Squeezed between the rugged Kyrenia Mountains and a turquoise sea on Cyprus's north coast, Kyrenia (Girne) is the island's most romantic corner. Your driver collects you from your hotel; in the morning you climb to St Hilarion Castle near the clouds, then explore the Gothic abbey in the village of Bellapais among orange groves, and in the afternoon see the 2,300-year-old shipwreck in Kyrenia Castle before ending the day at the horseshoe-shaped old harbour.
The fairy-tale St Hilarion Castle on the peaks of the Kyrenia Mountains, Gothic Bellapais Abbey, Kyrenia Castle and its 2,300-year-old shipwreck, then lunch by the water in the old harbour: Kyrenia (Girne) by private car with driver, at your own pace. Suggested duration 8 hours; pickup from hotels in Kyrenia (Girne), Alsancak, Lapta and the rest of the region. Prices start at €320 per vehicle, paid to the driver on the day.
Last updated:
Kyrenia's three great sights are close together, but the roads are narrow and winding: St Hilarion is reached by a mountain road, and parking in Bellapais's lanes is hard. Cyprus also drives on the left. With a private car you don't have to think about any of this – you step out at each gate.
The programme covers St Hilarion Castle, Bellapais Abbey and village, Kyrenia Castle with its Shipwreck Museum, and the old harbour. With the eight-hour package, a beach or a stop in the mountain village of Karmi can be added on the way back.
Pickup from Kyrenia, Alsancak, Lapta, Çatalköy, Esentepe and Nicosia is with the six-hour package; from Famagusta, İskele and Bafra with the eight-hour package. The price is per vehicle, not per person.
Stops are shown in a typical order; your driver waits at every stop.
Built by the Byzantines in the 10th century on the site of a monastery named after the hermit Hilarion who lived here, the castle became a summer palace of the Lusignan kings. Steep stairs lead up through its lower, middle and upper wards; from the top you see the Kyrenia coast and, far away, the mountains of Anatolia. It is said to have inspired the castle in Disney's Snow White.
Founded by Augustinian canons from Jerusalem and enlarged under the Lusignan kings in the 13th and 14th centuries, the abbey is the finest example of Gothic architecture in Cyprus. The cloister, the long refectory overlooking the sea and the church still stand; in spring, classical concerts are held here.
The stone houses, bougainvillea-draped lanes and lemon groves around the abbey became famous when the British writer Lawrence Durrell lived here in the 1950s and wrote “Bitter Lemons”. The “Tree of Idleness” from the book still shades a café on the village square.
Guarding the harbour entrance, the castle was founded in Byzantine times and strengthened by the Lusignans and, in the 16th century, by the Venetians. You walk its thick walls and round towers and see the small 12th-century chapel of St George inside; the view of the harbour from the ramparts is Kyrenia's finest.
Displayed inside the castle, the Kyrenia Ship is a Greek merchant vessel about 14 metres long that sank off Kyrenia around 300 BC. Found in 1965 by a local diver, it is, with its amphorae and cargo of thousands of almonds, one of the oldest shipwrecks in the world.
The small horseshoe-shaped harbour, where stone warehouses once used to store carob are now restaurants and cafés, is the heart of Kyrenia. You can stroll among the boats, enjoy fish and meze by the water or join a short boat trip.
Times are an example; your driver adapts the day to traffic, season and your wishes.
Strung along the ridge of the Kyrenia Mountains, the castles of St Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara were part of a Byzantine chain of lookouts built against Arab raids between the 7th and 10th centuries. The castles could see one another and signal with fire, while the harbour of Kyrenia was guarded on the coast.
In 1191, during the Third Crusade, King Richard the Lionheart of England seized the island and soon handed it to Guy de Lusignan, the former king of Jerusalem. During some three centuries of Lusignan rule Gothic buildings such as Bellapais rose; the island passed to Venice in 1489 and to the Ottomans in 1570–1571.
