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Reasons to return to Northern Cyprus are written all over the landscape with so much to do and experience - and without that tourist feeling that everybody else got there first.
There's an abundance of activities in Northern Cyprus to suit all personalities, from walking through the idylic landscapes and just taking in the beautiful mediterranean scenery, to thrilling sporting adventures such as skydiving, mountain biking and exhilerating watersports.

Theres also the brand new international championship golf course in Esentepe (due to open in Spring 2006), and the brand new multi-million pound 400-berth marina situated in Bahceli (due to open in 2007).

Beaches

The beaches that stretch along the Northern Cyprus coastline are amongst some of the most beautiful in the Mediterranian, with the golden sand and crystal-clear waters. All along the coastline are bays and beaches where swimming and sunbathing can take place the whole year round.
There is some beautiful coastline in the Kyrenia area and many different beaches to choose from. There are sandy beaches with many facilities or quieter more secluded beaches for those of you who want to be alone. Most beaches provide excellent conditions for swimming and snorkeling.
Some of the more popular beaches are Escape Beach, Famagusta Beaches, and Karpaz Beaches.

Car Hire

Car hire in North Cyprus is simple, your national or international license is enough to hire a car in North Cyprus, although you must generally be over 25 years of age. Driving in North Cyprus is like driving in the UK - driving is on the left of the road and the majority of cars are right-hand drive. All the signposts are international in Cyprus.
Many of the hire operators also offer free airport and hotel delivery, so most can meet you when you arrive at Ercan Aiport

Climate

North Cyprus is blessed with seemingly endless sunshine and enjoys one of the healthiest climates in the world. The average annual temperature is about 20C /68F. Summers are  hot with July and August averaging over 30C / 90F. The coldest months are January and February with a mean temperature of 10C / 50F.

The sea temperature is the warmest in the Mediterranean, ranging from a mean average of about 16C / 61F in January, to 32C / 90F in August.

You can check out the latest weather in Northern Cyprus by clicking here for live weather and a 7 day forecast.

Cost of Living

Living costs in the Northern Cyprus are much cheaper than the UK and most of Europe. There is no rates system at present, or community tax. The main costs are electricity which costs 0.106 New Turkish Lira per KW which is the equivalent of 4 pence per KW. (approx. £ 15 monthly per house), water costs 20 New Turkish Lira + %13 VAT for 0-20 Tons of water per month which is the equivalent of £8 for 0-20 tons of water per month and an annual council tax is less than £ 40 (£2.90 per month which includes waste collection, pavement and road cleaning, etc.). Central heating is rare in N Cyprus but is usually run on gas or oil. Most cookers are run on gas canisters (1 gas canister costs approx. £6 and lasts as long as 2/3 months) and/or electricity.
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Currency

The official currency in Northern Cyprus is New Turkish Lira (YTL), although many places will also accept British Pounds, US Dollars and Euros however companies used their own exchange rate for this.

Exchange rates are approximately 1GBP=2.89YTL

Flights

North Cyprus has direct air links only with Turkey, where all planes from Europe must land. More than 90 flights to Northern Cyprus per week arrive at Ercan airport during the summer. Currently there are approximately 20 flights per week to N. Cyprus from London (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead). For the passengers convenience most of them arrive in the evening. There are also flights to Northern Cyprus from Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin.

Heritage

The Romans, Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Venetians, French and Turks have all left a rich mixture of archeologigical, architectural and cultural legacies. The british left behind some dubious old cars, splendid red pillar boxes and three pin plugs.
Due to its fascinating history, Northern Cyprus has a wealth of interesting heritage sites, such as Bellapais Abbey, the Shipwreck museum, and Kyrenia (Girne) and Kantara Castles.

Language

The official Language in Northern Cyprus is Turkish, although most of the population also speak English, so you shouldn't have any troubles communicating with the locals.
Should you fancy trying your hand at speaking the local language though, we will soon be adding a listing of some common phrases which should help you out with everyday subjects, and the locals always appreciate the effort you'll make.

Local Cuisine

Cypriot cuisine has been influenced by different cultures throuhout history. Therefore there isn’ t any dish, which we would call ‘ Cypriot ’ only. However with little variations from their originals Cypriots have developed quite tasty dishes. Each dish has a peculiar taste and cooking and presentation reflects the character of the people of Cyprus.
Some dishes even vary from region to region in name, preparation and taste. Northern Cyprus is fascinating and appealing to people who eat well and enjoy eating.
A great variety of vegetable dishes, grills, pastry, fish, soups, kebabs, lahmacun, pides are to name but a few. A big list of mezes, sweets, cakes, eaten either as starters or as afters can be named. In addition to local cuisine Chinese, Italian, French and Indian foods are well represented in various restaurants.

Nature

Northern Cyprus has an impressive array of natural features. Whether your into beautiful landscapes, viewing the most beautiful flowers the Mediterranean has to offer, or getting up close to the local wildlife such as the donkeys that still help farm the vast majority of the island, or the endangered species of turtles that live and breed in still Mediterranean waters that surround this idylic island. Northern Cyprus celebrates its gift of natural beauty, and invites you to join in with this appreceation by viewing all it has to offer.

Shopping

Visitors to North Cyprus can find a wide range of consumer goods and services. Many of the popular imported brand names are readily available and can be found in local supermarkets. Fresh local produce can be purchased from a variety of markets and small stores and there is wide selection of wines and spirits at very low costs.
The markets in North Cyprus are found in major cities, like Nicosia, Famagusta and Kyrenia and local people call them bazaars. Visitors to the markets can find fresh fruit and vegetables there and also cheap clothes, shoes and stalls with souvenirs, handicrafts and other household implements.
Most of the shops are open Mondays to Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm during the summer months. In the winter, they keep the same hours, but do not close at lunchtime.

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