The beaches near this pleasant, uncrowded resort town, at the foot of the Kyrenia Mountains on the central north coast of Turkish Cyprus, usually have cleaner and warmer water than you'll find elsewhere on the island. The beautiful historic harbor has a whole slew of fishing boats and yachts, watched over by a huge stone castle and lined by some good seafood restaurants.
Plan two nights if you want beach time, one night if you're only sightseeing. In town, you'll find the massive castle that King Richard the Lionheart used during the Third Crusade, which has dungeons, two towers, amazing vistas of the harbor and entire northern coast from the top, and a museum with the oldest ship ever raised from the ocean floor—it's more than 2,300 years old. The ship exhibit even includes jars of almonds found among the wreckage.
Also in town are a small historic district just behind the harbor and a few noteworthy churches and mosques.
Nearby is the 13th-century Bellapais Abbey and the St. Hilarion Castle ruins in the town of Karaman. To the east and west of Kyrenia, the coast runs for many miles, offering rugged scenery and various beaches, all backed by the dramatic Kyrenia Mountain Range.
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