This post was most recently updated on January 6th, 2023
Northern Cyprus is a de-facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. Only Turkey recognizes northern Cyprus as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, other than that, every other country in the world recognizes north Cyprus as part of the Republic of Cyprus.
You can click the links below to learn about different cities in Cyprus.
Hey everyone, welcome to Europetutor.com. Today in this article we are going to talk about Northern Cyprus in its entirety, so stick to the article till the end to have a better understanding.
I suggest you read the detailed guide about the Republic of Cyprus here.
Where is North Cyprus located?
North Cyprus is located in the Northern part of the island of Cyprus. Here is a map of Northern Cyprus.
Which country does Northern Cyprus belong to?
Are Cyprus and Northern Cyprus different countries?
Northern Cyprus belongs to the country of Cyprus. Only Turkey recognizes northern Cyprus as its own part. No country other than the Republic of Turkey has officially recognized Northern Cyprus as a sovereign state. The United Nations recognizes it as territory of the Republic of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.
What language is spoken in Northern Cyprus?
The official language of Northern Cyprus is Greek and Turkish. The majority of Greek Cypriots speak Greek and the majority of Turkish Cypriots speak Turkish. Other than that, Arabic, Tagalog, Russian, German, Hindi and Tagalog are also spoken in Northern Cyprus by foreigners.
Why did Turkey invade Northern Cyprus?
After the independence, the Greek Cypriots wanted to unionize Cyprus with Greece, and the Turkish Cypriots wanted to divide Cyprus into Turkish and Greek portions. Greek Cypriot nationalists staged an act in an attempt at Enosis, which led Turkey to invade Northern Cyprus.
You can click the links below to read in detail about these political movements:
Enosis (Movement to connect Cyprus with Greece)
Area and Population of Northern Cyprus
The total area of Cyprus is 3,355 sq km (1,295 sq mi), and it is 2.7% water. As per Wikipedia, the total population of Northern Cyprus as of 2017 was estimated to be around 326,000. The population density in Northern Cyprus is 93 people per sq Km.
How many districts are there in Northern Cyprus?
Northern Cyprus is divided into six districts, which are further divided into 12 sub-districts.
- Lefkoşa
- Lefke
- Iskele
- Güzelyurt
- Girne
- Gazimağusa
Is Northern Cyprus part of Schengen?
Northern Cyprus isn’t a part of Schengen. Due to the Political division between North Cyprus and South Cyprus, Northern Cyprus also is not a part of the European Union. However, if you have a valid Schengen visa, you can stay in North Cyprus for up to 90 days. Southern Cyprus isn’t also a part of Schengen.
Is North Cyprus a dictatorship?
No, North Cyprus isn’t a dictatorship. The president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government.
Does Russia recognize Northern Cyprus?
No, Russia doesn’t recognize Northern Cyprus as a different part. Only Turkey recognizes Northern Cyprus as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Who lives in Northern Cyprus?
The majority of people who live in Northern Cyprus are Turkish Cypriots. The rest includes a large number of immigrants from Turkey. Greek Cypriots and UK ex-pats are also residing in northern Cyprus.
What currency is used in Northern Cyprus?
The official currency of Northern Cyprus is the Turkish Lira. However, Euro is also widely used in Northern Cyprus. If you have a pound or dollar, you can easily get them exchanged in the local banks or money exchangers.
How much is the minimum wage in Northern Cyprus per hour?
The minimum wage in Northern Cyprus is around 54.64 Turkish Lira per hour which is equivalent to 3 Euro.
What religion is Northern Cyprus?
The majority of people almost 98% in Northern Cyprus follow Islam, with Orthodox Christianity comprising 1%, and the remainder of the population comprising other Christian groups and religions. Today, most of the estimated 264,172 Muslims are based in the north of the island.
Can Greek Cypriots go to Northern Cyprus?
Yes, Greek Cypriots can travel to Northern Cyprus without much of a hassle. They have to show their national id card or their passport at the border while traveling. Turkish Cypriots can also travel to Southern Cyprus.
Is Northern Cyprus poor?
