Things to do in Catalköy are its own quiet beaches, horse riding and hillside walks, plus the castles and harbour a short drive away in Kyrenia (Girne). Catalköy, once called Agios Epiktitos, sits on the coast east of Kyrenia in North Cyprus, about 10 to 15 minutes from the town centre.
This guide to what to do in Catalköy covers the village beaches at Shayna, Diana and Lara, the At Çiftliği riding stables, the walking trails in the Besparmak mountains behind the village, and the day trips to St Hilarion Castle and the Kyrenia coast. Most of it runs from spring to autumn, and a car makes the whole area easy to reach.
- The best things to do in Catalköy are beaches, horse riding and hillside walks, with Kyrenia a 10 to 15 minute drive west.
- Shayna Beach Club entry costs 10 Turkish lira, covering sun loungers, parasols, showers and changing rooms, with lifeguards from 9am to 6pm.
- Alagadi Turtle Beach hosts nesting green and loggerhead turtles from 1 May to 31 October, with the sand off-limits between 8pm and 8am.
- St Hilarion Castle is a mountain fortress at about 732 metres in the Besparmak range above Kyrenia.
- At Çiftliği is one of only 3 riding centres on the island, leading guided treks into the Kyrenia mountains.
What are the best things to do in Catalköy?
The best things to do in Catalköy are its beaches, horse riding and hillside walks, with the castles and harbour of Kyrenia a short drive west. The village stays a calm, family-friendly base, so its own sights sit minutes apart and the bigger day trips are a quick drive along the coast.
These Catalköy attractions divide into 3 groups: the coast, the countryside, and the day trips into Kyrenia. The same calm that defines living in Catalköy is what a day out here trades on, so even in August the beaches and trails stay uncrowded. The table below sorts the main things to do in Catalköy North Cyprus by type and rough drive time.
Which beaches can you visit in Catalköy?
The beaches in Catalköy run from lively beach clubs to quiet, west-facing bays and protected turtle sands. Shayna and Vogue bring sunbeds and music, Diana and Baris stay calm, and Lara draws summer nesting, so a single stretch of coast covers busy days and quiet sunset swims alike.
The full run of Catalköy beaches shifts in mood from beach-club music to empty golden bays, so the best things to do in Catalköy Cyprus start on the sand, from the resort frontage at Sahil Beach to the quieter coves below. Each beach below gives what it is, where it sits, and what to expect.
Shayna Beach Club
Shayna Beach Club is a stylish beachfront club on soft golden sand in Catalköy, open from mid-April to late October. Entry costs 10 Turkish lira (TL), which covers sun loungers, parasols, showers and changing rooms, and lifeguards patrol from 9am to 6pm. Its restaurant serves Cypriot dishes and seafood, and the club runs live music and themed events through the season, so a beach day here rolls easily into the evening.
Diana Beach
Diana Beach is a quiet, west-facing bay of over 200 metres of golden sand near the edge of Catalköy, known for its sunsets. Facilities stay minimal, with restrooms and umbrella hire but no lifeguard, so it suits a calm swim, a snorkel and a sundowner rather than a full beach-club day. Free parking sits at an adjacent lot, and the west-facing shore turns the evening into the main event.
Lara Beach (Turtle Beach)
Lara Beach, also called Turtle Beach, is a natural stretch of clear sea and warm sand where turtles nest through the summer. A conservation station protects the nesting grounds from May to August, when access can be limited, so an organised trip is the reliable way in during peak season. Infrastructure is sparse, so carry water, food and shade rather than expecting kiosks on the sand.
Baris Beach
Baris Beach is a family-friendly bay of clear blue water and fine sand, named after the Northern Cyprus Peace Operation. On-site food and drink make it an easy day for families and couples alike, and the calm water suits younger swimmers. It rounds out Catalköy’s public beaches alongside the clubs, a lower-key alternative to the sunbed-and-DJ crowd.
