Northern Cyprus. Passport control in Northern Cyprus. Search flights to Northern Cyprus

We decided to go to Northern Cyprus after a few months of living in Southern Cyprus. Today we will tell and show what the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is and how to get there.

History of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Cyprus conflict is still an acute political issue not only for the inhabitants of the island itself, but for the whole world as a whole. How did it happen that Cyprus was divided into two parts - Turkish and Greek? Historically, there were two communities on the island - Greek (the most numerous) and Turkish. Contradictions between them arose long before the division of the island into two parts. However, Cyprus remained unified until 1974, when a military coup took place on the island.

On July 15 of that year, a military coup took place: the ruler of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III (after whom, by the way, streets in almost every city in Cyprus are named), was overthrown. The Turkish authorities, and, immediately sent troops to northern part Cyprus. Those, in turn, occupied about 35 percent of the island. The Greek Cypriots abandoned their homes, fearing a threat, and fled from the war to southern part islands. Cyprus was divided into two parts.

Turkish and Greek part of the island on the map of Cyprus - Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus:

Almost ten more years passed when the Turkish community suddenly declared its independence for the whole civilized world, in 1983 calling itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". This act, as contrary to all international norms, was condemned by the world community. Northern Cyprus was officially recognized only by Turkey.

Since then, there are actually two states in Cyprus. One of them is the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union and an internationally recognized state in the southern part of the island. The second is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-proclaimed entity by the Turks. So far, nothing has changed for the better in this regard.

How to get to Northern Cyprus?

Exists two ways to get to Northern Cyprus:

• air travel with mandatory landing in Turkey. There are no direct flights due to the international position of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, although there is an airport in Northern Cyprus.
• come from South Cyprus by car.

The second way seems to us more attractive, since getting a visa to Cyprus is very simple. In addition, you can visit the entire island, not just the northern part.

Flights to Cyprus are inexpensive. Planes at Larnaca/Paphos airport land from dozens of countries around the world, including Russia. Plus, you won't need to make an extra stopover in Turkey.

We searched for and booked our air tickets to the Republic of Cyprus here. Try to see for yourself how cheap it is to fly to the island.

Do Russians need a visa to Northern Cyprus?

So, do you need any special visa to visit Northern Cyprus? Visa for Russians for a trip to Northern Cyprus need not. You can get to Northern Cyprus from the southern part of the island if you have a Schengen visa or a multiple entry Cypriot visa. A Cyprus pro-visa is also suitable for traveling to the northern part of the island. That is, if you are legally on southern Cyprus, at any moment you can go to the north - separate visa to Northern Cyprus is not required.

So, the next question on visiting Northern Cyprus is passing through passport control in the TRNC.

Passport control in Northern Cyprus

When traveling to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, you will have to go through two controls - Greek and Turkish.

Passport control to Northern Cyprus you can walk in Nicosia, divided by two sides, or in Famagusta. The Greek side takes your passports / permits, checks something in their electronic database, returns the documents in a minute. There are no stamps and migration cards now. The passport is not stamped.

Checkpoint at the Turkish Cypriot border, Nicosia:

The Turkish checkpoint is usually passed in 15 minutes - it will be necessary get car insurance, a special one that operates in Northern Cyprus. This can be done in one of the booths at the checkpoint, you will not pass by. We had a rented car, the employee sitting inside the booth glanced at the papers and issued insurance. Insurance for Northern Cyprus can be purchased for a minimum of 3 days, and a maximum of a month. The cost of insurance for three days is about 20 euros.

With this insurance, you move on. At the Turkish "border" they also do not make marks in the passport. Please note that the purchase of insurance at the control when traveling to Northern Cyprus is a mandatory procedure. No car rental company in Cyprus will issue you with insurance suitable for driving in Northern Cyprus. For the whole world, this country simply does not exist.

It is better to fill a full tank on the south side. Traffic in Northern Cyprus the same as in southern republic Cyprus, left side.

And immediately you are met by the Turkish flag on the mountain - it can also be seen from Nicosia, the last city in the world, divided into two parts during the war. They say that this flag incredibly infuriates the Greek Cypriots - they can be understood.

In general, the flags of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are put up at every step so that you suddenly do not forget where you are. By the way, they didn’t bother with the flag - the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has it identical to the Turkish one, only on a white background.

When you cross the border with Northern Cyprus and find yourself in the territory of the TRNC, immediately notice what kind of devastation begins. It can be seen that the Turks are not as accurate as the Cypriots.

