Kyrenia (Girne): historic harbour, mountain backdrop, year-round town life

Living in Kyrenia

The old harbour and the castle sit at the heart of the town. Beyond the postcard view, the things that make daily life work are all here: hospitals, schools, shopping centres and a centre you can get around on foot. Enough restaurants stay open through the winter that Kyrenia is not just a summer resort.

The Beşparmak range runs parallel to the coast and forms the town's backdrop. The mountain side is used for hiking, birdwatching and mountain biking, and medieval castles such as St. Hilarion and Buffavento stand in these mountains. Beaches near Kyrenia include Escape Beach and Camelot Beach; Escape Beach is on the Alsancak shore.

Getting there and around

Flights from Europe reach Ercan Airport (ECN) with a connection in Türkiye (Istanbul, for example). By sea, there are ferry connections from Taşucu and Mersin. Your advisor will share the route and an approximate time from the airport.

Approximate driving times from central Kyrenia, excluding traffic (OpenStreetMap route calculation):

• Girne American University: 9 minutes (5.1 km)

• Escape Beach, Alsancak: 17 minutes (12.3 km)

• Lapta: 21 minutes (16.0 km)

Property types

Kyrenia and the area around it offer sea-view apartments, villas and new developments side by side. Prices vary with the project, the location and the title deed type. Current projects and their starting prices appear in the project list on this page. The title deed type is shown on every listing where it is known; where it is not, we confirm it in writing at your first meeting.

Before you settle on an area, compare a unit in Kyrenia with similar ones in Esentepe or İskele on the project pages, and think about how much of the year you will actually spend here.

Areas within Kyrenia

The Kyrenia area stretches along the coast through settlements of quite different character.

• Alsancak and Lapta: west of the centre; Alsancak is on the coast road and has its own page.

• Karaoğlanoğlu: between the centre and Alsancak; Girne American University is in this stretch.

• Çatalköy and Esentepe: east of the centre; Esentepe has its own page.

• Bellapais, Ozanköy and Edremit: other settlements within the Kyrenia district.

Who Kyrenia suits

• Buyers who want a real town rather than a resort, and want it all year round.

• Families who need schools and a hospital within a short drive.

• Owners who may let the home at times and want an address that is not only alive in summer.

• Those who want the sea and mountain walks in the same place.