Girne / Kyrenia
Beer Point
Address: Ziya Rizki Caddesi,
No:280 Girne (Kyrenia),
North Cyprus.
This place is not officially a gay friendly venue, recommended
by a local person for its relaxed atmosphere where some straight
acting gay men can also be seen. It is like a cafe house
or garden bar where young people gathers for chatting in
day time. There can be live music performances at night" (02/12/2010)
In Lefkose / Nicosia
Lorenza Cafe
Address: Lefke
Hani, No:5, Sur Ici, Lefkosa (Nicosia), Northern
Cyprus..
A gay-friendly cafe & restaurant recommended in 2008. It
is located in the area of Asma-Alti just behind
historical
Buyuk Han building.
Comments:
"What a nice welcoming and atmosphere! This is the true
side of re-unification between communities. The "Pink
Night" should become a weekly event !! Dx" (Posted by
Damien from UK on June 18th, 2011)
"Great place, excellent food, very friendly atmosphere
and staff." (Posted by Manos from South Cyprus on March
29 2010)
"Open Monday to Saturday during day and some late
nights. Lorenza Coffee is a cafe/bar with lovely decor
and excellent food choice. Offering home cooked
pastries/salads and regularly holding masquerades" (May
2008)
Hoi Polloi Cafe
Address:
Arasta Sokak, Lefkosa,(Nicosia), Northern Cyprus
Web:
Facebook.com &
Tripadvisor.com/
A small LGBT friendly cafe very close to Lorenza Cafe,
both facing the same backyard behind
Buyuk Han, (Listed in 2016)
Cadinin Evi (17:00-04:00)
Address:
Osmanpaşa Caddesi, Küçük Çiftlik , Dereboyu district, Lefkosa (Nicosia) Northern
Cyprus.
This venue was recommended by a website visitor as a place
not explicitly gay friendly.
"Cadinin Evi (literally means the House of the Witch) is
said to be located in Dereboyu, which is the
entertainment district of Lefkosa. It is supposed to be
welcoming a mix crowd, including some British gay men
and even by some foreign drag queens occasionally.
(05/06/2009)
Nightlife and Other Popular Non-Gay Bars and Clubs:
Bars and Clubs in North Cyprus are full of action, beat
and spirit. Many of the bars have live music on regular
basis, with various bands playing music from pop to
rock, blues and Jazz. Any old times you can find
satisfying music in and around the island for all
emotions. Girne (Kyrenia) is probably the most famous
town in North Cyprus because of its picturesque harbour
area and the imposing castle overlooking it, which also
has the most colorful nightlife in the Turkish part of
the Island. There are many lively bars in Girne lining
the beautiful harbour. If you like going out at night,
you may go to one of the discothèques. Discos in Cyprus
are usually combined with bars, or have special VIP
sections away from the dance floor, where you can
reserve a table for your friends to enjoy the music and
dance away in VIP style. Although usually the music in
discos is played by great DJ’s, some clubs may invite
local live-bands to play on special occasions. The
gambling casinos of the big hotels are open until
morning, and many rich Turks from the mainland Turkey,
where gambling is forbidden also visit North Cyprus for
the sake of these Casinos.
Here are some of the popular regular (non-gay) bars and
clubs in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Ice Club - Girne
Girne Ice Club is one of the most popular, higher-up
night life venue (bar & discotheque) in Northern Cyprus,
hosting many international guest DJ's . It is located
very close to Escape beach.
Zephyr Bar - Lefkosa
Zephyr Bar in North Lefkosa off the road going to
Metehan Border-Crossing has been a popular choice
amongst the locals. It has live Turkish Pop music
performances on weekends. On other nights they play soft
rock. Reasonable sound-level is suitable for socializing
too. There is no entrance fee to this bar as it has a
traditional pub atmosphere and all are welcome.
Lions Garden - Gazi Magosa
Lions Garden is the biggest entertainment place in
Northern Cyprus. Lions Garden Disco organize concerts,
parties and international shows. Lions Garden calls
itself a disco but it’s much more like an entertainment
complex, with a state of the art-club and a popular
restaurant. The Lions Garden disco itself boast a
fantastic sound and light system, creating an amazing
atmosphere. The disco alone covers some 3500 square
meters, so there’s plenty of room for everyone to have
fun. Entry to the disco costs around 10 Euro and drinks
cost around 2 Euros each.
