Resort in Cyprus near the Turkish border. Municipal beach of Alsancak. Everything is also almost without a visa

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC(tour. Kuzey Kıbrıs Turk Cumhuriyeti, KKTC, also used as the name Northern Cyprus tour. Kuzey Kıbrıs) is a partially recognized state proclaimed in 1983, occupying the northern third of the island of Cyprus. From to bore the name Turkish Federal State of Cyprus(tour. Kıbrıs Türk Federe Devleti).

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus enters as an observer.

The TRNC is separated from the rest of Cyprus by a buffer zone. The line dividing the island into two sectors (the so-called "Green line" - English. green line), protects the contingent of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

History of the Republic of Cyprus and TRNC

Administrative-territorial division

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is divided into 5 districts or ilche (Turkish ilçe).

Policy

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not officially recognized by UN member states, except for Turkey (Turkey itself does not recognize the legitimacy of the government of the Republic of Cyprus). At the same time, the TRNC is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference as an observer.

According to the TRNC Constitution, it is democratic republic governed by a president elected for a five-year term. Legislature- The Republican Assembly (tur. Cumhuriyet Meclisi), consisting of 50 members, elected through proportional elections in five constituencies.

International status

Most countries in the world, with the exception of Turkey, do not officially recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an independent state. The Organization of the Islamic Conference granted TRNC the status of a part of a federal state. constituent state) and an observer.

Turkey keeps its embassy on the territory of the TRNC, the TRNC in Turkey - an embassy and consulates. In a number of other countries there are unofficial representative offices of the TRNC, which are de facto embassies. The residences of the US and British ambassadors are located in North Nicosia, but since they were there before the division of the island, this does not mean recognition of the TRNC.

Azerbaijan , Gambia and Paraguay have declared their intention to recognize the TRNC . Despite the fact that no official contacts have been established, informal contacts are maintained.

Negotiations on the unification of the island have been going on for a long time, but have not yet borne fruit. The last attempt failed in the referendum, which was held on the island under the auspices of the UN on April 26. 75% of Greek Cypriots voted against unification, in contrast to Turkish Cypriots, the majority of whom supported unification based on a plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

UN plan for settlement in Cyprus (Annan Plan) Annan Plan), provided for the creation of a two-communal and two-zone state on the island instead of a single Republic of Cyprus, which, according to the Greeks, would mean the actual recognition of the Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island by canceling all previous UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

According to this plan, Turkey received the right to maintain its military contingent on the island. Moreover, it provided for the legalization of agreements previously concluded by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey, which, in particular, gave Turkish troops the right to use all Cypriot harbors, move around the entire island and fly the Turkish Air Force over the entire territory of Cyprus.

The Turkish side would receive the right of veto in the united government of Cyprus. At the same time, all state structures of the united Cyprus were to be financed by the Greek side by 95%. The rights of the Greeks to operate property in the northern part of the island were limited until the standard of living of the two communities was equal.

After the election of Demetris Christofias as president, since September 2008, negotiations began between the two communities on the reunification of the island. Presidents Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat led these negotiations. Annan's plan was taken as the basis. Negotiations have been going on for more than 1.5 years, and during this time most of the controversial issues have been agreed.

The Turkish lira (TRY) is used as the currency, but payment by other hard currency is widely practiced, such as the euro (EUR), the US dollar (USD) or the British pound sterling (GBP).

Due to the lack of international recognition, all foreign trade operations of the TRNC can only go through Turkey.

Despite these difficulties, the local economy is showing last years impressive growth, 2001-2005: 5.4%, 6.9%, 11.4%, 15.4%, 10.6%. This growth is largely due to the stability of the lira, and the boom in the education and construction sectors.

The TRNC economy depends on Turkey's assistance. In 2003-2006, $550 million was received.

Quantity foreign tourists, who visited the TRNC in January 2003 - August 2004 amounted to 286,901 people.

There are also a number of well-known universities on the territory of the TRNC:

• Eastern Mediterranean University (Eastern Mediterranean University),
• Near East University
• Girne American University
• Middle East Technical University - N. Cyprus Campus
• European University of Lefke
• International University of Cyprus. (Cyprus International University)

Numismatics

In 2010, Northern Cyprus unofficially issued a set of 8 souvenir coins, four of which are bimetallic.

