Kyrenia Mountains

The Kyrenia Mountains (also historically called Pentadaktylos) form a limestone ridge along northern Cyprus with a distinctive jagged profile and peaks rising to just over 1,000 metres. The range is a prominent coastal backbone in the island’s north.

The area offers a mix of rugged hiking terrain and cultural highlights; the ridge provides coastal views and contains several well known medieval castles and ruins. Hikers use marked and informal trails to reach viewpoints and historic sites scattered along the ridge.

These mountains have a long strategic history and contain fortifications erected and used in Byzantine, Lusignan and later medieval periods; the castles and chapels visible today date from medieval centuries and were adapted over time. The landscape has also supported rural village life for centuries.

The range runs close to the northern coast of Cyprus, overlooking the Mediterranean and the city of Kyrenia (Girne). The slopes fall toward coastal plains on the north side and more agricultural interior on the south side.

• Viewpoints: Best panoramic views are from the northern slopes overlooking the Mediterranean coast near the town of Kyrenia (Girne).
• Trails and castles: Several medieval castles and chapels are accessible by marked trails, making the range a popular day-trip for hiking and history combined.

What to See #

• Mount Selvili (highest peak): A steep ridge whose five-finger profile gives the range its traditional Greek name; the highest point is Mount Selvili, just over 1,000 metres.
• St. Hilarion, Buffavento, Kantara castles: A group of medieval fortifications on the range built and used in Byzantine, Lusignan and later periods, including the well known ruins of the castles at St. Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara.