I suggest the British Hotel (formerly known as the Hotel El Greco and then the Hotel British) in Kyrenia, close to the harbour. We do like being near the centre without having to travel in every day.
Try: http://www.britishhotelcyprus.com/
Girne itself is splendid.
You may wish to consider hiring a car fo a few days to travel round this wonderful area. Driving on the left, of course. Why are there two motorways, 100 yards apart, from Girne to Famagusta when there is so little traffic?

Been to the south twice (Pervolia, Pernera) sorry, didn't rate it. Been to Turkish mainland a couple of times so keen to sample Northern Cyprus.

Couple of quick q's -

Package vs. DIY
Kyrenia vs.Famagusta
Ercan vs. Larnaca (How much is a transfer from Larnaca & how easy to arrange?)

Cheers

GW

Hi, we have travelled to Northern Cyprus twice a year for the last couple of years and have booked both package and DIY holidays. From our experience we always get a better deal by booking our own flights and booking direct with the hotel, however if we didn't know the area I would probably opt for a package holiday as it is much easier to compare hotels etc. We now always fly to Larnaca mainly due to better flight times but also as we have a five year old who gets very bored during the hour you spend sitting on the plane in Turkey for refuelling. Transfers from Larnaca to Kyrenia cost approximately GBP40 - 50 each way. Personally I would choose Kyrenia over Famagusta as although Famagusta has a wonderful beach there is very little else to do there. However hire a car and visit Famagusta well worth spending a day there. Hope this helps

Hi Xenmia,

I didn't know it was possible to fly into Nicosia and then cross over into N.Cyprus. Do you have to go through border cotrols? How does it work exactly?

I've been to the south, and have been to the north three times.

I think the north is more tranquil - and the prices are much cheaper. Cheaper than mainland Turkey too.

I was there a couple of weeks back and the weather was really good. Blue skies and sunshine all day, and very, very warm. We stayed in The Ship Inn Hotel in Girne, and I can highly recommened it. It reminded me of an English Country Pub - Tudor-style with wooden beams. The gardens were really pretty and the pool is lovely. (they have an indoor pool too, and jacuzzi).

The food was excellant and the menu was very varied. Their chips are hand-made and really crispy. The staff were really friendly and helpful, the rooms were spotless, the views of the mountain and countryside were beautiful and the whole place had a wonderful relaxing feel to it.

We hired a car from the hotel (I think a hire car is essential in N.Cyprus) for £10 a day! OK, it was quite basic but at that price who's complaining?

We drove to Famagusta which took about an hour and half. The scenery on the drive down was quite boring I found. Quite flat and not very green. Famagusta was very run-down (maybe due to the last war) with lots of derelict, crumbling buildings. It was very depressing. Some parts of the town appeared to have no people living there at all. There was lots of barbed-wire fences everywhere with red warning notices of soldiers with guns.

Famagusta's beaches are a few kilometres out of town. Although sandy and potentially beautiful, again they were deserted and unkempt. Lots of bushes that needed cutting alongside the beach, broken beer bottles, unpainted huts, and a few hotels which looked as though they'd been bombed and left in a hurry. The actual sea in Famagusta bay is beautiful -pale, pale blue, crystal clear and wonderfully warm. I think you could walk out in it for yards and yards before it gets deep.
But I wouldn't visit the place again.

Kyrenia Harbour is truly beautiful. Shaped lke a horseshoe - at night it takes on a magical feel with all the golden lamps lit up. The buildings look very Venetian, and with the little balconies overhanging, it is very romantic. Most of the restaurants in the harbour do seafood, and it's also lovely to sit there in the morning reading your papers and drinking coffee. Nearby is the Colony Hotel which is VERY posh - and VERY expensive. They have a beautiful horse and carriage which anyone can book for an half-hour ride...............it's very grand, and the riders are all dressed up accordingly. Well worth it for a special treat.

We also stayed in the Acapulco, and although we'd read poor reports about it, we had no complaints. The beach at the Acapulco is probably the best one in N.Cyprus. The hotel has lovely grounds with lots of flowers etc, a large pool, good clean rooms. The food was nice although not memorable. The hotel as a whole is nice, but the entertainment was poor. They have a casino (casino's are everywhere out there) and all the drinks are free. In fact, the drinks in all the casinos' are free - and some of them supply free buffet style meals too.

