North Cyprus Winter Sun Holidays
Without question most holiday makers seek an escape from the dreariness of a cold, damp winter to a place where the sun shines bright and warm. Cyprus, the easternmost and third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, sees more than 300 days of sunshine per year and a Holiday in North Cyprus provides a great chance to escape the dreariness of a wet and grey U.K. winter.
Temperatures in North Cyprus between December and March average around 15 degrees and the evenings can be rather cool. Though much of the rainfall in the region comes during these months, the rain storms tend to be hard and fast and when they’re over, the winter sun beats down upon the land and the skies stay blue.
The wonderful part about North Cyprus Holidays during the winter months is the fact that fewer tourists venture to the region at this time and thus, the most glorious villas and the finest hotels are even more accessible to the average holiday maker.
With less tourist traffic one can leisurely stroll along endless stretches of golden beaches or hike the woodlands of the Besparmak Mountain range in quiet solitude.
In the summer months, when the heat of the sun can at times seem almost unbearable, it’s nearly impossible to venture on an extended walking tour of the many ancient attractions that make North Cyprus such a unique place to visit.
Winter, when the temperature is comfortable and the skies are clear, provides the ideal climate to explore much of these sites on foot. A stroll through the history of the island will take you to some of the magnificant castles that dot the landscape.
One castle that can’t be ignored is Kyrenia Castle, an imposing structure that has stood for centuries overlooking the depths of the harbour below.
During the Roman era the castle was built upon the ruins of a settlement dating back to the 10th Century BC. The Byzantines and the Lusignans later improved upon the Roman base.
Today it houses the Ancient Shipwreck Museum where the oldest known trading ship on the planet, which sunk off the North Cyprus coast loaded with cargo in the days of Alexander the Great, is on display. From the heights of Kyrenia Castle you can see up high in the peaks in the distance the outline of St. Hilarion Castle. In the mild winter temperatures one can take the brisk walk up the winding road to this remarkable place and from the top of the castle, the views are nothing short of spectacular.
No matter what time of year you decide to make your Northern Cyprus Holiday, you are certain to take memories away that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. If you prefer to explore an unknown land free from the crowds of peak tourist season, then consider North Cyprus under the winter sun. The people are always hospitable, the beaches are golden and the weather is comfortable enough to actively explore all that the region has to offer. |
