Kyrenia mountain villages & wine tasting from Nicosia

Climb St Hilarion's three sections and taste six wines in a Pentadaktylos vineyard.

A private six to seven hour tour from Nicosia through the Kyrenia mountains, visiting St Hilarion Castle on the Five Finger range, the ruined Bellapais Abbey, and the quiet village of Ilgaz where you taste a selection of local wines in a winery with panoramic views. The tour ends at Kyrenia Harbour. Hotel pickup, professional guide, all entrance fees and wine tasting are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore castles, villages, and wine tasting

• Climb St Hillarion Castle
• Visit Bellapais Abbey
• Explore Ilgaz Village
• Wine tasting at Ilgaz winery
• Stroll Kyrenia Harbour and free lunch

The Experience

Six to seven hours gets you through the castle, two villages and a winery without rushing. The day starts with St Hilarion Castle, where the climb has three sections: the first two are straightforward, but the third pushes harder as you ascend the 365 steps to the top of the Five Finger Mountain. The views from each level change what you can see across the range, and the castle itself is built into the rock so the structure and the landscape are one thing.

After the castle, you move through Bellapais, a 13th-century abbey set in a village on the hill, then down to Ilgaz: a less-visited spot on the Pentadaktylos range where the pace is quiet and the buildings are traditional. This is where the wine tasting happens: six wines from a local vinery on the northern slopes, with the panoramic views included as part of the setting. The winery sits high enough that you see across the range while you taste.

The tour closes at Kyrenia Harbour, the horseshoe-shaped old port that holds the city's history. You get free time there to walk around and have lunch on your own. A professional guide travels with you the whole way, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included: selected hotels only for the return. If you're crossing from South Cyprus, bring your passport.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels.
• professional guide in English.
• entrance fees to St Hilarion Castle and Bellapais Abbey.
• wine tasting with six local wines and a tour of the winery in Ilgaz.
• fuel surcharge.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by North Cyprus Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the pace and stops are yours alone. Book it if you want to spend as long as you need at the castle or the abbey without waiting for a group. The fixed six to seven hour window fits a full day without eating into evening plans, and the moderate climbing at St Hilarion suits anyone comfortable with stairs and steep terrain. If you have mobility concerns or prefer not to climb, the villages and harbour alone won't fill the time.

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Top questions

How difficult is the climb up St Hilarion Castle?

St Hilarion has three sections with 365 steps total. The first two sections are straightforward to reach, but the third section gets noticeably harder as you climb toward the top.

What exactly happens during the wine tasting?

You taste a selection of six local wines at a winery located in Ilgaz village on the northern slopes of the Pentadaktylos Mountains. The tasting includes a tour of the winery itself.

Do I need to bring my passport on this tour?

If you're joining the tour from South Cyprus, yes. A passport is required for crossing the border for all participants.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but you get free time at Kyrenia Harbour at the end of the day to eat on your own.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, entrance fees to all historical sites, wine tasting at the vineyard, and fuel surcharge are all included.