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The beautiful coastline between Kyrenia and Tatlisu has become known as the “North East Coast” of the TRNC/Northern Cyprus.
Why choose a property on the North East Coast of Cyprus?
The North East Coast from Kyrenia to Tatlisu is quite different to the busy, high-rise character of the Iskele and East Coast region. Many European and British property seekers prefer the quieter, low rise and more rural ambience of this more meandering coastline, even though unlike the East Coast, it does not offer long stretches of sandy beaches.
The area from Kyrenia to Tatlisu however offers property buyers amazing views, a breath-taking castle-clad Besparmak mountain backdrop, stunning cliffs plus coves and beaches – plus 18 hole golf course and other facilities. Sandy beaches are always within a 5–10-minute drive. People who buy on the North East Coast tend to seek a varied lifestyle not centred only around beach life.
What are the different areas of Cyprus North East Coast?
The coastal areas in order going west to east are: Alagadi, Esentepe, Bahceli and Tatlisu. The areas are named after the nearest village to the coast, but the original villages are not usually on the seafront – hence these names now refer to quite wide areas rather than villages, which can be confusing for newcomers. For example, the coastal area known as “Esentepe coast” is a lot larger than the village area of Esentepe.
Driving out from Kyrenia, after turning along the coastal road, firstly come to the Alagadi area, with its famous golden sand “Turtle beach” and protected Turtle Nesting Area with opportunities to watch Turtles hatching in the summer. Beyond that, the newer developments are found clustering around the Korineum Golf Course area, which is between Alagadi, Karaagac and Esentepe villages but which is generally now known as “Esentepe coast”. Beyond that, the turning to charming Esentepe village sweeps up the hill (25 minutes from Kyrenia). Travelling east, come to the Bahceli coastal region (30 minutes from Kyrenia) and beyond that still the Tatlisuarea. The Tatlisu area is about a 40-minute drive from Kyrenia. The road is excellent. Tatlisu stands at the gateway to the Karpaz Peninsula with its miles of unspoilt sandy beaches (including at popular Kaplica).
Hillside areas not to be forgotten for those seeking an elevated position are the areas of Arapkoy (close to Kyrenia on the mountainside up the Besparmak Road) and also Karaagac (meaning dark trees) which is above Esentepe on the mountainside.
What type of property can I view with North Cyprus International (NCI) Property agents ?
We at NCI specialise in finding the best value properties for our investor and lifestyle property buying clients. For value we favour selling in the more established coastal sites with better property prices, but we are agents for the new luxury sites too. Properties are currently being bought and sold very rapidly so at NCI we advise letting us line up your viewing list within the two-week period prior to your visit.
Apartment and villa sites with properties to purchase are on both hillside and coastal sites and range from those built during the initial build period of around 2006 – 2010 (selling generally “resale” properties at more affordable prices), and the newer, more expensive but higher quality apartment sites and villas currently being erected since just before covid from around 2018. The latter are often double the price of the resales for the same size property.
As rents and property prices become more expensive in Kyrenia town, many of the beachfront holiday sites are being chosen as all year residences. This changes the atmosphere to mixed residential/holiday property area rather than “resort” and increases the rental potential for your future investment or residence.
Which apartment sites are best for North East Coast purchase?
CLICK HERE for link to apartments for sale east of Kyrenia
North Cyprus International often sells apartments at the following resort sites: Turtle Bay Village, Karpasia Elite and SeaMagic (Esentepe Coast), Palm Bay View (Bahceli clifftop), Crystal Bay Park, Crystal Bay Marina (Bahceli Coast) and in Tatlisu coast area – Sweetwater Bay, Seaterra Bay and Seaterra Marina. Seaterra Reserve is on the Tatlisu hillside. We can also obtain properties at the higher priced Sun Valley sites and “themed” sites such as Maldives in Bahceli and Caesar Bay in Tatlisu. Most of these sites are apartment only complexes, but some offer a mix of apartments and either villas &/or town houses.
