Travel in North Cyprus

Travel in North Cyprus, Information about busses, taxis, etc. services

BUS AND TAXI SERVICES
As North Cyprus has no railway system, the towns and the country districts are linked by bus and taxi services. However, although inter town buses usually run until dusk, the country bus services are timed to bring villagers and their produce to market early in the morning, returning about midday when business is done. They are therefore of little use to tourists who are based on the towns and resorts, and whose requirements probably lie in the opposite direction. The average bus fare for a distance of 25 miles is 100 mils ( £1.00 - £5.00). Inexpensive taxi services augment the buses. Seats may be booked in advance in taxis operating regularly and frequently between the majority of main towns, also between North Cyprus Nicosia, North Cyprus Kyrenia, North Cyprus Guzelyurt and the North Cyprus Famagusta . However, the volume of traffic between Nicosia and Kyrenia does not justify a regular service. These taxi services run on time, pick you up at your hotel or private address, and deposit you wherever you please when your destination is reached. For instance, the statutory fare between Nicosia and Famagusta is 350 mils per seat. Bus and taxi services are run by private operators, and there are no comprehensive timetables. However, cyclostyled sheets giving schedules, prices, and addresses and telephone numbers of operators and agents are available from Tourist Information Bureaux.

COACHES
Details of coach tours may be obtained fromNorth Cyprus. Tourist Information Bureaux, or from the larger hotels. Such tours, which are seasonal, are also advertised in the Cyprus Today, Cyprus Times or Cyprus Miror the English language newspapers, published weekly/daily newspapers or in Hotels lobbies boards.

TAXIS
Taxis are numerous in the towns, and operate from the offices of their owners rather than from taxi ranks. They are best contacted by telephone if no taxi office is in your vicinity. Taxis are distinguishable from private cars either by an illuminated sign or by a broad yellow horizontal band around their bodies. (Self-drive cars usually have a distinguishing white band.) At the time this book goes to press a specimen rate is dependable to the distance. A private taxi from North Cyprus Nicosia to North Cyprus Kyrenia costs approx. £15 GBP. For longer distances payment is by time, and it varies from 600 to 750 mils per hour. But when engaging a taxi for excursions into the country a private arrangement should be made with the taxi operator, and advice will be forthcoming from the local Tourist Information Bureau or your hotelier. As a rough guide, a chauffeur-driven car which is what the taxis are should cost from approx. £50 (dependable from distances) inclusive per day.

CAR HIRE AND DRIVING
However well organized regular transport may be, and however productive of local colour and interesting acquaintanceships, a visitor bound for the archaeological sites, churches and beauty spots outside the main towns must devise some form of independent transport if he wishes to come and go at will. Numerous firms specialize in self-drive car hire. Charges average from £12 daily, £76-80 weekly, varying according to the size and make of car. Drivers not in possession of an international driving permit must obtain a temporary licence. The Survey of Cyprus Motor Map, 8 miles to the inch, and obtainable in a single sheet from booksellers, is adequate for general purposes. Asphalted roads are marked in red. This map is periodically revised in an attempt to keep up to date with road developments. It is relevant to remark here that continuing road improvement schemes lead to the elimination of bends, etc., as well as the by-passing of towns and villages, so that our figures may err on the side of overestimation. A scale of 4 miles to the inch would be preferable for the use of adventurous motorists. However, at the time of going to press this is not available in up-to-date form. As a piece of extraneous information, it is worth noting that the first trigonometrical survey of the island was published in 1885 as a result of the work of Captain (later Lord) Kitchener, who was Director of Surveys in Cyprus. His map was on a scale to the inch. The main roads are excellent, well cambered and with good surfaces, though care must be taken when using their shoulders for passing other traffic. The occasional pothole must be watched for. Plenty of time should be allowed when covering distances on minor roads, especially in the mountain districts, since inevitable hairpin bends and steep gradients add to fatigue and put high speeds out of the question. International road signs have been erected throughout the island. Place names are given in the English form, as well as in Greek or Turkish capitals thus constituting a first step towards familiarity with the alphabet. 'LEFKOSIA', the ancient name for Nicosia, occurs infrequently. The rule of the road is to the left.

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