The capital of the northern Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is North Nicosia – also called Lefkoşa. If you want to enter the special EU territory directly, you can only book flights with a stopover in Turkey. The mail also has to arrive in Turkey before it is forwarded to Northern Cyprus. In total, Northern Cyprus has more than 370,000 inhabitants – but the number is slowly but surely increasing due to the influx of international interested parties.
When buying property for living or renting property in Northern Cyprus, it is worth knowing what the political situation is on the island. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a state in the north of the island. It has not yet received recognition from the governments of other states, with the exception of Türkiye.
In 1960, Cyprus was granted sovereignty by England. The Greeks and the Turkish side had the opportunity to govern the new state themselves. Community representatives began to occupy equal positions in power structures. After the 1960 treaty, the British, Greek and Turkish governments became guarantors of the creation of the young state.
Cyprus is the easternmost island in the Mediterranean with an area of more than 9,200 square kilometers. Only a little more than a third of the area is covered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The island is divided parallel to the north coast by the Kyrenia Mountains, which provide a breathtaking view from many hotels, beaches and locations. The island of Cyprus not only has steep rocky coasts, but also long sandy beaches and bays. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has numerous beaches, especially along the north coast, which are popular with tourists and stretch for several kilometers. If you want to vacation undisturbed, you will hardly meet any other visitors here.
Good to know: Northern Cyprus is not known for mass tourism. However, statistics from recent years show that more and more visitors are heading to Northern Cyprus and that investments in holiday homes, hotels and restaurants can be particularly worthwhile here. Each tourist spends an average of 700 to 900 euros in Cyprus.
Both Turks and Greeks have lived on the island of Cyprus for many years. However, in the course of the Cyprus conflict, the Turks living in the south of the island had to leave their homes and move to the north. The Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, had to flee to the south. While Greek and Turkish are considered official languages in the south of Cyprus, only Turkish is considered an official language in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Incidentally, Greeks still live on the Karpas peninsula in eastern Northern Cyprus.
While the majority of the Cypriot population – especially in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – are Sunni Muslims, Christians and Jews make up the rest of the religious groups in Cyprus. There are also Alevi Muslims in North and South Cyprus – but they are a minority.
It is worth knowing about the currency that Turkish lira is commonly used in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. While it is easy to pay and withdraw money with a credit card almost everywhere, it is mainly in smaller markets and shops where visitors cannot get by without the currency. Business transactions are often carried out in British pounds. In the south of Cyprus, however, the euro predominates.
But what about education in Northern Cyprus? The education system is not very different from that in Germany: primary school between the ages of six and eleven is compulsory, as is secondary school up to the age of 14. Here, the intermediate school leaving certificate is obtained. After that, secondary school education and the further path to university can follow. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has several universities, making studying here easy.
There are several all-inclusive hotels in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. There are some fantastically located accommodations of this type, especially on the northern coast, where you can book a vacation at a reasonable price. There are also cheaper motels, vacation apartments and restaurants in the north of Cyprus, so you should be able to find the right one for every purpose.
It is important that the facilities have received good reviews online. Very inexpensive providers in particular are often characterized by inadequate service – which is why it is particularly important to find out about them in advance. You should never book without thoroughly checking.
It is particularly easy to get around in Northern Cyprus. Public transport is very well structured here, but also particularly cheap. Depending on the company, taxis can cost less than in Germany. At airports or tourist hotspots, however, the companies charge a little more. It is therefore advisable to use a rental car. Please note that the various companies usually do not allow you to drive from South to North Cyprus and vice versa.
Please note: In Northern Cyprus, traffic drives on the left, so visitors have to get used to it. However, a German driving license is completely sufficient to drive in Northern Cyprus. Anyone who brings their own caravan should take out additional insurance so that they do not have to pay for any damage on site.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a very safe part of the island. Anyone who settles here permanently will quickly notice that crime is very low. However, as a tourist, there are a few things to be aware of: The Green Line is a restricted area that may not be photographed or entered. There are also mines here, so crossing the line should only take place at designated places – for example in Nicosia. You should also watch out for pickpockets in public markets – but they are not only noticeable in Northern Cyprus, but in tourist hotspots all over the world.
The advantage of Northern Cyprus is the Mediterranean climate, which can provide sunny experiences on more than 300 days a year. The bathing season here is particularly long and can also be used outside of the typical holiday periods, so that you can get cheaper options for visiting. You can start bathing as early as April – May, as the sea reaches temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius and there are almost seven hours of sunshine a day. Even here, temperatures can reach 15 to 15 degrees Celsius, creating ideal conditions for a visit.
Real summer in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is in the months of June to September. The water here is 24 to 26 degrees, and the temperature outside is 20 to 30 degrees. Incidentally, it is similar in October, so visitors can perfectly escape the German autumn. Those who settle in Northern Cyprus benefit from the best conditions almost all year round, can create beautiful gardens around their own home and confidently throw thick winter jackets out of their own wardrobe. By the way: On average, tourists have to deal with less than a day of rules in the typical summer months – this makes it particularly easy to plan holidays well in advance and visit all the important sights without any problems.
Before you travel, it can be helpful to contact one or another tourist center and get more information about the trip and the regulations. If you are entering via southern Cyprus, you can contact Visit Cyprus to find out more. The online tourist center for northern Cyprus can also be helpful if you want to find out more about the individual sights or start planning your own travel destinations. To be on the safe side, you should also save the contact details of the German embassy so that you are well prepared in the event of an emergency. The police and emergency services in northern Cyprus can be reached in the traditional way by dialing 112.
As you can see, there are several reasons why the popularity of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is constantly increasing among tourists and those interested in real estate. The Mediterranean flair and good climate invite you to linger and feel good, while the property prices and cost of living, as well as taxes, are often so low that more than just a holiday is considered. Anyone who has fallen in love with the area and wants to set up camp there can find the right thing for their own taste – and will be welcomed with open arms by the local culture. We at KIBRIZ are happy to help you find the right property if you too want to take advantage of the benefits of Northern Cyprus. One thing is certain: the view alone from most locations in the northern half of the island is so good that visitors are happy to come back again and again.
