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.