The obverse of all coins depicts the coat of arms of the country. On the reverse of each of the eight coins - representatives of the animal and flora Northern Cyprus. On 5 lire - a Cypriot mouflon, on 2 1/2 lire - a dove, on 1 lira - a butterfly. The reverses of coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 kurush contain images of local plants, on the coin of the smallest denomination, 1 kurush, there is a crescent with a star - the National Flag of Northern Cyprus.

In 2011, the republic issued a copper-nickel 20 lira coin depicting the Ottoman Sultan Selim II. The reverse of the coin depicts the coat of arms of Northern Cyprus.

Education

Armed forces

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus maintains Security Forces (four infantry regiments) numbering about 3.5 thousand people, formed by conscription from men aged 18 to 40 years. Additionally, there is a supply of the first stage of 11 thousand people, the second - 10 thousand people, and the third - 5 thousand people. over 50 years of age. The SBTK are lightly armed, led by a Brigadier General of the Turkish Army, and perform the role of internal troops and border guards.

In addition to them, the 11th army corps (11 AK) of the Turkish Armed Forces is deployed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, consisting of two motorized infantry divisions (28 and 39 mechanized infantry divisions), 14 separate armored brigade (14 brigades), the Turdik mechanized brigade, and also from units and subdivisions of direct subordination. The total number of 11 AK Armed Forces of Turkey is over 40 thousand people

Turkish names

A number of cities and localities in Northern Cyprus have different names on Greek and Turkish maps and road signs.

• Famagusta (Ammochostos) - Gazimagusa (Magusa)
• Kyrenia - Girne
• Trikomo - Iskele
• Rizokarpaso - Dipkarpaz
• Kyrenia mountain range - Beshparmak
• Mount Pentadaktylos - Beshparmak-Daglary
• Dikomo - Dikmen

Photo gallery

see also

Links

Notes

1. Novye Izvestia: "Greece wants to be friends with Turkey for the sake of unifying Cyprus and saving on the army", April 8, 2010
2. http://www.kursi-yazikov.ru/info/o-strane/199-kipr
3. Turkey threatens to sever relations with foreign oil companies | In the world | KM.RU News
4. Lenta.ru: Georgia: Abkhazia will open its representative office in Northern Cyprus
5. (English) US Department of State. Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs. Background Note: Cyprus April 5, 2010

   Since 1974, Cyprus has been effectively divided into two-thirds of the island controlled by the government and one-third administered by Turkish Cypriots. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus continues to be the only internationally recognized authority; in practice, the power of the government extends only to the territories under its control.

   original text(English)

   Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled two-thirds of the island and the Turkish Cypriot-administered one-third. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has continued to be the only internationally recognized authority; in practice, its authority extends only to the government-controlled area.

6. REGNUM: "Europe, USA, Turkey and Azerbaijan recognize the 'unrecognized' Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus." , September 20, 2006
7. In the territory controlled by the TRNC
8. TRNC General Population and Housing Unit Census 2006, TRNC State Planning Organization, updated 7 October 2008
9. Within the boundaries of the municipality
10. Lefkosa - the north of the city of Nicosia - is actually the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and actually Nicosia (Lefkosia) - the south of the city - the capital of the Greek Republic of Cyprus
11. Klarer Sieg für die konservative Opposition Tagesschau.de (20.04.2009) (German)
12. Feodosia Museum of Money. Coins of Northern Cyprus.
13. Streit um Zyperns Geschichtsbücher (German)

Beautiful maritime climate, three hundred sunny days a year, hospitable people - all these definitions are fully suitable for both parts of Cyprus - Greek and Turkish. Each side has pros and cons, but the main plus of the Turkish part is the stunning beaches with emerald water. Even many Greek Cypriots confided to me in a careful whisper that they considered the northern coast of the island to be the most beautiful.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is practically an unrecognized state. The country has its own president, constitution, flag, coat of arms, anthem. The population is only 300 thousand people and almost all of them are ethnic Turks. There is no own money, as well as the banking system, in Northern Cyprus, and the Turkish lira is considered the official currency.

