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Explore North Cyprus

North Cyprus is a very scenic part of the island and visiting the North will help to give you the whole picture of Cyprus. Go with an open mind and enhance your travel experience by seeing the complete representation of the country.

north-cyprus-mosque

Since 1974, the North has seen large scale immigration from mainland Turkey. Although it is denied officially, many indigenous Turkish Cypriots are resentful of this as they feel that they are treated as second class citizens in contrast to the Turkish “settlers”.

If you are crossing the border from the south, start exploring North Cyprus from Nicosia:

The North Side of the Divided Capital

Before heading to the beautiful coastal regions of the North, you may also like to spend a couple of hours travelling through the Turkish Cypriot side of the capital city Nicosia (Lefkosa in Turkish).

If you walk south down the street of Girne Caddesi from the Kyrenia Gate, you will find the Ethnography Museum. The building was built in the 17th century and now holds Turkish Art. It is open on weekdays from 9am.

Further down that road in a south-eastern direction, you will also come across Turkish baths. Carrying on in this direction will take you to the Belediye Pazari, a market near the Green Line, where the stalls sell locally made crafts as well as clothes such as cheap jeans. North of the market is the mosque of Djami Selimiye, which was originally a Lusignan cathedral called Ayia Sofia built in 1209.

selimiye-mosque-nicosia-cyprus

Another interesting place to visit is the Dervish Pasha Mansion, a small ethnography museum which holds rugs, Turkish Cypriot costumes and wedding dresses and some unusual mother of pearl bath slippers.

The Dervish Pasha mansion is named after the publisher of the first Turkish-speaking Cypriot newspaper who lived here in the 19th century. You can see his living quarters in rooms like the kitchen, and there is also a courtyard where you can relax in the teahouse. (Explore the South of Nicosia here)

Around North Cyprus

If you continue to travel northeast from Nicosia, you will come to the beautiful coastal region of Kyrenia. The most popular places to visit in the area are the harbour and St Hilarion Castle. Travelling west, you can also visit Morphou.

Going east from Nicosia will take you to the university town Famagusta, which was once one of the world's richest cities. Outside of the old town of Famagusta are the ruins of the ancient city of Salamis, which is a must-see for history lovers. Go further east from here and you can travel up the unspoilt Karpaz Peninsula.