Time in Northern Cyprus seemed to have stopped. Everywhere you can find abandoned houses and forgotten cars, and the posters are still from the 70s.

What to see in North Cyprus

A quick tip to save time when traveling in the TRNC: visit cities only to eat. There are only two large cities in Northern Cyprus, not counting Nicosia. These are Famagusta and Kyrenia.

Kyrenia- enough pretty town, a charming mix of cultures - Venetian heritage, Turkish identity. It is worth staying here for a couple of hours and taking a walk in the port and on the embankment, look into the Kyrenia Castle.

All the most interesting in Northern Cyprus lies outside big cities. This and Buffavento, the ruins of which are picturesquely scattered over the mountains of the northern part of the island. Lovers of touching history - a must visit!

But the most beautiful part of Northern Cyprus - Karpas Peninsula. Here is the most East End islands, Cape Apostle Andrew, from where you can see how the northern and southern shores converge at one point. And a chic place, a real attraction of Northern Cyprus - Golden Beach. This is the most beautiful beach Cyprus in general north and south! Due to its remoteness from civilization and the political situation of the TRNC, there are almost no tourists here. At all. And this means that you will be alone on the golden sands of that wonderful beach.

Worth a visit if you find yourself in Famagusta quarter of Varosha who was once the most popular resort on the island. Now the quarter is closed, the houses are dilapidated and falling apart. You can look into the past and touch the history of the occupation of Varosha through the fence from the beach of Famagusta. Don't be afraid of the soldiers with weapons patrolling the border with Varosha. But it is worth remembering: you can not take photos here.

Report on the trip to the Karpas Peninsula, Famagusta and the Varosha quarter in Northern Cyprus:

If we talk about other TRNC beaches, Turkey has nothing to brag about. Beaches in North Cyprus dirty and paid, clogged with tourists. It is better to go to the Golden Beach on Karpas, or spend time on one of the beaches of South Cyprus. Fortunately, there are a lot of them, for every taste and color: awarded blue flag the beaches of Ayia Napa, the majestic Kourion, the white stone beach of Governor’s Beach, the picturesque and so on.

There is nothing to do at all on the western side of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. There is no civilization from the word at all: some godforsaken Turkish villages, goats run across the road, and in some places there are brothels.

As a summary: all the most interesting things in Northern Cyprus are located between Kyrenia (Girne) and the Karpas Peninsula.

Read detailed itinerary in Southern and Northern Cyprus with coordinates:

If you are traveling to the TRNC with an overnight stay, you can book a hotel in Northern Cyprus here:

General impressions of a trip to Northern Cyprus

What can be brought results from our trip to Northern Cyprus?

• General impression: beautiful, but sad. Northern Cyprus has great tourism potential. The most beautiful Golden Beach was once filled with tourists, Varosha was generally the most popular resort in the country, and the ruins of castles and the cleanliness of the streets were taken care of properly. Now everything conjures up the idea that the Turks do not care. Turkey treats the northern part of the island as an occupied territory, which no one needs to monitor and spend money on. What is sad - it is.
• Dirt and trash.It is very sad! Everywhere cigarette butts and plastic bottles(even at the top of the same castle of St. Hilarion they made a mini-garbage dump). The saddest thing is that it is not foreigners who are shitting, but Turks! I saw it many times with my own eyes.
  Well, how is it possible?

Garbage in the port of Kyrenia

Garbage in the castle of St. Hilarion

• Definitely worth a trip to Northern Cyprus. There is a very beautiful nature and mountains. In Northern Cyprus, much more trees and greenery than in South Cyprus. Despite the small area of ​​the island, the nature in the TRNC is completely different. Lots of castles and historical buildings.
• Walkthrough Turkish border from South Cyprus to North not as scary as they say. Documents are not taken away, nothing is put in the passport.
• Be careful! Check all checks, study the menu and information about mandatory payments for services (prices for parking, etc.). It is possible that parking or a sun lounger is actually free or cheaper. Everyone is trying to make money on you: deceive, say a different price, rip off money. Beaches are paid, toilets too. If you are going to the museum, keep in mind: in addition to the entrance ticket, you will have to unfasten money for parking. In the castle of St. Hilarion, even the toilet was paid.
• Prices in Northern Cyprus lower than in the South. Therefore, you can afford a little more. For example, beautiful apartments or even a villa. All prices are in Turkish Lira.

