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About North Cyprus · Map

Map of North Cyprus: districts, towns and landforms

As of 23 October 2026, North Cyprus is described in the sources we checked as having six districts: Lefkoşa, Girne, Gazimağusa, İskele, Güzelyurt and Lefke. Lefkoşa (North Nicosia) is the seat of government, Girne and Gazimağusa are on the coast, and the Karpaz Peninsula lies in the north-east. This page lists each district, names the main geographic features, explains place names in two languages and offers an interactive OpenStreetMap map that loads on request.

Checked 23 October 2026 against the sources named in the text and listed below. Positions of parties are attributed to them.

The six districts at a glance. AI visual concept
AI visual concept

The six districts at a glance

Wikipedia's article on the districts of Northern Cyprus lists six districts: Gazimağusa, Girne, Güzelyurt, İskele, Lefke and Lefkoşa. It gives each a centre and one or more sub-districts. The same article, citing a newspaper report, says Lefke became the sixth district in December 2016, after it was separated from Güzelyurt. The table below follows that article; the cards add the settlements named on each district's own Wikipedia page.

The district list follows that article; confirm administrative details with the relevant authority before relying on them. Our area guides cover Kyrenia, Bellapais, Esentepe, Lapta, Alsancak, Tatlısu and more.

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DistrictCentreMain towns and villages named by the source
LefkoşaLefkoşa (North Nicosia)Sub-districts Lefkoşa, Değirmenlik; Gönyeli, Hamitköy, Haspolat, Alayköy, Gaziköy, Kırklar
GirneGirne (Kyrenia)Sub-districts Girne, Çamlıbel
GazimağusaGazimağusa (Famagusta)Sub-districts Mağusa, Akdoğan, Geçitkale
İskeleİskele (Trikomo)Sub-districts İskele, Mehmetçik, Yeni Erenköy; Dipkarpaz, Kantara
GüzelyurtGüzelyurt (Morphou)Akçay, Gayretköy, Yuvacık, Serhatköy, Zümrütköy, Aydınköy, Yayla
LefkeLefke (Lefka)Gemikonağı, Yeşilırmak, Doğancı, Denizli, Erenköy
Interactive map (OpenStreetMap). AI visual concept
AI visual concept

Interactive map (OpenStreetMap)

The map below is built from OpenStreetMap tiles, a community-built map under the ODbL licence, credited as OpenStreetMap contributors. It loads only when you press the button, because loading it sends your IP address to OpenStreetMap. Place names on the map come from OpenStreetMap contributors and may appear in more than one language. Use the link under the map for the interactive version.

Loading the map sends your IP address to OpenStreetMap. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Open the interactive map on OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors

Main geographic features

Wikipedia describes the Kyrenia Mountains (Girne Dağları in Turkish) as a long, narrow range along the northern coast, about 160 km in length. The name Beşparmak, from Pentadaktylos, is used for the western part. St Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara are the castles named in that article. See our castles guide.

The Mesaoria plain (Mesarya in Turkish) is described as lying between the Kyrenia Mountains to the north and the Troodos Mountains to the south, from Famagusta Bay in the east to Morphou Bay in the west. The Karpaz Peninsula ends at Cape Apostolos Andreas and, per Wikipedia, lies in the north-east of the island; İskele is described as its gateway. For beaches and the coast, see beaches and coast.

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Place names in two languages

Maps of the island use Turkish names, Greek names, or both. Wikipedia's district pages give pairs such as Girne and Kyrenia, Gazimağusa and Famagusta, Güzelyurt and Morphou, İskele and Trikomo, Lefke and Lefka. Its Nicosia article notes the city is called Lefkosia in Greek and Lefkoşa in Turkish.

Many villages carry two names as well, for example Karavostasi and Gemikonağı, or Tymbou and Kırklar. OpenStreetMap's wiki explains that its name:en tag holds the name English speakers use. When you compare maps, expect the same place under different spellings, and check the village against its coordinates or district rather than the label alone.

Where to find official and open maps

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) publishes a deployment map as an image on its site, last updated 25 November 2025 according to the page. Its buffer zone page describes a UN-controlled strip, also called the Green Line, that the UN says extends approximately 180 km, and notes that its width varies from a few metres in parts of old Nicosia to a few kilometres elsewhere.

OpenStreetMap is a community-built map. Its copyright page states that the data is under the Open Database License (ODbL) and asks users to credit OpenStreetMap by displaying an attribution notice; the usual wording is OpenStreetMap contributors.

  • map-source

    UNFICYP: Map of UNFICYP deployment

    Deployment map image published by the UN mission; the page showed no map disclaimer in its text.

    Source: unficyp.unmissions.org

  • map-source

    UNFICYP: About the buffer zone

    UN description of the buffer zone, how its lines were set (ceasefire of 16 August 1974) and where it runs.

    Source: unficyp.unmissions.org

  • map-source

    OpenStreetMap

    Community map. Data under ODbL; credit as OpenStreetMap contributors.

    Source: openstreetmap.org

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Using this page with our area guides

Start with the district table to see which district a town belongs to, then open the matching guide for that part of the coast or countryside. Area guides cover Kyrenia, Bellapais, Esentepe, Lapta, Alsancak, Tatlısu and others, and About North Cyprus gives the wider background.

For day planning, family days out and weather and seasons add practical context. A map shows where a place is; it does not show title, zoning or planning status, so property questions should go through a licensed adviser and the relevant registry.

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Practical notes

  • Geography and district details come mainly from Wikipedia; no TRNC government page listing the districts could be opened, so confirm with the authority before relying on them.
  • Sources describe the island's administration differently; Wikipedia notes Nicosia as capital of the Republic of Cyprus and North Nicosia as de facto capital of Northern Cyprus.
  • The UNFICYP buffer zone length (approximately 180 km) is the UN's own figure.
  • No distances, populations, areas or road routes are stated on this page.

Frequently asked questions

How many districts does North Cyprus have?

Wikipedia's districts article lists six: Lefkoşa, Girne, Gazimağusa, İskele, Güzelyurt and Lefke. It says Lefke became the sixth district in December 2016, after being separated from Güzelyurt, according to the article.

What is the capital of North Cyprus?

Wikipedia states that North Nicosia (Lefkoşa) is the de facto capital of Northern Cyprus, while Nicosia is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus. The city is called Lefkosia in Greek and Lefkoşa in Turkish, so both spellings appear on maps.

Where is the Karpaz Peninsula?

Wikipedia places it in the north-east of the island, ending at Cape Apostolos Andreas. It names Trikomo (İskele), the centre of İskele District, as the peninsula's gateway, and the area is listed under that district.

Where can I find a detailed map of North Cyprus?

This page includes an interactive OpenStreetMap map that loads when you press the button; OpenStreetMap is a community map under the ODbL licence, credited as OpenStreetMap contributors. UNFICYP also publishes a deployment map image on its site.

What are the Beşparmak mountains?

Beşparmak, from Pentadaktylos, is the name Wikipedia gives to the western part of the Kyrenia Mountains, called Girne Dağları in Turkish. The range runs along the northern coast, is about 160 km long.

Why do places have two names on maps?

Maps may show Turkish names, Greek names or both. Examples from Wikipedia's district pages include Girne and Kyrenia, Güzelyurt and Morphou, İskele and Trikomo, and Lefke and Lefka, so a search in either language should find the same place.

Sources

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