One can talk a lot about the reasons for the division of Cyprus, blame the Greek or Turkish Cypriots, but, as often happens with small states, everything was decided by the "big" neighbors. Behind centuries of history Cyprus was owned by the Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, English, Knights of the Knights Templar, French, Turks, then again by the British. In 1960, the Cypriots achieved independence from England. A multilateral treaty was signed, according to which Turkey and Greece had the right to send their troops to Cyprus at any time to protect their fellow tribesmen. After the departure of the British, conflicts between the two peoples increasingly arose. In 1974, a military junta came to power in Greece, which tried to annex Cyprus to Greece, which Turkey sharply opposed, and, taking advantage of the 1960 treaty, sent troops into the northern territory ...

Any disputed territory will always be the subject of bargaining, disputes and conflicts, but in this moment in Cyprus, everything is relatively calm. The Greek Cypriots and practically the whole world continue not to recognize the Republic of Northern Cyprus, but at the same time, the northern territory has tacit support from the United States. The Republic of Cyprus is not a NATO member and is not going to join it yet, while Turkey, on the contrary, is an active member of the alliance, which makes it possible for NATO forces at any time to use military bases located in such an advantageous place in the middle mediterranean sea.

2. Turkish checkpoints stretch along the entire border, but I didn’t notice the military in them :)

3. The territory of the British military base.

4. Greek checkpoint on the border in Nicosia.

Residents of both territories can move freely around the island. For tourists arriving in Greek part, there are no barriers to visiting Turkish territories, however, if you arrived at the port or airport of Northern Cyprus, then at the entrance to southern part theoretically there could be problems. When I crossed the border, the Greeks did not look at the passports at all, and the Turks put a stamp, but not in the passport, but on a separate piece of paper. The same thing happened on the way back. As a result, there were no marks in the passport about crossing the border of Northern Cyprus at all.

Of all the attractions, I liked the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the most, and the current mosque in Famagusta. The cathedral was built in 1328 by the Lusignans (a well-known noble family of Western France, ruling Cyprus at that time). After the capture of Cyprus by the Turks in 1571, a minaret was added to the cathedral. So huge gothic cathedral became a mosque, which the locals began to call the Magus Hagia Sophia Mosque, by analogy with the former Orthodox Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. After the invasion of Turkish troops in 1974, the mosques in Famagusta were given the name of Lala Mustafa Pasha.

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10. Traces English stay in Famagusta

In addition to the fortress and the Gothic mosque, it is interesting to visit the Varosha region. During the Turkish operation, this once fashionable area was completely evacuated. All Greek families were taken to the southern part of the island, people did not even have time to take their personal belongings with them. The military say that the evacuation took place at lunchtime and many apartments still have dinner tables set. In stores on the shelves there is goods from the 70s. Everything is covered with huge layers of dust. Today, the Varosha area is called a ghost town. Greeks and journalists are not allowed here. Taking pictures here is strictly prohibited. Don't tempt fate! The Turkish military is very strict about this. I managed to take a couple of pictures from afar, but I did not dare to take pictures in the ghost town itself.

11.

For lovers of ancient architecture, I recommend visiting the ancient city of Salamis (Salamin). ancient greek city was founded in the 5th century BC. the hero of the Trojan War - the archer Tevkrom. The city had a very successful geographical position and quickly became the center of trade with Egypt, Phoenicia and Cilicia. Over time, Salamis actually became the capital of Cyprus. Today it is an open-air museum, and the well-preserved amphitheater periodically hosts concerts and social events. Entrance to the museum is paid - 2 Euro or 4 Turkish Lira.

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Returning to the beginning of my story, I want to pay special attention to the coast of Northern Cyprus. If you want to spend a day at deserted beach with clean sand and emerald water, then you definitely need to visit this place. If there are quite a lot of tourists in the southern part of the island, then in the north - silence and grace. There are several 3, 4 and 5 star hotels on the coast, so you can easily choose an option for your wallet. There is nothing special to do outside the hotel, but if you want to be a “vegetable” for a while, then this is ideal.

