# Tasucu

Taşucu is a town in the Cilician Mountains on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, with a population of 17,000 in 2023. The main reason to come is to take the ferry to Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus.
The ferry port is east edge of town and Kum is a modern beach resort east of there.

## Get in
### By road

The town stands on D400, the coast highway between Antalya, Alanya, Silifke, Mersin and Adana. The road east is wide and smooth, but west is narrow and tortuous through the mountains as far as Alanya.
Daily buses run from Istanbul and Ankara via Konya and Karaman to Silifke 15 km north of Taşucu, where you change to a dolmuş for the last leg. They're timed to connect with the ferries.
Four buses a day from Antalya take 7 hr 20 min via Alanya and Anamur to Taşucu. They continue to Silifke, Erdemli, Mersin and Adana.
The bus lines are Metro Turizm and Flixbus.
Buses make several stops along D400 including the junction for the ferry port, but the bus station there has closed.

### By boat

36.31433.8941 Ceyport Taşucu or İskele is the ferry port, 1.5 km east of the historic village and harbour.
From Kyrenia (Girne) in Northern Cyprus, Akgunlerdenizcilik operate a year-road car ferry (Feribot), and a summer-only fast cat (Deniz Otobüsü) for foot passengers.
March-Oct the car ferry sails from Kyrenia M, W, Th, F, taking six hours, and returns from Taşucu Tu, W, Th, Su. Most sailings are towards midnight, enabling a same-day connection to and from Ankara. Sailings Nov-Feb are only once or twice a week. This is the only vehicle ferry between Cyprus and Turkey, and the only one to run all year, so it carries lots of trucks. The fast cat sails Apr-Oct most days, taking 2 hours 30 min.
Ferries no longer sail from Lebanon.

## Get around

Town to harbour is walking distance if you're not heavily laden.

## See

* 36.317733.8781 Amphora Museum, İnönü Cd. F-M 10:00-17:00. Small museum of the amphora trade, in a mansion built circa 1800. (updated Mar 2025)
* Atatürk Museum is a replica of the house of his birth in Thessaloniki. You're unlikely to find it open.
* Taşucu Marina is worth a stroll.
* 36.291433.98552 Göksu Delta Bird Reserve is a wetland with brackish lagoons, accessible free 24 hours. It's best approached from the east along a narrow but asphalted lane from Silifke. The west side can be reached from Taşucu; you can hike along the dirt track between but vehicles are not permitted.

## Do

* Beaches: the main beach is coarse sand with a sprinkling of pebbles.
    Kum Beach east of the ferry port is similar.

## Buy

* Supermarkets are clustered by the marina. ATMs are also here. You don't need to change money, Northern Cyprus uses Turkish currency, so you can wait till Silifke or Kyrenia to top up.
* A101 is 500 m northeast of the ferry port, open daily 08:30-21:00.

## Eat

A dozen places near the marina, straggling northeast along the highway. Nothing near the ferry port.

## Drink

Half a dozen bars near the marina.

## Sleep

* 36.315933.89091 Zeus Otel, Sahil Cd 87, ☏ +90 324 741 3333. East end of the beach so it's the closest to the ferry pier. B&B double 4000 TL. (updated Mar 2025)
* 36.317533.89152 Port Hotel, Abdi İpekçi Cd 64, ☏ +90 533 249 3307. Spacious clean rooms. B&B double 4000 TL. (updated Mar 2025)
* 36.316733.88763 Meltem Pansiyon, Sahil Cd 59, ☏ +90 533 360 0726. Clean friendly place midway along the beach strip. (updated Mar 2025)
* Lotus Otel is 100 m north of Meltem at 210th Sk 9.
* 36.318833.88684 İskele Otel, 207 Nolu Sk 11, ☏ +90 324 741 3313. Quiet efficient hotel 200 m from beach strip. B&B double 2500 TL. (updated Mar 2025)

## Connect

As of March 2025, Tasucu and the highway from Silifke have 4G from all Turkish carriers, with variable coverage on the coast highway west. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

## Go next

* Kyrenia is the most attractive town in Northern Cyprus, with its castle looming over the harbour. Buses head to all parts, including to Nicosia where you can walk across the border into Greek Cyprus,
* Silifke 15 km north of Tasucu has a few antiquities but is really just a transport hub.
* Narlıkuyu east along the coast has the Heaven and Hell caves.
* Karaman north across the mountains has an ancient castle.