All these sites would offer at least one outdoor pool and gym as minimum. The Tatlisu sites do not offer onsite restaurants, but all the Bahceli and Esentepe sites listed above have onsite restaurants. A few have a tennis court. All year indoor pools are more common on the newer, more expensive complexes, but Crystal Bay Marina and SeaMagic both offer indoor pools/spas.
Seaterra Bay has a small onsite sandy beach and more luxury sites like Maldives have imported sand to create their own beach. The other seafront sites usually have access to a pebble beach.
The best sites for managed rental are SeaMagic, Crystal Bay Marina and Park – as they have rental offices on site and will advertise your property too. However, all sites are managed.
Best areas for North East Coast Villa property purchase?
CLICK HERE for link to villas for sale east of Kyrenia
Villas, particular resale villas and town houses, are in huge demand on the North East Coast for property buyers. Due to a general shortage of resale villas at more affordable prices, there is a rush of new villa building along the north east coast to meet demand, with new build prices often double those of the more affordable resales which cash purchasers are snapping up. Many beachfront villa seekers ask for “frontline” or “zero to the sea” – there is now a huge premium on frontline villas, with prices often significantly higher than even a villa in the second row.
Some property buyers seeking a villa or town house rather than an apartment are wishing to buy nearer to Kyrenia as they plan to live more full time in North Cyprus and would prefer to have facilities nearby than being right on a beach. Hence NCI carries our personal property finding for our clients in the villages on the east side of Kyrenia such as Ozankoy, Catalkoy and also Arapkoy. These areas are ideal for those who seek a resale village villa or town house rather than a new villa in a beachfront location. (Such villages do offer a few apartments too of course but in general are villa buying areas rather than offering apartment complexes). Or further east, the panoramic Esentepe village on the hilltop, is an ideal location for a villa purchase with some of the resale villas being walking distance to the village facilities which include restaurants, bank, supermarkets, gym, medical centre and more.
There are a few lovely villa complexes on the road up to Karaagac village (between Esentepe and Karaagac). There are high quality new build villas on the coast across the road from the Korineum Golf Club and on the hillside near to the golf club too. Some of the coastal apartment sites offer buyers a choice of villas and apartments (including the Crystal Bay Village in Bahceli, Sea Magic in Esentepe and further along, Sweetwater Bay in Tatlisu). There are some good small villa projects in the Esentepe Beach area including one partly managed by our company -contact us for details. Our company regularly takes on resale villas for buyers which are perched on the Bahceli clifftop with incredible panoramic views and we carry out personal property finding as mentioned before in all of the North East Coast areas.
What facilities/activities are there on the Cyprus North East Coast?
North East Coast activities are many and varied, including: Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Turtle Watching, Water Sports, Walking, Jogging and visiting historical sites. This offers a huge choice of activities for future property owners.
The Korineum 18-hole Golf Course between Esentepe and Alagadi is world-class and also offers a Tennis Academy, lovely restaurant and beauty spa. It is open to non-members and attracts many to its fine dining restaurant and coffee lounge, where guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the Kyrenia coastline as well as its manicured courses, which are green all the year around.
The Korineum also boasts a Korineum Beach Club which is just below the course and, whilst not offering a long sandy beach, has a small sandy beach area plus lovely wooden jetty for swimming along with café and manicured grass area with loungers.
Sandy beach lovers can visit the Alagadi Turtle Beach as well as on the new Esentepe Beach.
There is a small fishing marina in Bahceli and planning permission has been gained for a brand-new marina with all the associated facilities, in Bahceli. It is envisaged that in the future yacht owners will also be able to use this marina, as an alternative to the marinas in Kyrenia (old harbour and Delta Marina) and the Karpaz (Karpaz Gate).
Walkers and joggers love the narrow coastal lane running from Bahceli to the Karpaz and many properties have not only sea views but stunning mountain and country views too.
History lovers can climb the Buffavento and Kantara castles or do a walking tour to visit the well preserved, deserted Antiphonitis Monastery in the hillside woods. The spring sees many visitors for walking and bird watching.
We hope this article has been a good introduction to the advantages of buying property on the North East Coast of Cyprus. Do contact our company, North Cyprus International (NCI) in the UK or Cyprus to discuss your property needs or read our guide to inspection trips to get help planning your visit.