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You can get to Northern Cyprus by Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Fly from Istanbul for about an hour. I think that to complete the picture it will be interesting to spend a few days in both parts of Cyprus, but in this case, it is better to fly to Larnaca or Paphos.

Have a nice trip!

P.S. Tired of answering nonsense about how bad Turks and good Greeks are. Sooner or later, Cyprus will again become a single country, but I do not want to wait until some deceitful politicians come to an agreement among themselves. I want to see the world, I'm interested - I'm going. If we argue as critically as some below, then the Russians will not have a foot in Germany. On small island Cyprus does not have as many people as died at the hands of the Nazis! But millions of Russians go to Germany to drink beer and eat sausage. Everyone has the right to choose where to go and where not to go.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is very unusual country. It is a kind of ghost state. Or rather, he acknowledges it. separate country only Turkish Republic. And all other states believe that Northern Cyprus is an integral part of the political entity of the same name with the island. Therefore, if you decide to travel to these places, you will have to take this into account. Planes fly there only from the Republic of Turkey. The visa is put not in your international passport, but in special paper, which is issued only here. Even the flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus resembles the banner of its powerful patroness. It was created on the basis of the banner of a neighboring country. Only, unlike Turkey, white and red colors are located there differently. But, despite the political upheavals, you can relax here, and even have something to see. In this quasi-country, there are good beaches, hotels at fairly reasonable prices, they will offer you a lot of excursions and they will serve you very well. So decide for yourself, and here we will tell you briefly about what this region is like.

How to get here

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is attractive to tourists primarily because its special political situation has led to the fact that a visa is not needed to visit this country. This simplifies a lot. On the other hand, you can fly here only from Turkey. There is only one airport here, and it is called Ercan. Turkish airlines, of course, fly here, primarily Turkish Airlines and Pegasus low-cost airlines. It takes from half an hour to forty minutes to get from the airport to any city in Northern Cyprus - the country is quite small. In addition, from Turkish Alanya you can get here by ferry. If you have a Schengen card with multiple entries and you are in the Republic of Cyprus, you can walk to northern part islands through the checkpoint on foot.

How to get around here

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has a good network public transport. There are many buses that can be used to get to the capital of the island, and to other cities - Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia. Just pay attention to the schedule - public transport runs great early in the morning, but after five in the evening it becomes difficult to get anywhere. Turkish minibuses - dolmushi - also took root here. They run very often, and it is unlikely that you will lose more than ten minutes waiting for the right transport. And the prices here are lower than in buses. To stop dolmush, you just need to raise your hand. If you rent a car, then be aware that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is of the English type. Yeah and ride on south side islands will not succeed - it is forbidden to do this on rented vehicles.

Republic of Turkey on the beaches

The sea is the main thing people come here for. There are countless beaches on this part of the island. They are very different. There are public beaches, and there are private ones that belong to hotels. Eat beautiful places with sun loungers, umbrellas, deck chairs, bars and all kinds of entertainment. And there are wild secluded bays. All in all, sea ​​vacation for every taste. Of course, to go to the most famous equipped beaches, you will have to pay about three euros. But there are also many free coasts of this kind. For example, one of the most famous beaches - Alagadi, where sea turtles lay their eggs - belongs specifically to public recreation areas. You don't have to pay to enter here. There are a lot of things in Northern Cyprus sandy beaches, although there are also pebble ones. Entertainment here is the same as in many others. seaside resorts - water skiing, scooters, "bananas", "pills" and so on. Windsurfers should look for bays in the north. You can also snorkel here. But if you are traveling with children, then you need to look for places with a gentle and shallow entrance. These are Acapulco, Deniz-Kizi, Camelot. The beach "Escape" was chosen by young people - the best discos and parties are held here.

