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North Cyprus Beaches offers a huge array of different types. These range from manicured beach clubs and well-kept North Cyprus hotel beaches– all the way to miles of unspoilt, wild sandy beaches in the beautiful and unspoilt Karpaz peninsula. The best pure sand beaches are to be found on the East Coast areas of Bogaz, Bafra, Iskele (Long Beach) and Famagusta as well as on the Karpaz peninsula, but there are good options too nearer to Kyrenia which are useful for Kyrenia holidaymakers.
Kyrenia Area Beaches
The popular Kyrenia town itself has a rocky rather than sandy coastline and there are harbours rather than beaches in the heart of Kyrenia (Girne). A few hotels, such as Oscar and Vuni Palace Hotel in Karakum have their own small beaches. However, if you have the use of a car, there are some great options close to Kyrenia town.
Escape Beach Club in Alsancak (10 minutes’ drive west of Kyrenia)
This is a great option for holidaymakers staying in the Alsancak, Lapta or Karsiyaka areas. It is a golden sand resort with excellent facilities. It offers great facilities in a lively environment with a resort atmosphere – and gets very busy at weekends. There are watersports lessons available, including diving, jet-ski, banana boats, canoes and pedal boats. There are a restaurant and bar area, volleyball and lawn area, car parking, toilets, shower area and changing rooms. In the evening, the site transforms into a beach night club.
Diana Beach & Cafe
(5 minutes’ drive east of Kyrenia) – On the road heading east out of Kyrenia, just past the first suburb of Karakum, the first sandy beach you can easily find is the Diana Beach signed left down a lane off the main road. At the end of the lane, past various villas, you will come across the small beach with a cafe. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas for a small fee and enjoy lunch there at the adequate local cafe restaurant. There are water scooters available to hire.
Acapulco Hotel Beach – (10 minutes’ drive east of Kyrenia)
The Acapulco Hotel is a popular choice for families. Back on the main road, if you carry on further heading east, once you turn left off the main road (signed to Tatlisu and Esentepe), past the Vogue Nightclub, you will soon come to the large gates of the Acapulco Hotel on your left. Drive to the bottom of the hill and you will come to a 1 km long golden sand beach with excellent facilities for all the family – including a small water park and swimming pools, cafe, bar etc. There are charges for using the sunbeds, umbrellas and the water park/swimming pools. Watersports available include jet-skiing, water skiing, windsurfing, water bicycle riding, canoeing and more.
Alagadi (Turtle) Beach (public beach –15 minutes’ drive east of Kyrenia)
If you carry on another 5 minutes or so past the Acapulco on the Esentepe road heading east, you will come to the signs for the Alagadi (Turtle) Beach. Follow these signs down the lane and you will come to a great stretch of long sandy beach – completely free of charge to use, but with limited facilities. There is a nice fish restaurant and a cafe with toilets. This is where you will find locals having their picnics on the beach –and in addition during the summer months, you will see the round cages on the beach protecting the Turtle eggs which hatch out at night during the summer.
Northeast Coast Beaches – Esentepe, Bahceli and Tatlisu
Many holidaymakers and property owners live in the popular areas of Esentepe, Bahceli and Tatlisu between 25-35 minutes heading east from Kyrenia along the northeast coast road. Here both private and public beach provision has massively improved over the last few years.
Korineum Beach Club in Esentepe (20 minutes’ drive east of Kyrenia)
The first great beach to visit, close to the Korineum Golf Club, is the Korineum Beach Club. Open to the public and Korineum guests, there is a daily charge to use the immaculate sunbeds and showers. There is a café. It’s not a sandy beach but has a lovely deck with sails and swimming jetty as well as a lawn area with loungers. This is a high-quality option for a day by the sea. North Cyprus International has villas and apartments for sale within walking distance of this beach.
Esentepe Beach and Restaurant (public beach – 30 minutes’ drive east of Kyrenia)
Further along the coast, just before the Tempo Supermarket, the new Belediye (council) Esentepe Beach with restaurant and beach bar is a great new facility. Offering sandy beach, and the option to rent loungers, umbrellas and curtained booths for the day, this is a great new facility for those staying in the Esentepe/Bahceli region. There’s also a privately run Caribbean style beach bar – which is open 24/7 in the summer. North Cyprus International has villas and apartments for sale within walking distance of this beach.
