Travel to North Cyprus from our rental apartment

Since 2004, when the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU, it has become much easier to cross the border between Northern Cyprus and the south. The locals cross the Cyprus border daily to shop, do business or just visit either half of Nicosia (Lefkosia). If you are a tourist visiting North Cyprus, all you need to do is present your passport (and visa, if you need one for South Cyprus) at the Turkish Cypriot passport control, who will give you a white slip to fill out with your name, passport number and nationality. It is this white visa form that will be stamped by the Northern Cyprus border authorities, NOT your passport. Once over the North Cyprus border, your passport will be checked again by the Greek Cypriot authorities. You can cross the Northern Cyprus border as many times as you like, and stay as long as you want. The border crossings are open 24 hours a day. You cannot take a North Cyprus hire car south of the border south of the border, nor can you take goods worth more than EURO260 from North to South.

The closest place from the holiday apartment to cross the border is the Pergamos crossing (also known as Beyarmudu, or Dhekelia). The most popular Northern Cyprus border crossing is at Metehan in Nicosia. This crossing is also known as Agios Dometios, and you join the flow of locals on bikes, vehicles and on foot who cross the border daily to shop, do business or just for pleasure. At the Ledra Palace border crossing in the west of the city, you can only cross on foot or by bicycle unless you have a diplomatic car! Further west again, you can cross the border with a vehicle at Güzelyurt, which is known by a causing assortment of names; Astromeritis, Morpho, Morfu, Omorfo or Zohdia, depending which community you come from! The other remaining border crossings are contained within the British Eastern Sovereign Base Area, and the Black Knight crossing (also known as Akyar, Azios Nikolaos, or Strovilia).

There are hopeful signs that one of the longest-lived barriers between Northern Cyprus and the south might be lifted. The Lokmaci barrier has been in place since 1958, way before the 1974 division, and its removal would have great significance. If this barrier in Northern Cyprus is lifted, along with its counterpart in Ledra Street on the other side of the border, this would open up the main shopping street in Nicosia once again. The Turkish government have pledged money to build a new pedestrian bridge, forming a very special sixth border crossing.

You may rent a car in the South and cross over to the North. On the other hand, when you rent a car in the North, you are not allowed to cross over the south. Only personally owned cars can cross over to the South (basically a car that is not a rental car or displaying the rental licence plates which are red). For your connivance there are also rental agencies near the crossing points so you may rent a car once you cross over. However, please note that insurance purchased from one side is not applicable to the other. So when you cross you will need to purchase insurance if you plan to drive on the other side.

Certainly, with so much to see and do in Northern Cyprus, you may not feel the need to cross the border at all! However, if you are visiting Nicosia for the first time, you cannot really get a complete picture of the city from just the Northern Cyprus side. The magnificent Venetian walls of places like city of Famagusta and Nicosia contain a wealth of treasures and ancient sites, and it would be a shame to miss half of them. For Nicosians there is the feeling that a city so divided for so long should now celebrate the opportunity to cross into either side at will. As a visitor to Northern Cyprus, you can help to celebrate and cement this new freedom simply by walking across the border. The largest ancient historical roman site in Cyprus of the famous Salamis is in the North near to the city of Famagusta. Easily accessible with a rental car or through a day tour from my Sundays holiday rental apartment in Kapparis at the North and South Cyprus border in Famagusta region. Further up the north east coast is the Karpas Peninsula - known as the 'Panhandle' and alternatively spelled Karpaz, the region stretches from near Famagusta to the northern-most tip of Cyprus. The Karpas covers a substantial part of the island and extends to 80 kilometres in length and up to 20 in width. One of the most unspoiled places anywhere in the whole of the Mediterranean region, the Karpas Peninsula is home to an outstanding variety of wildlife (including the well known sea turtles and donkeys) and its northern and eastern shores have some of the most beautiful and deserted beaches in North Cyprus - in fact in the whole of the island.

To cross the border you will require car insurance and also a valid passport. Generally a separate 'visa' form - which is just an extra passport sized piece of paper that you write name, DoB and passport details - is required to be completed and this will be stamped by the customs when you cross the border. Be aware that is best practice to get this paper stamped rather than your passport, as a 'Turkish Cyprus' visa stamp could impact your ability to travel to other countries. There are limits on the amount of goods you can cross the border with, including limits on items such as cigarettes. Breaching those amounts can result in goods being confiscated and a heavy fine imposed. If you are considering buying a North Cyprus property, be aware that in theory the Greek Cypriot authorities can confiscate any related documents and ask you to make a statement to the police. Also, technically, if you enter south Cyprus from the north, it is deemed an illegal point of entry by the Greek Cypriot authorities, and you could be fined, but in practice the policy is not enforced.