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North Cyprus Guide
November 10, 2008 by Elizabeth Barker
Why North Cyprus? North Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, boasting a rich history and unparalleled beauty. If you are seeking a permanent residence or a stylish holiday home, then North Cyprus is for you. The island is centrally located and reachable in less than a 5-hour flight from most major cities. The island is a virtual paradise to its residents and visitors alike.
The Island enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year and is a virtual playground for outdoor enthusiasts. From the majestic beaches, to the serene views of the mountains, owning a house on North Cyprus is clearly a dream come true. Buying property in Northern Cyprus is a relatively straightforward process and there’s the additional incentive of being allowed to live on the island for a large part of the year without being taxed, which makes North Cyprus ideal for second homeowners.
Location North Cyprus is located at the crossroads of three continents and 40 miles from Turkey. The surrounding continents and divers cultures have added to North Cyprus’ culture and history.
Climate North Cyprus is a Mediterranean paradise. North Cyprus is located in a region dominated by the typical Mediterranean climate. Summers are dry and hot, and last from mid- May through mid-October. Winters are short and mild. 60% of the annual precipitation falls from December through February. The average Mediterranean Sea water temperature in North Cyprus is 21°C. Variations in temperature and rainfall depend on altitude and distance from the Mediterranean Sea.
Technology Despite its rustic old world feel, North Cyprus has high speed Internet, and the same modern technologies, as you would expect from a large metro area. Mc Donald’s is the only thing you cannot currently get in North Cyprus.
Hotel and Resorts North Cyprus boasts an array of beach style resorts and beach cabana rentals. The resorts range from 4 stars to economy accommodations. North Cyprus hotels offer every imaginable amenity and cater to the needs of the tourists.
Places to See The Island of North Cyprus has historical harbors, dating back to the time of the Byzantines, an array of stunning landscapes, and villages that carry on centuries old traditions.
Beaches The beaches of North Cyprus offer such activities as: scuba diving, wind surfing, Para sailing, jet skiing and banana boats. Most beaches on the island offer an interesting variety of food from local restaurants and some even host open air discos right on the sand! Most of the beaches have beach bars that serve food and drinks, plus a wide range of outdoor activities. There is a beach that is ideal for every member of the family. While entrance to the local beaches is free, there is a small charge for beds and umbrellas.
Education The education sector has kept pace with the rapidly growing communities. There are 6 Universities in North Cyprus, instructing over 40,000 students. Elementary and secondary schools are increasing in number each year, with class sizes ranging from 15 to 35. The private and state schools/colleges of North Cyprus cater to the local and foreign students living in the area. The largest of the private schools is The Sunny Lane School. The Sunny Lane School works directly with Turkish Cypriot authorities and the Ministry of Education in the UK to provide a top class education for the local and expatriate community living in North Cyprus. Clearly, North Cyprus is emerging with a solid infrastructure to serve its residents.
Transportation System Ercan Airport is the main thoroughfare on the island. There are three airlines, which have scheduled flights to Northern Cyprus. These airlines provide regular flights to Ercan (the North Cyprus Airport) from UK, Turkey and Germany. There are regular flights from the three London airports: Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow, plus flights from other major UK cities including Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast. Most of them arrive in the evening or early morning with more than 80 flights arriving at the North Cyprus airport of Ercan every week during the summer season.
Media The Turkish people had their first radio station open in 1964. Today, BRT has been developed as a state organization, broadcasting on medium and FM frequencies as Radio One and Radio 2. The most important development in this field took place by the transmission of television programs and introducing a fully Turkish television schedule for the Turkish society. The establishment of a local television station in 1975 gave the opportunity to the Turkish society in North Cyprus to produce their own programs. A new regulation is under way to enable the private enterprises to broadcast TV and radio programming as well.
Newspapers The Turkish people had newspapers published in Cyprus since the middle of the nineteenth century. The current publications provide local and universal news and also contribute to the cultural life of the society.
Social The citizens on North Cyprus cherish and value family. For them, family life is a top priority. A great amount of their free time is spent at family gatherings and community events. All of the outlaying towns and villages hold carnivals and festivals throughout the year
Economy Trade, tourism and education, with smaller agriculture and light manufacturing sectors, fuel economy the economy of Northern Cyprus. The economy operates on a free-market basis, with a great portion funding of the administration costs offered by Turkey.
Banking System Banking in North Cyprus developed out of Turkish system on which North Cyprus has been recently much dependent, and has been having close ties with. As a result of the increased tourism and rapid economy growth, a modern, structured banking system has emerged. Most of the banks in North Cyprus are private. The Central Bank of the TRNC takes responsibility for monetary, credit and exchange policy, and acts as banker to the government. All types of bank services are provided in Northern Cyprus, and they accommodate the ever changing and unique needs of the business community
Culture North Cyprus is rich with culture. The cultural activities and art in Northern Cyprus have an important part in the life of the people. The government takes an active part in providing the citizens with every aspect of the cultural and artistic activities while the private enterprises and associations also contribute to these in great quantities.
Government Politics of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the Prime Minister head of government, and of a multi-party system. The government exercises executive power. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of the Republic. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Travel Regulations The citizens of Turkey, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Mexico, Malta, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Israel, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Australia, and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter Northern Cyprus. All other nationals should check their status with regard to visas with the nearest Embassy or Office of Representative for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Northern Cyprus visitors who do not wish to have their passports stamped by the authorities on arrival to North Cyprus may request a stamped visa form that is loosely inserted into the passport and removed on departure.
Pets can be brought into the North Cyprus from Europe under certain conditions. The Ministry of Agriculture requires a certificate from a European vet stating that your animal is free of major diseases.
Ownership rights for non-citizens When purchasing property in Northern Cyprus, you need to have a good understanding of the legal processes involved. According to Property Purchase (foreigners) Law No109, foreigners have to follow certain restrictions. [23] Obtaining the services of a good impartial solicitor, who has adequate knowledge of English, and who is experienced in dealing with land sales to foreign purchasers is key to purchasing real estate in North Cyprus. Despite how simple the real estate transaction may appear, it is strongly recommended that a solicitor be employed for the drawing up of contracts and to process all the relevant information and paper work regarding the property sale and property purchase. If you need guidance, we are here to help. There is no chance for mistakes when you follow our recommendations as we have been in the real estate business for over 15 years.
If North Cyprus seems like the right community for you, take the next step by researching the properties we have available in the area.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus
www.northcyprusonline.com/North-Cyprus-Online-Cultural-Life.php
Now this is what I am talking about… 300 day of sunshine. Not to mention you can enjoy beaches and mountains in one location. I have spent some time in the Mediterranean but never in North Cyprus. What I have seen is beautiful. Anybody else visit this particular island before?
Do a quick Google image search for North Cyprus to get a better feel for what the island has to offer. They have some pretty impressive scenery on the island and I think most people would enjoy a quick visit. A lot of history to explores in North Cyprus as well.
I can think of two reasons why I would not want to buy a second home in North Cyrus. First, I do not speak Turkish. I am not even sure how to say hello in Turkish. Second, the currency in North Cyrus used to be a real mess. Serious inflation issues but I think it is starting to stabilize.
It looks like they just renamed their currency and call it the New Turkish Lira. I just read they passed a law that removed 6 zeros from the value of their currency. So if they had a bill that was worth 1,000,000 it is now only worth 1.00. Thanks for the interesting tip Bob.
It seems like the currency issue in North Cyprus would make real estate investment in the area more attractive. Wouldn’t it be cheaper with the exchange rate to buy property in North Cyrus if their currency is weak? I have never been to North Cyprus either but it sounds interesting.