What to eat, what to buy and where to stay

You can live in Northern Cyprus almost anywhere. It depends on your wallet and requirements. There are five-star hotels of the highest standards. And there are modest hotels. But they all have a good level of service, which can be compared with a vacation on Greek islands. Hotel owners care about their reputation and try to attract tourists. Those who have visited Northern Cyprus are advised to take home embroidery and lace products as souvenirs. Lefkara is especially famous for the latter. You can buy bed linen good quality, wicker mats and other products from a rod. Northern Cyprus is also known for the same things as Turkey - good olive oil, sweets and alcohol, reminiscent of rakia. It's just called a little differently. And the cuisine here is a mixture of different Mediterranean traditions. Seafood, fish, and meze with kebabs and kyufte are well done here. But lovers of European or Far Eastern cuisine will not have to go hungry either. Dozens of restaurants at your service!

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: capital

Nicosia, like all other countries, also has a Turkish name. Her second name is Lefkosha. She is considered the most interesting city on the island, somewhat reminiscent of Berlin of the Soviet era. After all, this is also a divided city, which, however, is the capital of two states. Cypriots live in one part of it, and Turks live in the other. According to statistics, one third of the total population of Cyprus lives here. It is a very ancient city with many excellent museums. Lovers come here to improve their health - local spa centers are famous throughout Europe. You can travel around the city by bus and taxi. The restored old quarter of Laika Gethinia, the Cathedral of St. John with stunningly beautiful frescoes, the Selimiye Mosque, the fortress wall with wonderful medieval gates, as well as the luxurious Turkish palace, which belonged to a noble person, are recommended for inspection.

Where to go on an excursion

If you like to see various sights, especially ancient ones, then consider yourself lucky. Many beautiful ones that belong to the cultural heritage of mankind are possessed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. These sights can be listed for a long time. For example, the Vouni Palace near the city of Gizelyurt or the ruins of the city of Soloy with Roman mosaics and a huge amphitheater. And the main attraction of the country is the ancient city of Salamis. It is located near Famagusta and is located right on the sea. Here you can walk along the ancient streets, look at the remains of basilicas, baths, arenas. In Northern Cyprus there are many Christian monuments where pilgrims flock to. For example, the monastery of St. Andrew, which, according to legend, was founded by the apostle himself and has a miraculous source. Is here and medieval castles which are also worth a visit. The most famous of them is the Kyrenia Fort, which was founded by the ancient Phoenicians, and in the era became the favorite residence of Richard the Lionheart.

Northern Cyprus or Turkish Cyprus- a young country with ancient historical roots located in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Proximity to Asia Minor and North Africa, the island is located 105 km from the Syrian, 108 km from the Lebanese, 380 km from the Egyptian and only 65 km from the Turkish coast, determines the geographical belonging to Western Asia and the Middle East. Someone calls Northern Cyprus "a paradise hidden from prying eyes" - one of the last untouched corners of the Mediterranean, it is less known and studied. This part of the island is famous for the pristine beauty of nature against the backdrop of a unique historical heritage, the cleanest beaches and mountains of amazing beauty. Unique eco-villages carefully preserve the traditions of the Cypriots.

The purest golden beaches and lagoons, the stunning beauty of nature and the original Mediterranean culture, long summer, crystal clear air will make your vacation unforgettable.

A distinctive feature of Northern Cyprus is an increased level of security, friendliness and hospitality of the local population.

Northern Cyprus is a country with visa-free entry- the visa stamp is placed on a separate insert form right at the airport. And you can fly here in transit through Turkey.

Territory - 3355 sq. km., length coastline 648 km.

The highest point of Mount Olympus 1952 m.

The island is dominated by two mountain range and one central plain.

Capital

Lefkosa (the old French name is also used - Nicosia)
Big cities: Gazi Magusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt and Lefke.

Population

Northern Cyprus, according to 2008, amounted to 260 thousand people, this is only local population, and with emigrants from other countries who also live in Northern Cyprus, the number increased to 450 thousand people.
The indigenous people are Turkish Cypriots.

Religion

The majority of Turkish Cypriots are Muslims. And, although very few regularly visit the mosque or wear religious clothes, holidays of a religious nature are always welcome and celebrated with pleasure. Christian worship is allowed, so an increasing number of Europeans come to Northern Cyprus to hold a wedding ceremony. For this important event, many choose the beautiful old church of Saint Andrews, which is located next to the Kyrenia harbor, which has remained there since colonial times.

