 | Kyrenia Things To Do | Tips 21 - 30 of 32 |  |
Popular Things To Do | Other Things To Do Tips | All Tips (32) Even if you are not interested in archaeology, Vouni, a Persian palace perched on a hilltop is worth a visit simply for the view, although the drive up is not for the faint hearted. Leave a Comment Directions: Near Soli
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The Karpas peninsula is the pan-handle of Cyprus. It is a remote and rural area.
At the extreme tip, wild donkeys roam freely. Leave a Comment
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The Shipwreck Museum is a small museum located inside Girne Castle. it is not a stunning museum - generally speaking - but it is worth visiting just for one item, one of the oldest trading vessels in the world.
This vessel dates back to 288BC and it was full of millstones and jars of wine "imported" from the Greek islands of Kos and Rhodes; this ship wrecked just outside Girne harbour, after a storm.
Aside the from ship itself, most of the museum is dedicated to the recovery process of this ship, from the year it was discovered by divers (1965) to when it was brought to surface (1968-69), to when it was eventually restored and reconstructed (1975). Leave a Comment Address: old harbourDirections: inside girne castle
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The church of Ayias Mamas in Güzelyurt is now an icon museum.
The icons are not all of any great age or artistic merit, but some tell interesting stories. Ayias Mamas is particularly notable for being the patron saint of ear, nose and throat infections and of tax evaders.
This church is worth seeing not only for the icons, but also the elaborate chandeliers, which cannot all be lit simultaneously without blowing a fuse. Leave a Comment Directions: In Güzelyurt
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If you visit the island of Cyprus, you shouldn't forget to visit Northern Cyprus and especially the city of Kyrenia in the north. Its harbour is said to be the most beautiful harbour in whole Cyprus, and no wonder.
The prices are lower in the north (in the Turkish part of Cyprus), yet anything is available. Food is good (more Turkish than Greek naturally).
That time we visited Cyprus (2004) it was not allowed to take the rental car (rented from south; the Greek side) to the north. We drove (from our "base" Limassol) to Nicosia, the divided city, and parked the car there. We walked through the border and Green Line to the Turkish side and took a very cheap taxi all the way to Kyrenia and later back. We had a great lunch at a panoramic restaurant in the harbour (see my tip) and walked in the city.
Naturally the Turkish effect could be seen everywhere: pictures and statues of Kemal Atatürk, mosques with minarets. Everything seemed to be a little bit more old-fashioned and perhaps worn-out but it didn't matter. Service worked anyhow and people were great. It is said that Northern Cyprus is the most secularized muslim society in the world. There are no extremists existing; women do not wear veils.
We experienced the hospitability almost an unbeliavable way: in one café we met one lady, a teacher. She was Turkish by nationality, lived on the northern side. She paid our bill too; but not only that. She insisted on ordering us some Turkish salty pastries and other delicacies to taste - and she insisted on paying them herself. As we left, she went to tell the staff to prepare us a package of different pastries and stuff to take with us - on her. She gave her e-mail address and we kept contact afterwards. Just unbeliavable! Directions: Walking or taxi around Kyrenia
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The Church of Arkhangelos (Archangel Michael.) is a white little church of great importance located very near the old harbour. It was built in 1860 but originally it was a much simpler building and did not have its distinctive belfry . It doesn't function as a church anymore, now - but it has not been abandoned either. It was
The municipality has turned it into a museum in 1991, the Icon Museum, where you can admire several wonderful 17 to 19 century icons that were collected both in Girne and in the surrounding area and villages. This was meant to preserve local icons from being looted in abandoned churches.
After you have visited the museum, look for the 4th century tombs cut into the rock nearby, under the restaurant. Leave a Comment Directions: a few steps away from the marina
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When we visited Soli, a beautiful Roman mosaic floor uncovered in the 1960s was fading under the sunlight, though work had started on a roof to protect the mosaics from further damage.
I hope that this has been completed now. When we were there, the work was being undertaken by local workmen with no particular expertise in archaeological conservation. Digging deep holes to support the roof can be tricky in an archaeological site, and several holes have had to be abandoned because of the archaeological remains which were found in them. Leave a Comment
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A visit to the castle is a must, even if just for the sights of the town and harbour area. The castle is a warren of tunnels and on a very hot day, they can be lovely and cooling. Wear stout shoes though. The harbour area is lovely and there are many restaurants and aromas of freshly cooked food. A good tip is to walk to the end of the harbour area before turning back and choosing the restaurant which caught your eye on the way back. There are so many.
For golfers, there is a course. Follow the main coast road west. We did see a green which seemed to be made from rubber. It was quite busy the day we went so we didn't manage a game. I am curious though to see if all the greens are rubber or was it just a pracise "green". We will try again this year. Don't forget theTurkish Delight shops. The smells are amazing and if you have a sweet tooth it is heaven. Leave a Comment Address: Kyrenia Town
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The ancient town of Salamis was devoted to pleasure, and the gymnasium had facilities similar to those at a modern health spa with various hot rooms, cold rooms and pools. One facility which might not be so popular today is the 44-seater open-plan latrine. Leave a Comment
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The old harbour is the reason why Girne is so well-known and well-liked. it is very picturesque, both for its shape and for its backdrop. It is horse-shoe shaped and set against the backdrop of the Beshparmak (five finger) mountains.
But this isn't all. The harbour is full of yachts and fishing boats, and on the far end it is proteced by an imposing fortress: Kyrenia Castle, with its museum containing the remains of the one of the oldest ancient ships ever found.
At sunset and at night it is a very serene place to go, with people strolling about and cafes and bistros opening up for drins or meals, or even nargilehs. Leave a Comment Address: old harbourDirections: next to the castle
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