Getting to North Cyprus from London
London is the only place in the UK where you have a genuine choice of departure airport for this trip. Heathrow and Gatwick, Stansted and Luton all feed connections towards the island, and they are not interchangeable — the carriers differ, the connecting airport in Türkiye differs, and the price points differ with them.
The practical consequence: compare the total journey, not the fare. Getting across London to the wrong airport can cost more time than the flight saves you, and an early departure from the far side of the city means a night's sleep you will not get back.
Four airports, two routes
The Heathrow and Gatwick options generally route through the larger İstanbul hub. The Stansted and Luton options tend to run through Sabiha Gökçen and sit at a lower price point. Both get you to Ercan, which is the airport inside North Cyprus and a short drive from Kyrenia.
London is also where the alternative route is at its most competitive. Direct flights to Larnaca from the London airports are plentiful, which means fares are keen and the option of flying south and crossing north by road is a real one rather than a fallback. It costs you ground time and involves a border crossing — and if you are hiring a car, cover taken out in the south generally will not let you drive north. Our routing guide weighs both up properly.
Visiting family, not just visiting
A large share of the people we deal with from London are not coming as tourists. London is home to the biggest Turkish Cypriot community anywhere in the world — larger than the population of the island's north itself — concentrated in the north London boroughs, and a great many of those families travel back regularly.
That is a different kind of trip and it needs different things. Often it means travelling outside the peak weeks, staying longer than a fortnight, or needing a few rooms near the family home when the house is full and relatives are over at the same time. Sometimes it is simply somewhere comfortable for parents who no longer want to stay with the family for a month.
We can do all of that, and we are used to the request. Tell us the area you need to be near rather than a resort name, and we will work from that.
When to go from London
English school holidays set the peak weeks and the prices that come with them. If you are not tied to them, the shoulder seasons in late spring and early autumn are the best value on the island and the most comfortable weather. If you are travelling to see family, the quiet weeks either side of the school holidays are usually easier on every front.
Where you will stay
Our accommodation is in Kyrenia, a short drive from Ercan. Have a look at what is available, or read our Kyrenia guide if you want a sense of the area first.
Planning it from here
Send us your dates, how many of you there are and which London airport you are flying from. We will tell you what is available and what it costs. Nothing is charged online. Get in touch, or see the other departure cities on North Cyprus holidays from the UK.
Questions and answers
Which London airport is best for North Cyprus?
The one you can reach easily. Heathrow and Gatwick generally route through the larger İstanbul hub, while Stansted and Luton tend to run through Sabiha Gökçen at a lower price point. Crossing London to the wrong airport often costs more than the fare difference saves.
Is it worth flying to Larnaca instead from London?
It can be. Direct Larnaca flights from the London airports are plentiful and keenly priced. The cost is a longer journey on the ground and a border crossing — and hire car cover from the south generally does not extend to the north.
Can you help with a longer family visit rather than a holiday?
Yes, and we get the request often. Longer stays, off-peak dates and rooms near a particular area rather than a resort are all straightforward. Tell us the area you need to be near.
When is the best time to travel from London?
Outside the English school holidays if you can. Late spring and early autumn give the best combination of weather, availability and value.
How do I get a price?
Send your dates, guest numbers and departure airport. We reply with what is available and what it costs. Nothing is charged on the website.