Compared to Southern Cyprus, yes Northern Cyprus is poor. Poverty in North Cyprus is higher than in South Cyprus. Jobs are less, tourists usually don’t visit Northern Cyprus, the currency isn’t as strong as Euro, they don’t have many imports and the living standard is not as good as the Southern Part.
Is Northern Cyprus cheap?
Northern Cyprus is cheaper compared to Southern Cyprus. Northern Cyprus uses Turkish Lira and Southern Cyprus uses Euro. At today’s rate (19- August- 2022), 1 Euro is equals to 18.27 Turkish Lira.
How safe is Northern Cyprus?
Despite the political tensions between North Cyprus and South Cyprus, Northern Cyprus is very safe. You won’t face any problems while visiting Northern Cyprus. However, you are suggested to take care of your passport and money as a pickpocketer might try to steal from you.
What is the average income in Northern Cyprus?
The average salary in Northern Cyprus depends upon the kind of job you are doing. If you are working as a waiter in a nice restaurant, you will be earning somewhere between 9,000 to 12,000 Turkish Lira per month. If you are working in an office, you can earn somewhere between 14,000 TR to 253,000 TR.
You can click here to read in detail about the average salary in Northern Cyprus.
How much does it cost to live in Northern Cyprus?
Northern Cyprus uses the Turkish Lira as its official currency. You need around 11,000 Turkish Lira to live a comfortable life in Northern Cyprus. The average price per meter square for an apartment in the center of the city is 6321 TL, if it’s outside of the city center it is 5096 TL. 1 kg of rice is 7.57 TL and 1 kg of chicken is 29.49 TL.
1 liter of gasoline would cost you around 5.72 Turkish liras. If you want to take a cab, the basic tariff would be 4 Turkish liras and for each kilometer, you add around 3.55 Turkish liras. Three-course Meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant cost around 120 Turkish Lira.
You can click here to read in detail about the cost of living in Northern Cyprus.
Can you use Euros in Northern Cyprus?
Yes, you can use Euros in Northern Cyprus. The majority of the shops accept Euros and some of them even accept Pound Sterling. If you pay in Euro, you may have to pay extra. So, just to be on the safe side, convert your Euros or Pounds at the airport or local bank. If you couldn’t convert, that’s fine, because Northern Cyprus Cypriots accept Euro without any hesitation.
Is North Cyprus worth visiting?
Absolutely. You wouldn’t regret visiting North Cyprus. North Cyprus gets fewer visitors than south Cyprus but North Cyprus also has some great places to visit. Some places worth visiting in Northern Cyprus are Lefkosia, Bellapais Monastery, Girne, Famagusta, Kantara Castle, Buffovento Castle, Salamis Ruins, and so on.
Does Northern Cyprus stamp in Passport?
If you are traveling from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus, your passport won’t be stamped. However, they will check the passport and put your data in their database. At TRNC sea/airports, foreign passports are issued with an entry stamp valid for 90 days, while foreign ID card holders fill out a form, which is then stamped.
Can you drink tap water in Northern Cyprus?
Tap water in Northern Cyprus isn’t recommended to drink directly. One should always boil and filter the tap water of Cyprus before drinking. The water may be safe to drink when it leaves the source, but it might collect pollutants (dirt, dust, and other stuff) on its way to your tap. Most people in Northern Cyprus drink bottled water.
What airport do you fly to for Northern Cyprus?
You fly to Ercan International Airport if you wish to land in Northern Cyprus. Ercan International Airport (ECN) is the only airport in Northern Cyprus. It’s sometimes referred to as Lefkosa (Nicosia) Airport.
You can click here to read in detail about Airports in Cyprus.
Can you fly direct from the UK to Northern Cyprus?
Yes, you can fly direct from the UK to Northern Cyprus, but many people don’t prefer that. They first fly to Southern Cyprus at Larnaca Airport, and then they go to Northern Cyprus by car or bus.
Do you need a visa for Northern Cyprus from the UK?
You don’t need a visa to travel to Northern Cyprus from the United Kingdom. You can travel to Cyprus for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
Can you drive from Greek Cyprus to Turkish Cyprus?