Popular Non-Gay Restaurants and Cafe Shops in Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus:
Niazi's Restaurant
- Girne
Famous restaurant & bar known for its specialty called
"full kebab", a concept of charcoal grilled kebab with
accompanying "meze" appetizers. It has become so popular
that the owners opened 3 other branches in Northern
Cyprus.
Tree of Idleness / Huzur Agaci - Girne
Family owned traditional Cypriot restaurant in Bellapais,
near Girne (Kyrenia). Located in the heart of enchanting
and nostalgic historical village of Bellapais, facing
the sparkling waters or Mediterranean Sea.
The Ambiance - Girne
Restaurant and beach club in Karaoglanoglu quarter of
Girne, open 7 days of the week for lunch and evening
dining. It is situated by the sea front between Girne
and Lapta off the Girne-Lapta Road. They have a very
rich menu including beef dishes, fish, lamb, chicken and
vegetarian menus.
There is no considerable information we obtained so far
which is worth listing under this category.
Gay Friendly Saunas and Bath Houses in Northern Cyprus
Turkish Republic:
Please remember that bath houses and saunas are usually
not explicitly confirmed as gay or gay-friendly venues
by their owners/managers. Therefore, we are listing here
only the ones which are being visited by the local gay
men frequently.
Buyuk Hamam
Address:
Irfan Bey Sokak, Surlarici (old city) Lefkosa, Northern Cyprus.
This is rather tourist hamam than being a gay / cruising
venue, though a possibility always there to meet other
gay people in any hamam. Buyuk Hamam (Grand Bath)
is also known as Turk Hamami in the city.
This bath was built over the ruins of a Latin Church (St
George) in the 14th century. Today, the church’s
marvelous front door actually lies several feet below
street level, so you can really appreciate the ornate
carvings of the original doorway.
Visitor comments:
"You can see fairies (feminine gays) and butch
bisexuals. a place that you will feel comfortable, cheap
but good quality" (June 2006)
Hamasi Korkut Hamamı (08:00-22:00)
Adres:
Beliğ Paşa Sokak Lefkoşa, KKTC.
Its has a spacey hall at the entrance but the bath
section is fairly small, even lacking a proper navel
stone. The main reason you can prefer over the
historical Buyuk Hamam is that this one is more
gay-friendly and action is more likely. It is also
cheaper naturally. costing around 5-7 US Dollars to enter.
It is 5-10 minutes walking distance from the Buyuk Hamam.
In general, the cruising areas - especially parks and
secluded beaches are where gay men should be more
selective with the people they meet. It is always
possible to bump into some bad guys who want to trap the
gay men in such places. Especially, be careful at night
time and do not carry very valuable things and a lot of
money on you, just in case.
These are the possible cruising places in Northern
Cyprus:
*The neighborhood of Girne harbour and the water front.
There may also be some rent-boys around.
*Girne Feneri (Lighthouse) and the breakwater.
*In Lefkosa; Kugulu park, the neighborhood of the old
city walls, and the street between Lefkosa Turkish High
Scholl (LTL) and the Library are most visable cruising
areas especially recommended from 21:00 until 02:00 am.
There are not any gay-exclusive beaches in Northern
Cyprus Turkish Republic, but there are several beaches
which are more suitable for the cruising gay men.
Salamis Beach is the popular beach for gay men in
Northern Cyprus, some 10 km away from Gazi Magosa (Famagusta)
- The part of the beach 1 km after Park hotel is said to
be where gay men usually hang out and wait under the
bushes for cruising. Gazi Magusa is the second most
popular vacation district in Northern Cyprus after Girne.
The ruins of Salamis antic city is one of the most
famous historical attraction on the island.
In Girne (Kyrenia) - Kale arkasi (the area behind the
castle) is a popular swimming and cruising place for gay
men. Girne can be considered the most gay friendly city
in Northern Cyprus, and gay action is more possible.
Other Beaches in North Cyprus:
North Cyprus has a varied coastline and offers many
amenities for swimmers including luxurious beaches of
big hotels and many public beaches. The Northern and
eastern shores of North Cyprus are lapped by the clear
blue waters of the Mediterranean. All along the
coastline there are bays and beaches where swimming and
sunbathing is possible almost the whole year round.
