Northern Cyprus

Overview

Northern Cyprus covers the northern third of the island of Cyprus, occupied by Turkey since 1974, where the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared in 1983, recognized as an independent state only by Turkey. The population is predominantly made up of Turkish Cypriots and settlers from Turkey, the official language is Turkish, and the majority religion is Sunni Islam. The economy relies heavily on Turkey, and the territory uses the Turkish lira as its currency; due to international isolation, direct international flights and trade links are limited, and most visitors enter either through Turkey or by crossing from the government-controlled south.

The old town of Famagusta (Gazimağusa), with its Venetian fortifications and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Nicholas converted into a mosque, is a well-preserved example of a medieval trading city. The port town of Kyrenia (Girne), with its Venetian castle and adjoining shipwreck museum, is one of the north's best-known tourist destinations. The ancient ruined city of Salamis, near Famagusta, with an amphitheater and baths dating from the Greek and Roman periods, is a significant archaeological site in the region. Bellapais Abbey, a 13th-century Gothic monastery ruin on the slopes of the Kyrenia mountains, offers panoramic views over the coast.

The Karpaz Peninsula, the eastern extension of Northern Cyprus, is known for its unspoiled sandy beaches and wild donkey population, and sea turtles nest along its coastal waters in summer. Hiking trails in the Kyrenia (Beşparmak) mountain range reveal the island's less-visited, mountainous interior. Local cuisine shares a base with Greek Cypriot cooking, supplemented by Turkish influences, with şeftali kebab, a lamb sausage wrapped in caul fat, and hellim, a cheese similar to halloumi, as signature dishes, often served as part of a meze spread of several small dishes.

Political division and British sovereign bases

The southern part of Cyprus, covering about two-thirds of the island, falls under the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, with a population that is predominantly Greek Cypriot and Orthodox Christian. The Green Line runs between the two areas, monitored by UN peacekeepers, though a small number of crossing points allow travel in both directions. The island is also home to two separate British Sovereign Base Areas, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which have functioned as sovereign British military territory since Cyprus's independence in 1960 and fall under neither the Republic of Cyprus nor Northern Cyprus administratively.