North Cyprus Road Trip: A 7-Day Itinerary by Car from Kyrenia to the Karpaz

The easiest way to see the best of North Cyprus in a week is a North Cyprus road trip in a hire car. This 7-day route starts at Kyrenia's harbour and castle, takes in Bellapais, St Hilarion, North Nicosia, Famagusta, Salamis, İskele, Kantara and the Karpaz, and finishes in Morphou (Güzelyurt) and Lefka. Distances are short: Ercan Airport to Kyrenia is 43 km (about 45 minutes) and Kyrenia to Famagusta 79 km (about 1 hour 15 minutes); the longest leg is the Karpaz, with Dipkarpaz 118 km from Ercan.

A week is also the perfect length for car hire. Local firm Cyprent Rent a Car has a 7-day minimum at Ercan Airport, and in September 2026 a small car on RideGlobus cost about £246 for the week (about £35 a day), with CDW insurance and unlimited mileage included. Check live prices for Ercan Airport car hire, and the full rental rules in our North Cyprus car hire guide.

What is the best 7-day North Cyprus itinerary?

Build the trip around two bases: three nights in Kyrenia, then three on the Famagusta or İskele side. That way you explore with short drives and never pack up every morning. At a glance:

• Day 1: Ercan to Kyrenia; the old harbour and Kyrenia Castle
• Day 2: Bellapais Abbey and St Hilarion Castle
• Day 3: North Nicosia; Büyük Han and the Selimiye Mosque
• Day 4: Famagusta's walled city and Salamis
• Day 5: İskele, Bafra's beaches and Kantara Castle
• Day 6: The Karpaz peninsula; Golden Beach and Dipkarpaz
• Day 7: West to Morphou and Lefka

Where to stay

Kyrenia is the natural first base, close to the harbour and the Kyrenia (Beşparmak) mountains; for a quieter village feel, Esentepe, 35 km from Ercan, works well too. For the second base, Famagusta puts you next to the old town and Salamis, while İskele is handy for Long Beach and the road to the Karpaz.

Which car for this route?

A small car such as a Mazda Demio, Ford Fiesta or Toyota Vitz is plenty for two and easier to park near old towns and castles. Families with lots of luggage can go up a size; larger cars cost up to about £63 a day on a weekly rental. On a route like this, unlimited mileage matters.

What to see in and around Kyrenia (days 1–3)

Day 1: Kyrenia harbour and castle

Collect the car at Ercan and you are in Kyrenia in about 45 minutes. The airport desk is open around the clock, so a late landing is no problem, but if you are exhausted, save your first drive on the left for the morning. Day one is gentle: Kyrenia's old harbour and its boats, and Kyrenia Castle right beside it. Explore the castle in the afternoon, then stroll the quayside at dusk. For a shorter stay based here, see Kyrenia car hire, and our Kyrenia transfers and car hire guide covers the town in detail.

Day 2: Bellapais and St Hilarion

Just above Kyrenia, Bellapais Abbey is a 13th-century Gothic ruin and one of the island's most photogenic sights. Spend the morning there, then head up into the Kyrenia mountains to St Hilarion Castle, built into the rocks with the coast spread out below. Take the mountain road slowly and wear sensible shoes for the climb around the castle.

Day 3: Büyük Han and Selimiye in North Nicosia

North Nicosia is 24 km, about 30 minutes, from Kyrenia. Leave the car and explore the walled old town on foot: coffee in the arcaded courtyard of Büyük Han, then a slow walk through the lanes to the Selimiye Mosque. To see the southern half of the city, walk across at the Lokmacı / Ledra Street crossing, which is for pedestrians only and has passport or ID checks. Leave the hire car in the North: most northern rental companies do not allow their cars into the South. Staying in the capital? See North Nicosia car hire.

What to see in Famagusta: the walled city and Salamis (day 4)

Move your base east today: Kyrenia to Famagusta is 79 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Park outside the walls and walk in. Start with the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the former St Nicholas Cathedral, whose story from cathedral to mosque sums up the city's layered past.

In the afternoon, drive the short hop to Salamis, the ancient city near Famagusta. Wandering among the columns of the Roman gymnasium is a highlight of the week, so allow a few unhurried hours. If you are staying here, compare Famagusta car hire; our Famagusta and İskele transfer guide covers getting there from the airports.

İskele, Bafra and Kantara Castle (day 5)

Take it easy on day five. Spend the morning on Long Beach in İskele, or drive a little further to Bafra's beaches and hotels. Later, wind up into the hills to Kantara Castle, a fine way to end the day. Get an early night before tomorrow's long drive. To collect a car locally, see İskele car hire.

How to plan a Karpaz day trip: Golden Beach and Dipkarpaz (day 6)

This is the longest and most rewarding day of the trip, a drive out towards the tip of the Karpaz peninsula. Stop in the village of Dipkarpaz, then carry on to Golden Beach (Altın Kum), the peninsula's signature sweep of sand. You may well meet the Karpaz's famous wild donkeys on the road, so slow down and give them space.

For a sense of scale, Dipkarpaz is 118 km, about 2 hours, from Ercan Airport. Start early, fill the tank before you set off and plan to be heading back while there is still daylight. Take water, snacks and sun cream.

Morphou and Lefka: the west (day 7)

On the last day, head west. Morphou (Güzelyurt) is 59 km from Ercan (about 55 minutes) and Lefka 78 km (about 1 hour 10 minutes). Walk round Morphou's centre and stop for lunch, then carry on to Lefka for an unhurried stroll, setting off back in good time to avoid driving in the dark. From an eastern base this is a long day, so if you fly home on day 7, swap the west into your Kyrenia days instead, for example in place of day 3. To explore the west more slowly, see Lefka car hire.

Short on time? 3- and 5-day versions

Cyprent's minimum rental in Kyrenia and Esentepe is 3 days; in September 2026 a 3-day rental cost about £38 a day in Kyrenia and from about £28 a day in Esentepe.

• 3 days: Kyrenia harbour and castle, Bellapais and St Hilarion, Büyük Han and Selimiye in North Nicosia
• 5 days: all of the above, plus Famagusta and Salamis and a day in the Karpaz

On a short trip, take a transfer to your accommodation and collect the car from the branch the next day. With Carrington Transfers on RideGlobus, a Mercedes-Benz Vito VIP from Ercan Airport to Esentepe costs £55 one way per vehicle for 1–7 passengers.

Tips for driving in North Cyprus

• Drive on the left: all of Cyprus drives on the left in right-hand-drive cars. Keep day one's drives short and think about your lane before each junction.
• Fuel and daylight: on the Karpaz and western days, fill up before you go and don't leave long drives until after dark.
• Old towns: in North Nicosia and Famagusta, parking outside the walls and walking in is usually easier.
• Branch hours: away from the airport, Cyprent hands cars over 10:00–21:00 and they must be back by 09:00; the Ercan desk is open around the clock.
• The South: most northern hire cars cannot go south; use the pedestrian crossing instead.
• Your agreement: check the insurance, the fuel policy (full-to-full with Cyprent) and the return time at pick-up.

This route fits the North's castles, ancient cities and beaches into one well-paced week. Enter your flight dates on our North Cyprus car hire page to compare live offers at their total price, with no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings.