The Old Harbour

Kyrenia's horseshoe-shaped Old Harbour offers a unique and relaxing atmosphere for holidaymakers to dine and drink in the restaurants and bars surrounding it. The town has a long history that dates back to the first millennium BC, when it was one of the early city kingdoms of the island. Its strategic location on the northern coastline made it a perfect center for trading with other countries, especially with Turkey to the north and the southern coast of Anatolia. The harbour has been an anchorage for cargo vessels for thousands of years.

In its prime, before the British took over the island in 1878, local caïques transported wheat, olives, carobs, donkeys, and goats, among other things, from Kyrenia Harbour. Meanwhile, they brought in wood, earthenware, legumes, dairies, and small luxury items such as silk and cotton cloth, buttons, and furniture. Larger boats arrived in the late fall and early winter to take in the crop of carobs, the island's main export item.

The harbour is now full of yachts and fishing boats and overlooked by the massive Crusader castle. The restaurants and cafés that line the graceful arc of the harbourside offer a lively yet relaxed atmosphere to unwind while enjoying the serene views of the jagged mountains behind and the sparkling sea in front. The former carob warehouses and Venetian dwellings have been converted into shops and restaurants without compromising the buildings' architectural integrity.

At night, the harbour turns into a magical place with twinkling lights on the water, and holidaymakers can enjoy a leisurely mezze feast, accompanied by a Rakı or traditional Brandy Sour. The restaurants specialize in Turkish Cypriot cuisine, with a focus on fresh locally caught fish and seafood. Boats offering coastal cruises and unique places of accommodation.