The country of North Cyprus, which is the northern part of the island of Cyprus, has hosted many tourists from all over the world in recent years. Due to its special geographical location, this country has a pristine and amazing nature. The people of this country are very hospitable and sociable and they win the heart of every traveler with their traditional delicacies. If you are planning to travel to this country, it is better to do your research before anything about important things like weather, currency, places to visit, public transportation and many more. In this article, we tried to briefly discuss some important points. If you plan to travel to this country, stay with us until the end.
All about Northern Cyprus
The country of Northern Cyprus, which is located in the Mediterranean Sea, enjoys a special peace in addition to its pristine and unique nature. Every year this country hosts many tourists from all over the world. The government of North Cyprus has paid a lot of attention to the facilities for tourists. For example, the beaches of this country are full of special facilities for water sports. In the rest of this article, you will get to know 15 of the most important things that you should know before traveling to this country. Stay with us.
A brief history of modern Northern Cyprus
1974 was the year when everything changed in North Cyprus. In fact, in this year, the Greek army carried out a military coup. In response, Turkey sent its forces and finally managed to take control of about one-third of the island. In these conflicts, hundreds of thousands of Greek and Turkish Cypriots were eventually displaced from their homes. At the end of the same year, the Greek military government collapsed and a ceasefire was established. Finally, a border was drawn between North and South Cyprus, which is known as the Green Line. The northern part of the island of Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey, and from the point of view of the international community, Turkey has occupied this area. So far, efforts to make the two sides friendly have been unsuccessful.
Traveling to Northern Cyprus
To travel to North Cyprus, you can enter this country by air or by sea. Arjan International Airport is the main airport of Northern Cyprus. This airport is located 13 kilometers east of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. It is interesting to know that all international flights to this airport are prohibited and only non-stop flights to Arjan airport are from Turkey. You should also know that if you intend to enter the country of South Cyprus, it is better to first prepare the necessary documents and visa to enter South Cyprus and enter the country from South Cyprus itself. Otherwise, you must enter through the common border of North and South Cyprus by presenting the necessary documents.
Transfer from Larnaca to Northern Cyprus
Larnaca International Airport, which is located near the city of Larnaca in Southern Cyprus, is one of the ways to enter Northern Cyprus. This airport is the largest airport in Cyprus. The majority of European and American tourists enter Cyprus through this airport. If you have the necessary visa to enter South Cyprus, you can easily enter North Cyprus from the land border between South and North Cyprus, following the law. You should be careful that your passport and travel documents will always be checked during the trip between these two countries. Therefore, it is good to carry these documents with you everywhere you travel.
Crossing the Green Line in Nicosia
The green line or Attila is the border line between the two countries of North and South Cyprus. One of the most common border crossings between the two countries of North and South Cyprus, located on Ledra Street in the city of Nicosia or Lefkosha, is on this line. This border crossing is designed for pedestrians to cross, and by showing your passport to the border police and if you have the necessary documents, you can cross the border and enter one of the two countries.
security
The security of a country is usually an important issue for tourists. It is good to know that Northern Cyprus is one of the most safe countries in the world. Although the tension between the two countries has caused that you may encounter some military clashes when crossing the borders, in general, the crime rate in this country is very low. But as a traveler, it is better to always observe the security measures of the trip.
Language
The official language of Northern Cyprus is Turkish and most of the people of this country speak Turkish. But fortunately, most native people are fluent in English at different levels. Employees in stores, airports, hotels, etc. can speak English well. Traffic signs are also marked in both Turkish and English languages. Sometimes some road signs are also written in Greek. Even the names of some historical places are in Greek. German language can also be considered as one of the popular languages in this country. Of course, it is not as common as English.
Money in Northern Cyprus
The official currency in Northern Cyprus is the Turkish lira. Although in many places you can also use pounds, euros and dollars, it is always good to have lira with you everywhere. It is better to know that most ATMs accept foreign cards and pay you cash. Make sure to always carry cash with you everywhere, as some stores or restaurants only accept cash.
Car rental in North Cyprus
It may be interesting to know that renting a car in North Cyprus is very common and many companies do it. You can easily rent your car online and the company will deliver the car to your hotel door. The difference between driving in Iran and Cyprus is that the steering wheel is on the right and you should drive on the left. Driving rules in this country are not very strict and you may see speeding violations on the street. But police speed cameras are installed everywhere. If you have rented a car, don’t worry about the directions, because the GPS will help you find the way very well.
Public transportation
Although North Cyprus does not have a very active and widespread public transport, but with that being said, in most places you can use one of the public transports such as buses and taxis. Please note that there is no specific timetable in the city and passengers can get off the bus anywhere along the way. You can also use internet taxis. You can easily book your taxi by calling or online and go anywhere in the country. Of course, it is good to know that some of these taxis calculate the total cost according to the distance traveled, but others consider an amount for the route themselves. It is better to ask the driver about the amount before leaving.
Use of mobile phones in Northern Cyprus
Definitely, the use of a mobile phone while traveling is very important for every traveler. It is better to know that only two Turkish mobile phone networks are active in Northern Cyprus. You can buy a recharge SIM card as soon as you arrive in this country. This SIM card will allow you to use the Internet and phone calls for a certain amount. This SIM card is sold with a package and will not have a phone bill. We should also add that you, as a tourist or a person who recently immigrated to this country, can use these recharge SIM cards for up to three months; But to use mobile phone operators, you need to register your mobile phone after this period.
Turk coffee
Turkish coffee is a popular and common drink in Northern Cyprus. It is better to know that this coffee has high caffeine. Also, since it is thick, be more careful when eating it. For example, be careful not to eat the scum at the bottom of the cup. Of course, Turkish tea is also served throughout the city. Tea is also one of the most popular drinks in Northern Cyprus.
Vegetarian and vegan foods
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you should know that you can find the foods you want in this country. In general, the cuisine of Northern Cyprus has been greatly influenced by Turkey and Greece, and many vegetarian options can be seen in the menu of restaurants in Northern Cyprus. But vegans may have a bit of a problem. In these cases, you can buy from supermarkets.
Photography
Everyone likes to take pictures during their travels. The pristine nature and unique beaches of Northern Cyprus will give you the opportunity to take the most beautiful photos as a souvenir. But since the Turkish army has a very active presence in Northern Cyprus, you will see military installations almost everywhere. Please note that photography is prohibited in these places. One of the beautiful places where professional photography is prohibited in some parts is the city of Varosha, or the city of ghosts. In order not to face a particular problem when taking pictures, check your surroundings more carefully.
Buy
Definitely one of the attractive parts of traveling is shopping. If you are a person who intends to buy world-famous brands, we must say that you will not find very famous store or restaurant brands in this country, apart from Turkish brands. The working hours of stores are different in summer and winter. But in general, some shops and businesses are open from 08:30 to 18:00, and during the summer, due to the longer days, shops close later than usual.
Cats and dogs in Northern Cyprus
As soon as you arrive in North Cyprus, you will see many dogs and cats all over the country. Of course, the number of cats is much more. It is interesting to know that the local people of this country are very fond of cats. Cats are almost everywhere in the country. They are in good physical condition. Even some cats and dogs are marked after examinations. The doors of restaurants and houses are always open to cats.
final word
If you are a person who enjoys nature and likes its peace, North Cyprus is the right choice for you. This country pays a lot of attention to water sports. Its pristine and attractive nature has made it a perfect place to hold a wedding ceremony. One of the positive points of this country is its high security. Also, since the people of this country are fluent in English, no matter what country you are from, you will not have any language problems. In order to enjoy your trip enough, it is better to research well about all the issues that are a priority for you.
