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The island of Cyprus
was a gift bestowed upon Queen Cleopatra by Julius
Caesar as a token of his love. No more fitting a
gift could be found for this sun-drenched jewel in
the eastern Mediterranean, which is covered with the
relics of ancient civilizations in a setting of
incomparable beauty. Northern Cyprus is one of the
few places in the world yet to be discovered by mass
tourism — when you step onto its shores it seems as
if you have gone back in time. Uncrowned sandy
beaches, picturesque villages, quayside restaurants
and cafes are but a few of the attractions of this
enchanting island.
Historically, the location of this island has always
tempted conquerors, from the Persians to the Romans
and the Byzantine, each leaving their own indelible
mark. One of the most remarkable sights is the
Salamis Ruins near Famagusta. These exceptionally
preserved ruins were founded by Teucer on his return
from the Trojan wars. Other unique sites include an
array of museums, notably the Abbey at Bellapaise,
and the magnificent St. Hilarion castle on Mount St.
Hilarion near Kyrenia. This was one of the
inspirations for Walt Disney’s fairytale castle and
is also the place where Richard the Lionheart is
reputed to have been married. The key to a holiday
in Northern Cyprus is relaxation, for this is a
country to which time does not apply.
The climate and friendly people of the north, with
the combination of its historical and environmental
harmony, offers a holiday and consecutive holidays
to remember. With an average winter temperature of
16 to 18 0 C and an average summer temperature of 30
to 36 0 C, you can enjoy Cyprus for twelve months or
every single day of the year. The arts and the
culinary aspects of the island have seduced many and
will most likely seduce you too!
At Scuba Cyprus, we prone values of care for the
environment and count on you to help keep our
environment clean, in a sustainable way.
Geography
Cyprus is the third
largest island in the Mediterranean after Sardinia
and Sicily. It lies 70 km from Turkey.
Climate
Mediterranean climate,
with long dry summers from mid-May to mid-October
and with mild winters from December to February,
which are separated by short autumn and spring
seasons.
Language
Turkish, English
widely understood.
Religion
%99 Muslim, %1
Orthodox, Maronit and Catholic.
Capital City
Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Population 39,176.
Other Cities
Gazimagusa (Famagusta)
population 27,637 , Girne (Kyrenia) population
14,205, Güzelyurt population 12,865 , Lefke
population 6,490 , Yeni Iskele population 2,814.
Area
3,355 km squared.
Population
200,587
International Connections
By Air: Cyprus Turkish
Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Istanbul Airlines
provide an important network from international
airports to Ercan via Turkey. For the timetables,
prices and information, inquiries can be made at the
offices of the above mentioned airlines and also
from the travel agents and foreign representatives.
By Sea: There are scheduled ferry-boat services from
Mersin to Gazimagusa (Famagusta) three times a week.
There are daily sea-bus and ferry services from
Tasucu to Girne. Also from Alanya, Antalya and
Anamur services are organised during summer months
to Girne.
Passports & Visas
A valid passport is
necessary for entering and a visa is granted on
entrance to North Cyprus.
Coastline
The beaches of North
Cyprus are among the cleanest and safest in the
Mediterranean. The average water temperature is 24C
between May and October. The summer season sees the
Hotel Beaches offering an excellent service to their
customers in terms of eating and drinking
facilities, not failing to mention the provision of
beach umbrellas and beach loungers. Some of these
beaches will also offer activities such as water
skiing, banana rides, jet-ski, wind surfing and
scuba diving.
Emergency
Police 155, First Aid
112, Fire 177.
Accomodation
A wide range of
accomodation is offered, ranging from 1 to 5 star
Hotels, Hotel-Bungalows, Hotel-Apartments to camping
and Self Catering Apartments and Villas.
Traffic
Drive on the left.
Traffic and road signs are International. Maximum
speed is 100km./hr. Vehicles entering North Cyprus
must be insured upon arrival. Seat belts must be
worn. Drivers are prohibited to drive under the
influence of alcohol. The limit is 50 mgr (As in
Europe).
Telephone
Calls can be made from
North Cyprus to any International telephone number.
To call North Cyprus from abroad, the code is + 90
392 followed by the local number. Public telephone
booths are available and telephone cards can be
purchased from the Telecommunications Office. There
are 2 GSM mobile telephone networks that provide
international roaming to visitors. TR TELSIM & TR
TURKCELL
Post
The outgoing postal
system is reliable. Incoming mail must be suffixed
“Mersin-10, Turkey”. The history of the postal
service in North Cyprus will definitely be of
interest to all philatelists.
Electricity
220/240 Volts A/. A
standard three pin British plug is used.
Public Transport
A good, inexpensive
network of buses and mini-buses operates between all
the main towns, in addition there are Dolmus (shared
taxis) operating on the same routes. Taxis are also
widely available.
Restaurants
A large selection of
restaurants exist, ranging from the humble Çorbaci
(Soup Houses) where truly authentic cuisine is
served, to fashionable French, Chinese and Indian
Cuisine Restaurants. There are also a number of
excellent Cypriot Cuisine Restaurants which offer
very good value for money.
Bars
A wide range to suit
all tastes serving local beers, raki and of course
imported alcohol.
Tourist Information
Tourist Information
Offices are available in all major towns. Tour
guides, Hotel Receptionists, Taxi drivers and the
locals are also a good source of information.
Opening Hours (Shops)
Summer: 8:00-13:00 and
16:00-19:00
Winter: 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00
Opening Hours (Banks)
Summer: 8:00-12:00
Winter: 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00
Opening Hours (Public
Services)
Summer: Monday,
07:30-14:00 and 15:30-18:00 Tuesday-Friday,
07:30-14:00
Winter: Monday-Friday, 08:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00
Currency
Turkish Lira.
Eurocheques, Travellers Cheques, Sterling, Dollars
and other major currencies may be used or exchanged
in the larger towns.
Credit Cards are also accepted in larger shops and
hotels. Money can be withdrawn using a bank cards
from ATM's displaying the VISA sign.
Public Holidays
1 January, New Year’s
Day
23 April, Children’s Day
1 May, Labour Day
19 May, Youth and Sports Day
20 July, Peace and Freedom Day
30 August, Victory Day
29 October, Turkish Republic Day
15 November, Northern Cyprus Republic Day
There are also several Religious holidays or
“Bayrams” which like the Christian festival of
Easter, change every year. |
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