Northern Cyprus Car Hire — Your Complete Guide
Northern Cyprus (officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC / KKTC) sits on the northern third of the island of Cyprus and is one of the most rewarding self-drive destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Sur Car Hire has been renting cars in North Cyprus since 1979. This page is the central hub for everything you need to know about renting a car in northern Cyprus: where to pick up, what to expect on the roads, how distances work between the main towns, and which fleet category fits your trip.
The geography in five minutes
Northern Cyprus is small but varied — you can drive from the western tip near Yeşilirmak to the eastern Karpaz peninsula in roughly four hours without rushing. The five main bases for visitors are: Kyrenia (Girne) on the north coast, with its Venetian harbour and the Beşparmak (Five-Finger) mountain range as a backdrop; Nicosia (Lefkoşa) inland, the world's only divided capital and the seat of TRNC government; Famagusta (Gazimağusa) on the east coast, with its medieval walls and the ghost-town of Varosha just south; Iskele (İskele) and the Long Beach hotel strip further north on the east coast, home to most of the new resort developments; and Ercan Airport (ECN), the main entry point — though Larnaca Airport (LCA) in the south of Cyprus is also used by some travellers via the border crossings.
Why a hire car is the right choice for North Cyprus
- Public transport is limited — long-distance buses cover the main triangle (Girne / Lefkoşa / Mağusa) but reach the Karpaz peninsula, Yeşilirmak, or specific beaches infrequently.
- Distances are short — Ercan Airport to Kyrenia is 45 minutes, Kyrenia to Famagusta is about 75 minutes, and you can comfortably base yourself in one town and day-trip everywhere else.
- Roads are paved and well-signed on the main coastal and inland routes. Right-hand drive (steering wheel on the right) — driving is on the LEFT side of the road, the same as the UK.
- Fuel is widely available, parking is free or cheap, and there are very few toll roads. The economics favour a rental over taxi-by-taxi sightseeing as soon as you plan more than one day-trip.
- Border-crossing protocol differs from the south — TRNC-registered hire cars typically cannot cross the Green Line into the Republic of Cyprus. If you want both sides, plan a one-way rental and a second car after the crossing.
Pickup locations — choose your base
We deliver to five canonical pickup points across TRNC and arrange free hotel / address delivery within each district. Each location page below has its own opening hours, driving distances, hotel coverage and local FAQs.
Automobilių nuoma Ercano oro uoste (ECN), Šiaurės Kipras
Automobilių nuoma Erdžano oro uoste (ECN), Šiaurės Kipras. Nemokamas pristatymas į Kirėnijos, Nikosijos, Famagustos ir Iskelės viešbučius. Nuo 1979 m.
Automobilių nuoma Kyrenia (Girne), Šiaurės Kipras
Automobilių nuoma Kirėnijoje (Girnė), Šiaurės Kipras. Nemokamas pristatymas į viešbučius, jachtų uostą ir adresais mieste. Šeimos įmonė nuo 1979 m.
Automobilių nuoma Nicosia (Lefkoşa), Šiaurės Kipras
Automobilių nuoma Nikosijoje (Lefkoša), Šiaurės Kipras. Nemokamas pristatymas į centrą, viešbučius ir universitetų kvartalus. Nuo 1979 m.
Automobilių nuoma Famagusta (Gazimağusa), Šiaurės Kipras
Automobilių nuoma Famagustoje (Gazimagusa), Šiaurės Kipras. Nemokamas pristatymas į viešbučius ir adresais mieste. Šeimos įmonė nuo 1979 m.
Iskele automobilių nuoma — Long Beach nuoma, Šiaurės Kipras
Automobilių nuoma Iskelėje su nemokamu pristatymu į Long Beach viešbučius. Mūsų biuras – Bogaze, šalia Long Beach. Šeimos įmonė nuo 1979 m.
Boğaz automobilių nuoma — vietinė paslauga nuo 1979 m.
Automobilių nuoma Bogaze iš čia įsikūrusios šeimos įmonės, dirbančios nuo 1979 m. Nemokamas pristatymas į Bogazo, Long Beach ir Bafros viešbučius.
Long Beach automobilių nuoma — nemokamas pristatymas į viešbutį, Šiaurės Kipras
Long Beach (Uzun Kumsal) automobilių nuoma su nemokamu pristatymu į kurortų viešbučius. Šeimos įmonė nuo 1979 m., biuras netoliese – Bogaze.
Bafra automobilių nuoma — pristatymas į kurortus, Šiaurės Kipras
Bafros automobilių nuoma su nemokamu pristatymu į kurortų viešbučius ir butų kompleksus. Šeimos įmonė nuo 1979 m., biuras netoliese – Bogaze.
Just need a taxi or airport transfer?
If your trip doesn't justify a multi-day rental — say a single airport pickup, a wedding party, or a one-off Karpaz day trip — we run a fixed-price taxi and transfer service alongside the rental fleet.
See taxi & transfer pageNorthern Cyprus car hire FAQ
Is it better to hire a car at Ercan Airport or in town?+
Pick up at Ercan if you want to drive directly to your hotel; pick up in town if you plan to spend the first day or two on foot and only need the car for excursions.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Northern Cyprus?+
The left, with the steering wheel on the right — the same convention as the UK, Ireland, Australia and the south of Cyprus. Roundabouts go clockwise. Speed limits are 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 65 km/h on rural roads and 50 km/h in towns.
Can I drive a TRNC hire car to the south (Republic of Cyprus)?+
Generally no — TRNC-registered cars are not recognised by the southern insurance system. If you want to visit both sides, the standard approach is to drop the TRNC car at the border crossing and rent a southern car on the other side, then reverse the process on the return.
What is the minimum age to rent a car?+
The minimum driver age is 26.
How far apart are the main towns?+
Ercan Airport to Kyrenia is roughly 45 minutes, Ercan to Nicosia 30 minutes, Ercan to Famagusta 40 minutes, Ercan to Iskele 35 minutes. Kyrenia to Famagusta is about 75 minutes; Iskele to Karpaz tip is around 80 minutes.
Are there toll roads or congestion charges?+
No — there are no toll roads or congestion charges anywhere in TRNC. Town-centre parking is mostly free; a small handful of city centres have paid street parking but rates are nominal.
Do you offer one-way rental between pickup points?+
Yes — for example, pick up at Ercan Airport and drop off at Kyrenia or Iskele. Note your drop-off point at booking.
Reserve a car for your TRNC trip
Live GBP pricing on your dates — economy hatchback through 7-seat minivan. No deposit at booking. Pay at handover.
Browse the fleet