General Info

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or TRNC, (Turkish Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti) is part of the island of Cyprus,  the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily and Sardinia and averages over 300 days of sunshine each year.

Cyprus has been occupied by a succession of civilizations over the past 2000 years, each conquering empire has contributed to the beauty and culture of this remarkable island. In the 8th Century BC the island was part of the Assyrian empire, then the Babylonian, Egyptian and Persian. In 58BC the Cyprus Island was seized by the Romans, all of whom have left their mark. History abounds everywhere; from the Roman ruins at Salamis to the three great Crusader castles built in the time of Richard the Lionheart,  who settled on the island in 1191 during the third crusade. Cyprus remained in Lusignan possession until captured by the Venetians in 1489. From 1571 to 1878 the island was ruled by the Ottomans until they leased its administration to Britain.

Cyprus independence was granted in 1960. The Greek Cypriots and the Greek mainland military created a coup in 1974 and Turkey was forced to intervene to safeguard the interest of the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was subsequently proclaimed in 1983.

The main income in North Cyprus is from tourism although Citrus fruits, olives and other crops are widely exported.

Major cities in Northern Cyprus are: Nicosia (Lefkosia), Kyrenia (Girne), Famagusta (Magosa), Guzelyurt.

Time:

2 hours ahead of UK Time.

Currency:

The currency is Turkish Lira (TL) however British Pound, Euro, US Dollar is accepted in most of the supermarkets, restaurants, bars etc.

There are many banks to choose from in Northern Cyprus with English, Russian speaking staff. The most popular banks are Turk Bank (www.turkishbank.com), Iktisatbank (www.iktisatbank.com), HSBC (www.hsbc.com.tr)

ATM machines are widely available in all major cities around the island. Debit and credit cards are accepted in most stores, restaurants and bars.

Language:

Turkish is the official language in Northern Cyprus however English is widely spoken.

Traffic:

The traffic system is the same as in the United Kingdom with all signs translated into English. There are many car rental companies available in Northern Cyprus. For a reliable car rental company please contact us on info@property-stop-north-cyprus.com .

Climate:

Transport:

From Ercan Airport to Kyrenia centre- 45min

From Larnaca Airport to Kyrenia centre-90min

Airport transfers can be arranged from/to the airport by one of our members of staff. Please contact us by email: info@property-stop-north-cyprus.com

There are frequent bus services between the major towns of North Cyprus during the day.

Taxis are to be found at taxi stands only and the charges are reasonable. The system of sharing a taxi with another passenger travelling to the same destination (called Dolmus) also operates widely in North Cyprus.
 24 hours taxi service is provided in all towns and can be booked by phone or be hired from their base station.

Visa Requirements:

The citizens of European Union (EU) nations, Turkey, USA, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Australia, New Zealand do not require visa and will be issued with 90 days entrance visa

All other nationals should check their position with regard to passports and visas with the nearest Embassy or Office of Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. 

Visitors who do not wish to have their passports stamped by the authorities on arrival in North Cyprus may request a stamped visa form which is loosely inserted into the passport and removed on departure.