We happened to live in Cyprus whole year, resulting in a lot of posts and guides 🙂
For travelers in the southern part of Cyprus - articles by tag.
And for those who are going to go to Northern Cyprus, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the posts on the tag. There are many beautiful and interesting places in the TRNC that are worth seeing. Several photos with the sights of Northern Cyprus can be seen in the photo gallery below.

A large island in the Mediterranean - Cyprus - has a long and dramatic history. Today it is a real Mecca for vacationers. The resorts of Northern Cyprus, the description of which we present, differ significantly from the southern coasts. Here is a different government, customs, features of recreation - the region is worthy of talking about it in detail, and even more worthy of a visit.

Geography

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Geographically, it belongs to Asia, although for many people it is an integral part of the history of Europe. It is separated from the nearest shores: 75 km from Turkey, 100 km from Syria and 350 km from Egypt. The area of ​​the island is 9250 sq. km. Cyprus has volcanic origin, and most of it is occupied mountain ranges. Today, the island is divided between three states: more than half belongs to the Republic of Cyprus, a little less than 4% of the territory is controlled by the UN (a buffer zone between states is located here), a little less than 3% is given to Great Britain (its military bases are located here). The remaining 36% of the island is controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state partially recognized in the world. It is the latter that owns the resorts of Northern Cyprus.

Climate

Republic of Northern which are in the zone mediterranean climate, can offer tourists almost ideal conditions for recreation. It has long hot summers and short mild winters. The beach season begins on the island at the end of March and ends in mid-November. The island position of the Republic creates excellent conditions for life: the sea softens the heat in summer and does not allow the temperature to drop significantly in winter. The average annual temperature is 23 degrees Celsius. In summer, the thermometer usually stays around 30 degrees during the day, in winter it drops to 16 degrees. Unlike land, weather-dependent people and patients with hypertension feel much more comfortable here. The main precipitation falls between November and February, and summers are usually very dry. On average, there are 310-330 sunny days in Northern Cyprus per year.

Story

The first settlers in Cyprus appeared in the Neolithic era. But the cold snap led to the fact that the population left this territory for a long time. Today, archaeologists find numerous remains of the Filia culture in Cyprus, which existed here in the 2nd millennium BC and was founded by settlers from Anatolia. Since that time, the island has never been empty. A unique culture is being formed here, which incorporates Achaean and Cretan traditions.

Later, the Phoenicians came to Cyprus and founded 10 independent city-states. During the time of Alexander the Great, the island was part of the Hellenic state, and later became a Roman province. After the fall of Rome, Cyprus is under the control of Byzantium. During this period, the Cyprus Orthodox Church. In the 12th century, the island is captured by the troops of Richard the Lionheart. Later, Cyprus comes under the influence of the king of Jerusalem. At the end of the 15th century, the island becomes part of this territory. This territory was very advantageous from a strategic point of view, so Cyprus was repeatedly attacked by the troops of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1571, the power of the Sultan was finally established here. Comes to the island a large number of Turkish population, new rules are established. At the same time, Greek and Turkish residents got along well with each other. In the first half of the 19th century, active uprisings began in Greece against the rule of the Ottoman Empire, this trend also comes to Cyprus. But the independence of Cyprus fails to achieve. In 1869, the rule of the British Empire was established here.

After the Second World War, in which the Cypriots were on the side of Britain, there is a growing movement for independence and a return to historical roots. The fight went on for decades. In 1960, Cyprus was recognized as an independent territory and divided into two parts along ethnic lines. But the tension between these two areas did not decrease, it came to armed conflicts. In 1974, the build-up of the military presence on the island of Greek troops began, to which Turkey responded by landing its troops in the north of the island. In 1983, these lands declared independence.

This is how the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with a predominantly Turkish population appeared. However, neither the UN nor the world community was in a hurry to recognize the new state. Turkish territory is formally considered part of Cyprus, but in fact Ankara rules here. The resorts of Northern Cyprus have gone to the Turkish diaspora, but today there is a convergence of parts of the island. The wall separating the ethnic regions was destroyed. There is free movement between them. So long and rich story stored on the territory of Cyprus in the form of various, interesting sights.

Administrative division

The Republic of Turkey establishes its own administration in its part of the island. Here are five administrative regions. The list is as follows: Levkosha, Gazimagusa, Girne, Guzelyurt, Iskele. The main resorts of Northern Cyprus are the centers of the main provinces of the Turkish part of the island. Each of them has a Turkish language, and since the Republic of Cyprus continues to consider these lands as its own. Therefore, sometimes there may be confusion in the names of cities. Pairs of names look like this: Lefkosha - Nicosia, Magosa - Famagusta (Amohostos), Girne - Kyrenia, Guzelyurt - Morphou, Iskele - Trikomo.

