Kyrenia (Girne) is the most picturesque town in North Cyprus, with its horseshoe-shaped old harbour, Venetian castle and the Kyrenia mountains rising behind it. It is an easy day trip from İskele and only a short drive from Esentepe.
The old harbour
Start with a coffee or lunch at one of the harbour-front restaurants and watch the traditional wooden boats come and go. Several boats offer day trips along the coast with swimming stops.
Kyrenia Castle and the Shipwreck Museum
At the end of the harbour stands Kyrenia Castle. Inside you will find the Shipwreck Museum, home to the remains of an ancient Greek merchant ship from the 4th century BC – one of the oldest shipwrecks ever recovered.
Bellapais and St Hilarion
Just above the town is the village of Bellapais with its beautiful Gothic abbey and restaurants overlooking the coast – a lovely place for dinner at sunset. For the best views of all, drive up to St Hilarion Castle, perched high on the mountain ridge.
Getting there: parking near the harbour can be busy in summer, so arrive early. With a rental car you can combine the harbour, Bellapais and St Hilarion in one day.
