Crystal clear sea along with tidy and neat beaches will make you feel like you are in a paradise on Earth. The legend says that the birth of the Greek goddess happen exactly on this beach, more precisely, that she rose from the sea which surrounds the rock. Very particular is the case of Nicosia which is the only divided capital in the world. The southern part of Nicosia is Greek and the northern part is mostly inhabited by Turkish Cypriots.
On top of that, Turks have proclaimed an independent state named Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is only recognized by Turkey. So in some way you could say you actually visited two countries, not just one! Since Cyprus is a country of ethnic Turks and Greeks for the most part , it is obvious that the majority of Cypriot cuisine will consist of Turkish and Greek dishes. Their favourite starter dish is mezedes which consists of several different smaller dishes up to 20 of them!
Try spicy spicy Loukaniko sausages and various dips like Tahini sesame dip or Skordalia garlic and potato dip. Their local soft cheese is called halloumi and locals like to eat it grilled. As for the desserts, Cypriots love eating pudding pies, such as galaktoboureko or mahalepi , corn pudding malahapi covered in rose syrup.
Hard liquor like ouzo, anise brandy and filfar are definitely worth of tasting. There are no timetables, but buses run surprisingly frequently , particularly near larger towns. Services normally run up until , after which services are either few and far between or stop altogether.
Fares are cheap , somewhere between lira for local services, and up to around 10 lira for longer distances. Typically, you pay the driver just before you alight the bus at your destination. Make sure you have plenty of change.
On longer distance journeys, you might find things run a little differently. Our tickets were checked by an inspector who boarded the bus from a layby, halfway to the capital. There are plenty of taxi companies in North Cypru s, particularly in and around larger towns.
Depending on the firm, you can book a taxi by phone or online or you can get one at taxi stands or from their hubs. Fares are pretty reasonable by European standards. Sharing taxis is very common in North Cyprus, with special taxi stands set up for this very purpose.
Most taxis are metered , but the meters are not often used , so ask the driver how much the fare will be before you get in. We had partial success in negotiating fares, so ask whether the driver will consider lowering the fare by 10 lira or so. If they refuse, judge for yourself whether you think their offer is good value. Doing so is just as illegal as it is elsewhere in Europe, but everyone seems to do it anyway.
We therefore recommend getting a local sim card for use during your visit. The sim included 50 international minutes, SMS texts and a huge 10GB of data for 7 consecutive days. Instructions to activate the SIM card were included and were as simple as texting a code to a number. The sim deactivates itself after the 7 day period. Other pre-paid sims packages are available from the respective mobile network shops or from supermarkets.
EU residents can not take advantage of free roaming in North Cyprus, so keep this in mind if you want to avoid unexpected charges. Both iOS and Android phones have this option. Turkish Coffee is very strong and unfiltered and therefore, not for the faint-hearted. We drank gallons of the stuff. Most restaurants we visited offered vegetarian options , though in some cases, the options were rather limited. If in doubt, always ask which options are suitable for vegetarians.
We found everyone we asked was keen to help. During our week-long visit, only one restaurant we visited identified vegan options on their menu.
With this in mind, you will want to consider self-catering during your visit. The Turkish military have a strong, visible presence in North Cyprus. A particularly prominent spot where photography is prohibited is the ghost town of Varosha. Before the arrival of Turkish forces in , Varosha was a thriving tourist seaside town. Since then, the town has been left abandoned and closed to the public. Due to the current political situation, North Cyprus is subject to international embargos.
If you do see a recognisable branded shop, it could be counterfeit , so be careful. The lack of recognisable brands and the strong presence of independent businesses should be considered as a reason to visit North Cyprus. Opening times vary considerably with different opening hours during the Summer and Winter seasons. Generally speaking, shops and businesses are open Stray cats and dogs can be found everywhere in North Cyprus.
The best time to visit Cyprus is the spring which often arrives as early as Feb. Weather is still favourable in Mar-Apr with wild flowers, including over 40 species of orchid, popping up across the ridge of the Besparmak Mountains and the hillsides towards the Akamas headland.
The heat starts to kick in in May and the sun usually lasts all the way through to October. Summer is the best time for sea turtles with conservation projects to be found on Lara Bay and Alagadi Beach. Prices start to fall in autumn, so consider a getaway before the cold and rain of Dec-Jan. Call us for the best time to go to Cyprus. Cyprus Weather Chart. Our Cyprus Holidays. Read 5 reviews. Read 9 reviews. Read 2 reviews.
Read 1 review. Read 12 reviews. Read 3 reviews. See all our Cyprus Holidays Give us a call. Things to do in Cyprus. Things not to do in Cyprus Although the rock carved Makronissos Tombs and the local monastery are worth a mention the rest of Ayia Napa, as a resort, centres around boat parties, bar crawls and fast-food chains.
So, unless you're part of the up until dawn and sunbathe from noon crowd, we'd recommend giving it a miss. Review the Crime and Safety Report for Cyprus. You cannot receive a residency permit from the Republic of Cyprus to reside in the area north of the UN buffer zone.
Travel Advisory Levels. Assistance for U. Embassy Nicosia. Cyprus Map. View Larger Map. Search for Travel Advisories.
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