Iskele and Long Beach: the new face of TRNC tourism

Iskele (İskele in Turkish) is the fastest-growing district in TRNC and has become the centre of new-build hotel and apartment development on the island. The Long Beach (Uzun Kumsal) coastline runs roughly 25 km from Boğaz in the south to Bafra in the north and is the location of the largest TRNC resorts — Caesar Resort, Noah's Ark Deluxe, Kaya Artemis, Salamis Bay Conti and the new Caesar Bay and Courtyard Long Beach developments. Where 20 years ago this was a sleepy strip of farmland and small fishing villages, today it has the highest concentration of all-inclusive resort beds in TRNC. The area attracts a different visitor profile from Kyrenia: more package-tour Turkish and Russian visitors, more families with children, more all-inclusive holidays. Sur Car Hire's main office is right here in Bogaz, just north of the Long Beach strip. We've been renting cars in TRNC since 1979 and have served the Iskele district through its full transformation from agricultural village to resort town. Free hotel delivery covers every property along the strip.

Long Beach itself: hotels, beach clubs and water sports

Long Beach is a true long beach — over 25 km of golden sand, shallow water, gentle slope into the sea and a near-continuous strip of beach clubs, bars and resort beach areas. The southern end (Boğaz to Long Beach proper) has the older established resorts: Salamis Bay Conti, Long Beach Club Resort, Pia Bella. The middle (Caesar/Noah's Ark area) is the densest hotel cluster, with day-pass beach access available at most resorts for non-guests. The northern Bafra strip has the newest builds — Kaya Artemis with its replica Trojan Horse, the Bafra International Hotel, the Concorde Luxury Resort and several big casinos. Water sports are concentrated around Caesar Resort and Bafra; jet ski rental, banana boats, parasailing and stand-up paddleboards are all available in season. The water is calm enough for children most of the summer; lifeguards are on duty at all major resort beaches. The Bogaz fishing harbour at the southern end has half a dozen seafood restaurants and is the local Sunday-lunch destination — try Boğaz Restaurant or Exotic Restaurant for fresh sea bass.

Day trips from Iskele: Famagusta, Karpaz and the south coast

Iskele's strategic position on the east coast puts most of TRNC's interesting destinations within an hour's drive. Heading south, Famagusta walls and the Salamis ancient site are 25 minutes away on the coast road. Heading north, the Karpaz peninsula gateway at Bogaz is just 5 minutes from the main hotel strip, with Yeni Erenköy 30 minutes further and Apostolos Andreas Monastery at the Karpaz tip a 2-hour drive. Heading inland on the new highway, Lefkoşa is 60 minutes and Ercan Airport 75 minutes. The Beşparmak mountain villages of Esentepe and Karaağaç are 45 minutes north-west — quiet alternative bases for hiking and quiet lunches. Within 15 minutes of Iskele itself, you can visit the Salamis ancient ruins (8 km), the Kantara Castle ridge (45 minutes), the Boğaz fishing harbour and the inland village of Yeni Erenköy. The new Bafra-Karpaz highway has reduced the Karpaz transit by about 20 minutes; the older inland road via Yeniboğaziçi is still scenic but slower.

Iskele driving tips: roads, parking, fuel

Driving around Iskele is the easiest part of TRNC. The main coastal highway runs the length of the strip with two lanes in each direction at 100 km/h speed limit. Side roads to the resorts are short, paved and clearly signposted. Parking at every Long Beach hotel is free for guests — receptions issue parking passes at check-in. The Bogaz fishing harbour has a large free public car park. The walled city of Famagusta has paid car parks outside the gates (Çanbulat, Land Gate); avoid driving inside the walls as the streets are narrow and one-way. Petrol stations are common along the highway — Türk Petrol, BRT and a couple of independents. Card payment everywhere. The new Bafra-Karpaz highway has eliminated the old single-lane bottleneck through Boğaz and made early-morning Karpaz day-trips much more pleasant. At night, watch for animal crossings on the inland routes towards Yeniboğaziçi and the older mountain roads — donkeys and goats are common.

Booking Sur Car Hire from an Iskele hotel

Booking a car from a Long Beach hotel is the easiest delivery in our service area — our main office is in Bogaz, 5 minutes north of the resort strip. Pick your dates and vehicle online (https://surcarhire.com), then message us on WhatsApp (+90 533 841 79 79) with your hotel name. We confirm a meeting time at hotel reception, usually within a 30-minute window of your requested time. Our driver brings the car to reception, walks you through it, hands over the keys and signs the paperwork — under 10 minutes. Drop-off can be at the same hotel reception, at Ercan Airport (also free) or at any other Iskele hotel if you're moving accommodation. Payment is at handover in GBP cash or by card; no deposit required at booking. The fleet ranges from economy hatchbacks for couples up to Toyota Sienta and Toyota Isis 7-seaters for families. The Nissan Serena hybrid is the largest in the fleet — useful for groups of 6–7 with luggage planning a longer Karpaz trip. Sur Car Hire has been operating in TRNC since 1979 and our family ownership means we know the Long Beach hotels by name, not by booking reference.