turkish Lira, Sterling or US Dollars. One thing to be aware of with Sterling is that banks and businesses will not accept torn or scribbled notes.
Climate
Nestled at the very east of the Mediterranean, North Cyprus enjoys the most favourable Mediterranean climate of all the Islands. Typically summer starts mid-May until mid-October. You are guaranteed blue skies and sunshine day after day after day - perfect summer holiday weather. Temperatures can creep up in the mid 40s in July and August, so it is essential to use plenty of sunscreen and also drink plenty of water. Evening temperatures in the peak of summer stay in the mid 20s, making alfresco dining essential and enjoyable. The coastal areas are also slightly cooler than inland, as the sea temperature is usually about 21 degrees celsius. Your holiday home will have all the essentials to make your stay as comfortable as possible, with air conditioning, fans and swimming pool.
From October through to December, temperatures start to fall, making outdoor activities such as walking or exploring the Crusader Castles more pleasurable. December to February sees a short sharp winter where you can expect rain and cold winds from the North. Very occasionally, it can snow on top of the Kyrenia Mountain Range. Although the average temperature for winter is only about 16 degrees celsius, the sun still shines for approximately six hours a day. If you were considering a winter break, just be sure to bring warm clothes for the evenings, as when the sun goes down behind the Kyrenia Mountain Range, it does become quite chilly. Again, nothing to worry about in your holiday home as the air conditioning units double up as heat pumps and many of our properties also have open fires.
Spring is one of the prettiest seasons in North Cyprus. March through to mid-May sees the island awash with green fields, yellow flowers and fields of bright red poppies. There are also many wild orchids that flower in the spring, so any avid nature lovers are encouraged to visit North Cyprus during this beautiful season. The Karpaz Peninsula is at its best in the spring.
Northern Cyprus is an all year round destination, where each season has a different reason to visit. Northern Cyprus is a 365 day holiday destination where Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter all promise hours of glorious sunshine
Getting to Cyprus
North or South - The choice is yours
Ercan Airport (ECN)
Northern Cyprus’s only airport is called Ercan. Turkish airlines fly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. These are daily flights and all connect in Istanbul.
Pegasus Airlines and AtlasJet Global both fly daily from Stansted. Again these flights touch down in Istanbul but you are treated as transit travellers so there is no need to worry about visas and your luggage goes all the way through to Ercan. Any of these flights from the UK take approximately six hours.
AtlasJet Global and Turkish Airlines both offer 30 kilos of luggage and free snacks and drinks. Pegasus Airlines are more of a budget airline and offer 20 kilos of luggage and no snacks, although of course you can pre-order or buy something on the plane.
Booking early will guarantee the lowest prices, as last minute travel can be very expensive. Transfer time from Ercan is only about 45 minutes to Kyrenia if you are going directly to your accommodation.
Larnaca Airport and Paphos Airport (LCA - PFO)
European passport holders can also choose to fly into Southern Cyprus and take the longer transfer from South to North Cyprus. The flights from the UK take approximately 4 and a half hours and are non-stop.
Larnaca Airport:
Direct flights to Larnaca from London Gatwick (LGW) are operated by Thomas Cook Airlines, British Airways, and easyJet. London Stansted (STN) has direct flights with Jet2 and Cobalt Air - a new airline based in Cyprus. Those travelling from London Heathrow (LHR) can choose from Aegean and British Airways.Transfer time from Larnaca to Kyrenia is roughly one and a half hours.
Paphos Airport:
Airlines including Ryanair, Jet2,easyJet, British Airways, Thomas Cook and TUI operate cheap flights to Paphos from airports all around the UK. When booking any budget airline, it is important to check if luggage is in included as the fare might not be as cheap as you thought. Transfer time from Paphos is roughly two and a half hours.
Once you have arrived safely at the airport of your preferred choice, you have a couple of options of getting to your villa:
Driving
You must bring both parts of your full UK licence with you to be able to hire a car, and you must be over the age of 25 to hire and/or drive a rented vehicle. When you are driving a hired vehicle, you must be in possession of your valid documents (driving licence, insurance, rental agreement) at all times. As in the UK, the Cypriots drive on the left hand side of the road - this a throwback to the time of the British rule.
There is zero tolerance on drink driving, so always plan to get a taxi if you know you are going to be drinking alcohol. If stopped by the police and breathalysed with a positive reading, you will instantly be banned from driving and you will receive a hefty fine. If you are caught on one of the many speed cameras, your details will be recorded next to your passport number and you will face a large fine as you leave the country.
Parking restrictions are evident by the painting of black and white on the kerb stones, or double yellow lines and should not be infringed. There are plenty of car parks and the fee is quite reasonable.
It is important to keep aware at all times when driving; you are in a foreign country and although it is similar to driving in the UK, the Cypriots and Turks seem to take more risks.
Taxis
If you are staying in one of the local villages please refer to your holiday rental for a list of local taxi numbers or simply contact B’s Hive for assistance. Please insist that the taxi driver puts the metre on as soon as you get in the car. It is very important that you wear your seat belt as the local taxi drivers do driver very fast.
Local Buses - Dolmus
As long as you are on one of the local bus routes, simply stand on the side of the road and wait for a little white minibus to come along. Stick your hand up and the bus will stop. This is a very convenient and cheap way to get around. The buses to the west run right up until midnight. The buses to the east stop earlier at about 8pm. Please note there are no buses to Bellapais.
From airport to holiday home
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