11 must do's in Northern Cyprus

I was surprised by the beauty of Northern Cyprus. A lot of history, beauty, nature, and sun. Here are my 11 must do’s when in Northern Cyprus.

1) Rent a car

The best way to discover Cyprus is to just rent a car. We rented a car for one week to visit all the must do’s below. We were independent and we were our own guides.

2) Girne/Kyrenia

This town is the tourism capital of Northern Cyprus. You can find hotels, bars and a port in this town. Go visit it in the evening. Take a stroll first through the harbor, pass by the Castle and go have dinner.

3) Famagusta

Famagusta was once the busiest tourist center in Cyprus. The Turkish army invaded Famagusta and bombed the city. Many tourists and citizens were killed. Immediately after the invasion, the Turkish army sealed off the area. The Greek citizens thought they were going to return to their homes, but to this day, the area is still sealed. This makes the city quite creepy: abandoned holiday resorts are frozen in time.

4) Karpaz Peninsular

The Karpaz Peninsular is for me the most beautiful part of Northern Cyprus. It’s a little paradise where you can find wild donkeys. Make sure to visit its beautiful beaches as well.

Fun Fact: If you open up your window, they’ll stick their tongue out in order to get food.

Sad Fact: Golden beach is a breeding ground for sea turtles. When we visited the beach, we found lounge chairs, soccer goals, and a volleyball net. This is not okay to be in an area where sea turtles are breeding, especially when they’re getting extinct.

5) UN buffer zone

So the Turkish army invaded Cyprus and built a wall to protect ‘their’ land. Between the wall of the Turkish part and the wall of the Greek part is a UN buffer zone to keep the peace. You can drive along the border and behold the UN buffer zone: an area with abandoned houses that belong to nobody.

6) Green Line (Nicosia)

The capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, is also divided into two. The border in this capital is called the Green Line. Nicosia is the only capital in the world that is divided.

7) Old Town, Nicosia

Walk around Nicosia and check out the Green line. You can see buildings dating back from the time when the Turkish Army invaded. Leave the city center to check out the old Venetian Walls of the city.

8) Ledra Street, Nicosia

So Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world. When walking in Ledra street, you’ll have the opportunity to cross the border. You’ll also find many shops and bars on this street.

Ledra street in Nicosia in northern Cyprus

9) Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia

Selimiye Mosque is a former Roman Catholic cathedral converted into a mosque. It is now the main mosque of the city. It is said that this church may have been the largest church in the Eastern Mediterranean.

10) Belediye bazaar

Just before entering the mosque, you can enter the Belediye Bazaar where you can buy clothing, scarves, and fruits. The street leading up to the bazaar resembles a small souk like in Egypt.

Belediye bazaar in Nicosia in northern Cyprus

11) Beach, please!

The last must do to do in Cyprus is to enjoy the sea and take a swim! Don’t look for coral because there is none but do enjoy the beautiful blue colored sea.

11 must do’s in Northern Cyprus