North Cyprus Guide
Beaches And Nature In North Cyprus
North Cyprus does nature in two flavours: wild and empty, or calm and easy. From the untouched dunes of the Karpaz and the turtle sands of Esentepe to the trails of the Five Finger mountains and the clear water below, this is the outdoors at its most rewarding, and least crowded.
Part of our North Cyprus Guide.
The Karpaz Peninsula: North Cyprus’s Wild East
The Karpaz Peninsula is the long, wild finger of land reaching out to the north-east tip of Cyprus – a place of empty golden beaches, roaming wild donkeys, tiny villages and the remote Apostolos Andreas Monastery. It is the island at its most untouched, and one of its greatest day trips.
Golden Beach and the wild donkeys
The Karpaz holds the island’s most famous stretch of sand, Golden Beach – kilometres of soft dunes with barely a building in sight, and turtles nesting in summer. Along the road you will meet the peninsula’s celebrated wild donkeys, descendants of working animals now protected and roaming free; they will happily come to the car window.
Apostolos Andreas Monastery
Near the very tip stands the Apostolos Andreas Monastery, a long-revered pilgrimage site beautifully restored in recent years. Set almost at land’s end, it is a peaceful, moving place, and the natural turning point of a Karpaz drive before you head back along the coast.
Planning the drive
The Karpaz is a full day from Kyrenia – allow time, take water and fuel up, as services are few. That remoteness is the point: this is where you go to feel you have the Mediterranean to yourself. Pair the seafood in the villages with the beaches for a perfect day.
The Best Beaches in North Cyprus (Kyrenia and Esentepe)
North Cyprus does beaches in two flavours: wild and empty, or organised and easy. From the turtle-nesting sands of Alagadi near Esentepe to the loungers and water sports of the Kyrenia bays and the untouched Golden Beach in the Karpaz, here are the stretches of coast worth your towel.
Beaches near Kyrenia
Around Kyrenia the beaches are set up for an easy day out – Escape, Acapulco and Karakum offer loungers, water sports and somewhere to eat, with the mountains as a backdrop. They are the simplest option if you want facilities and do not want to drive far.
The Esentepe coast and Alagadi
East towards Esentepe the coast grows quieter and more natural. A few minutes along is Alagadi (Turtle Beach), one of the most protected beaches on the island and a summer nesting site for loggerhead and green turtles; in season you can sometimes watch the hatchlings run for the sea at dusk. The water is calm and clear and the sands uncrowded.
The wild option: Golden Beach
For the island at its wildest, drive out to Golden Beach in the Karpaz – kilometres of dunes with almost no development. It is a longer journey, but the reward is a beach that feels like it belongs to another century.
Hiking the Five Finger Mountains
The Besparmak, or Five Finger mountains, form the rugged spine behind the north coast – a limestone range of pine forest, wildflowers and Crusader castles, with trails that reward you with views over both the Mediterranean and the plains. It is North Cyprus at its most active and its most peaceful.
Why walk the range
The mountains rise steeply just behind the coast, so within minutes of the beach you can be among pines and quiet. In spring the slopes fill with wildflowers and orchids; in summer the height brings a welcome breeze. The range takes its name – Besparmak, five finger – from a distinctive rocky peak said to bear the handprint of a legendary hero.
Castle and village trails
Some of the best walks link the range’s landmarks. The paths around St Hilarion and Buffavento reward you with castle ruins and huge views, and gentler trails connect hillside villages like Bellapais and the old carob and olive terraces. A local guide or a walking group is useful for the less-marked routes.
Tips for hiking here
Wear proper footwear and take plenty of water – the limestone is sharp and shade can be limited. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; midsummer is hot for anything strenuous. Early starts give you the cool of the morning and the clearest views before the coastal haze rises.
Scuba Diving and Water Sports in North Cyprus
With warm, clear water and a quiet coast, North Cyprus is a lovely place to get under the surface. Divers find reefs, caves and wrecks with good visibility and gentle conditions, while the calm bays are ideal for snorkelling, paddleboarding and boat trips. It suits beginners and experienced divers alike.
What the diving is like
The Mediterranean here is warm from late spring into autumn and often beautifully clear, with visibility that makes for easy, relaxed diving. Sites range from shallow reefs and swim-throughs for beginners to deeper walls and the occasional wreck for the experienced. Dive centres around Kyrenia run courses and guided dives through the warmer months.
Marine life
Under the surface you will meet groupers, bream, octopus, moray eels and, if you are lucky, sea turtles gliding past – the same loggerheads and green turtles that nest on the beaches above. The rocky reefs and seagrass meadows support a rich, colourful mix of Mediterranean life.
Above the water
If diving is not your thing, the calm bays are perfect for snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding, and the harbours run boat trips along the coast. Around Kyrenia you will also find jet skis, parasailing and banana-boat rides for a livelier day on the water.
Hidden Gems of the North Cyprus Coastline
Beyond the famous beaches, the North Cyprus coast is full of quiet corners the guidebooks miss – tucked-away coves, sleepy fishing harbours, sea-cut swimming spots and viewpoints where you will often be alone. Here is where to find the coast at its most peaceful.
Quiet coves and swimming spots
Between the organised bays and the wild sands lie dozens of small coves reached down a track or a set of rock steps – the kind of place locals go with a picnic. The stretch of coast east of Kyrenia towards Esentepe and Tatlisu hides several, with clear water over rock and sand and rarely another soul.
Sleepy harbours and villages
Small working harbours like Bogaz on the east coast, and the old fishing villages along the way, offer a slower kind of afternoon: a fish lunch by the water, boats coming and going, and none of the bustle of the resorts. They are as much about the atmosphere as the swimming.
Viewpoints and hidden ruins
The coast road and the mountain lanes above it are dotted with viewpoints over the sea, and with half-forgotten chapels, carob mills and ruins you can have to yourself. Take your time, turn down the small roads, and you will find the North Cyprus that keeps people coming back.
Q&A
What is the Karpaz Peninsula known for?
Golden Beach, its protected wild donkeys, unspoilt scenery, and the Apostolos Andreas Monastery near the tip of the island – the wildest, most untouched part of North Cyprus.
Are there really wild donkeys?
Yes – the Karpaz is home to protected wild donkeys that roam freely along the roads and often approach cars. Please do not feed them harmful food.
Which is the best beach in North Cyprus?
It depends what you want: Alagadi (Esentepe) for calm, protected nature and turtles; the Kyrenia bays for facilities; and Golden Beach (Karpaz) for wild, empty sand.
When can you see the turtles at Alagadi?
Loggerhead and green turtles nest through the summer; hatchlings typically emerge from around July into September, best seen at dusk with the conservation teams.
Is North Cyprus good for scuba diving?
Yes – warm, clear water, gentle conditions and a mix of reefs, caves and wrecks make it good for both beginners and experienced divers, with dive centres around Kyrenia.
Where are the quietest beaches in North Cyprus?
The small coves along the coast east of Kyrenia towards Esentepe and Tatlisu, and the wild sands of the Karpaz, are the quietest – often reached by a short track and rarely crowded.
What is Bogaz?
A small, sleepy fishing harbour on the east coast known for its fish restaurants by the water – a relaxed spot away from the main resorts.