Girne (Kyrenia) Beaches
Kyrenia is home to some fabulous intact beaches
including Acapulco Beach, Escape Beach, and Alagadi
Beach. Acapulco beach is a very popular tourist beach
and provides most facilities including sun loungers and
a bar. Windsurfing is also very popular at Acapulco
Beach. Escape beach is located just 5km from Kyrenia
city and is one of the most beautiful beaches in
Northern Cyprus with fine golden sand and clear waters,
where there are a number of different water sports
including deep sea diving, jet-ski, banana boats,
canoeing, and pedal boating. Escape Beach Club is
privately owned and sponsored and has turned the entire
beach area into a desirable destination for holiday
makers with a large and sophisticated restaurant, open
air dance club, sun beds, massage centre and scuba
school. Most of the boat trips from the harbour in
Kyrenia sail out to Escape Beach and drop anchor there.
Alagadi Beach, also known as turtle beach is located
approximately 10 miles east of Kyrenia. This sandy beach
is full of large sweeping dunes and the clear water is
also shallow. Alagadi beach has the longest stretch of
beach on the coast, and for once it’s also a public
beach that locals and tourists alike can enjoy. Behind
the beach, the Five Finger Mountains rise up to provide
a wonderful view even when you are not looking at the
sea! Alagadi beach is one of the major beaches in
Northern Cyprus where the loggerhead and green turtles
come to nest, and so is sometimes called "Turtle Beach".
Access to the beach from the main road is via dirt
tracks, and most access points involve a walk through
the impressive sand dunes behind to the sea itself. The
first track giving access to Alagadi beach from the main
road is a pretty 1.5km drive through olive trees and
down to within 300m of the sea.
Gazi Magosa (Famagusta) Beaches
Famagusta has long been famous for its miles of sandy
beaches. Some beaches are owned by hotels and have an
entrance fee. Bafra Public Beach is 9.7 km from Bogaz in
the village of Çayirova. Bediz Public Beach is situated
on the east coast of Cyprus, north of Famagusta and well
signposted from whichever direction you approach.
Glapsides Beach is only 200m away from the Bediz Beach.
Silver Beach is situated at the far south of the Salamis
ruins, which is a great spot for swimming and
snorkeling.
Karpaz Beaches
The Karpaz Peninsula or “panhandle” as the British
called the north-east part of Cyprus is a land where
time stands still. There are miles of sandy beaches in
Karpaz with not a single person in sight. Ancient towns,
basilicas, ruins and tombs scatter the area waiting to
be explored. Malibu Beach Club provides crystal clear
water for good swimming. There is a snack bar and sun
shades there. There is a stretch of coast known as the
Golden Sands which has 5 miles of un-spoilt beach and a
magnificent scenery. The turtles use this beach in the
summer for nesting.
Visitor Recommendations:
"Hello to all, I visited N.Cyprus recently and went to
Salamis Beach and Alagadi beach. As the article mentions
these are not gay beaches but some times there could be
some action. Alagadi is a really beautiful beach but I
also had a bad experience. My rented car was damaged and
I got in a bit trouble with a guy at the beach (gay
guy). But anyway Aladagi is really nice but do act in
caution" (posted by John S. from UK on September 17
2012)
Queer Cyprus Association
Initially called Initiative Against Homophobia founded
in 2007; re-named as Kuir Kibris Derneği - Queer Cyprus
Association in 2012 aims to stop homophobia and
transphobia within the society, prevent the
discrimination through sexual orientation and sexual
identities. Accordingly, Initiative Against Homophobia
is a civil society organization which intend to protect
the fundamental rights and freedoms of LGBT people and
to increase the acknowledgement of people toward LGBT
people.
The group has done a great job during amendment of the
Chapter 154 criminal law which regulated homosexuality
as "Crimes against nature" until it was abolished in
February 2014.
Northern Cyprus is socially conservative country in
terms of homosexuality especially in comparison to most
European countries. Although it was not applied in
practice very strictly, homosexual conduct between males
was a crime until recently, based on laws inherited from
British laws against sodomy after the island became a
colony of British Empire in 1889. Female homosexuality
had been technically excluded. Similar laws against
homosexuality had been abandoned in Greek part of the
island during European Union membership, however in the
Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus these British laws
stayed theoretically valid until February 2014, although
the authorities has been tolerant against homosexuality
in the private sphere and there has been no application
of this infamous law for many years.
