Things to Do in North Cyprus: 15 Places, Fees, Distances
Quick answer
- Start here
- Famagusta's walled city, Salamis (8 km) and Long Beach (23.1 km) lead the list, and all sit within half an hour of a Famagusta base.
- Closed for now
- Othello Castle and the Canbulat Museum are closed for restoration, and the Royal Tombs are also listed as closed (summer 2026 list).
- Weekday only
- Kantara Castle, Akkule, the Namık Kemal Museum, Enkomi and the İskele Archaeology Museum are closed on weekends and public holidays (summer 2026 list).
- Fees
- Main sites 150 TL, smaller ones 100 TL, students 50 TL (summer 2026 list). Beaches, Selimiye Mosque and Varosha have no entry fee.
- Winter hours
- The summer 2026 list ended on 31 October and no 2026-27 winter list was published as of 1 November 2026. Winter hours are shorter, so check at the gate.
- How long
- A week covers most of the list from one east-coast base without changing hotels.
The things to do in North Cyprus start on the east coast: Famagusta’s walled city, the ruins of Salamis and the sand at Long Beach all sit within half an hour of each other. Further out are three mountain castles, the empty Karpaz and the harbour at Kyrenia. This page ranks 15 places by what each gives a first visitor for the drive, with the fee, hours and distance beside it, and links to the page that covers each one properly.
What are the best places to visit in northern Cyprus?
The best places to visit in northern Cyprus, on our ranking for a first trip, are Famagusta’s walled city, Salamis and Long Beach. The order is our own judgement, not an official list, and it weighs the visit against the drive from an east-coast base. Fees and hours come from the TRNC Department of Antiquities and Museums summer 2026 list unless noted, with last entry in brackets. Students pay 50 TL at ticketed sites.
| # | Place | Entry (summer 2026 list) | Hours (last entry) | From Famagusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Famagusta old town and what to see there | Streets no ticket, Akkule 100 TL | Akkule 08:00-15:30 (15:00), closed weekends and holidays | In town |
| 2 | Salamis ancient city on foot | 150 TL | 08:00-19:00 (18:00) | 8 km / 12 min |
| 3 | Long Beach on the İskele coast | Free on public sections | Open beach | 23.1 km / 30 min |
| 4 | Varosha entrance, hours and rules | Free | Posted by season (not on this list) | About 1.6 km from the Old Town |
| 5 | St Barnabas Monastery and icon museum | 150 TL | 08:00-18:00 (17:00) | 8.6 km / 10-15 min |
| 6 | Glapsides, the Famagusta city beach | Free sea entry | Open beach | 5.4 km / 10 min |
| 7 | Kantara Castle weekday hours and road | 100 TL | 10:00-15:30 (14:45), closed weekends and holidays | 42.9 km / 60-75 min |
| 8 | Golden Beach in the Karpaz | Free | Closed at night May-October | 100.9 km / 2-2.5 h |
| 9 | Apostolos Andreas Monastery at the island’s tip | No published fee | No official hours published | About 15 km past Golden Beach |
| 10 | Kyrenia harbour and castle day trip | Castle 150 TL | 08:00-19:00 (18:00) | 80.6 km / 75-90 min |
| 11 | St Hilarion Castle hours and climb | 150 TL | 09:00-18:30 (17:30) | 92 km / 105-125 min |
| 12 | Bellapais Abbey above Kyrenia | 150 TL | 08:00-19:00 (18:00) | 71 km / 80-95 min |
| 13 | North Nicosia in half a day | Selimiye Mosque and Büyük Han free | Mosque restricted at prayer times | 59.8 km / about 1 h |
| 14 | Alagadi turtle beach rules and season | Free by day | Closed overnight May-October | 66.2 km / 70-85 min |
| 15 | Soli, Vouni and the Güzelyurt western loop | Soli 150 TL, Vouni 100 TL | Both 08:00-18:00 (17:00) | Soli 116 km / 110-130 min |
The ranking leans east on purpose. The first six stops share one short drive, while the castles near Kyrenia and the Karpaz each take a day. For any other route, use the North Cyprus driving distances table.
Which North Cyprus attractions are closed or weekday only?
