Long, hot summer days spent on sweltering golden sands, complemented by a cool dip in the Mediterranean Sea, are a treat for both children and adults. When temperatures are at their highest during this season, it is wise to seek out some beachside shade and sunscreen.

Even though it’s not as hot, the weather in the spring and fall is still pleasant. However, on warm evenings, you might want to layer a jacket over your T-shirt from the day. A wide range of opportunities are made available by this temporary respite from the intense summer sun, including cycling, hiking, nature viewing, and a variety of land and water sports including tennis, golf, water skiing, and snorkeling.

Although the underlying language is the same and communication between the two is rarely hampered, the regional dialect spoken by the Turkish Cypriots is distinct from that used in Turkey.

With many Cypriots having lived in the UK or having relations there, English is commonly spoken and understood. In addition, the language is taught in Cypriot schools.

Greek, Russian, and German are other widely spoken languages on the island.

The population of Turkish Cypriots is mostly Sunni Muslim. The majority of non-Muslims, including those who belong to the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Jewish Community, are immigrants or foreign workers from Europe.

Although nearly every hamlet has a mosque where the Muslim community attends religious services, there are also other places of worship, such as churches.

The Turkish Lira, whose sign is or TL, is the nation’s official unit of exchange.

The majority of companies accept payments in US dollars, Euros, and British Pounds, and there are several Bureau de Exchanges giving favorable rates around the nation.

Another factor why tourists favor North Cyprus as a desirable vacation location is the Turkish Lira’s relative weakness versus most other currencies. A full course evening dinner at the majority of restaurants, with beverages included, costs no more than 25 Euros.

Most public holidays do not affect the private sector whatsoever and most remain open throughout the year, except for one notable date, International Labour Day, also referred to as May Day on 01 May of each year. On this date, it is traditional for all employers to shut shop and hold a barbeque party for their staff in one of the numerous open fire picnic dedicated areas spread across the island.

20 July marks the beginning date of the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation landings under the Treaty of Guarantee, in which soldiers from Turkey terminated the terrorist activities of the enosis fuelled EOKA organisation and created a safe haven for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots to live in peace to this day. Each year a remembrance event, Şafak Nobeti or Dawn Watch is held on the beach where the first landings were made, next to the Karaoglanoglu Memorial, where commemorators light their torches from night and wait in silence for the sun to rise. Another highlight of this date is the Soloturk show, the famed Turkish Air Force aerobatic team, whereby thousands congregate to watch at Kyrenia Harbour or from various rooftops.          

Another significant date in the NCY calendar is 15 November, the date of the declaration of Independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a unilateral declaration of independence from the Republic of Cyprus by the Turkish Cypriot parliament on 15 November 1983. Celebrations throughout the day commence early in the morning with official military and government held proceedings in the capital Nicosia.       

01 August marks the anniversary of the founding of the TMT, the Turkish Resistance Organisation, founded in 1958 to face and counter the Greek Cypriot EOKA’s aim and struggle for partition of the island between Greece and Turkey. 

Other official annual public holiday dates, also shared with Turkey include 23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day; 19 May The Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, commemorates Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s landing at Samsun on this date in 1919, regarded as the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence; 30 August is celebrated in commemoration of the victory in the 1922 Battle of Dumlupınar in the Turkish War of Independence; 29 October Republic Day, commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Prominent dates in the Islamic calendar are Ramazan Bayram or Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan, a three day public holiday, and Kurban Bayram or Eid al-Adha, a four day public holiday which honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.

Although the dates of Eid are always the same in the Islamic calendar, the date in the Gregorian calendar falls approximately 11 days earlier each successive year, since the Islamic calendar is lunar and the latter is solar. The dates for these holidays in North Cyprus are determined in advance and this year Ramazan Bayram falls 24 – 26 May 2020 and Kurban Bayram 31 July – 03 August 2020.

North Cyprus hosts several festivities all through the year and it is worth viewing the updated listings on our Events page for further information. 

North Cyprus is free from dangerous infectious diseases, hence there are no vaccination requirements for international travellers.

All visitors are entitled to free emergency medical treatment at state hospitals, and all blood banks have been HIV screened – most doctors can converse in English.

Many hotels arrange for Medical Services for their guests upon request. Global health insurance policies are also covered in the many private hospitals and clinics located in urban areas.

Ezcane’s or chemist shops, which are signed with a large red colored “E” can recommend medicines for common holiday hospitals, and many drugs such as antibiotics are available cheaply over the counter, with no need for prescriptions. Almost all brands of manufactured European brands can be found. After normal working hours, a few chemists will remain open on rotation until past midnight 7 days a week, the relevant information available on all shop windows.

In case of health emergencies, dialling 112 will direct you to the relevant emergency services.

NCY is also reputably a safe and friendly island, with a very low-level violent crime rate.

There is no harassment of lone females and as a tourist destination it is untainted by the sort of expectations raised by the behavior of some visitors to other parts of the Mediterranean.

The National Police Force are stationed in all major towns and can be reached on 155 in emergency situations.

Should you inadvertently stray into a military area, you will be politely escorted out and redirected – notices stating ‘No Photography’ should always be taken seriously, as should the reduced speed limits in force if driving past them.

Travel by Air

Near the capital Nicosia, North Cyprus’ Ercan Airport (ECN) presently handles more than 4 million people yearly.

The primary air carriers for visitors to NCY are Turkish Airlines, Anadolu Jet, and Pegasus Airline, all of which have flights scheduled to Ercan Airport. Freebird, Tailwind, and Corendon Airlines are some of the charter airlines that fly to North Cyprus.

The present capacity will rise to 8 million yearly passengers thanks to a significant enlargement of the runway and the development of an environmentally friendly new terminal scheduled to complete in late 2023.

Service Shuttle

Services between Ercan Airport and five main towns—Kyrenia, Nicosia, Famagusta, Güzelyurt, and Lefke—are planned in accordance with the arrival and departure times of flights, providing tourists with a reliable, affordable alternative form of transportation that costs between £2 and £3 per person, depending on proximity.

For travelers who have made reservations with them, several tour operators additionally provide transfers and door-to-door services.

Car Rental

There are several international and local car rental companies operating on the island, with those based in Ercan providing the option to pick up and drop off your car at the airport.

Season, model, passenger capacity, and duration of rental all affect car rental pricing. However, a 5-seater vehicle’s typical daily price in the summer ranges from £20 to £25 with no additional hidden fees. For more information about NCY driving laws, continue reading below.

To make the most of their NCY experience, travelers who aren’t going on tours but want to explore the island are urged to plan for vehicle rental.

Driving Regulations

North Cyprus uses the left-hand side of the road for traffic, in contrast to much of Europe, and follows British-style driving laws.

Most international driving licenses, including those from the EU and the UK, allow short-term visitors and tourists to operate non-commercial cars.