Abolition of Anti-Homosexual Laws in Northern Cyprus
Repeal of the criminalization of male homosexuality had
been under serious consideration since 2006. In October
2011, Greek MEP Marina Yannakoudakis claimed that during
a visit to Northern Cyprus, President Eroglu promised
her he would legalize homosexuality to bring it in line
with Turkey, Southern Cyprus, and the rest of Europe. In
December 2011, it was announced that, due to mounting
pressure from MEPs, Northern Cypriot lawmakers would
repeal the law currently criminalizing homosexuality.
President Eroglu, the incumbent leader of the
government, expressed that he would sign the bill into
law when it came to him. In October 2013, preparations
started to end the criminalization of male
homosexuality, and on 27 January 2014 the Assembly voted
for repeal at Second Reading. On 27 January 2014, the
Assembly of the Republic, the Northern Cypriot
parliament, voted to abolish the criminal code
provisions that outlawed same-sex relations between men,
becoming the last territory in Europe to decriminalize
sexual relations between consenting, adult men. The bill
was signed into law, and published in the official
gazette on 7 February 2014. It took effect upon
publication.
LGBT Rights in Northern Cyprus (Wikipedia)
LGBT Turkey
The meeting point of Turkish & none- Turkish gay men
living / visiting Turkey. You can follow activities all
over Turkey, including Northern Cyprus in this bilingual (Turkish
& English) Facebook community page.
Google Group for Turkish Gays
A Google Group to meet Turkish gay men from all over
Turkey. You can leave a message to meet Turkish gays and
gay tourists living in or visiting Northern Cyprus in this group.
Unfortunately there is not any officially gay or
lesbian hotels in Northern Cyprus, but most of the
tourist hotels are very welcoming and they can also
be recommended to gay people for various reasons
such as their location, quality, price and liberal
atmosphere. You can contact gay-owned Turkish Travel
Agency which has more than 10 year experience in gay
tourism in Turkey.
Click Here for Turkey Inquiry.
You can still make
Instant reservation via online & secure system of
Booking Com. Best prices
and free cancellation options are available.
Click Here for all hotels in Kyrenia / Girne, Northern
Cyprus
Click Here for all hotels in Famagusta / Gazi
Magosa , Northern
Cyprus
Click Here for all hotels in Nicosia /
Lefkosa in, Northern
& Southern Cyprus
Booking Com
Cyprus Island is located in the east of Mediterranean
Sea, off the south coast of Turkey and west coast of
Syria. Cyprus Island was within the territories of
Turkish (Ottoman) Empire since 1570, until the British
Empire first took the administrative control of the
Island in 1878 and then annexed it completely during
WWI. It stayed as a British colony until it declared
independent in 1960, when the administration was justly
divided between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots.
There has been clashes between two societies afterwards,
which became unbearable for the Turkish part when the
nationalist Greek Cypriots and the military dicta regime
in Greece took serious steps to unite the Island with
their motherland Greece. As a result Turkey made
military intervention to Cyprus in 1974, based on its
rights originating from treaties as a guarantor state
and took the control of one-third of the island. Until
then there has been a de facto independent Turkish state
in Northern Cyprus. The Turkish - controlled North took
the name of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after
declaring independence in 1983, though only recognized
by Turkey officially. A final attempt of uniting the
Island was unsuccessful because the Greek Cypriots
refused the United Nation referendum known as "Annan
Plan" in the year 2004.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is divided into
five districts which are Lefkosa (Nicosia), Magusa (Famagusta),
Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou) and Iskele (Trikomo).
Girne is the major tourism district of North Cyprus.
Once upon a time, Girne harbour was lined with
warehouses in which the fruits of the countryside were
stored waiting to be exported. The harbour is currently
used largely for pleasure craft, and the buildings are
now mostly all restaurants, with outdoor tables along
the water. The castle at the east end of the old harbour
is a very spectacular site and within its walls there is
a twelfth century chapel showing reused late Roman
capitals. Bellapais Abbey monastery in the village of
Bellapais is also very significant historical monument
near Girne. A larger harbour is located a few miles east
of the town centre, used by commercial shipping and
ferries from the Turkish mainland.
Famagusta contains spectacular ruins, including a
magnificent amphitheatre, Roman baths, a gymnasium and
royal tombs. The mosaics are particularly beautiful.
Just inland from Famagusta are the church and monastery
dedicated to St. Barnabas, the founder of the apostolic
Cypriot Orthodox Church in 45 AD. Barnabas, a Cypriot
from Salamis who visited the island, accompanied by St.