Vogue Beach Club
Vogue Beach Club is a beach-and-entertainment venue in Catalköy that pairs daytime sunbeds with nightlife. The daytime offer covers water sports, loungers, umbrellas and dining, while the evenings bring live music, DJ sets and themed parties. It is the busiest, most social of the village’s beaches, so it suits a group after a lively day on the sand rather than a quiet swim.
Can you go horse riding at At Çiftliği in Catalköy?
Yes, you can go horse riding at At Çiftliği, the Catalköy riding stables, one of only 3 riding centres on the island. The team leads guided treks from the village along forest tracks and up to historical sights in the Kyrenia mountains, with lessons for beginners and longer riding holidays for regulars.
Locals know the stables as the At Ciftligi Catalköy horse riding centre, or the Catalköy Riding Club. The guided format suits the terrain: the trails climb straight off the coast into pine woodland, so a half-day ride doubles as sightseeing. Beginners start with a lesson in the paddock before joining a short walk, while experienced riders book multi-day treks with catering and accommodation arranged. Rides run best in spring and autumn, when the hills are green and the heat is off.
“Marked paths climb from the coast into forest and rocky ridgelines, giving long views back over the sea, and the same range carries the medieval castles that crown the skyline.”
Where can you walk in the hills above Catalköy?
You can walk in the hills above Catalköy on the pine trails of the Besparmak mountains that rise directly behind the village. Marked paths climb from the coast into forest and rocky ridgelines, giving long views back over the sea, and the same range carries the medieval castles that crown the skyline.
The Trapeza ridge above Catalköy is the best-known local climb, a steep pull to a flat-topped rock with a panorama over the coast and the Besparmak wall behind. Higher up, the waymarked long-distance path along the range links these tops for walkers who want more than an afternoon. Save the exposed sections for the cooler months, from about October to May, and carry water, sturdy shoes and sun cover whatever the season.
What is there to see in Catalköy village itself?
Catalköy village itself offers a public garden, an old tekke shrine and a historic church, plus wine tastings and a low-key bar scene. The old core, once the Greek-Cypriot village of Agios Epiktitos, keeps a quiet, residential feel, so its sights are small, walkable stops rather than headline attractions.
Eminağa Garden is the village’s green space, an easy stop for families, while the Hz. Omar Tekke is a small Muslim shrine within the village bounds. The 18th-century Agios Epiktitos church gives the old settlement its name and a glimpse of its older, Greek-Cypriot history. After dark, the Wine Travellers Club runs Cypriot wine tastings and curated trips, and a few bars such as Soyz keep the evenings gentle rather than raucous. Families also find a small water park in the area for a hot afternoon. For dinner, the resort hotels and restaurants around Catalköy cover Cypriot meze, seafood and international menus from Indian to Chinese, and the larger resort hotels carry casinos for late-night entertainment.
Can you see turtles at Alagadi Turtle Beach near Catalköy?
Yes, you can see nesting turtles at Alagadi Turtle Beach, a protected sanctuary a short drive east of Catalköy, about 18 km east of Kyrenia. Green and loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay through the summer, and the beach closes to casual visitors overnight in season to protect the nests.
Warning
The nesting season runs from 1 May to 31 October, and through it the sand is off-limits between 8pm and 8am.
The nesting season runs from 1 May to 31 October, and through it the sand is off-limits between 8pm and 8am. The Society for the Protection of Turtles monitors the 2 species here, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), ringing each nest with a wire cage and running the guided night walks that are the only way onto the beach after dark. By day the turtles stay buried, so a daytime visit is about the clear water and the long sand, not a sighting. Facilities stay basic, with a beach cafe, showers and parasol hire but no rows of sunbeds.
What day trips can you take near Catalköy?
The best things to do near Catalköy are the castles and harbour of Kyrenia (Girne), a 10 to 15 minute drive west. Kyrenia harbour and its sea castle, the mountain-top St Hilarion Castle and the Gothic cloisters of Bellapais Abbey fill an easy day out, with boat trips leaving from the harbour quay.
Each sight below sits a short hop from the last, so a single loop links the coast, the town and the mountains. A guided Kyrenia tour that takes in the castle, the abbey and the harbour runs about 6 to 7 hours, though fares shift each season, so confirm the current rate before booking.