Perhaps Kyrenia's oldest story is told by a ship: shortly after the death of Alexander the Great, around 300 BC, a small merchant vessel carrying almonds and wine sank off Kyrenia. Found in 1965 and raised piece by piece, the wreck is displayed today in the castle – a tribute also to the patience of those who brought it back to life.
Prices are per vehicle and include fuel, motorway and bridge tolls, parking and the driver. Guide, meals and hotel are added as options.
| Duration | FirstClass Van (1–6) | Vip Sprinter (1–16) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | €320 | €420 |
| 8 hours | €440 | €560 |
| 12 hours | €580 | €780 |
| 24 hours · 1 night | €720 | €820 |
| 36 hours · 1 night | €1060 | €1450 |
| 48 hours · 2 nights | €1560 | €1980 |
| Add-on | Price | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed guide | €200 | Per day, whatever the group size |
| Lunch | €15 | Per person, for each lunch in the package |
| Dinner | €15 | Per person, for each dinner in the package |
| Hotel accommodation | €60 | Per person per night (sharing a double room) |
Example – 2 persons, 8 hours, FirstClass Van: Private vehicle & driver + Lunch = €440 + €30 = €470
Can be added as options: Licensed guide, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel accommodation.
Distances are approximate road kilometres to the main sight (one way). We also pick up from hotels and addresses not listed – just enter yours in the form.
| Area | Distance | Suggested package | Airport transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrenia (Girne) | ≈ 1 km | 6 hours | Kyrenia (Girne) transfer |
| Alsancak | ≈ 10 km | 6 hours | Alsancak transfer |
| Lapta | ≈ 14 km | 6 hours | Lapta transfer |
| Catalkoy | ≈ 8 km | 6 hours | Catalkoy transfer |
| Esentepe | ≈ 25 km | 6 hours | Esentepe transfer |
| Nicosia (Lefkoşa) | ≈ 25 km | 6 hours | Nicosia (Lefkoşa) transfer |
| Famagusta (Gazimağusa) | ≈ 75 km | 8 hours | Famagusta (Gazimağusa) transfer |
| Iskele | ≈ 85 km | 8 hours | Iskele transfer |
| Bafra | ≈ 95 km | 8 hours | Bafra transfer |
Ideal for history and photography lovers, couples, families and anyone staying in Northern Cyprus who wants to see the island's finest views in one day. St Hilarion has steep stairs; walking in Bellapais and Kyrenia is easy.
A guide is optional. Without one, your driver takes you to each stop, waits and helps along the way, but does not give tours inside museums and sites. For in-depth explanations, tick the guide in the form.
No other passengers and no waiting for anyone – the car is yours all day.
The order and length of stops are flexible, with no compulsory shopping stops.
The price is fixed at booking and paid to the driver on the day.
Vixride is a TÜRSAB-licensed travel agency (licence 14798); vehicles and drivers are insured.
Travelled with us? Share your experience on Trustpilot.
Detailed explanations at historic sites and museums are the job of licensed guides; your driver does not guide inside the castles and museum. Whether a guide is required in this region, and the fee, are shown in the booking form – if required, the fee is added automatically.
The lower and middle wards involve a moderate climb; the Queen's Window at the top is reached by steep, narrow stairs in about half an hour. If you prefer, you can stay in the middle ward and enjoy the view.
Yes. We meet you at Ercan, keep your luggage in the car and drop you at your hotel at the end of the day. Depending on your flight time we recommend the six- or eight-hour package.
This tour stays within Northern Cyprus and involves no border crossing; we still recommend carrying an ID card or passport.
We have a separate Famagusta & Salamis tour; we suggest spreading the two over consecutive days with the same driver. If you want to fit both into one day, the 12-hour package covers the highlights of both towns.
The tour price is per vehicle: the package costs the same whether one or six people travel in the van. Only lunch, dinner and hotel accommodation are charged per person. The guide fee is per day and does not depend on the group size.
Nothing is charged online at booking; you pay the driver on the day of the tour in cash (EUR, USD, GBP, TRY) or by card. Free cancellation and date changes; please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.
