Kyrenia

Castles & palaces

Saint Hilarion Castle

A castle set in the Kyrenia Mountains of Northern Cyprus, once a fortress guarding the mountain pass between Kyrenia and Nicosia. It's considered the best preserved of the range's three historic fortresses.

Castles & palaces

Kyrenia Castle

Kyrenia Castle is a 16th-century castle in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, built by the Venetians on the site of a Crusader-era fortress. Within its walls stand a 12th-century chapel and a shipwreck museum, both worth visiting together.

Castles & palaces

Buffavento Castle

An old castle in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, whose exact construction date is unknown but is believed to date to the Byzantine era. It blends Byzantine and Frankish architectural styles and has been unused since the 14th century.

Temples & religious sites

Bellapais Abbey

Bellapais Abbey is a 13th-century monastic ruin set on a hill 220 meters above sea level, overlooking Kyrenia and the Mediterranean. It's just a short climb north from Bellapais village, making it an easy stop for a walk.

Nature

Kyrenia Mountains

The Kyrenia Mountains stretch along the coast near Kyrenia, with old fortresses still standing along the ridgeline. It's a great place to go trekking and take in sweeping views of the Mediterranean.

Temples & religious sites

Acheiropoietos Monastery

The ruins of a medieval Byzantine Orthodox monastery in Lambousa, near Kyrenia. Located close to the village of Lapithos, it makes a nice stop along a quiet coastal walk.

Heritage & monuments

Karaoğlanoğlu Şehitliği

This war memorial sits on the coast near Kyrenia, commemorating the 1974 landing operation. Alongside the memorial stands a museum displaying related exhibits.

Views & landmarks

Kyrenia lighthouse (1907)

This lighthouse stands at the mouth of Kyrenia's old harbor, fitting in with the cozy scene of yachts and small boats that fill the port today. Built alongside the breakwater, it has outlived its original function and now remains as a landmark of the harbor.