Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Kyrenia (Cyprus). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: St. Hilarion, Kyrenia Castle, and Buffavento Castle. Also, be sure to include Shipwreck Museum in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Kyrenia (Girne).
Table of Contents
St. Hilarion
Also known as: Κάστρο του Αγίου Ιλαρίωνα
Castle in Northern Cyprus. The Saint Hilarion Castle lies on the Kyrenia mountain range, in Cyprus. This location provided the castle with command of the pass road from Kyrenia to Nicosia. It is the best preserved ruin of the three former strongholds in the Kyrenia mountains, the other two being Kantara and Buffavento.[1]
Address: Nicosia road, Kyrenia
Kyrenia Castle
Also known as: Κάστρο της Κερύνειας
Ancient castle with 4th-century BCE ship. Kyrenia Castle, at the east end of the old harbour in Kyrenia is a 16th-century castle built by the Venetians over a previous Crusader fortification. Within its walls lies a twelfth-century chapel showing reused late Roman capitals, and the Shipwreck Museum.[2]
Address: Kordon Boyu Cd, Kyrenia
Buffavento Castle
Also known as: Βουφαβέντο
Castle in Northern Cyprus. Buffavento Castle is a castle in Northern Cyprus. The exact date of its construction remains unknown, the most plausible theory being the Byzantine period. It combines Byzantine and Frankish architectural elements. It fell into disuse in the 14th century.[3]
Address: Buffavento Mountain, Kyrenia
Shipwreck Museum
The Kyrenia Ship is the wreck of a 4th-century BC ancient Greek merchant ship. It was discovered by Greek-Cypriot diving instructor Andreas Cariolou in November 1965 during a storm. Having lost the exact position, Cariolou carried out more than 200 dives until he re-discovered the wreck in 1967 close to Kyrenia in Cyprus. Michael Katzev, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, directed a scientific excavation from 1967–69. Preservation of the ship's timbers continued during the winter of 1970. Katzev later was a co-founder of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. The find was extensively covered in a documentary by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation titled "With Captain, Sailors Three: The Ancient Ship of Kyrenia"]. The ship itself was very well preserved with approximately 75% of its hull in good condition. It found a new home at the Ancient Shipwreck Museum in Kyrenia Castle, where it remains on exhibit.[4]
Address: Inside Kyrenia Castle, Kyrenia