Going to the south

[tansycat]

Want to go to the south side but have a hire car so is it possible to walk across at any of the boarder controls and park your car somewhere? and what about transport the other side? Thank you

[wanderer]

A couple of years ago parked at Ledra crossing walked across
Taxi 5 euro to the car hire place and picked up the car I had booked on line
Needed to tell them I was staying at a hotel on the south side holiday inn
The car hire women knew I was from the North must have been my Black Country accent but no issues
Had a good day touring the Troudos dropped the car off and they gaved me a lift back to Ledra

[dekski1]

Hello
Go to the crossing at Locmaci [spelling?] that is part of Ledra St and walk accross. At the end of the street go right and a few hundred metres along the road is the bus stop/station. Buses from there are cheap and go to many of the other cities and there are plenty of taxis available as well.

[Maisiemoo]

We always park just behind the Buyuk Han and walk across the Ledra Street crossing, which is a 5 minute walk away. Last time we paid 8tl for 5 hours.

[iancrumpy]

Hello
Go to the crossing at Locmaci [spelling?] that is part of Ledra St and walk accross. At the end of the street go right and a few hundred metres along the road is the bus stop/station. Buses from there are cheap and go to many of the other cities and there are plenty of taxis available as well.

As Dekski1 writes you should indeed turn right at the end of Ledra Street for the main (Solomou Square) bus station, but buses departing for Ayia Napa and Troodos depart from another location, Constanza Bastion, for which you should turn left at the end of Ledra Street and follow the city walls for about 400 metres.
Source : http://cypruspublictransport.cyend.com/buses#nicosia
To verify departure times etc it is probably best to telephone the bus companies beforehand - numbers are given on the link.

[come_on_aylin]

I was checking out bus times this morning for my son to go to the Mall and found this link - it may be useful as it's in English and includes route details http://www.cyprusbybus.com/routes.aspx?sid=5

[tansycat]

Thanks to everyone you have been very helpful and esp the route details.

[tansycat]

Could anyone give me the driving directions to the Ledra Boarder driving from Girne. Thanks in advance

[paddywack]

Bus from Girne to Nicosia is cheap and easy.

[iancrumpy]

Could anyone give me the driving directions to the Ledra Boarder driving from Girne. Thanks in advance

Hi Tansycat,

Paddywack's suggestion is probably best. However, if you still want to drive, then I hope these directions help:

- From Girne take the main road over the mountains to Lefkoşa.
- Go straight on at the first roundabout (the big one affectionately called S**t-on-a-Stick by many)
- Indeed go straight on at the next roundabout and straight, straight, straight at all the traffic lights for about the next 3km.
- After the said 3km you will go straight over at another roundabout-like thing, that has a 5 bent fingers in the middle of it.
- After the bent fingers' roundabout, you will be on to a one-way (albeit very wide) straight road.
- After about 300 metres of that wide one-way street, you will come to a T-junction with the Mehmetçik Gazinosu directly in front of you.
- At this T-junction you should turn right ... again on to a wide one-way road.
- The road curves around to the right (like a big roundabout would do) and you should take the 2nd left turning (it's about 300 metres from the T-junction)
- This left turning is easily recognisable because you will passing through the historic Girne Gate.
- After passing through the said gate, drive for about 150 metres along that road - in front you should be able to see a Venetian Column.
- At the column, fork left.
- You should now see the Saray Hotel in front of you.
- Just before you reach the hotel I advise you to turn left into a narrow street.
- After about 80 metres, you'll see a car-park on your left - This is the one Maisiemoo advised you to use in post 4
- Walking out of the car park turn left.
- Walk along this road keeping the historic Büyuk Han to your right.
- After passing Büyuk Han you will come across the narrow Arasta Sokak ... famous for its fabric shops.
- Walk the 40 metres along Arasta Sokak, and at the end of it, you are less than 30 metres from the Lokmacı (Ledra Street) crossing.

By the way, if you get lost in the old city, then ask someone for the "Lokmaci Barikati?" - don't forget though that the (English) pronounciation of "Lokmaci" would be something like "lokmaja".

[tansycat]

Thank you iancrumpy for your wonderful discriptive directions (brilliant) and also paddywack but where would i get the bus? I am near Ozankoy (not in the village) nearer the Karakum road, and how often do they go? Again many thanks for all your help.

[paddywack]

Why not drive to Girne, park in the main car park and pick up the bus opposite the law courts.

[BLUE BUTTERFLY]

There are buses every 15 minutes into Girne, they will stop for you anywhere along the Karakum main road.

Get off at the terminus next to the fire station and ask the man sitting at the table for a return ticket to Lefkosa, 8tl. You get on the Lefkosa bus at the same place.

As you near Lefkosa a man will get on to check your ticket.

Ask to be put off at Girne Gate Park.

Head for the Ledra palace hotel but turn left before you get to it, carry on straight, past the shops, I am sure people will be willing to direct you should you find any problems.

[paddywack]

Far far better than driving.

[iancrumpy]

Ask to be put off at Girne Gate Park.
Head for the Ledra palace hotel but turn left before you get to it, carry on straight, past the shops.

Hi Blue Butterfly,
I presume you meant the Saray Hotel, not the "Ledra Palace Hotel". I'm fully aware that "saray" means "palace", but the Saray Hotel is not referred to as "The Palace", and moreover, as you probably know, the Ledra Palace is in the buffer zone at the other crossing point ... and heading in that direction is roughly at right angles to the way one should head.
Ian

[BLUE BUTTERFLY]

Thanks for pointing that out, I never was very good at directions.

Is that the hotel that you can go to the top of and see over to the south? Had a look once when on holiday here years ago.

I think the bus instructions are correct though, so just get off the bus where I said, like I do, and then ask for directions.

There are some good bargains to be had at the shops on the way

[iancrumpy]

Is the Saray Hotel the one you can go to the top of and see over to the south? Had a look once when on holiday here years ago.

It is indeed Blue Butterfly. The best view from the top is the one I've attached - it shows the Venetian Column and the road coming from the Girne Kapısı.

I think the bus instructions are correct though, so just get off the bus where I said, like I do, and then ask for directions.

From the Girne Kapısı one can actually see the Venetian Column. However, I totally agree with you that once someone unfamiliar with the area gets to the Venetian Column (which is next to said hotel), they should then ask the way to Lokmacı, because, although only 150 metres from the column/hotel, the route twists and turns as it approaches the crossing.

There are some good bargains to be had at the shops on the way.

I particularly recommend the Rustem Bookshop which is on the way to the crossing.