Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus, officially known as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) or KKTC (Kuzey Kibris Türk Cumhuriyeti) in Turkish, is a state situated in the Northern part of the island in the Mediterranean sea. Northern Cyprus is divided into six districts namely Lefkoşa, Gazimağusa, Girne, Güzelyurt, İskele and Lefke with well-known cities or towns such as Lefkoşa, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Morphou, Gonyeli, Kythrea, Lefka, Dikomo, Trikomo, Lapithoss. The official language is Turkish but some locals also speak Greek and English. With a reputation as one of the safest countries in the world and a beautiful year round Mediterranean weather, it is the ideal destination for tertiary education where international students can expect an exciting unique academic experience.
Tourist Destination
One of the reasons why Northern Cyprus is one of the preferred tourist destinations is because of its rich historical sites. The geography of North Cyprus
is identified by its unique blend of mountains , plains and beaches. The soil is mostly covered with Mediterranean flora.
Taking a break from your studies has always been easy as there's lots to do in Northern Cyprus. With over 100 historical sites the island has to offer,
students can enjoy the experience of being taken back in time by visiting the historical sites that have a heritage of 12 different civilizations
that once passed through the island. One can visit the historical sites or embark on a variety of water sporting activities such as water skiing,
scuba diving, windsurfing and jet skiing. Boat tours are also available throughout the summer from Kyrenia Harbor.
Climate
The island has one of the world’s best favorable weather conditions with an annual average temperature of about 25℃ (Celsius). During winter, Northern Cyprus is cool, windy and rainy, particularly between December and March with January and February being the coldest months with a mean temperature of about 10℃ (Celsius) or less. The rainy showers produce winter torrents that fill most of the rivers, which typically dry up as the year progresses. While during the summer, which begins in mid-May till August, the island is hot and dry with temperatures that may exceed 40 ℃ (Celsius).
Religion
The dominant religion in Northern Cyprus is Islam which has the highest population, followed by the Orthodox Christianity and other Christian groups and religions.
Electricity
The electricity and plug types in Northern Cyprus are the same as in Turkey which operates on 220/240V A/C 50Hz. There are three types of associated plug types that can be used, types C, F and G. The plug type C has two round pins and plug type F also has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Plug type G has three rectangular prongs that form an isosceles triangle and it is mostly used as the main connector to the wall socket.
Currency
The official currency in Northern Cyprus is the Turkish Lira (TL) but most businesses also accept foreign currency of Euro, US Dollars (USD) and Sterling Pound (GBP). Most worldwide Visa credit and debit cards are also accepted. It is advisable to always check the exchange rate of the day before purchase.
Traffic & Transportation
Traffic in Northern Cyprus circulates on the left and the speed limit in urban areas is about 40km/h. Daily public transportation is available where commuters make use of either shared taxis referred to as Dolmush and Taxis (dial-a-cab) which are a form of privately booked transportation. The Dolmush and bus services become scares after the hour of 7pm and much more during the weekends. It is therefore important to familiarize yourself with the operating hours and pick-up & drop-off zones to your destination.
Time Zone
The time zone in Northern Cyprus is GMT+3 in the summer and GMT+2 in the winter. Daylight saving time begins on the last Sunday of March at 03:00 am where the clock goes 1 hour ahead and ends on the last Sunday of October at 04:00 am where the clock goes 1 hour back.
Dialing Code and Mobile Operators
The international dialing code for Northern Cyprus is +90 or 0900 while 392 is the area code for all landlines. There are currently two mobile operators in Northern Cyprus, KKTC Telsim (Telsim Vodafone) with dialling code 542 and Kuzey Kıbrıs Turkcell (Turkcell) with dialing code 533.
TRNC Gallery
Explore Noprthern Cyprus
