The Mediterranean has sun, sea and sand in abundance, and boasts some of the world’s best beaches. Several of these are in North Cyprus, and if you planning to visit – you’re in for a treat. With so many beaches on offer, which ones should you visit?

1. Karpaz Beaches

The most beautiful stretch of secluded sandy beaches. Each beach in the area has its own charm; the beach at Kasa was an ancient harbour called Karpasia; Yeni Erenkoy is a public beach with showers and hot food available; and there are small coves along the Karpaz peninsula itself that offer utter seclusion.

2. Escape Beach, Kyrenia

Locally known as Yavuz Cikarma Plaji, carefully landscaped with lush grass and beautiful flowers, Escape Beach offers a variety of water sports, from jet skiing to banana ride, canoeing to pedal boats and from snorkeling to scuba diving. The beach also has a volleyball area, restaurant and bar, with all the facilities you could ask for.

3. Alagadi Turtle Beach, Kyrenia.

Not only is this one of the most beautiful beaches but it is also popular in the summer as green and loggerhead turtles come and lay their eggs. During this time, there are cordoned off areas of the beach where you can enjoy the sea and sand as usual while protecting the ecology of the local area.

4. Glapsides Public Beach, Famagusta

A short drive from Nicosia, Glapsides Public Beach is great if you are staying in the capital and looking for an accessible beach. It has excellent facilities, with local a mini market, bar, restaurant and showers. The beach is busy, but the atmosphere is friendly, with the beach’s users being mainly young people and families. There is also dance and club music played by DJs on the beach in the eveninhg for those who like to party.

5. Silver Beach, Famagusta

Silver Beach is south of the ruins at Salamis, combining the joys of this beach with the history and culture on offer in this famous area. The beach is also varied in terms of activities, with a reef that is great for snorkeling and exploring; there are huge numbers of fish and interesting types of marine life to be discovered among the ancient jetties in the cove. The cove is also suitable for younger children due to the shallow shelving of the sand, so the whole family can enjoy the area.