Yes, you can drive from South Cyprus to North Cyprus. All border crossings are open 24 hours a day. As long as you have insurance for your vehicle and you have valid id proof, you can cross at any time. Cyprus currently has eight crossings between south and North Cyprus.
Can I enter South Cyprus and exit from North Cyprus?
As long as you have a valid Schengen visa, you can easily enter South Cyprus and exit from North Cyprus. However, if you enter North Cyprus and want to exit from South Cyprus, you might get into trouble as the Republic of Cyprus considers entering Ercan Airport in North Cyprus to be an illegal entry.
Can I travel from Turkey to North Cyprus?
Yes, you can easily travel from Turkey to North Cyprus. There are flights from major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir to Ercan International Airport in Nicosia. You can reach Nicosia from Istanbul in 2 hours 30 minutes, from Izmir in 2 hours 25 minutes, and from Ankara in 2 hours 10 minutes. Turkish citizens can travel to North Cyprus. In order to travel to South Cyprus, they would need a visa.
Is there a ferry from Northern Cyprus to Turkey?
There are 3 ferry routes operating between Northern Cyprus and Turkey offering you a combined total of 8 sailings per week. Akgunler Denizcilik operates 3 routes, Kyrenia to Tasucu runs 3 times per day, Kyrenia to Mersin runs 2 times per day, & Famagusta (Magusa) to Mersin runs 3 times daily.
You can click here to read about Ferries to Cyprus from different countries.
Why is Famagusta a ghost town?
Its Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 when the city of Famagusta came under Turkish control, it has remained abandoned ever since.
Is Engomi in North Cyprus?
No, Engomi is in the Southern part of Cyprus. Engomi is located in Nicosia. Engomi has a large diplomatic presence. The embassies of Egypt, France, the United States, and Russia are located in the neighborhood. It is a mainly residential neighborhood with many large villas.
Is Larnaca in the north of Cyprus?
No, Larnaca is located in the Southern part of Cyprus. Larnaca is a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. Larnaca International Airport is also located in Larnaca.
Is Ayia Napa in Turkish Cyprus?
No, Ayia Napa is located in the Southern part of Cyprus. It is a tourist resort at the far eastern end of the southern coast of Cyprus. The word Ayia means “holy” in Greek. Napa is archaic and means “wooded valley” or “dell”. In ancient times the area surrounding the town was covered with thick forest.
What side of the road do they drive in Northern Cyprus?
They drive on the left-hand side of the road in Northern Cyprus. It is the same as Southern Cyprus and the United Kingdom. The road signs are the same too. The problem you will have is with place names as the signs all have Turkish names on them. You will also need to be careful with your car insurance as most southern hire companies will not cover driving in the North.
How far is North Cyprus from Turkey?
North Cyprus is around 588.1 km far from the capital city of Turkey which is Ankara. It will take you around 1 hour and 10 minutes on a flight to reach Northern Cyprus from Turkey Ankara.
Is there a US embassy in Northern Cyprus?
Northern Cyprus doesn’t have a US embassy. US embassy is in Southern Cyprus. It is located at: 588V+G5P, Ploutarchou, Egkomi, Cyprus. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday. From Monday to Friday it is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Contact address is : +357 22 393939.
Does FedEx deliver to North Cyprus?
FedEx doesn’t provide its services to North Cyprus as of now. You can use its alternatives like DHL and TNT. DHL has an office in Lefkosia in Northern Cyprus. DHL is located at the trading estate, 21 Sok., No 6, Organize Sanayi Bolgesi and TNT is located in Süleyman Apartment No. 1, Mehmet Akif Caddesi.
DHL telephone address: +90 (0)392 225 6828
TNT telephone address: +90 (0)392 2288853
Does Trendyol ship to Northern Cyprus?
Trendyol doesn’t ship to Northern Cyprus. It doesn’t deliver to Southern Cyprus either. It delivers to Turkey though. You can use DHL to deliver your items from Trendyol to Northern Cyprus.
You may also like to read:
Foreign Brand companies in Cyprus
Bad things about Cyprus no one tells you about
