Northern Cyprus benefits from some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean region. From small coves to miles of pale sand. The choice is yours....

Northern Cyprus Beaches

If you want some of the world’s best beaches, then you have definitely picked the right destination! Starting from the east of the island, in the Karpaz peninsula you will come across many small coves and bays as you travel up the coast and right at the very tip of the island you will find one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island. From the tip of the peninsula, going towards Kyrenia, you will see a sign for Alagadi or Turtle Beach. This is a massive bay, separated in two by a sand dune. Although this is an excellent choice for swimming, the beach is a protected area as rare marine turtles lay their eggs here in the nesting season. You cannot dig in the sand or light barbeques on the beach. There is a turtle protection society based here and they close the beach between 8pm and 8am to protect the nests for most of the year. If you would like to learn more about the turtle nesting and hatching, you can speak to the protection society staff and if there is a hatching while you are there, you will be able to come to the beach at night and watch the baby turtles make their way to the sea. Truly a wonderful experience.

Carrying on towards Kyrenia you will reach a sign for Lara Beach. Again this is a great beach for swimming and is popular with expats. The beach has basic facilities and a café. Just past Lara Beach you will come to Acapulco Resort Hotel. This is a large resort with a beautiful sandy beach. For non-residents there is a small charge. This is a popular beach for families with children and there are plenty of facilities, with bars and restaurants. A little nearer to Kyrenia is Catalkoy Beach. There are watersports available here and this is a popular choice at the weekends.

Travelling west from Kyrenia, you will discover many small coves and bays. The first main beach is named ‘Escape Beach’. Located by the Peace and Freedom monument, this is a popular spot. There is a small charge to enter, but the beach is large and there is a bar and café. During the week, this is an excellent place to relax, though it can be quite busy at weekends. Nearby, will also see a sign saying ‘5 Mile’. This is another popular choice for families with its sandy beach, sun loungers, changing facilities, showers, restaurant and bar. Here too there is a small charge for entry, but again it is an excellent spot on quieter days. A little further along the East coast you will come to Deniz Kizi hotels. Here there is a private beach, but it is accessible to non-residents at a small charge. There are good facilities, with a choice of bars and snacks available, plus changing rooms and showers.

Further east again will bring you to Camelot Beach. This is a sandy beach in a small bay. Recently considerable work has been carried out here. There is a bar and restaurant, making it an ideal place to sit and relax. If you carry on going east until the road bends round to the left heading for Guzelyurt, there is a turning on the right for Kayalar. Take this road. It is slightly rough, but it is worth going down to see the view over the Mediterranean. If you carry on as far as you can go, you will find some beautiful deserted beaches. This is the ideal place to see the sun setting over the sea.

Most of these beaches are along the north coast. However, there are many magnificent areas north of Famagusta, travelling along the east coast and into the Karpaz region. Bafra Beach is sandy and has sun loungers and a restaurant. Glapsides Beach is popular with families with children, as the sea is shallow until you get quite far out. This beach is also popular with students. The beach has sun loungers, sun-shades, showers, a restaurant, a bar and a mini-market. Within the Salamis area, you will also find stunningly long, sandy beaches at both Salamis Bay Conti Hotel and Long Beach Hotel. The ancient Roman ruins of the city of Salamis are right on the seafront and have plenty of sandy areas. Here, though, caution is advised as currents can be relatively strong and the area is only truly suitable for experienced swimmers.

Overall, if a beach holiday is what you are looking for above all, the hotels around Famagusta may be the prime choice. There are, however, magnificent beaches throughout Northern Cyprus, and this is one of the few remaining places in the world where you can sit on half a mile of pale sand and have only a few seagulls for company!
If you want some of the world’s best beaches, then you have definitely picked the right destination! Starting from the east of the island, in the Karpaz peninsula you will come across many small coves and bays as you travel up the coast and right at the very tip of the island you will find one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island. From the tip of the peninsula, going towards Kyrenia, you will see a sign for Alagadi or Turtle Beach. This is a massive bay, separated in two by a sand dune. Although this is an excellent choice for swimming, the beach is a protected area as rare marine turtles lay their eggs here in the nesting season. You cannot dig in the sand or light barbeques on the beach. There is a turtle protection society based here and they close the beach between 8pm and 8am to protect the nests for most of the year. If you would like to learn more about the turtle nesting and hatching, you can speak to the protection society staff and if there is a hatching while you are there, you will be able to come to the beach at night and watch the baby turtles make their way to the sea. Truly a wonderful experience.

Carrying on towards Kyrenia you will reach a sign for Lara Beach. Again this is a great beach for swimming and is popular with expats. The beach has basic facilities and a café. Just past Lara Beach you will come to Acapulco Resort Hotel. This is a large resort with a beautiful sandy beach. For non-residents there is a small charge. This is a popular beach for families with children and there are plenty of facilities, with bars and restaurants. A little nearer to Kyrenia is Catalkoy Beach. There are watersports available here and this is a popular choice at the weekends.

Travelling west from Kyrenia, you will discover many small coves and bays. The first main beach is named ‘Escape Beach’. Located by the Peace and Freedom monument, this is a popular spot. There is a small charge to enter, but the beach is large and there is a bar and café. During the week, this is an excellent place to relax, though it can be quite busy at weekends. Nearby, will also see a sign saying ‘5 Mile’. This is another popular choice for families with its sandy beach, sun loungers, changing facilities, showers, restaurant and bar. Here too there is a small charge for entry, but again it is an excellent spot on quieter days. A little further along the East coast you will come to Deniz Kizi hotels. Here there is a private beach, but it is accessible to non-residents at a small charge. There are good facilities, with a choice of bars and snacks available, plus changing rooms and showers.

Further east again will bring you to Camelot Beach. This is a sandy beach in a small bay. Recently considerable work has been carried out here. There is a bar and restaurant, making it an ideal place to sit and relax. If you carry on going east until the road bends round to the left heading for Guzelyurt, there is a turning on the right for Kayalar. Take this road. It is slightly rough, but it is worth going down to see the view over the Mediterranean. If you carry on as far as you can go, you will find some beautiful deserted beaches. This is the ideal place to see the sun setting over the sea.

Most of these beaches are along the north coast. However, there are many magnificent areas north of Famagusta, travelling along the east coast and into the Karpaz region. Bafra Beach is sandy and has sun loungers and a restaurant. Glapsides Beach is popular with families with children, as the sea is shallow until you get quite far out. This beach is also popular with students. The beach has sun loungers, sun-shades, showers, a restaurant, a bar and a mini-market. Within the Salamis area, you will also find stunningly long, sandy beaches at both Salamis Bay Conti Hotel and Long Beach Hotel. The ancient Roman ruins of the city of Salamis are right on the seafront and have plenty of sandy areas. Here, though, caution is advised as currents can be relatively strong and the area is only truly suitable for experienced swimmers.

Overall, if a beach holiday is what you are looking for above all, the hotels around Famagusta may be the prime choice. There are, however, magnificent beaches throughout Northern Cyprus, and this is one of the few remaining places in the world where you can sit on half a mile of pale sand and have only a few seagulls for company!

Book your North Cyprus holidays with HotelTarifCheck, and visit the best beaches on the island!