Kyrenia known as Girne in Turkish is a stunning harbor town that lies in Northern Cyprus. The scenic port has a population of just 22,000, mainly inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and Turkish immigrants. It is also the most popular place in northern Cyprus amongst tourists. Kyrenia is the idyllic destination, with its mild climate, beautiful beaches and still sea, surrounded by the picturesque Besparmak Mountains. You can unwind in the laid back lifestyle and explore the shops; café’s or take a stroll along the promenade and watch the yachts sail on the harbor. To get there
Passenger and car ferries run daily from Turkeys Mediterranean coast to the port of Kyrenia. Of course you could also travel from Istanbul by car to Girne which would take approximately 11.7 hours and is 751.4km. By air it would take you about 1.5 hours.
Architecture
The kyrenian castle is an ancient castle that stands at the east end of the harbor. It is said to be build in the 7th century and conquered by Richard the lionheart in 1191. Inside the castle, a 12th century chapel shows and in one of the rooms contains the shipwreck museum in which the 4th century Greek merchant ship has left its remains. The town also has a museum dedicated to the icon Archangel Michael. If you venture a little out of the town, you can see, on the kyrenia mountain range, the kantara Castle, the Buffavento Castle and the St. Hilarion Castle.
Things to Do
The beautiful harbor is really something to make use of. It is usually very busy during the summer season due to the abundance of tourists it attracts. The
re are daily boat trips that take off from the harbor but if boat rides aren’t your thing, you can explore the ancient, historical buildings or take some time to chill out at a restaurant alongside the harbor. There are also some fun, water activities that you could try such as scuba diving and the Turtle bay dive center. If you’re a lover of shopping, kyrenia has it all. Behind the old harbor is where the shopping begins, the endless twisting streets well have you occupied for hours. There is a vast range of shopping outlets that sell everything from souvenirs to designer wear. And if you love designer names, but you don’t want to pay the price, kyrenia specializes in its fantastic quality fake designer clothing. If you want a gift to take home from your travels, there are some fantastic souvenirs you could buy including ceramics, handicrafts, silver products and much more. The kyrenia open market is also something you could go and see. Buying
Turkish lira is the official currency of Northern Cyprus. Some shops will accept euro or pound, but it is probably best just to pay with TL.
