Areas for living and recreation
3 major cities of Northern Cyprus: Kyrenia, Nicosia, Famagusta.
Nicosia – the capital of Northern Cyprus, mini-Moscow. Most of the offices and shops are located there. The sea is far away, so mostly local Turkish Cypriots live there. Although there are quite a lot of interesting tourist places.
Kyrenia is a city at the foot of the mountains. Kyrenia district is blessed with a large number of beaches and good tourist infrastructure. Much worth a visit to study in more detail.
Districts of Kyrenia
The most prestigious areas are Belapais, Ozankoy, Chatalka and Zeytinlik. They are quieter and calmer. Local families with children prefer them.
Belapais
Considered the most expensive area. The most prestigious (and expensive) English school of Kyrenia (ESK) is located there. The cost of education is about £5,000 (500,000₽) per year, depending on the class. The area is located in the mountains with a stunning views of the sea. There is beloved by many a monastery (Belapais Abbey) and very beautiful tourist streets, bars and restaurants
Ozanköy and Catalköy
These former villages are located just below Belapais and extend down to to the sea. (We live here) What is good about this area? It is quiet, not touristy. Of course, if you have chosen a house in the mountains it is 5-10 minutes by car to shops, supermarkets, restaurants and other urban infrastructure, if – by the sea or on the plain, then you can walk to everything.
Chatalköy is very similar to Ozankoy. It is located next to Ozanköy.
Zeytinlik
Zeytin translated from Turkish olive – this area, located closer to the city center. It is located in an olive grove, hence the name. The area is small, beautiful, but due to the fact that it is closer to the center of Kyrenia, it is not so quiet and more travelable. There is a Turkish-English-speaking kindergarten, a Russian development center “ArtStudio” and a city park with a playground, trampolines and a mini zoo. The advantage of this area is that the city infrastructure is within walking distance. And a lot of delicious restaurants.
Other more touristic areas of Kyrenia are Karmi, Alsancak and Lapta, which lie further to the west.
Karmi
A mountainous area with picturesque views. There is the English village of Karaman, which is so loved by locals and tourists! We rented villas there for more than one year. A very beautiful and colorful area, but it is located high enough in the mountains to get to the city, you will need to drive down a norrow steep road for about 10 minutes. Another minus of this area is that mostly visiting locals and tourists live there, so in winter it “dies out”. So we didn’t buy a house there.
Alsancak
A very popular area among tourists, English and Russian-speaking population. There is a well-developed tourist infrastructure: many beaches, restaurants, hotels, casinos, etc.
In this area is one of the best, according to many, the English-speaking private school “Nejat”. Real estate prices there are lower compared to the areas listed above.
Lapta
It is located further to the west, next to Alsancak. The favorite area of the British, it is also touristy, but located further from the center of Kyrenia (20 minutes), so it is quieter. There are also many beaches and restaurants, and a small promenade was recently built there, where you can take a family walk at sunset and dine at a restaurant on the seashore. But I would say that this area is more suitable for a serene retirement life.
Also, it is worth mentioning about the districts of Esentepe, Bahceli and Tatlisu. These areas are quite far from the center of Kyrenia, it takes 30 minutes to drive along a two-lane road. These districts are very up and coming, many new developments and new infrastructure are being built there. We think this is the area to watch.
Esentepe
Closest to the center of Kyrenia, 15-20 minutes by car. This area is considered very promising by the locals. There is a lot going on right now. Nearby is the municipal beach of Alagadi, it is also called “turtle” because sea turtles lay their eggs on this beach. Volunteers help turtles to get through the water. By the way, you can attend this event. Also not far from Esentepe are two 5-star hotels on the seafront with their own beach, water park, playgrounds and restaurants. Real estate prices there are still low, but are growing fast every year. (As in all areas in principle) There are no private schools in this area yet, so this area is not very suitable for families with children to live. But for a summer vacation or especially as an investment – that’s it.
Bahceli and Tatlisu
2 neighborhoods adjacent to each other. Located at a distance from the city, 30-40 minutes. Literally 3 years ago there was nothing special. But now prestigious complexes with luxurious internal infrastructure are being actively built there: a huge number of swimming pools, their own spa and fitness centers, and much more. In short, complexes with private apartments and villas with hotel infrastructure. In such complexes, rent is often practiced. You buy an apartment and rent it out through the developer. Very comfortably!
Famagusta
A very promising city. It is believed that there are the most beautiful beaches of Northern Cyprus. There is also a large international community living there. The town is steeped in history, from earliest times. Many tourist places: castles, monasteries and even caves. The terrain is flat, so in summer there is drier and hotter weather, unlike mountainous Kyrenia.
Nearby is the ghost town of Varosha. After the war, it was closed and it was a buffer zone between Northern June and Cyprus. After 46 years, it was opened and now everyone is allowed to go there. I recommend to visit.
Real estate prices in Famagusta are lower compared to Kyrenia, but at the moment it is being actively built up and prices are starting to rise.
Iskele is a district adjacent to Famagusta. It is also famous for its beautiful beaches and a large number of tourist spots. Here is the ancient city of Salamis, built before our era and destroyed by earthquakes. Salamis is literally an open-air archaeological museum. Real estate in Iskele is cheaper than in Kyrenia, so it’s a great investment.