Paul and St. Mark and was later martyred in Salamis in
52 AD. The church of St. Barnabas is preserved exactly
as it was since abandoned in 1976. Famagusta harbour is
dominated by a great citadel sometimes known as
Othello's Tower in reference to the (fictional) play by
Shakespeare. It contains a splendid 14th century Gothic
Hall. The Venetian Palace was used, after its
destruction in 1571, as a prison during the Ottoman
Empire, and among the prisoners was Namik Kemal, the
National poet of the Ottoman Empire, who was held there
between 1873 and 1876, after having been exiled to
Cyprus by the Sultan. Please visit the Website of
Gazimagusa (Famagusta) Municipality
The capital Lefkosa situated almost in the centre of the
island was divided by the "green line" between the
island's two communities in the south and north
respectively. It is the seat of government as well as
the main business centre. Click here for Official
Website of Municipality of Lefkosa (North Nicosia)
Güzelyurt is a market town in the north-west of the
island. It contains one of the many churches in the
country dedicated to St. Mamas, popularly believed to
have lived as a hermit in a cave near Guzelyurt.
Guzelyurt (Morphou) is home to one of the islands
crossing points, which was opened in 2003 by the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Administrative district of Iskele is encompassing the
northeastern portions of the Gazimagusa district
including the whole of the Karpasia Peninsula (Karpaz
Yarimadasi).
Tourist Information Offices In North Cyprus
Nicosia: 0392 228 96 29-31
Kyrenia Gate (Nicosia): 03922272994
Ledra Palace (Nicosia): 0392 228 87
Famagusta: 0392 366 28 64
Kyrenia: 0392 815 21 45
Yeni Erenkoy: 0392 374 49 84
Ercan Airport: 0392 231 40 03
Gecitkale Airport: 0392 393 2O 84
Arrival to Northern Cyprus.
Direct flights to Northern Cyprus are forbidden by the
government of the Greek Cypriots in the south. The
airports of Gecitkale and Ercan are only recognized as
legal ports of entry by Azerbaijan and Turkey, so all
flights to Northern Cyprus must currently be routed via
those countries. The Republic of Cyprus also allows
passage across the Green Line from the part of Nicosia
that it controls (as well as a few other selected
crossing points), since the TRNC does not require a visa
or leave entry stamps for such visits. Cyprus Turkish
Airlines (CTA) operate direct* flights to Ercan, the
airport in North Cyprus, from the UK but flights stop at
Turkey for an hour en-route. Turkish Airlines operate
daily services to North Cyprus from Stansted,
Manchester, Heathrow and twice a week from Dublin. A
change of aircraft is necessary at Istanbul. An
alternative to flying to North Cyprus is to fly to
Larnaca in South Cyprus and ask a friend or take a taxi
to North Cyprus. The extra driving time on the ground
(45 mins) is saved by using a non-stop flight.
Both car and passenger ferries run daily between
Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the port of Girne (Kyrenia)
in northern (Turkish) Cyprus. Most service is to and
from Tasucu, the small port near Silifke (a district of
Mersin Province of Turkey) east of Alanya and west of
Adana on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Fast catamaran
passenger ferries ("sea bus") depart Girne for Tasucu
every morning at 09:30 am, and depart Tasucu for Girne
at 11:00 am. The voyage takes about two hours and costs
about 40 Euro one-way, or 50-60 Euro for a round-trip..
Slower car ferries depart Girne at 12:00 noon daily
except Sunday, and depart Tasucu at 24:00 midnight daily
except Friday. The voyage takes four or five hours.
Passengers pay somewhat less than on the fast catamaran
passenger ferry. Cars cost around 60 Euro. In summer,
there may also be fast catamaran passenger service
between Girne (Kyrenia) and Alanya (3.5 hours).
Internal Transportation.
Busses, mini-busses, and service taxis ply the routes
between all the towns and many of the larger villages.
Regular taxis are also available. Bus fares are cheap,
and taxis are very reasonable. Whilst public transport
will enable the visitor to enjoy `rubbing shoulders` wit
the locals, those with limited time are advised to hire
a car. Rent-a-car prices are affordable in North Cyprus.
A good inexpensive network of buses and mini-buses
operates between all the main towns, in addition there
are Dolmush (shared taxis) operating on the same routes.
Taxis are widely available but do not carry a meter.
However, there are standard journey charges.