Recreation features

Picturesque nature, a large number of attractions, low prices for accommodation and meals - all this is provided by the resorts of Northern Cyprus. Comparison and description of the south and north speak of a clear advantage of the Turkish part of the island. Nature here is much more diverse and beautiful than in the south. In addition, it is preserved in a more original form. Due to the fact that industrialization has not captured this part of the island, here you can admire the landscapes, not disfigured by the human presence. There are far fewer tourists in this region, so the beaches are cleaner and prices are lower.

The locals are very friendly and good-natured people. These are not Turks, a mixture of Greek and Turkish blood flows in their veins, Cypriots even differ in facial features from the inhabitants of the Turkish shores.

Beaches are the main attraction for tourists, in the north there are free and private, paid sections. Most of beaches are sandy, although there are also pebble ones. The purity of these places is evidenced by the fact that in some areas they still continue to lay eggs. Almost all beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag for special cleanliness. Prices in the region are quite low, here the payment is made in although you can pay in euros. Northern Cyprus is famous for its natural products, here you can taste the freshest fruits and vegetables, as well as freshly caught fish and marine life.

Regional capital

In the ancient city of Nicosia, South and North Cyprus joined. Resorts, hotels, attractions lie on both sides of the Green Line - the border between the two states. To date, Nicosia has remained last city divided between the two countries. Greek part famous for its historical monuments and museums, the eastern one is beautiful with its color: noisy bazaars, mosques, cozy gardens. The Turkish side is more colorful and lively, tourists can move from one part to another through the checkpoint. Many ancient monuments have been preserved in Nicosia, among them you should definitely see the bastions and walls of the Venetian fortress, the authentic quarter of the Old Town of Laiki Getonia, the ancient Kyrenia Gate, the Archbishop's Palace. The city is very cozy, and you can just walk around it, enjoying the atmosphere.

Famagusta

The oldest city founded by the king of Egypt almost 5 thousand years ago, who saw Richard the Lionheart, Venetian merchants and Ottoman troops, Famagusta is a real gem of the Republic of Northern Cyprus. Resorts, reviews of which are replete with epithets, pale in front of this ancient settlement. Magnificent monuments of history, colorful life are combined here. eastern city and an excellent beach holiday. Tourists will be interested in seeing Old city with its many ancient buildings, the Othello Tower, St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque in one building.

Salamis

A small ancient city located near Famagusta is attractive for its history. Here you can see the remains of the city of Enkomi (11th century BC) with baths, the Gymnasius building, and a public pool. The city is famous for its magnificent sea ​​views. You can go here for 1 day from Famagusta to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity.

Kyrenia

If we compare the resorts of Northern Cyprus, then Kyrenia wins in many respects. Here magnificent beaches for every taste: from luxurious, well-equipped areas with cafes, playgrounds, entertainment to the cleanest and most secluded areas for a romantic pastime. In addition, the city is very rich in sights, among the most important: the Kyrenia harbor with its majestic and fortress, the temple of the Archangel Michael, the castle of St. Hilarion.

morphu

The northern part of Cyprus, the resorts of which can compete in historical heritage and the beauty of landscapes not only with the south, but also with Greece, is rightfully proud of the cozy city of Morphou. It is located in a charming bay mediterranean sea and in Turkish it is called "Beautiful Garden". Indeed, there are a huge number of flowers, fruit trees, orange orchards. Morphou beaches are very clean and comfortable, and local population receives guests with great cordiality. The city is an excellent place for romantic getaway and spending time with children. Of the attractions here, it is worth seeing the excavations of the city of Salt of ancient times, the monastery of St. Mamas, the ruins of the ancient palace of Vouni.

Policy

The ancient town of Polis in the northwest of the island is so cozy and authentic that you completely forget about time and modern megacities. Northern Cyprus, resorts, the photo of which is easily confused with the views of Greece, is famous for precisely the preservation of the ancient atmosphere. And this despite the fact that all the benefits of civilization are available here. In Polis, you should definitely see a natural monument - the baths of Aphrodite, look into national park Akamas, visit the Archaeological Museum.