Language

The official language of the northern part of the island is Turkish, but English language widely spoken as a second language. On road signs, the inscriptions are always written in two languages, which makes it easy to navigate along the route.

Transportation from Turkey

By plane: There are direct flights to Ercan Airport from Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Adana and Antalya. They are performed regularly Turkish airlines AtlasJet, Turkish Airlines, Onur Air, Pegasus and Sky Airlines. Travel time is approximately one hour. All flights flying to Northern Cyprus and to reverse direction must land at a Turkish airport.

By Sea: catamarans and ferries depart from Alanya and Tasucu. Final destination- Port of Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus. The crossing will take about four hours.

Visa regime

The visa of Northern Cyprus is free. No prior visa is required. Tourists receive a visa when entering the country at passport control. Just enough to show return ticket and fill in a separate insert form (indicate the name, surname and other necessary data). It should be remembered that the North Cyprus stamp placed in the passport may create problems for obtaining a visa and entry into Greece and South Cyprus.

Customs regulations

In Northern Cyprus for an unhindered carriage are allowed: photo and video cameras, personal jewelry, sports equipment. The maximum allowed amount for import and export is 10 thousand US dollars or its equivalent in another currency. To avoid misunderstandings, you should know that according to the laws of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the export of archaeological finds is strictly prohibited. This applies to both whole things and fragments, which are innumerable on the ruins of Salamis and Karpasia.

The import of animals (dogs and cats) into the country is not prohibited, but they must undergo a three-month quarantine in special veterinary clinics. So it is better to refrain from traveling with pets.

Without paying a fee, you can import 400 cigarettes or 0.5 kg of tobacco, 1 liter of any alcoholic beverages.

Time

Behind Moscow for 1 hour.

Transport

Transport in Northern Cyprus plays an important role. As a rule, public transport routes in Northern Cyprus run along the main highways, and then you need to get to your destination on foot. Opening hours of public transport from 07.00 to 17.00. But it is most convenient to take a taxi or rent a car. It is worth considering that the minimum age for renting a car is 25 years old, driving experience is from 3 years, driver license you can use Russian. Car rental in Northern Cyprus is available at any time and for any period, it is enough to present driver's license Russian sample. If you rent a car, take into account that in Northern Cyprus it is customary to drive the car to the client “on a light bulb” so that there is enough gasoline only to get to the nearest gas station. The rental price depends on the time of the year (in summer it is higher from $25 per day, in winter it is lower from $19 per day) and the model of the rented car.

Taxis are exclusively Mercedes brands with a Taxi badge on the roof, they can only be found in parking lots, as they do not drive around the streets in search of customers. There are a lot of taxi ranks, but the main ones are:
– in the city of Kyrenia – near all hotels, on central square cities and in the old harbor,
- in the city of Nicosia (Lefkosa) - parking at the gates of the old city and at the bus station,
- in the city of Famagusta (Gazi Magusa) near the Venetian palace and at the bus station,
- in the city of Guzelyurt - at the bus station.

Any hotel, shop or restaurant in any city in Northern Cyprus will help you call a taxi. All locals Turkish Cyprus They are distinguished by special friendliness and are always ready to help anyone who turns to them.
Traffic on the island of Cyprus is on the left side.

Road signs and rules are international. The speed in cities does not exceed 60 km / h, on the highway - 100 km / h. The traffic police are numerous and vigilant. In cities and on highways, speed measurement radars are placed, in case of violation, a fine for speeding will be taken from tourists when leaving the country. You should be especially vigilant for mountain roads Northern Cyprus and driving at dusk.

Entry and even stopping in the areas of military camps is prohibited. You can recognize them by the signs placed next to the territory of military units, marked with a red rectangular sign with the figure of a submachine gunner.