We also went to Bellapais which is really stunning. High up a mountain, with views of the harbour and sea, it's magnificent. The actual town has tiny, narrow lanes with lovely picturesque restaurants and shops. We ate in the grounds of Bellapais Monastery with the view of the harbour below. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and very reasonable too. To enter the restaurant you walk through archways of jasmine and roses. At night they have flames burning to lead the way.

All in all, I think N.Cyprus is a very tranquil place - and very good value for money. It's much cheaper than mainland Turkey. Even Efes beer is cheaper there A bottle of branded spirits is about half the price too. For a good-value peaceful holiday I think it is perfect. And you don't get the same sort of hassle as in Turkey.

Wonderful report. Brings it all back to me. Did you try the Fisherman's Restaurant which was our favourite in Kyrenia? We went there several times, usually for the Amberjack, which is a delicious fish only found, they tell us, in waters off Cyprus or Jamaica.
I agree, hire a car for a few days. I did have one interesting experience when I left my headlights on by mistake and took a wrong turn. The sentries at the army base camp saw my headlights and waved me through quite happily. At least they thought it was funny when I eventually turned round. The army commander has ordered that off-duty troops shall wear civvies when in Town so there is little sign of the army presence. Very sensible.
Yes, the harbour is wonderful.

Hi Strawberry
Yes you have to go through border control. The easiest way to do this is to book a taxi from the North to collect you from Larnaca. They will then take you through control and supply the visa paperwork, you fill it in and then the taxi driver will take these together with your passports and have them stamped. You needn't even leave the car. Coming back is not so easy as the Greek border authorities normally want to check your suitcases for cigarettes even if you tell them you have none. Last time we crossed back to the South they wanted to check both our cases even though once opened they gave them nothing more than a quick glance, I think they do it to be awkward more than anything else. We love the North and can't wait to go back in July. Hope this helps

Just wanted to say hi as I have 'defected' from the Turkey forum. I've been to Turkey many times and love it (last time Kalkan and gulet cruise) and although we were sorely tempted to repeat the same holiday this time I was looking to go somewhere different and have decided on Kyrenia in North Cyprus.

I have been reading the reviews and I think my boyfriend and I will love it (interesting and beautiful places to see, good hospitality etc.).

We haven't booked yet but decided on The Ship Inn which also has great reviews on Trip Advisor.

I'm sure I will be back with more questions once we've got it all booked up (going with tour operator for first time).

Ten of us would like to visit Northern Cyprus for 2 weeks in June. Ages range from 20 to 53. Can anyone recommend reasonably priced clean accommodation close to the centre of Kyrenia and advise as to whether or not we can fly into Larnace and be collected by the hotel. We have been going to the Olu Deniz area of Turkey for the past ten years and love it but would like to try Northern Cyprus for a change. Do food and drink prices compare with Mainland Turkey? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Minogue. If it had been nearer Kyrenia, I would have suggested the Riverside, but then I thought the High Life might suit you better. I guess an e-mail to them would establish whether they can pick your party up at Larnaca.
Dining out? Well, I have not holidayed in mainland Turkey, only passed through in transit, but would be surprised if food and drink prices were dearer in North Cyprus.
http://www.highlifecyprus.com/

Hi RPBristol

Yes, we did try the Fisherman's Restauarant - and thoroughly enjoyed it too. We had the seabass which was excellant - never tried the Amberjack though. Don't remember seeing that fish on the menu. Next time perhaps..............

Mioque,

Dining out in North Cyprus is cheaper than Turkey - and they seem to have more selection of dishes.

There's quite a few hotels around and near the harbour in Kyrenia. We spent one night in the White Pearl Hotel which is in the actual harbour - and although it was very nice (and incredibly clean - it was SPOTLESS ) it wasn't the sort of hotel you'd want to holiday in. I get the impression that most of the hotels in Kyrenia are similar. Don't forget too, Kyrenia isn't a beach holiday resort.