Tatlisu Beach and Restaurant (public beach – 40 minutes’ drive east of Kyrenia)
Further along, the coast finds Tatlisu. As you head towards the Karpaz, do visit the sandy beach and lovely beach café of the Belediye (Council) Tatlisu beach. The restaurant sits on a wooden jetty which stretches into the sea with great view of the Karpaz beyond. North Cyprus International has villas and apartments for sale just a short drive from this beach.
North Cyprus East Coast Beaches – Famagusta, Iskele, Bogaz
The long stretch of golden sand along the east coast of Cyprus, north of Famagusta town, is one of the finest in Cyprus. Many of the visitors using the beaches are guests at one of the hotels along the bay, however if you are coming for a day trip to the area, you could do worse than use one of the free beaches.
Famagusta city beaches – there is access to the sea even from the downtown area with a few city beaches. This is in contract to Kyrenia which does not have immediate beach access in the heart of downtown.
Long Beach (Iskele) – The best known east coast sandy strip is now known as “Long Beach” in the Iskele area. North Cyprus International has apartments for sale 500m from this beach.
Salamis Beach – There is a good (free) sandy beach adjacent to the Salamis ruins.
Glapsides Beach – This is a well-known beach 5km north of Famagusta, which is a large stretch of sand run by the local municipality, very popular with the local people and students from the nearby Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU). There is a small charge for the use of the sunbeds and/or umbrellas.
Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel – There are various East Coast hotels with beaches. The best known hotel with own beach is probably the Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel, which has its own beach and is a 45 minute walk from Salamis ruins. Inside the hotel complex there is a good range of facilities, including a shopping centre, spa, casino, restaurants and bars.
North Cyprus Beaches in Bafra
Driving north up the east coast, en route to the Karpaz peninsula, you will find the tourist area of Bafra. This area has fabulous golden sand beaches, great if you are happy to be a little further from the cities. There are a growing number of excellent 5 star hotels along the Bafra strip – including the Kaya Artemis hotel. You can also rent self-catering accommodation at the Thalassa Beachfront Resort where NCI also has apartments for sale.
North Cyprus Karpaz Peninsula Beaches
If it is beaches you are looking for – the Karpas will certainly not disappoint you! The lovely sandy beaches in the Karpas peninsula are a key attraction of North Cyprus and all are free to use. As well as those listed below, you can pick your own swimming spot in many areas where there are deserted beaches and coves
Golden Beach
The jewel in the crown of the Karpaz beaches, and the furthest away from Kyrenia. It is a breath-taking long stretch, almost at the tip of the Karpaz. You would need to make a long day out from Kyrenia to visit this beach. Also known as the Golden Sands Beach, it is just a few km before the St. Andrew’s Monastery. This is a major nesting ground for sea turtles and has a few basic cafes with shower and toilet facilities nearby
This is the first of the Karpaz beaches and the nearest to Kyrenia (69km from Kyrenia (Girne) en route to Kantara Castle). The castle is perched on the mountains above it. There is a large, new, hotel here and a reasonable restaurant and beach cafe. Totally sandy, this is a long stretch of shallow, sandy beach with a gradual incline making this ideal for all ages.
Yeni Erenkoy (Halk Plaj) Beach
The beach is around 2km after the town of Yeni Erenkoy and the nearest one to the new Karpaz Gate Marina. This beach has facilities including showers, a restaurant and some log cabin accommodation for the April – October season.
Oasis Hotel with Ayios Philon Beach
4km North of Dipkarpaz you can find the fabulous site of ancient Karpasia and the Oasis Hotel with Ayios Philon ruined Church – as well as a beach. This is really worth a short detour to for lunch en route to the Golden Beach.
Aphendrika Beach
10 km beyond Dipkarpaz at the end of the road on the north coast of the Karpas, the adventurous can make their way past three ruined 12-14th Century Greek Churches to the lovely sandy beach at Aphendrika (this is a 1.5km walk from the road across fields to the sea, but well worth it).
Visit North Cyprus beaches during your property viewing trip
We know that many people considering the purchase of a North Cyprus property are keen to see the beaches near to the home they may purchase. Our North Cyprus International Property Consultants will ensure that your property inspection trip will include seeing all the beaches near to the property you may wish to purchase. Contact us on +44 207 112 8086 of +90 548 861 0600 to discuss a possible visit.