Climate

This island endows its visitors with an average of 340 sunny days in year. It can be argued that there are only two seasons in Northern Cyprus - spring, which lasts from late December to May, and summer, which lasts until November.
Northern Cyprus has a favorable Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, which usually last no more than 2 months. Yes, and it is difficult to call it in winter - during the day in January and February the temperature is + 14-16, and at night it rarely drops below + 6-8 degrees Celsius. In winter, there is an average of about 6 hours of sunshine per day, and the rains are short-lived. Plains and mountains are covered with fresh greenery, numerous flowers bloom.
In late April - early May, when the temperature rises to +25°C and then gradually begins to rise to the level of the hottest month of the year - August, with an average temperature of +28°C to +36°C (but low humidity and high atmospheric pressure make this heat not only bearable, but even pleasant!). At night, the temperature can drop to a comfortable + 21-23 C degrees, at which it is very comfortable to sleep.

The weather of Northern Cyprus is amazing in that even in October the daily air temperature can reach +26 degrees, so during the autumn holidays at school you will still have time to get a dose of sunshine and warmth for the whole family. It won't be until mid-November that air temperatures in Northern Cyprus will begin to drop to their lowest point before starting to rise again in mid-March.

Considering that the sea contributes to the equalization of annual temperatures - in summer it is a little cooler on the coast, and in winter - a little warmer than on the plain, this feature makes the climate of the coast of Northern Cyprus mild and healing for people suffering from high blood pressure and lung diseases. So much comfortable climate makes Northern Cyprus perfect place for year-round recreation.

Kitchen

The local culture always comes through in the traditional cuisine and Northern Cyprus is no exception. Restaurants and numerous cafes popular among local residents and tourists will always be offered a combination of a variety of Mediterranean dishes, as well as dishes with hints of Turkish cuisine and the Middle East - meze, kebabs, dolma, fish and seafood, stuffed vegetables, cheese dishes. Along with this, the European cuisine familiar to all of us is quite common.

First of all, the traditional Turkish Cypriot cuisine makes extensive use of olive oil, sheep's milk cheese and fresh fish, lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Special place Dessert will be on the table - lokma, baklava, as well as fresh fruits such as sweet melon, oranges, figs.

Beverages

The water in Northern Cyprus is of good quality, you can drink it from the tap. The most popular drink is lemonade made from freshly squeezed lemons and orange juice; alcoholic drinks - raki and Turkish beer Effes.

Purchases

Shops in Northern Cyprus are open from 8.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to 20.00. Markets are only open until noon. As a rule, discussing prices and bargaining is not accepted.

Voltage

Sockets - English, three-bayonet - 220 V. Adapters are available from local stores or are available from hotels upon request.

Currency

The currency used in Northern Cyprus is the Turkish lira (YTL), which has an exchange rate of 1.5 lira per dollar against the dollar. However, all shops and restaurants accept dollars, euros, British and Cypriot pounds. In this case, the exchange rate is looked at in the latest editions of newspapers.

Banks

Except national holidays:
Summer: Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 12.00.
Winter: Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00.

Phones

Northern Cyprus phone code +90 392
Main city codes:
Nicosia/Lefkosa: 22
Kyrenia/Girne: 81
Famagusta/Gazimagusa: 36
Guzelyurt: 71

From Cyprus you can freely call to 206 countries the globe. Phone cards can be purchased at any post office, kiosks, as well as in souvenir shops.

Emergency call:
Ambulance: 112
Police: 155
Fire Department: 199
Wildfire Notice: 177

mobile connection

In Northern Cyprus, there are two telecom operators KKTCell (TurkCell) and KKTC Telsim supporting GSM standards.

• A SIM card from a local telecom operator costs 15 Turkish Lira.
• 100 units will be automatically credited to your account.
• 100 units cost 6.00 Turkish Lira, about 120 rubles.
• A SIM card can be purchased at any supermarket, as well as top up your account.
• All incoming calls, including those from Russia, are free.
• The cost of an outgoing call to a local mobile number will be 6 units/min.

A minute of a telephone conversation when calling a Russian mobile will cost 33-40 units per minute.

Attention! A call to Russia from a mobile to a landline is much cheaper than calls from a mobile to a mobile phone. Calls to Russia from a mobile phone to a landline phone of the KKTCell operator cost only 11 units/minute.

Being in Northern Cyprus, you are automatically connected to the operator KKTCell. You can change it to another operator using the "Available networks" section of your phone's menu.