Traveller's101

Welcome To Kyrenia 

The island of Cyprus is broken up into districts and Kyrenia is the oldest as well as smallest in the country.  The main city, also called Kyrenia by the Greeks, Girne by the Turks, is located in the northern part of the island and is controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.  The district’s administration is located in the Republic of Cyprus ‘in exile’. 

Kyrenia harbour is one of the oldest and busiest areas in the city.  It was once lined with warehouses that were used to store fruits and vegetables grown on the island and exported to other Mediterranean countries.  Today, many of the warehouses have been converted to restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating for their patrons.  Mostly used by citizens for their yachts and other pleasure craft, the old harbour district has been superseded by a larger harbour located a few miles east of town that serves all of Kyrenia’s commercial shipping needs. 

Kyrenia is not just a harbour town.  There are plenty of old historical buildings to explore as well as sandy beaches and attractions such as museums and superb scenery.  The town is really a very relaxing vacation spot and the entire district, while small, is filled with plenty to do and see.  It also has a very lively nightlife and the restaurants and taverns are constantly hopping. 


Touring Kyrenia

Shopping in Kyrenia offers visitors to the city a wide array of choices and there is something available for everyone.  Between Cypriot antique and gift shops, and shops filled with homemade crafts, shoppers will never be bored.  There are also plenty of designer shops located throughout the city.  If you really want to experience shopping in Kyrenia, then you are going to want to visit the Kyrenia Open Market, a combination retail shopping venture, flea market and craft show. 
The island of Cyprus offers visitors a mild climate and Kyrenia enjoys some of the best weather.  The district benefits from the sea air from the north and the mountain air to the south and mingles and simply makes it a beautiful vacation spot.  Visitors to Kyrenia can fly into Ercan Airport outside of Nicosia from the United Kingdom.  Anyone wishing to visit Northern Cyprus will come in on the Greek side of Nicosia and travel through the Green Line into the Turkish controlled North. 
Visitors to Kyrenia will find plenty of English speaking people even though Turkish is the common language spoken by the residents.  While the main currency of the city is the Turkish Lira, the British pound is also accepted in the city.  Drivers in Kyrenia – especially if they are from the United Kingdom – while find driving on the left quite familiar.   
Kyrenia’s history goes back six thousand years and with the Besparmak Mountains as a backdrop to the city, it’s very easy to see why so many people enjoy visiting this city.  As mentioned, there are plenty of historical buildings within the confines of the city, including an ancient Crusader Castle that overlooks the entire town.  It houses the salvaged remains of what is believed to be the oldest ship ever to be brought up from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.  The castle of St. Hilarion – also built by the Crusaders – is located outside of the city of Kyrenia and it believed that it was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’.  There are a few other places within the district of Kyrenia that are definitely worth taking the time to visit.   

Necropolis of Karmi

The quaint village of Karmi is located just outside of Kyrenia.  The city has been renovated in such a way that visitors cannot tell that the historic construction hides very modern conveniences.  Close to Karmi is an excavated Necropolis that dates back to the middle of the Bronze Age.  The tombs and corridors contain stick figures of humans along the walls, indicating how early humans have been on the island.  Artefacts from Egypt have also been found in the tombs, leading archaeologists to believe that the tomb may have belonged to a merchant seaman. 

Lambousa

The name means ‘the shining one’ and was found by Phoenicians traders during the 8th century BC.  Some of the silver that has been found in this district city is now in museums around the world.  It once thrived with a prosperous silk trade and visitors to Lambousa can still explore the remains of its lighthouse and city walls.  There are also remains of medieval churches there and recently there has been a revival of excavation thanks to the Department of Antiquities and a German archaeology team. 

Bronze Age Sanctuary of Pigadhes

The Sanctuary of Pigadhes is a Bronze Age structure located between Kyrenia and Guzelyart.  The double-horned alter that is located there stands twelve feet high and is called the ‘Horns of Consecration’.  It was erected by a group of Crete refugees in 1200 BC and stands in a beautiful copse of cedar and cypress trees.  The altar is a great place for tranquil picnics and photo opportunities that should include the mysterious geometric patterns that surrounds the altar itself.