Northern Cyprus

Hotels and tourism are a major part of Northern Cyprus from small boutique hotels nestled in the foothills of small villages to the large five star exclusive luxury resorts by the sea.

Hotels are open to anyone and there are really no rules of entry, everyone is invited for breakfast, lunch and dinner and to use all the facilities for small fees. You can opt to purchase a beautiful cabana on the beach for 4-6 people where you pay a one off daily price which includes fresh fruit, soft sun loungers and all the food and drink included.

There are miles of golden sands and small remote coves to explore and discover on our beautiful island.

Along the coastline to the west of Kyrenia, you will find small coves with sandy/pebbly beaches which are a mix of busier beach clubs where you can try scuba diving or kayaking to quiet local beaches. To the east of Kyrenia, you can visit Alagadi where you can watch baby turtles hatching and assist in releasing them into the sea for their new life ahead.

On the Famagusta coastline, you can experience long sandy beaches with a variety of activities such as children's play areas and on the beach cafe/bars or visit the beaches in Karpaz which are usually empty and will leave you feeling relaxed and like you are on a desert island.

With an array of colour and fragrant smells, Northern Cyprus has some of the most stunning flora and fauna. Throughout the different seasons there is always an amazing show of vibrant colours.

During the winter season you can see the vivid green trees and many varieties of orchids nestled quietly in the mountains to the most amazing coloured bougainvillea which are blooming for around 10 months of the year.

Towards the late summer the orange, lemon and olive trees are beginning to bloom producing delicious fruit just waiting to be picked.

The wildlife on the island is just as varied with donkeys roaming freely in the Karpaz waiting to be fed apples and carrots to the occasional dolphin sighting off the coastline.

Early morning tuna fishing is a popular activity for many tourists who enjoy watching the sun rise whilst floating calmly on the Mediterranean Sea.

Food is an integral part of the Northern Cyprus culture as you would expect with the natural availability of extremely fresh fruit and vegetables.

Restaurants are many and varied from traditional Meze style meals which consist of many, many small plates (similar to tapas) and leading to hot dishes of either meat or fish as well as other local traditional food such as dolma (vine leaves stuffed with rice), lahmacun (traditional Turkish pizza) and kleftiko (lamb in the oven) to name just a few.

However, North Cyprus is also known for worldwide cuisine and has restaurants serving Sushi/Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, French and even a traditional English Sunday Roast.

Northern Cyprus is a country of many aspects and although we are a relatively small island do not assume that there is nothing to do here except sunbathe - nothing is further from the truth. If you enjoy activity, adventure and getting out and about - North Cyprus is just for you!

The fun and options are endless from hiking or biking along the mountain tops to paragliding off the mountain.

Northern Cyprus has a vast and colourful history dating back to the Stone Age and has been under the rule of many including the Venetians, the Romans and the Ottomans throughout the years. So as you can imagine the historical sites are many and for those of you who enjoy history - here is a short list of the most recommended but remember there are so many more to explore!

• *Kyrenia Castle
• *Bellapais Cathedral
• *St. Hilarion Castle
• *Othello's Castle
• *Nicosia and Famagusta Walled Cities
• *Salamis Ruins
• *St. Barnabus

Over the last ten years, North Cyprus has increased its student numbers year on year due to an explosion of universities and private schools offering education from 2 year olds to mature students.

Primary and secondary education in North Cyprus includes state based education where children are taught in Turkish to private schools who teach in English. Three of these private schools offer the same curriculum as the UK leading to IGCSEs, AS and A levels.

The number of overseas university students has also increased because of the affordability of studying in a private university as well as knowing that they will be living in a safe environment.

Our universities offer Undergraduate programs to Master degrees to PHDs in a wide range of subjects including architecture, enginnering, medicine, business and management, education and many, many more.

The foundation of the legal system was made during the British Empire rule between the 1940s and 1950s, which is why the law system largely follows English law and principles.

There are many reputable, independent lawyers in Northern Cyprus who are internationally educated and are multi-lingual to assist you. Freedom will connect you with lawyers who are independent of Freedom and the developers we work with to ensure that your property investment is safe and secure, even when you can not physically be on the island.

There are a large number of local and foreign banks all of whom are multi-lingual, often with specific services and dedicated staff for ex-pat clients. In order to open a bank account, you only need your passport and a copy of your sales/rental agreement.

Unlike many other countries around the world, you do not need to purchase a property which is worth more than €150,000 to start the residency process. In Northern Cyprus, even studio units from £50,000 enables you and your immediate family to take up residency. The system is online and only has a few requirements such as health checks and police checks and takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete.