children on a donkey

Getting to north Cyprus

By Air
Northern Cyprus has an airport called ERCAN (pronounced air-jun) which is accessed through Turkey due to the current political situation on the island. Cyprus Turkish Airlines,the national carrier, closed in 2010 but Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and Atlas currently run services to Ercan.

With the opening of the borders between the north and the south, it has now become possible to travel to Larnaca or Paphos airports and then come to the north. The flights to the south are shorter as they are direct flights; to come to Ercan requires a touchdown in Turkey. It is possible to rent a car in south Cyprus and drive it across the border, but you will need additional car insurance, available at the border for reasonable daily or weekly rates. Some car rentals in the north have pick-up service from Larnaca. Contact us if you want more information on such services or car rental for the north in general or browse the net.

By Sea
Two ports have ferryboats moving between north Cyprus and Turkey. Passage from Mersin will bring you to Famagusta, which is an overnight trip. Cabins are available as are airplane type seats. The trip from Tasucu is faster, about 4 hours, and takes you to Kyrenia.

Finding us in Cyprus

village street

Buyukkonuk is accessible from Girne (Kyrenia) along the north coast road.The newly constructed road is disappointing in that it is less scenic that before but parts of the old road in places and can be explored. Be careful as in some places the old road is being eroded by the sea as repair work on it has been discontinued. You will enter the village of Buyukkonuk from the north, coming down from the hills. There are 3 exits off the new road turning left into the village; all will take you to the mosque, which you can see by the minaret.  From the mosque, head east following signs towards Yedikonuk. You will pass between the village school on the left and a large church on your right. At the next fork in the road keep left again, going again towards Yedikonuk. Delcraft is visible on your right before you get to the second church.

From Magusa (Famagusta), the Salamis Bay road continues past the fishing port of Bogaz (Boghazi) into the Karpaz penisula. About a kilometre past the petrol storage spheres on the coast on the right, the road turns inland and at the crossroads marked by some tall eucalypts turn left towards the village of Tuzluca and continue past it another 5 km to Buyukkonuk. You will have to cross over the new road which comes from the junction at Cayirova and goes over the hills to Kaplica….please stop and cross carefully as traffic can be very fast on the new road. Turn right at the crossroads marking the entrance to the village and continue until you get to the mosque, which will be on your left. Proceed, taking the left fork towards Yedikonuk and Delcraft will be on your right, before you get to the second church.

BUS TRANSPORT

old village bus

Buses are privately run and to go to the village from Magusa (Famagusta) they leave the bus terminal at 1pm, 4pm and 5pm Monday to Friday and 12 noon on Saturday. Tickets are sold on board and the trip takes about one hour as the bus makes pickups of school kids and shoppers before heading out on the road to the village. Ask anyone which buses will take you, as those to nearby villages also go through Buyukkonuk, and ask to be let off at Delcraft. The 5pm bus, recently added, is not available on Saturday and there are no bus services on Sundays. 

TAXI

Taxi travel is expensive to the village but sometimes there might not be any other alternative.  Delcraft can arrange for the local village taxi to meet you at the airport or ferryboat terminal if necessary, or take any taxi her; the fare should be about 80-100 Turkish Lira (40 to 50 euro) from the airport, for example.

CAR RENTAL

There are many car rental companies in northern Cyprus. These can be found on the internet.  A local firm many of our customers use is Sur Car Hire at www.surcarhire.com but browse the net for best deals or cars you like.  Many car rental agencies also do airport pickup, or will meet you at the airport or ferryboat terminal with your requested car.