Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kyrenia (Girne) & the North
Why Go?
Castles cling to craggy hilltops. Lonely churches peek out amid wild-flowered slopes.
Fields of gnarled olive trees march across the coastline where the harbour town of Kyrenia,
backed by the imposing silhouette of jagged mountain ranges, looks out towards the sea.
This bite-sized region combines the best of Cyprus' natural charm with oodles of history.
Most visit for sun and sea holidays which has led to a flurry of less-than-pretty develop-
ments being flung up along the shore. Ignore the concrete-block oddities though and you'll
find there's plenty left to explore. From Bellapais Abbey to the fairytale-fluff of St Hilarion
Castle, there are ruins with million-dollar views galore.
This region is famed for its outdoor potential with hiking, turtle-spotting, orchid-hunting
and bird watching on the agenda. The trails are under-promoted and gloriously quiet; a per-
fect incentive to get your walking shoes on and discover them before everyone else.
When to Go
A
From February to April a vibrant palette of wildflowers and rare orchids bloom across
Kyrenia's coastline, splashing the rolling fields with a paintbox of colours.
