Where to stay in Kyrenia
The horseshoe harbour is the postcard: stay near it and everything worth an evening is on foot, with the castle guarding one end. Bellapais village, ten minutes up the mountain, is the romantic alternative under the abbey ruins. The long beaches stretch east toward the Karpas.
Getting there and around
Kyrenia is in the north: most visitors cross the Green Line by car from Nicosia (about 30 minutes over the Pentadaktylos pass) or use Ercan airport. Bring a passport for the crossing, and check that your hire car's insurance covers the north, as most south-hired cars need an extra policy sold at the checkpoint.
Planning when to come? See the month-by-month guide, check Cyprus in October, or the practical essentials and bus routes.
Our pick of the best in the region, so you do not have to scroll for it.
Common questions about Kyrenia
Do I need a passport to visit Kyrenia?
Yes. Kyrenia lies north of the Green Line, so you pass a checkpoint: passports are standard, and many EU nationals can use ID cards. Crossings are routine; allow a few extra minutes in summer.
What is Kyrenia known for?
The most beautiful harbour on the island, a massive Byzantine-Venetian castle holding one of the world's oldest shipwrecks, and the mountain castles of Saint Hilarion and Buffavento in the ridge above.
Can you do Kyrenia as a day trip?
Easily from Nicosia, and comfortably from Larnaca or the Famagusta coast: harbour, castle and Bellapais fit in a day. From Paphos it is a long haul better done with an overnight.
