![\"Beach](\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7441-hq.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\nIch war 12 Tage in Nordzypern, mit Mietwagen, der modernste Reisedrohne im Rucksack und null Erwartungen. Was ich mitgenommen habe: einen der besten Trips meines Lebens und ein paar tausend Fotos, die besser sind als alles, was ich im Mainstream-Mittelmeer je geschossen habe.<\/p>\n
Getting to Northern Cyprus \u2014 How to get there<\/h2>\n
Here's where things get political: Northern Cyprus is only recognized as an independent state by Turkey. Therefore, there are no direct flights from the EU. You fly via Istanbul or Antalya to Ercan (ECN), Northern Cyprus's only airport. It sounds complicated, but in practice it isn't\u2014Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines fly several times a day, the layover in Istanbul takes 2-3 hours, and the total travel time from Germany is 6-8 hours.<\/p>
<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\nAlternative:<\/strong> You fly to Larnaca (Southern Cyprus, EU) and cross the border inland. At the official checkpoints, this is straightforward with your passport\u2014stamps are rare these days, and rental cars from the south have been allowed in the north for several years now (check with the rental company beforehand!). I flew via Ercan and rented a car there\u2014easier and cheaper.<\/p>\n Kyrenia is a place you'll instantly fall in love with. A horseshoe-shaped harbor, lined with Ottoman houses converted into restaurants and cafes, overlooked by a massive Crusader castle. In the evening, the lights reflect in the harbor basin, fishermen mend their nets, and you sit by the water with a raki and fresh fish, wondering why everyone doesn't vacation here.<\/p> Kyrenia Castle is worth a visit in itself\u2014it dates back to the 7th century and was expanded by Byzantines, Crusaders, Venetians, and Ottomans. Inside, there's a shipwreck museum with a 2,300-year-old Greek merchant ship that was salvaged off the coast in the 1960s. From the castle battlements, I filmed the entire harbor with my DJI Mini 5 Pro\u2014the video has received over 400,000 views on Instagram. The colors at sunset are surreal: gold, orange, turquoise.<\/p>\n Set aside an evening for the port, but spend the days in the mountains above. Bellapais Abbey (a 13th-century Gothic ruin overlooking the coast) is a 15-minute drive away and one of the most photogenic places I know in the entire Mediterranean. Standing up there alone at 7 a.m., when the light filters through the Gothic arches\u2014unforgettable.<\/p>\n Famagusta touched me the most. The old city within the Venetian walls is a living museum\u2014mosques that were once churches, Ottoman bathhouses, narrow alleyways with cats perched on every wall. The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque was once St. Nicholas' Cathedral\u2014a Gothic church with an attached minaret. Architecturally absurd, historically fascinating.<\/p>\n And then: Varosha. The restricted district, deserted since 1974. Once a thriving tourist area with high-rises and beachfront hotels, now a ghost town behind barbed wire. In 2020, parts were reopened, and you can walk along the beach promenade and peer through the fences at decaying hotel ruins. It's unsettling, surreal, and incredibly powerful as a photo opportunity. Nature is reclaiming everything\u2014trees grow through hotel balconies, shrubs push their way through the asphalt.<\/p>\n The Karpaz Peninsula is the northeasternmost finger of Northern Cyprus and the wildest, most untouched part of the entire island. There are more donkeys than people here. Seriously\u2014the wild donkeys of the Karpaz are an attraction in themselves. They simply stand by the roadside, completely unfazed by cars and tourists.<\/p>\n Golden Beach (Alt\u0131nkum) at the tip of the peninsula is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. Fine golden sand, crystal-clear water, no sunbeds, no parasols, no beach bar. Just sand, sea, and silence. In summer, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest here\u2014the nesting areas are marked and protected.<\/p>\n Golden Beach looks even more impressive from the drone \u2013 the turquoise of the water, the gold of the sand, the green vegetation behind it. No Photoshop, no boosted saturation \u2013 the colors are truly like that. I've taken beach photos in the Caribbean, in Southeast Asia, in the Pacific \u2013 Golden Beach holds its own against them all.<\/p>\n High atop the Kyrenia Mountains, at an altitude of 732 meters, stands St. Hilarion Castle. Legend has it that Walt Disney used this castle as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle. Whether that's true or not\u2014when you stand up there and gaze at the towers rising from the rock, with the north coast 700 meters below, you'll instantly believe the story.<\/p>\n The castle has three levels: the barracks on the ground floor, the church and living quarters in the middle, and the royal tower at the top, offering the best views. The climb to the top tower is steep, and some of the steps are dilapidated, but the view is well worth the effort. From the top, I took some of my best drone shots\u2014the castle perched on the rocky promontory, the sea in the background, and the Kyrenia Mountains to the left and right.