Three North Cyprus sites are listed as closed and five more close on weekends, so check this before you fix your days. According to the TRNC Department of Antiquities and Museums list read on 1 November 2026:
| Status | Sites |
|---|---|
| Closed for restoration | Othello Castle, Canbulat Museum |
| Closed | Royal Tombs |
| Closed weekends and public holidays | Kantara Castle, Akkule, Namık Kemal Museum, Enkomi, İskele Archaeology Museum |
The summer 2026 list ended on 31 October, and no 2026-27 winter list was published as of 1 November 2026. Winter hours are shorter, so check at the gate. The same page carries one line on Sundays, as printed: “MÜDÜRLÜĞÜMÜZE BAĞLI MÜZE VE ÖREN YERLERİMİZ PAZAR GÜNLERİ KKTC VATANDAŞLARINA ÜCRETSİZDİR”. It means museums and sites under the directorate are free for TRNC citizens on Sundays, so visitors still pay on that day.
What should you see in North Cyprus by interest?
What to see in North Cyprus depends on what you came for, and each interest below has a different day trip at its centre.
- History and ruins: start with the walled city and Salamis around Famagusta, then Kantara and the western loop. Varosha is a separate kind of visit, and the dated history of why Cyprus is divided is the background to it.
- Beaches: the ranked North Cyprus beaches by type of day compares Glapsides, Long Beach, Golden Beach and Alagadi.
- Being on or in the water: Long Beach water sports, boat trips around the coast and scuba diving sites and conditions.
- Mountains and nature: the Five Finger Mountains viewpoint drive, hiking trails across the north, and the Karpaz peninsula driving route with its wild donkeys.
- Coast road stops: the İskele town behind the towers and Boğaz harbour for a fish lunch.
- Food and evenings: what to eat in North Cyprus, the Famagusta restaurants we send guests to and nightlife in Famagusta and on Long Beach.
- Children or cameras: North Cyprus with kids and the most photogenic spots on the island.
How many days do you need to see North Cyprus?
A week covers most of the list from one east-coast base without changing hotels, and the east coast alone works in a day or a long weekend. Pick by the time you have:
| Trip length | What fits | The plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Walled city, Salamis, St Barnabas, a swim | One-day Famagusta plan |
| 2 nights | Walled city plus one full Kyrenia day | Famagusta and Kyrenia weekend plan |
| 3 days | Famagusta and İskele at a slower pace | 3-day Famagusta and İskele itinerary |
| 7 days | Famagusta, beaches, Karpaz, Kyrenia, Kantara | One-week North Cyprus itinerary from one base |
Fix the Kantara day on a weekday, and give the Karpaz a full day: Golden Beach is 2-2.5 hours each way. According to the TRNC Tourism Planning Department, North Cyprus received 2,589,729 visitors in 2025, up 17.2% on the year before.
Do you need a car to see North Cyprus attractions?
For most of this list, yes: buses link the towns by day, but the castles, the Karpaz and even Salamis take a car or a taxi. Most bus routes finish by 18:00-19:00, as of September 2026, and neither Uber nor Bolt works in the north. The North Cyprus bus routes and fares show what does run.
Kipra Rent A Car is a Famagusta-based local rental company with VAT and third-party insurance included in every displayed price and no mileage limit, so a long Karpaz day adds only fuel. Cars can go anywhere in North Cyprus but cannot cross to the south in either direction. Landing at Ercan, the Ercan Airport car rental service has the handover (€56/way, as of 2026). Before you go, read the 15 things that surprise first-time visitors, including driving on the left.
Fifteen places, one car. See live prices for your dates: book a car · WhatsApp +90 546 996 1004, English spoken.
Who wrote this guide
Public transport here is sparse. Distances are short but buses are infrequent. You can compare daily and weekly options on our rent a car in North Cyprus page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number one thing to do in North Cyprus?
On our ranking, Famagusta's walled city, with Salamis next: a walk of about 3 km through the walls plus the ruins of Salamis 8 km away. That ranking is our judgement, made for a first visit from an east-coast base.
How many days do you need for North Cyprus?
A week covers most of the list from one east-coast base. One day covers Famagusta, a weekend adds one Kyrenia day, and three days covers Famagusta and İskele at a slower pace.
Are North Cyprus attractions open on weekends?
Most are, but not all. On the summer 2026 list Kantara Castle, Akkule, the Namık Kemal Museum, Enkomi and the İskele Archaeology Museum are closed on weekends and public holidays. Check at the gate in winter, because hours are shorter.
Can you see North Cyprus without a car?
Only in part. Buses link the towns by day and most routes finish by 18:00-19:00, but the castles, the Karpaz and Salamis take a car or a taxi.