Rent a Car in İskele and Long Beach: The Resort Strip by Road
İskele has the best sand in North Cyprus and almost nothing walkable between the resorts. Here is what to rent, where it gets delivered, and where to drive it.
Ten years ago this stretch of the east coast was farmland and empty sand. Today İskele and Long Beach are where a large share of North Cyprus's new resorts sit, strung along a coast road with real distance between them and very little you can reach on foot.
That geography is the entire case for renting a car in İskele. Without one you eat where you sleep.
Free delivery to the resort
We deliver free of charge to every resort along the Long Beach strip and into İskele town. Give us the complex name and block at booking and reception will point us to you.
Most guests arriving by air collect at Ercan Airport instead and drive in — roughly 55 km and 45 to 50 minutes on a fast, easy road. Airport delivery and collection are also free, so this costs nothing extra and means no waiting on a transfer at one in the morning.
Which car to take
- Economy — fine if you are staying on the strip and driving to supermarkets, restaurants and the beach. The cheapest way to rent here.
- Standard or family — the right call for four people with beach gear and luggage.
- SUV — worth it if the Karpaz Peninsula is on your list, where surfaces deteriorate past Yenierenköy, or if you plan to use the unmade tracks down to the quieter beaches.
- Automatic — recommended if you are new to driving on the left. The coast road is easy, but Famagusta's older streets and the Karpaz lanes are less forgiving.
Where to drive from İskele
- Salamis Ancient City — 20 minutes south. A Roman gymnasium, theatre and baths, right on the sea.
- Famagusta walled city — 25 minutes. Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Othello's Tower, the ramparts.
- Karpaz Golden Beach — about an hour and twenty. The best day out on the island; fuel up before the peninsula.
- Kantara Castle — 45 minutes into the mountains, and usually empty.
- Nicosia — around an hour and five minutes west.
Parking and driving
Parking is genuinely easy here — free, plentiful and right outside almost everything, which is not something you can say about Kyrenia. The coast road is wide and well surfaced. Remember that North Cyprus drives on the left, the limit is 50 km/h through the built-up stretches, and the Famagusta road is patrolled for speed.
Long stays and property owners
A large share of İskele is owned rather than booked. Many owners rent by the month for the weeks they are actually here instead of leaving a car standing all year, paying insurance on an unused vehicle and coming back to a flat battery.
Monthly car rental includes comprehensive insurance and servicing, runs month to month, and can be paused around your travel dates. Weekly rates are priced well below seven daily rates, so even a short stay is usually cheaper booked as a full week.
Frequently asked questions
Do you deliver rental cars to Long Beach resorts in İskele?
Yes, free of charge. Give us the complex name and block at booking. Many guests instead collect at Ercan Airport and drive in — about 45 to 50 minutes, also free.
Do I need a car in İskele?
Effectively yes. The resorts are spread along several kilometres of coast road with little walkable between them, and the supermarkets, restaurants and beaches are all a drive.
What car do I need for Karpaz from İskele?
An SUV is the comfortable choice. The main road is sealed but surfaces deteriorate past Yenierenköy and the final approach to Golden Beach is rough. Fuel up before the peninsula — stations are sparse.
Rent a car in North Cyprus with CypRentacar
Free delivery to Ercan Airport, Kyrenia, Nicosia, Famagusta, İskele and Esentepe. Comprehensive insurance included, free cancellation, and 24/7 support in English, Turkish, Russian and German.