Practical Information

Northern Cyprus, whose resorts are becoming increasingly popular with tourists, can be reached in two ways: through the Greek, southern part (airplanes fly to Larnaca from many cities in Russia and the world), and from Turkey by plane or catamaran. To pass from south to north, you only need a passport, and back - a Schengen visa. The territory of Northern Cyprus has a good network highways and excellent bus service between cities, so it is not difficult to see the entire island. Cyprus is famous for its safety, there is an extremely low crime rate, drinking water flows from the tap.

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 position led to the fact that a visa to visit this country is not needed. 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. Fly here, of course, Turkish airlines, first of all, "Turkish Airlines" and low-cost "Pegassus". 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 entry and you are in the Republic of Cyprus, you can walk to the northern part of the island through the checkpoint on foot.

How to get around here

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has a good public transport network. 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 travels beautifully 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 has 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. There are wonderful 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, refers 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 other 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. Refurbished is recommended for inspection. old quarter Laiki Gethinia, the Cathedral of St. John with stunning frescoes, the Selimiye Mosque, the fortress wall with wonderful medieval gates, as well as the luxurious Turkish palace that belonged to a noble person.

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. There are also 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.

The trip to Cyprus had not yet begun, and Luciano and I were already tormented by the question: is it worth visiting the Turkish side, and can it cause problems?

There are many interesting sights in Northern Cyprus (the ancient city of Salamis, Othello Castle, Kyrenia fortress, Cape Andreas - the very edge of the Cypriot "tail" ...), so I wanted to go, but without unnecessary risks and subsequent difficulties with documents.

At the end of the 20th century, the Greeks were the main population of the island, and the Turks were a little less so. For many years, the Greek Cypriots lived under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, dreaming of getting rid of it and joining Greece. The Turks were replaced by the British, and when they realized that the patience of the Cypriots was running out, they left, but on the condition that the rights of the national minority were respected, i.e. that Cyprus will remain a sovereign state.

What do locals say about traveling to Northern Cyprus?

Then the following happened. On the bus to Ayia Napa, Luciano asked the driver what his final stop was, he replied: "Famagusta, Turkish side. You can come with me if you need to." We went to, so we refused, and the probability of getting unwanted stamps in the passport was scary. However, strong doubts crept in that the tourist center told us the truth.

How is it actually with visiting Northern Cyprus?

At the checkpoint on Ledras Street, they really only looked at our passport, they didn’t put any stamps. We didn't fill out any paperwork either. There is constant movement between the two parts of Nicosia, and there is no visible conflict. The only evidence of political tension is the diligent display of flags. Ordinary residents don't seem to care. Although there are probably ardent patriots on both sides who are very worried about the idea. Both Turkish and Greek Cyprus subtly brainwash anyone who is willing to listen to them. The Greeks say that the Turks have occupied Cyprus, but the Turks say nothing of the sort, and that they have been wanting to unite for a long time, only the Greeks are against it.

My personal impression: the Greek side is hushing up the military coup, and the Turkish side is forcibly expelling the Greeks from the north of the country (supposedly people moved "due to circumstances"). I suspect that the latter was painful for the Greeks, maybe that's why they answer questions about Northern Cyprus in such a way. After all, you never know - perhaps a person or his family suffered from a conflict, one of his friends lost his home. There is a feeling that the conflict is more acute in the southeastern part, and easier in Nicosia.

There is nothing dangerous or criminal about getting to Northern Cyprus, and this will not cause any problems in the future. As for the language and money, in both southern and northern Cyprus, most people speak English well (in ordinary life, Greek Cypriots communicate in Greek, and Turkish Cypriots in Turkish), and there and there you can use the euro (although in general in Northern Cyprus official currency - Turkish lira but they accept euro).

Where to stay to drive around North Cyprus?

We were thinking of trying to go to Famagusta (the main tourist town Northern Cyprus) from Larnaca, but still listened to the advice of a local resident, with whom they talked at the bus stop. She said that only some buses in the direction of Larnaca - Ayia Napa - Protaras go to Famagusta, you need to ask the driver. Then, not all drivers reach the city, some only reach the checkpoint, and from there it is still 3-4 km on foot. You need to return by a certain time, around five in the evening, otherwise you will stay overnight there. Considering that transport to Larnaca is not guaranteed from the other side, it does not sound very good.

Passage through the ports and airport of Northern Cyprus

In fact, Northern Cyprus really lives almost like a separate state. He has his own government and his own airport - Ercan.

Ercan Airport, North Cyprus