Hostels in Kyrenia, Cyprus

Kyrenia is located in the central northern tip of the Turkish-speaking part of Cyprus. It is located on the coast, and thanks to the closeness of a variety of beautiful beaches, the dramatic scenery provided by the Pentadaktylos Mountains that tower above the city and the romantic charm of the historic harbour and castle, Kyrenia is undoubtedly the number one most popular tourist destination of Northern Cyprus.

While in Kyrenia, one of the best things to do is take a leisurely stroll around the city, getting lost in its historic alleys and soaking in the air of Mediterranean history. A stay in the city cannot be complete without a visit to the vivid and colourful port where dozens of luxury yachts share their resting place with local fishing boats and from where you have a best panorama of the city.

From here, the impressive Kyrenia Castle is only a ten-minute walk away. The castle that looks back on a long history starting in seventh century and that has survived conquests from Richard the Lionheart, the Lusignans, the Venetian, the Ottomans, and the British is in remarkably good condition, and walking along its historic walls is like stepping back in time. Nowadays the castle hosts the Shipwreck Museum, commemorating the tragic end of a wooden merchant ship that sank in the fourth century BC, but remained relatively intact.

Those more into active holidays won't be disappointed either. The wide range of boat tours starting from the port offer memorable experiences from scuba-diving trips to turtle-watching trips. Paragliding and guided hiking are available for the more adventurous ones, as well. However, life in Kyrenia does not stop when the sun goes down! The many nightclubs and open-air concerts that are organised -- especially during the summer months -- will keep everybody entertained.

Although only a few local airlines fly to the northern part of the island, a convenient alternative to get to your Kyrenia hostel is flying to Larnaca Airport and taking one of the local buses to the city. Departing from Turkey, there is also a frequent ferry service that will take passengers as well as vehicles across the sea.