Girne has more 'holiday-type' hotels - and is only 5 minutes away in the car. I think the Jasmine Beach is quite popular (it's on the beach as far as I know) and The Ship Inn is a lovely hotel too (that's the one we stayed at). Depends what your requirements are really.

Happy holidays anyway!

Thank you both for replying. I have had quotes from a few hotels but they seem very expensive compared to mainland Turkey. Some have even quoted between £80 and £100 per person per day sterling! We have been used to paying £12 each per day at the Nicholas Gardens Hotel in Hisaronu which is superb. Pity as we were really hoping to visit Northern Cyprus but not at those prices.

Wow Minoque,

Those prices are high! Which hotels did you enquire at? I know The Colony is expensive but it is very, very grand.

I've stayed in 4 different hotels in N.Cyprus and the most expensive one was the Acapulco which is directly on the beach. I can't remember the price (this was in May '06) but it was nowhere near those prices!!

The White Pearl (stayed there November '06) charged 110TL for 2 people a night with breakfast.

But the best one (to my mind) was The Ship Inn in Girne - just 10 minutes from Kyrenia - and they charged 75TL a night for 2 people with breakfast. It's a lovely hotel, the staff are very friendly, the food is excellant and inexpensive, and the room we had overlooked the mountains. Thery also have indoor and outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi, gym, bar, restauarants, tennis court, car hire etc.

I'm sure if you look around on the forum you'll find a suitable hotel to meet your requirements.

Good luck!

Hi Minoque I've stayed at 3 Hotels near Kyrenia. Club Z http://www.hotelclubz.com is near to the harbor just a 10 min walk.The Hotel is ok some people had problems with the room no water or rooms were very good and the prices look good. The Piabella http://www.piabella.com is about 15 min from the harbor and is a very good well run hotel. The other hotel Altinkaya is a bit far out hope this helps you . bye colin

Hi rpbristol, I've had amberjack fish last year in Kalkan, Turkey. Very nice it was too, be delighted if they also serve it in some restaurants in Kryenia area, although most types of fish are fine by me when cooked in the turkish way.

Strawberry, you describe Kyrenia as the village/town in itself and outlying areas as Girne, I thought that Girne was the local pronuniciation of Kyrenia itself? Can you put me right?

Hi SandC,

Yes you're right - Kyrenia is actually Girne. Kyrenia is the Greek name and Girne is the Turkish name. Just like Nicosia and Lefkosia.

I can see how I've complicated things by referring to the harbour as Kyrenia, and the outskirts as Girne. It's a bit like when people are staying in Oludeniz, Turkey and they say they are going to visit Fethiye for the day. Except I've confused the issue further by calling the same place by its Greek name - and its Turkish name.

But from the few times I've been to North Cyprus, the locals I have spoken to have always referred to the harbour as Kyrenia Harbour - and the outskirts of the harbour as Girne. So I'm blaming them!

...and I am going to confuse it even more

Just like Nicosia and Lefkosia

Nicosia is also known locally as Lefkoşa to the Turkish Cypriots and Lefkosia to the Greek Cypriots.

The hotel prices you have quoted seem very high to me. We pay roughly 13 GBP per person per night bed and breakfast at the Altinkaya holiday complex and then a further GBP 40 for airport transfers. Food is expensive around Girne harbour and from experience (except Kose Basi) nothing spectacular. These restaurants cater primarily for tourists and the standards of food show that. However if you venture away from the main touristy areas and visit the local restaurants the food is fantastic and you pay hardly anything. This also gives you the opportunity to experience local life. One of the best meals we have had in Lefkosia was in a tiny cafe in the indoor shopping area which caters mainly for the Turkish Army. We had omelettes, salad and bread together with soft drinks and paid approximately GBP 2.00 for the three of us. Sehmus the owner speaks perfect English and used to be the head barman at one of the hotels in Girne.

Thanks Strawberry, I think I get it!

I'm sure when I am there I will get the gist.

Thank you all for your very useful information. We have now decided to book a package holiday in the south and hire a car for a few days. We will then visit the north and check it out. Will be a bit of an adventure so long as we have no problems with car insurance to enable us to cross the border into the north. Looking forward to eating where the locals do as we do that when we go to mainland Turkey and the food is delicious.
Kind regards,
Liz