5-Mile Beach | Kyrenia

One of Kyrenia’s top swimming beaches, the Five Mile beach is located west of Kyrenia and is known as Yavuz Çıkarma (Five Mile) Beach, which is overlooked by the restaurant of the same name. This sandy cove has three names in Turkish. Altınkaya, after the rock next to it, is also the name of the recommended restaurant that overlooks the beach. Its two other names are Beşinci Mil (Five Mile), and Yavuz Çıkarma (Resolute Outbreak). This beach was used by the Turkish Army to launch their rescue operation in 1974.
The rather phallic-looking structure on the road overlooking the beach, is a monument to this event. This beach is such a popular hot-spot that on most days there’s no room to swing a cat. It is protected from the open sea by a rocky islet, easily reached by paddling. Watch out for tricky currents on the open-water side: a few bathers have been caught out and swept away. There are water sports available, and umbrellas and sun loungers for hire, though there is not much natural shade.