<\/p>\n The cuisine is a blend of Turkish and Cypriot with British influences (the British were the colonial power until 1960). Meze is ubiquitous\u201415 to 20 small plates arriving at the table one after another: hummus, halloumi (called hellim here and invented here), b\u00f6rek, grilled meats, salads, and pickled vegetables. A meze meal costs \u20ac8\u201312 per person and is enough to fill you up for the whole day.<\/p>\n My top recommendations:<\/p>\n Northern Cyprus, as of my visit, has no strict drone regulations. No registration is required, and no special permits are needed for hobby pilots. However, do not fly over military areas (there are several, especially along the Green Line), not at border crossings, and generally respect privacy. I was able to fly everywhere without any problems\u2014on the beach, over the coast, and near the castles. But this can change, so always check the current regulations beforehand.<\/p>\n For comparison: For the same money, you might get 5 days in a mediocre hotel in Mallorca. In Northern Cyprus, you live like royalty for 12 days. An espresso costs 1 Turkish Lira (approx. \u20ac0.50), a complete meze meal under \u20ac10, and a boutique hotel with a pool \u20ac35-50 per night. The Turkish Lira is a huge advantage for European travelers.<\/p>\n April to June and September to November are ideal. In the height of summer (July\/August) it gets 35-40\u00b0C \u2013 manageable, but not optimal for active travel. In winter (December-February) it's mild (15-20\u00b0C), but some accommodations outside the cities are closed. I was there in May and had perfect temperatures of 25-28\u00b0C; I could swim, hike, and be outside all day.<\/p>\n Yes \u2014 I never felt unsafe. The crime rate is extremely low, and the people are friendly and helpful. The political situation (divided island) doesn't affect tourists in their daily lives. You only notice the division at border crossings and occasionally at military exclusion zones.<\/p>\n No \u2014 with a German passport you can stay visa-free for up to 90 days. Entry via Ercan is straightforward. If you're coming from the south, you don't need anything except your passport. No stamp in your passport, no form, no fee.<\/p>\n Yes, in principle, but you'll need additional insurance for Northern Cyprus (your regular insurance from the south isn't valid there). There are insurance offices at the border crossings that offer this for around \u20ac20 per day. Easier: Rent a car directly in Northern Cyprus \u2013 cheaper and less stressful.<\/p>\n Yes \u2014 but your German mobile phone will connect to Turkish networks (Turkcell, Vodafone TR). Since the end of EU roaming charges, whether Turkey is covered depends on your tariff. Tip: Buy a local SIM card (Telsim or Turkcell) at Ercan Airport \u2014 it costs about \u20ac10 for 10 GB. Wi-Fi is available in all hotels and most cafes.<\/p>\n Yes \u2014 the border crossings are open for tourists. All you need to travel from north to south is your passport. You can have breakfast in Kyrenia in the morning, cross the Ledra Street border on foot in Nicosia (the divided capital) at midday, and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach in Larnaca. The combination of both parts makes the trip particularly exciting.<\/p>\n More travel reports: All my travel reports<\/a><\/p>\nKyrenia (Girne) \u2014 The Pearl of the North Coast<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\nMy tip for Kyrenia<\/h3>\n
Famagusta (Gazima\u011fusa) \u2014 Ghost town and history<\/h2>\n
Karpaz Peninsula \u2014 The wild end of the island<\/h2>\n
St. Hilarion \u2014 The castle that inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty<\/h2>\n
Food in Northern Cyprus \u2014 Turkish Cypriot cuisine<\/h2>\n
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Drone rules in Northern Cyprus<\/h2>\n
Cost \u2014 The budget paradise in the Mediterranean<\/h2>\n
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\n Position<\/th>\n Costs (12 days)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Flight (via Istanbul, return)<\/td>\n \u20ac150\u2013250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rental car (12 days, including insurance)<\/td>\n \u20ac180\u2013280<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Accommodation (boutique hotels & guesthouses)<\/td>\n \u20ac300\u2013500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Food & Drink<\/td>\n \u20ac150\u2013250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Entrance fees & activities<\/td>\n 30\u201360 \u20ac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total per person<\/td>\n \u20ac810\u20131,340<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n Best time to travel to Northern Cyprus<\/h2>\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n
Is Northern Cyprus safe?<\/h3>\n
Do I need a visa for Northern Cyprus?<\/h3>\n
Will my rental car from the south be accepted in the north?<\/h3>\n
Is there internet and mobile phone reception?<\/h3>\n
Can I take day trips from Northern Cyprus to the south?<\/h3>\n