Many activities can be enjoyed in the area, including scuba diving, sailing, snorkelling, walking, bird watcing, horse riding, mountaineering and much more. Museums and castles abound. If you decide to leave the pool for a while there are lovely beaches to be found in every direction. The Karpaz peninsular is an area of outstanding natural beauty, a national park where wild donkeys roam, turtles nest and you will have miles of golden sands to enjoy. Occasionally you will come across a simple café for fresh barbequed fish and a bottle of wine.
Bellapais Abbey is the most beautiful place – built in
the 12th Century it commands a view of the whole northern coastline.
Floodlit, at night, the Abbey is magical, during the summer season
classical concerts are hosted in the grounds. There is a choice of
restaurants in the village, one, ‘The Kybele’ is set in the Abbey
grounds, book a seat with a view and be swept away by the panorama.
Bellapais is where Lawrence Durrell lived when he wrote ‘Bitter Lemons
of Cyprus’.
An excellent day trip would be to Famagusta (Gazimagusa) where the
Roman City of Salamis should not be missed. Nicosia (Lefkosa) is about
30 minutes away and boasts the beautiful Selimiye Mosque, built by the
Lusignans from 1208. The Great Turkish Bath dates back to the Ottoman
period. Walk around the old streets around this area, filled with
interesting little shops, then sit in the beautiful square close to the
Mosque and enjoy a coffee whilst taking in the historic architecture.