Best Beaches
Diana Beach
If you head eastwards away from Kyrenia, you will pass Karakum and on the main road, you will spot a red and white Coca-Cola sign on the left indicating the beach. After passing some villas on your way you will come across this small Beach. The shore is sandy thanks to human intervention but the sea bottom is natural and rocky. You can rent the beds and umbrellas for a small fee and have a lunch there at the local restaurant. Some water sports are also available.
Acapulco Beach
Acapulco Beach is part of the Acapulco Hotel Resort and lies about 6 miles to the east of Kyrenia. At the point where the coast road to the east sweeps up towards the mountains, a large sign advertising The Acapulco will be seen. Here the road branches off to the left and leads to the entrance of this holiday complex. This is a popular tourist beach and there is an entrance fee of approximately 20tl, but this includes the use of all facilities including the water park and huge swimming pool, as well as a lovely well maintained the sandy beach.
Lara Beach
Lara Beach may be found a couple of miles beyond Acapulco beach – a sign indicates where to turn off from the new by-pass road along a dirt track to the beach entrance. Toilets, showers, and beach chairs are available, and there is also a very nice open air restaurant. There is normally a small charge of 5tl for the sunbed.
Alagadi Turtle Beach
Alagadi Turtle Beach lies still further east past Acapulco and Lara beach, about 10 miles from Kyrenia, and you do not need to pay an entrance fee here. A tarmac road will then lead you past a farm and through the dunes to a large, sweeping double bay. Alagadi is a golden sandy beach and the water is shallow up to a good distance. You will find a small island there, but approach with care as the sea surface in its surroundings is a bit rocky and rough. It is common that visitors coming to this beach take their own sun shade or refreshment, although there is a very good restaurant on site which has been newly renovated and serves good quality low-cost food and drink. Avoid leaving litter, which should be common practice on any beach, for it is on this beach where the green and loggerhead turtles come and lay their eggs in the summer. During the egg-laying season, the beach area for sitting on is marked out with red flags or stakes. You can also attend overnight organised visits of the beach to watch the Turtles lay their eggs, and then also watch the siblings hatch later in the season.
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is located about eight miles to the west of Kyrenia, on the borders of Alsancak and Lapta, beyond Karaoglanoglu. It is well signed from the main road and you can also enjoy other activities here including water sports and paintballing. Toilets and showers are available, and there is a bar and restaurant. In the summer months, they organise some excellent evening entertainment including 60’s nights and tribute acts. Sometimes a small fee of 10tl may be charged.
Deniz Kizi
Deniz Kizi is situated about seven miles west of Kyrenia. This sheltered bay is kept clean by the Deniz Kizi Hotel staff and offers a variety of water sports including windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing, and inflatable fun rafts for smaller children. Sunbeds are available for hire as well as having toilet and shower facilities. The hotel has good facilities for food and drink. Normal charge is approximately 10tl.
Guzelyali Beach
Go westwards from Kyrenia and you will find Guzelyali Beach which is situated approximately 10 miles from Kyrenia, in Karsiyaka, opposite the Guzelyali Hotel complex. You can relax under an umbrella on a sunbed for just 5TL and enjoy the sandy beach which turns into shingles when you enter the sea. Be aware of the rocks inside the sea since you can skid easily. A couple of small restaurants and a bar are available, serving good food and drink, with free toilets.
Kervansary Beach
Kervansary Beach, Karaoglanoglu, 3 miles west of Kyrenia, is one of the most famous beaches in Kyrenia with many facilities, restaurants, bars and a beautiful sandy beach. This is very popular with locals and tourists alike and is also popular with people who like to enjoy the sundowner in the Kervan Pizza Garden, one of the restaurants above, at the end of their day on the beach. One of the best sunsets you will see in the world. This is a Government run, very clean beach, with the price of a bed and umbrella just 5TL.
Camelot Beach
To reach Camelot Beach head westwards off Kyrenia until you reach Alsancak. On your right-hand side after about 8 miles drive you will spot a big white sign of Camelot Beach Club. Although there is an entrance fee (usually around 10tl) on Camelot Beach, which is family friendly, you are provided with water sports like scuba diving, banana ride, jet skiing or water skiing. This sandy beach is well maintained, with sun shades and beds, restaurant and bar, and for the young (or young at heart) you can enjoy live music in the club until the early hours.
Escape Beach
Follow the direction towards Alsancak, westwards off Kyrenia. Approximately 5 miles drive will take you to the white War Memorial on your right-hand side. You will find Escape beach nestled on the coastline beneath, being well-signed from the main road. The place is commonly known as Yavuz Cikarma Plaji, the spot where the Turkish Troops landed during the Peace Operation in 1974. Now the area is landscaped with grass, flowers and fauna. To get inside Escape beach you will have to pay 10 TL. Among the water sports that can be practised here are jet skiing, banana ride, canoes, pedal boats or scuba diving. This sandy beach is equipped with volleyball area, restaurant and bar, and is indeed a busy summer holiday beach. Especially popular with young people who enjoy the open air night parties with club music by European DJs held every summer.
Karpaz
The Karpaz region to the North East of the island, known as the panhandle, boasts some of the best, untouched beaches in the whole of the Med. This is a place that has been protected by the Government from the development of North Cyprus Property. Here you will find miles of sand dunes rolling into the clear blue seas, as well as unique wildlife and wild donkey’s. There are various places to stop for the night, from small hotels to seafront beach huts, all offering something completely different. Be at one with Nature in the Karpaz!