North Cyprus Holiday Apartments

North Cyprus is a fantastic holiday destination and there is no better way of exploring all it has to offer than by staying in North Cyprus holiday apartments. North Cyprus is still relatively undiscovered, has a wonderful climate with approximately 300 days of sunshine per year, and you will find that it offers very good value for money. Everything from hiring a car, to enjoying an evening out with a meal and some drinks, is very reasonably priced. If you are thinking about your next holiday abroad, then North Cyprus holiday apartments could be just what you are looking for.

Whatever your age and whatever your interests, a stay in North Cyprus holiday apartments will have an activity for you. The history and geography make it the perfect place for exploring, whether you want to meander through its shopping area looking at local handicrafts or go for a ramble through the countryside. The relatively undiscovered island of North Cyprus means that there is an abundance of wildlife.

While staying at North Cyprus holiday apartments you will be able to enjoy activities such as swimming, golf, horse riding, walking, sightseeing at the historic attractions of the towns, visiting the fascinating caves and shopping for local handicrafts. There are, of course, also plenty of opportunities for eating out at local restaurants and sampling the delicious local cuisine. By taking your holiday in North Cyprus holiday apartments you will be able to enjoy all that North Cyprus has to offer while staying in high quality accommodation.

Climate

North Cyprus has the best of the Mediterranean climate, with long, sunny days in the summer and mild winters. This means that North Cyprus holiday apartments are a good choice for year round holidays. The hottest month of the year is August, when you can expect temperatures to range between 21°C to 36°C. January and February are the coldest months of the year when you can expect the temperature to be an average of 10°C.

Geography

The land is made up of a mix of beaches, mountains and plains. It has a wide range of flora and fauna including 19 species that are only found on the island. You will find butterflies flying from flower to flower, lizards basking on a rock and wild donkeys grazing on the plains and wooded slopes.

North Cyprus has five regions: Nicosia (Lefkosa), Famagusta (Gazimagusa), Kyrenia (Girne), Güzelyurt (Morphou), and Iskele (Trikomo). Each of the regions is quite distinct from the others.

Kyrenia, or Girne, is a picturesque harbour town on the northern coast which is surrounded by the peaks of the Besparmak (Five finger) mountain range on one side, and the sea on the other. During your stay at North Cyprus holiday apartments you could explore the historic Kyrenia castle and museum and see the oldest ship-wreck in the world.

Once you have finished absorbing the history you might like to sit outside and admire the beautiful Venetian façades of the cafes whilst drinking a Turkish coffee. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Besparmak (Five finger) mountain range this Venetian harbour town is one of the delights of North Cyprus. Mount Selvili in the Besparmak (Five finger) mountain range is the highest peak at 3357ft.

As the peaks of the Besparmak (Five finger) mountain range drop towards the east of the island they form a narrow peninsula called Karpas, or “panhandle”. This is an undulating, hilly land with quiet beaches that points towards Syria and it is on the slopes of the Karpas peninsula where you will find the wild donkeys roaming.

The largest town in this region is Iskele (Trikomo) and the town is dominated by the 15th century Byzantine church, St. Jacob (Avios Iakovos). Iskele (Trikomo) is the perfect place if you are looking for peace and quiet with gentle strolls in nature, during your time staying at North Cyprus holiday apartments. You can also swim in secluded beaches, far away from the bustle of everyday life.

You will also find Famagusta (Gazimagusa) on the eastern coast with its impressive medieval architecture bringing the history of Cyprus to life. In 1300 AD Famagusta was one of the principal markets in the eastern Mediterranean and the period of 1300 to 1400 AD is seen as a golden period. After much trouble between the Genoese and Venetian merchants after 1400 AD, the Venetians eventually took hold of all of Cyprus and that is how it remained until the late 1500’s when the Ottoman Turkish rule came in.

At the South of the Besparmak (Five finger) mountain range are the plains of Mesaoria and the capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia (Lefkosa). It was the end of British colonial rule in the late 1800’s that lead to an increase in tension between the Turkish-Cypriots and the Greek-Cypriots and the city was divided in 1974. Nicosia (Lefkosa), the capital city is divided into the Turkish and Greek parts by a marker called “The Green Line” however the border crossing is open and unrestricted for all EU citizens.

Güzelyurt (Morphou) lies in the west and is surrounded by citrus groves. The town is famous for its citrus fruits, many of which are exported. It is also famous for its annual two week Orange festival.

A stay in North Cyprus holiday apartments will give you the opportunity to explore all the variety on offer from each of the regions.

History

Cyprus has a very rich cultural heritage, traces of which can still be seen today in the architecture. Cyprus has been ruled by Egyptian, Persian, Venetian, Ottoman and British empires and has been divided into the Turkish-Cypriot North and Greek-Cypriot South since 1974. The border crossings have been open between the two parts since 2003 and today there are five border crossings where EU citizens can cross freely, 24 hours a day.

Culture

The main language in North Cyprus is Turkish, however you will find at your stay in North Cyprus holiday apartments that English is widely spoken as a second language. The currency is the Turkish lira although you may find that British pounds sterling are welcome in some establishments. If you are planning to hire a car while at the North Cyprus holiday apartments then rental is cheap and you drive on the left hand side of the road.

Turkish coffee is a part of the culture in North Cyprus where you will find the local men, talking, drinking their Turkish coffee and playing backgammon. While staying at the North Cyprus holiday apartments you might also like to indulge yourself in a “hamam”, the traditional Turkish bath.