Kyrenia harbour and castle
Kyrenia harbour is the postcard heart of Girne, a horseshoe of restored merchant houses now filled with cafes and fish restaurants beneath the walls of Kyrenia Castle. The castle, Byzantine in origin, holds the Shipwreck Museum, where an ancient Greek trading vessel raised from the seabed is on show. Evenings on the quay are the liveliest time, and boat trips leave from here along the coast.
St Hilarion Castle
St Hilarion Castle is a fairy-tale mountain fortress at about 732 metres in the Besparmak range above Kyrenia, said to have inspired the castle in Disney’s Snow White. A steep, stepped path climbs through 3 tiers to Prince John’s Tower, and the Queen’s Window frames the northern coast. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water, and start early to avoid the afternoon heat on the exposed climb.
Bellapais Abbey
Bellapais Abbey is a medieval Gothic monastery in a hillside village a few minutes above Kyrenia, its cloister and refectory looking out over the coast. Founded by Augustinian monks, the ruins survive well enough to host summer concerts, and most visitors need about 30 minutes here. A modest entrance fee applies, and it pairs naturally with St Hilarion on the same mountain loop.
Kyrenia harbour boat trips
Boat trips from Kyrenia harbour are group day cruises to clear coves for swimming, snorkelling and lunch on board. They run mainly from spring to autumn, when the sea stays calm and warm, leaving mid-morning and returning by late afternoon. Fares and departure times change each season, so check the schedule before you turn up rather than relying on last year’s times.
Why base a North Cyprus trip in Catalköy?
Catalköy works as a base because it pairs a quiet, family-friendly village with quick access to Kyrenia. The town’s sights sit 10 to 15 minutes west, its own beaches and stables are minutes away, and Ercan, the nearest airport, is about a 45-minute drive.
A car makes the difference here, since the beaches, the stables and the day trips all sit a few minutes apart and the dolmus minibus service is thin. That easy access to both coast and town is what draws holiday-home buyers to Catalköy property, who want a quiet village that never feels cut off. Taxis and hire cars fill the gaps for anyone without their own transport.
The verdict on a Catalköy trip
Plan a Catalköy trip around the coast first, then let the hills and Kyrenia fill the rest. The best things to do in Catalköy reward anyone who treats the calm village as a base: a beach-club morning at Shayna, a sunset swim at Diana, a guided ride into the Besparmak, and an afternoon among Kyrenia’s harbour and castles. Hire a car, match the season to the activity, and this quiet corner east of Girne turns a relaxed address into a full itinerary.
FAQ
Yes, Catalköy is worth visiting for its quiet beaches and quick access to Kyrenia, especially from spring to autumn. The village suits travellers who want beach clubs, horse riding and hillside walks over nightlife, with St Hilarion Castle and the harbour a short drive west and Alagadi’s turtles a short drive east.
Catalköy is about a 10 to 15 minute drive east of Kyrenia (Girne) along the coast road. The short hop makes Kyrenia’s harbour, castle and old town an easy half-day trip, and Ercan, the nearest airport, sits roughly 45 minutes away, so a hire car is the practical way to get around.
Catalköy’s beaches are a mix of beach clubs and quiet bays: the Shayna and Vogue clubs, Diana, Baris and Lara (Turtle) Beach, plus the resort sand at Sahil Beach. Shayna charges 10 TL for loungers and facilities, while Diana stays free, minimal and best for a west-facing sunset swim.
Yes, you can see nesting turtles at Alagadi Turtle Beach, a short drive east of Catalköy, from 1 May to 31 October. Green and loggerhead turtles lay through the summer, and the surest way to watch is a guided night walk with the Society for the Protection of Turtles, since the beach closes to casual visitors between 8pm and 8am.
Yes, a car is the practical way to explore Catalköy, because the beaches, stables and day trips sit a few minutes’ drive apart and the dolmus minibus service is limited. The village core is walkable, but Alagadi, the Besparmak trails and Kyrenia’s castles all involve a short drive rather than a walk.