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With its temperate climate, turquoise waters, historic lands of lost origins and delectable cuisine, the Mediterranean is one of the top destinations worldwide, despite not exactly being the cheapest coastal area to visit.
Italy, France, Greece and the like are all among the most expensive destinations in Europeand a tour of the Mediterranean can cost you as much as $253 per day averagebut luckily for budget travelers eager to experience the Old Sea, there is always an exception to the rule.
Hover over Amalfi and Santorini, this lesser-known sunny spot where two different cultures collide, the weather is just as gorgeous and luxurious three-course dinners cost just $23 more value for money.
The best kept secret of the Mediterranean
We are not talking about the new viral sensation Albania, nor about the increasingly popular Montenegro: if you would like to escape the crowds and live the life on the Mediterranean without spending a lot of money, then it is north Cyprus where to go.
Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean just south of Turkiye that most Americans have yet to discover, with approximately 400 miles of pristine coastline interspersed with sandy beaches and historic towns, a green, hilly hinterland and a history spanning six millennia.
Despite being a literal paradise, Cyprus has not always been peaceful, especially in the 1970s, when ethnic tensions between the indigenous Turkish and Greek populations led to the island being divided between North and South (and you can probably guess half of which was claimed by the Turks).
Complexities aside, there has been no significant change in the status quo or intercommunal violence since the island was split in two all those decades ago.
Today, the South is controlled by the recognized Republic of Cyprus, while the North is occupied by a self-proclaimed Republic Turkish republic:
In the South, Greek is the most spoken language and the euro is used; in the north Turkish is the language francaand the lira is the de facto currency.
In short, it is essentially an extension of Turkiye, and we are all well aware of the affordability of Turkiye by now.
How affordable is Northern Cyprus really?
Because the north of Cyprus uses the Turkish lira, a heavily devalued currency, it can be a lot more affordable for tourists than the ‘eurosized’ south.
The US dollar is a lot stronger than the Turkish lira (1 US dollar is equal to approximately 0.031 Turkish lira), while one euro is equal to 1.09 dollars, meaning your hard-earned money extend much further to the north.
A cool travel experiment is to traverse Ledra, the main street that cuts through the heart of the Cypriot capital, starting in the Greek-controlled part and ending in Turkish-dominated territory, and undergoing a quick passport check to enter the north. .
South of the border, you can expect to pay up to $65 for a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant, as calculated by Numbeo. Interestingly enough, once you get past the Ledra checkpoint and you are billed in Turkish Lira, the price drops to much more attractive $23.
That is about 35% cheaper.
Affordable beach resorts
Similarly, hotels in southern Cyprus as a whole cost an average of $103, with some resorts in Ayia Napa costing as much as $281. per night: still quite affordable if you like pampering, but most of the time a lot of cheaper as soon as you cross that Ledra line.
If the island of Cyprus is shaped like a pan, then the Karpass Peninsula is the handle of the pan, and apart from being the northernmost tip, it is the main seaside resort in the Turkish part, with miles of golden sandy beaches up to the coast. eyes can see and water of a translucent blue.
Book a luxurious bedroom with ocean views at the Thalassa beach resorta two-hour drive from North Nicosia, will bring you back with a reasonable $181 per nightexactly one hundred dollars cheaper than the average resort rate in the south.
If you’re not into luxury, prices for basic rooms in three-star hotels in Ayia Trias, a laid-back leisure destination in Famagusta province, start from just $48, while overnight stays in central Kyrenia, the cultural capital of Northern Cyprus, start. , range from $29 to $83.
The cost of living in the north is lower
Not only are hotels in the North incredibly cheap, but the cost of living is also remarkably low, which is attributed to lower wages and a less robust welfare state: as pointed out in the North Nicosia report. Mesarya Universitythe minimum net monthly salary is 11,800 Turkish Lira, or $364.
Observing the minimum wage is not a gold standard for setting consumer prices for foreigners, but it remains indicative of how affordable (or territorial) it may be for tourists, as the price of food and local goods typically exceeds the purchasing power of the native population will reflect. .
Moreover, the north of Cyprus has everything you would expect from a Mediterranean holiday, minus the expensive hotels, expensive restaurants and the growing crowds.
From the busy winding alleys and street bazaars of North Nicosia and bougainvillea-covered fortified Kyrenia to the pristine Karpass coast and the historically charged ‘ghost town’ of Varosha, it offers both culture and some beach time.
Why Do Tourists Skip Northern Cyprus?
Largely due to misconceptions about safety, not many visitors to Cyprus venture to the unrecognized Turkish Republic as it is said to be less developed and ‘dangerous’. this couldn’t be further from the truth.
While it is true that there are no consular outposts in the North, because it is not a world-recognized sovereign state and poverty rates are higher, crime rates are under control.
In fact, a UK-based real estate consultant Spot blue reports crime in Northern Cyprus lower than in Greece, a much more developed country.
Much of the “danger” rhetoric stems from the war period, when violence and ethnic cleansing spiraled out of control on both sides of the island.
Fortunately, the Greek and Turkish communities have lived largely peacefully on their side of the fence for much of the past forty years.
This is still an occupied territory
That said, you should know that Cyprus is a divided country.
We won’t go into the details of it, but we encourage you to read a summary of Cypriot history before your visit so you can be better informed and avoid common mistakes.
The most important things you need to know are:
- The Turkish North does not a recognized countryeven though it functions effectively as one whole
- The Turkish Republic is not recognized by the international community and is treated as an occupied territory of Cyprus
- Tourists should take care of it only use access points in the Republic of Cyprus when visiting the island
Regarding the latter, as an American tourist you may only enter Cyprus through the airports in Cyprus Larnacathe closest to the northern areas, or Paphosin Western Cyprus, or upon arrival by sea, into the international port Limassol.
There is a third airport serving the city of Nicosia, but as it is on the Turkish side of the border, the Republic of Cyprus is not responsible for incoming flights, which originate exclusively from Turkiye, the only country offering flights to the north.
The catch is that if you land at the North-controlled airport, you will not be admitted and then switch to the side of the Greek majority, as the Cypriot authorities will consider you to have entered the island ‘illegally’. Conversely, if you land in the south, you can cross freely to the north.
Read more about Cyprus here and start planning your budget-friendly holiday in the Mediterranean here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
