North Cyprus rewards visitors who arrive knowing a few things in advance: which airport to use, what money to bring, and how transport actually works once you land. This is the practical briefing, written for a first trip.
Getting in: the airport decision
North Cyprus has one airport, Ercan (ECN), and every flight into it connects through Turkey. There are no direct flights from outside Turkey.
That leaves two routes in. Fly to Ercan via Istanbul and land thirty-five minutes from Kyrenia, or fly direct to Larnaca in the south and take a cross-border transfer of about one hour forty-five. From the UK, the Larnaca route is frequently faster door to door despite the longer drive, because it removes the connection entirely.
Whichever you choose, arrange the ground leg before you fly. There is no useful bus from either airport, and the taxi rank at Ercan thins out badly after midnight — which is when a large share of flights land.
Money: lira, but not only lira
The currency in North Cyprus is the Turkish lira. In practice, sterling, euros and dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, and many prices in the property and transfer trades are quoted in sterling.
Cards work in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants, but cash remains normal in village restaurants, markets and small shops. ATMs are common in Kyrenia, Nicosia and Famagusta and scarce in the Karpaz.
The lira moves, sometimes sharply. Prices quoted to you in sterling weeks in advance — a transfer, for instance — protect you from that; prices quoted in lira do not.
Getting around once you are here
Distances are small but journey times are longer than the map suggests, because the mountain roads are slow and the coast road east of Kyrenia is single carriageway most of the way.
Buses connect the main towns cheaply and stop in the early evening. They do not serve the resort areas or the villa districts. Taxis are available in the towns but not on the coast roads between them.
Most visitors either hire a car for the days they want to explore or book transfers for the journeys they know about in advance. Driving is on the left, road signs are in Turkish, and the mountain roads deserve respect in the dark.
When to visit
| Season | Weather | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | 20–28°C, green, wildflowers | Walking, sightseeing, golf — the best all-round months |
| June–August | 30–38°C, dry | Beach holidays; the Karpaz and inland sites are hard work |
| September–October | 25–32°C, warm sea | Swimming with fewer crowds; excellent value |
| November–March | 12–18°C, some rain | Golf, walking, city breaks; some resorts close |
The sea is warm enough to swim from May to November. May and October are the two months most returning visitors pick.
Where to base yourself
- Kyrenia (Girne) — harbour, restaurants, most hotels, thirty-five minutes from Ercan. The default first-visit choice.
- Esentepe — golf, villas and a quiet coast, forty-five minutes from Ercan.
- Famagusta — Venetian walls, Salamis and beaches, forty minutes from Ercan.
- İskele and Long Beach — the newest resort strip and the longest beach, an hour out.
- Bafra — five-star resorts and casinos on an empty coast, an hour and a quarter.
- Nicosia (Lefkoşa) — a working capital and the shortest transfer, twenty minutes.
Crossing to the south
You can cross freely between north and south. The Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia is on foot and takes minutes; vehicle crossings at Metehan and Beyarmudi are equally routine. You need a passport, there is no fee and no visa, and arrival is recorded on a slip rather than stamped.
The one real constraint is vehicles. Hire cars from the south are often not insured to cross, and cars from the north cannot always go the other way. A licensed transfer is the straightforward way to make the journey with luggage.
A few things that surprise people
- Journey times are longer than distances suggest — allow more than the map says, especially eastwards.
- Many villa addresses do not exist on mapping apps; a pin from your host is worth having before you fly.
- Tap water is not usually drunk; bottled water is cheap and everywhere.
- Sunday is a normal trading day, but village shops keep their own hours.
- Mobile roaming often does not work as expected — a local SIM is cheap, and hotel wifi is generally good.
- The plug is the UK three-pin, which surprises visitors from mainland Europe more than from Britain.
Frequently asked questions
What currency is used in North Cyprus?
The Turkish lira, though sterling, euros and dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. Cards work in hotels and larger shops; cash is still normal in villages and markets.
When is the best time to visit North Cyprus?
April, May, September and October offer warm weather without the peak-summer heat, and the sea is swimmable from May to November. July and August are hot and dry.
Can I visit both North and South Cyprus on one trip?
Yes. Crossing points are open to travellers, take minutes, and need only a passport — no visa or fee. Hire cars are the complication, as insurance often does not cross the line.
Do I need a transfer or can I use public transport?
There is no useful bus from either airport, and services do not reach the resort or villa areas and stop in the early evening. For airport journeys, a pre-booked transfer is the practical option.
Is North Cyprus expensive?
Generally less expensive than the south of the island and much of the Mediterranean, particularly for eating out. Prices quoted in sterling protect you from lira movements between booking and arrival.
Book one of these transfers
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One price per vehicle, luggage and child seats included, meet and greet inside arrivals and free waiting time if your flight is late. Available 24 hours a day across Cyprus.
