Kyrenia (Girne)
★★★ Kyrenia — The Most Beautiful Harbor of Cyprus
Kyrenia (Turkish: Girne) is the pearl of Northern Cyprus — a picturesque harbor town on the north coast, overshadowed by a massive Crusader castle and the Besparmak Mountains (Pentadaktylos). The historic harbor is postcard-perfect: colorful fishing boats, restaurants with tables by the water, fortress walls as a backdrop. In the evening, when the lanterns glow and the food is served, the atmosphere is irresistible.
★★★ Kyrenia Castle (Girne Kalesi)
The massive fortress at the harbor has a turbulent history: Byzantine foundations (7th century), Frankish expansion (Lusignans, 12th–15th centuries), Venetian reinforcement, Ottoman use, British prison. Today a museum — the absolute highlight is the Shipwreck Museum inside:
An ancient Greek merchant ship from the 4th century BC, salvaged off the coast in 1965 — one of the oldest preserved sailing ships in the world. The 15 m long ship transported wine and almonds and likely sank during a pirate attack. The salvage and conservation are an archaeological sensation.
Kyrenia Harbor. 15 TL (approx. 3€). Daily 9:00–17:00. 1–1.5 hours.
★★ Bellapais Abbey (Beylerbeyi)
5 km above Kyrenia, on a rocky outcrop with a breathtaking view of the north coast and the sea, stand the ruins of the Gothic Premonstratensian Abbey (13th century). The cloisters with their pointed arch windows, the refectory hall, and the cypresses in the courtyard create one of the most romantic images of Cyprus.
The British writer Lawrence Durrell lived in Bellapais in the 1950s and immortalized the village in his book "Bitter Lemons of Cyprus" — one of the most beautiful travel narratives of the 20th century.
Beylerbeyi (Bellapais), 5 km from Kyrenia. 15 TL (approx. 3€). Daily 9:00–17:00 (winter), 9:00–19:00 (summer). 45–60 min.
★★ St. Hilarion — The Crusader Castle in the Clouds
High above Kyrenia, on a 732 m high peak of the Besparmak Mountains, sits the most fairy-tale castle of Cyprus. Three rings of walls climb the mountain, and from the highest point (the "Queen's Window"), the view over the north coast and on clear days to the Turkish coast is simply overwhelming. Walt Disney is said to have been inspired by St. Hilarion for his Sleeping Beauty Castle.
10 km from Kyrenia, mountain road. 15 TL (approx. 3€). Daily 9:00–17:00. Steep ascent, sturdy footwear. 1.5–2 hours. Bring water!
