MuseumsNorthVerified by editors: 2026-10-30

Mavi Köşk (The Blue House Museum, Çamlıbel)

Eccentric 1957 retro mountainside villa featuring color-coded rooms, secret escape tunnels, and sweeping valley views.

Built in 1957 in a concealed fold of the western Kyrenia mountains near Myrtou (Çamlıbel), Mavi Köşk ('The Blue House') is a time-capsule 1950s architectural curiosity worthy of a classic spy film.

Preserved with its original mid-century Italian furniture and artwork, the two-story mansion features color-themed bedrooms, optical security mirrors, a hidden tunnel behind the master bed, and a panoramic garden terrace.

Tips before you go

  • Bring your passport or ID card as the entrance road passes through a guarded gate.
  • Look for the clever acoustic and optical tricks built into the villa's architecture.
  • Great stop on a scenic drive between Kyrenia and the western coast.

How to get there

Near Çamlıbel (Myrtou) village on the mountain road connecting Kyrenia and Morphou.

35.3008, 33.0631Open in Google Maps

Place vibe

editorial pick
SurprisingInspiring

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share a tip.

Related guides

Nearby places

Ancient Lambousa & Rock-Cut Roman Fish Tanks
History & Antiquity

Ancient Lambousa & Rock-Cut Roman Fish Tanks

North · 40 min from Nicosia

Historic city-kingdom featuring remarkable sea-carved Roman fish breeding tanks and coastal Phoenician tombs.

  • Free parking
  • Entry: Free
  • Kids 4+
  • Exposed sun
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Pleasant year-round; sublime for snorkeling and wading from May through October.

Escape Beach Club (Alsancak)
Beaches

Escape Beach Club (Alsancak)

North · 35 min from Nicosia

Premier organized golden sand beach club in Alsancak featuring shallow turquoise waters and an offshore islet.

  • Free parking
  • Entry: 5.00 €
  • With kids: Kid-friendly
  • Partial shade
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Bathing season from May through November; shallow waters warm early in the spring.

Karmi (Karaman) Mountain Village
Churches & Culture

Karmi (Karaman) Mountain Village

North · 25 min from Nicosia

Flower-draped hillside village beneath St. Hilarion Castle with whitewashed cottages, cobbled lanes, and sea vistas.

  • Free parking
  • Entry: Free
  • With kids: Kid-friendly
  • Partial shade
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Spectacular in spring when gardens burst into bloom; cooler mountain air in summer.

Saint Hilarion Castle
History & Antiquity

Saint Hilarion Castle

North · 25 min from Nicosia

Fairytale clifftop Crusader fortress clinging to a 732m crag above Kyrenia, said to inspire Disney's Snow White castle.

  • Free parking
  • Entry: 100 TL / ~3 €
  • Kids 6+
  • Partial shade
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best October to May. In summer, start at 9:00 AM opening before the steep rock climb heats up.

Kyrenia Old Horseshoe Harbour & Seafront
Churches & Culture

Kyrenia Old Horseshoe Harbour & Seafront

North · 25 min from Nicosia

Iconic horseshoe-shaped historic harbor lined with Venetian carob warehouses, wooden gulets, and castle views.

  • Paid parking
  • Entry: Free
  • With kids: Kid-friendly
  • Partial shade
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Captivating year-round; magical at sunset when the castle walls glow gold.

Kyrenia Castle & Shipwreck Museum
Museums

Kyrenia Castle & Shipwreck Museum

North · 25 min from Nicosia

Monumental 16th-century Venetian harbour fortress housing the world's oldest excavated merchant shipwreck from 300 BC.

  • Paid parking
  • Entry: 100 TL / ~3 €
  • Kids 5+
  • Partial shade
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Open daily year-round; the climate-controlled shipwreck room provides comfortable viewing.