Kyrenia
Cyprus · Northern Cyprus · 15 m
Description
Kyrenia (Girne) has the prettiest harbour in Cyprus, a horseshoe of old carob warehouses turned restaurants closed off by a massive Venetian castle. Inside the castle the Shipwreck Museum displays a Greek merchant vessel that sank here more than two thousand years ago, the oldest recovered trading ship afloat anywhere. Behind the town the Kyrenia range rises abruptly, carrying the Gothic abbey of Bellapais and three crusader castles strung along the ridge. The mountain road to Saint Hilarion looks down over the whole northern coast toward Turkey. The harbour fills with tables in the evening and the water stays flat enough to mirror the castle.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 6 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – June or September – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Kyrenia Castle and the old harbour
- Saint Hilarion Castle
- Bellapais Abbey
- Kyrenia Shipwreck Museum
- Harbour tavernas and boat trips
- Buffavento Castle(Day trip)
- Alagadi Turtle Beach (June - September)(Day trip)
- Kyrenia old town lanes and Ağa Cafer Paşa Mosque
- Ancient Soli and Vouni Palace(Day trip)
- Lambousa and Karavas coastal ruins
- Escape Beach and the western strands
- Kyrenia Folk Art Museum
- Hiking the Kyrenia range ridge paths
Getting there
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry