There are some really charming traditional villages in Northern Cyprus, which are popular places to visit for both holidaymakers and North Cyprus property owners.  Some of the better-known villages (such as Ozankoy, Bellapais and Catalkoy to the east of Kyrenia, and Zeytinlik and Alsancak to the west side) are close to town and have become almost joined to Kyrenia.  They do, however, still retain their charming village centres.  These villages are extremely popular locations for ex-pat/overseas buyers to purchase property for a permanent, as it give a taste of local life, easy access to village facilities whilst also still being close to a town.

Northern Cyprus Villages usually have a mosque at their heart, often a village square along with a few coffee shops and small supermarkets which will be frequented by the local Turkish Cypriot and any ex-pat residents.   The older traditional buildings will be found at the heart of a North Cyprus village.  There are often seasonal festivals in the villages, celebrating the different fruits, nuts and flowers of the area, during which local dancing, music and food can be enjoyed.  Where there is a large non-Cypriot population, often new international cuisine restaurants have also sprung up.  If you are lucky you can enjoy excellent local Turkish Cypriot cuisine in the villages too.

Most Northern Cyprus villages are not on the coast as traditionally, Cypriot villages were built in the hills rather than on the beach.  So “new villages” such as “Turtle Bay village” in Esentepe have sprung up along the North Cyprus coastline where overseas buyers tend to prefer to purchase holiday homes as these are on a beach.