Girne Old Harbour: History, Walks and What to See Today

Girne Old Harbour (Girne Antik Liman, Eski Liman) is a historic harbour in the centre of the city, next to Girne Castle. Today, people come here for walks along the waterfront, cafés and restaurants, boat trips and the old urban architecture. Entrance to the harbour is free. In 2026, infrastructure upgrades are continuing here: a new pier is being built, and a small exhibition on the history of the harbour has been prepared in the historic customs building.

• History of Girne Old Harbour
• What can be found in the harbour today
• Girne Castle and the Shipwreck Museum
• Boat trips from the old harbour
• The historic customs building
• Harbour reconstruction and the new pier
• How to visit the harbour
• Where to park
• Frequently asked questions

History of Girne Old Harbour

For many years, the old harbour was Girne's commercial centre. Local agricultural products passed through it, while the buildings along the waterfront were also used as warehouses. Carob, or harup, which was grown in Northern Cyprus and shipped by sea, played a particularly notable role in trade.

Traces of different periods in the city's development have survived directly around the harbour. Girne Castle is nearby, while the historic customs building stands at the entrance to the port. During the period of British administration, the port infrastructure changed and the waterfront was improved, while the harbour gradually acquired not only commercial but also urban significance.

Over time, the main cargo and passenger functions moved to the modern Girne port. The old harbour should not be confused with the active passenger port: ferries between Northern Cyprus and Turkey depart from the new port, while the historic harbour is now used primarily for small vessels, sightseeing boats and tourism activities.

What can be found in the harbour today

Today, the old harbour is primarily a promenade area. Restaurants, cafés, pizzerias and bars are located along the waterfront, while small boats, yachts and tourist vessels are moored at the piers.

You can come here simply for a walk, have lunch or drink coffee by the water, watch the boats, then go up to the old town or visit the castle. The waterfront becomes especially lively in the evening.

The main options for exploring the harbour area are:

• walk along the historic waterfront;
• visit Girne Castle;
• see the ancient shipwreck museum inside the castle;
• choose a boat trip;
• sit in one of the restaurants or cafés by the water;
• see the historic customs building;
• walk from the harbour through the narrow streets of the old part of Girne;
• return to the water in the evening, when the harbour and castle are illuminated.

Girne Castle and the Shipwreck Museum

Girne Castle is located directly beside the eastern part of the old harbour, so the two sites are convenient to visit during one walk.

Inside the castle are an inner courtyard, towers, historic rooms and the Shipwreck Museum. The museum's main exhibit is the remains of an ancient merchant vessel and the cargo found with it. The ship dates back to the 4th century BC.

More information about what is inside can be found in the article «Girne Castle: What Awaits Visitors Inside».

During the summer period from 1 April to 31 October 2026, the castle is open from 08:00 to 19:00, with last admission at 18:00. The full ticket costs 150 TL, while the student ticket costs 50 TL.
Location

Boat trips from the old harbour

The old harbour remains one of the main departure points for tourist boat trips in the Girne area. At the piers, you can see sightseeing vessels of various sizes, from small boats to stylised wooden ships.

Group trips along the coast, excursions with swimming stops, private vessel hire and other boat programmes are available. The schedule and price depend on the operator, the duration of the route and the season.

More information about options for going out to sea can be found in the article «Boat Trips and Yacht Hire in Northern Cyprus».

The historic customs building

At the entrance to the old harbour stands the historic Gümrük Binası building, the former customs house. It is part of the historic architecture of the port area.

In 2026, the ground floor of the building was prepared as a small exhibition space dedicated to the history of the old harbour. The exhibition includes historical documents and photographs, materials about the harbour's cultural heritage, as well as images of the area before and after reconstruction.

The creation of the exhibition was officially announced in June 2026. At that time, the premises had already been prepared to open to visitors.

Harbour reconstruction and the new pier

The large-scale reconstruction of Girne Antik Liman began in December 2022. The work affected the engineering infrastructure, the land-based part of the harbour, landscaping and maritime infrastructure. During the works, the harbour and the establishments located there remained closed for an extended period.

After the main works, the area gradually became accessible to visitors again at the end of 2023, while the official opening of the renovated harbour took place on 20 April 2024 during a tourism festival in Girne.

The harbour upgrade did not end there. In 2026, a new stage began involving the pier infrastructure. In March 2026, funding of 25,000,000 TL was allocated for the project to upgrade the old harbour pier and Zincir Kule pier and clean the harbour's waters.

In summer 2026, construction of the new wooden pier was continuing. According to information published in June and July, the work was at its final stage. The new pier is expected to increase the harbour's usable capacity and improve conditions for visitors, vessels and the businesses operating here.

Therefore, when visiting in September 2026, keep in mind that some elements of the pier infrastructure may still be in the process of being completed.

How to visit the harbour

The old harbour is located in the very centre of Girne. Entrance is free, and no separate ticket is required for a walk along the waterfront.

It is most convenient to walk there from the central part of the city. The journey from the main shopping streets and the centre of Girne takes approximately 5–10 minutes. Signs for Harbor, Old Harbour and Girne Castle serve as landmarks.

It is not possible to drive directly to the water: it is more convenient to leave your car in one of the car parks above the harbour and walk down.
Location

Where to park

Cars do not enter the historic part of the harbour itself. There are several car parks nearby, from which the waterfront can be reached on foot.

One of the most convenient options is Baldöken Otoparkı, a large car park approximately 5 minutes' walk from the harbour. Another paid car park is located closer, about 2–3 minutes away on foot, but it is smaller and fills up faster during busy hours.

Free spaces can also be found under the castle walls and along 20 Temmuz Kordonboyu Caddesi, although availability is not guaranteed.

Exact locations and driving directions are provided in the article «Car Parks in the Girne Harbour Area».

Useful services

• If you need a car for trips around Northern Cyprus, you can compare rental options through Localrent.
• If you are planning to spend several days in Girne, you can view hotels and apartments through Trip.com.
• For mobile internet during your trip, you can use the travel Drimsim eSIM.

Frequently asked questions

Is entrance to Girne Old Harbour paid?

No. You can walk around the old harbour and along the waterfront free of charge. A separate ticket is required to visit Girne Castle.

Are the old harbour and Girne passenger port the same place?

No. The old harbour is the historic and tourist area in the centre of Girne. Regular passenger ferries depart from the city's modern port.

Where do boat trips depart from?

Many tourist sightseeing vessels depart directly from the old harbour. Operators' offers can be seen at the piers.

Are there restaurants and cafés in the harbour?

Yes. Numerous establishments operate along the waterfront, including restaurants, cafés, bars and pizzerias. Some of them are located in the historic buildings of the harbour.

What can be seen near the harbour?

The main attraction nearby is Girne Castle with its ancient shipwreck museum. From the harbour, it is also convenient to continue walking through the streets of the old town.

How much time should be set aside for a visit?

About 1–2 hours is enough for a walk around the harbour itself. If you add the castle, museum, lunch and a walk through the old town, it is convenient to allow several hours for this area.

Has the reconstruction of the old harbour been completed?

The main reconstruction has been completed, and the renovated harbour officially opened in April 2024. However, a separate project to upgrade the pier infrastructure is continuing in 2026. In summer, construction of the new pier was at its final stage.

What new features appeared in the harbour in 2026?

In addition to the work on the new pier, a small exhibition about the history of Girne Antik Liman was prepared in the historic customs building, with documents, photographs and materials about the reconstruction.