About
Kyrenia is a harbour town on the northern coast of Cyprus, an island that sits between Asia and Europe. Its old port curves around in a horseshoe shape, and the waterfront is lined with restaurants and cafés, making it an easy place to spend a relaxed afternoon or evening by the water.
The harbour and the castle
Dominating the harbour is Kyrenia Castle, a medieval fortress. Visitors come for its views over the Mediterranean as much as for the building itself. The castle also houses shipwreck exhibits, which give the visit a maritime focus that suits the setting of the port below.
Around the old quarter
Behind the waterfront, cobbled streets wind through the old quarter. They are well suited to wandering without a fixed plan, and the town's mix of older building styles gives it a distinctive character. The description of Kyrenia's old quarter points to a blend of Byzantine heritage with what surrounds it, so the streets reward slow exploration.
What kind of visit it makes
- A walk along the horseshoe harbour, with a stop at one of its cafés
- A visit to Kyrenia Castle and its shipwreck exhibits
- An unhurried stroll through the cobbled streets of the old quarter
Kyrenia suits travellers who want a compact seaside town with history close at hand. Its appeal lies in the combination of harbour, fortress and old streets within easy reach of one another.