Arriving at EMU: how new students get from the airport to campus in Famagusta

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU, Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi or DAÜ in Turkish) is the largest university in Famagusta, with students from all over the world. At every intake new students arrive, often on late-night flights and with a year’s worth of luggage. This guide covers the first trip: from the plane to your room.

Which airport should I fly into?

Ercan (ECN) is the normal choice. It is about 44 km from the EMU campus, 45 to 60 minutes by road. There are no direct flights from outside Turkey: you fly via Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir or Antalya. Some nationalities need a Turkish transit visa for the connection, so check this when you book.

How do I get from Ercan to the EMU campus?

Option	Time	Cost	Good for
EMU orientation welcome	Varies	Free during orientation	New students arriving on the official dates
KIBHAS airport bus	about 50 min plus stops	about 600 TL per person (Nov 2026)	Daytime arrivals with light luggage
Booked taxi	45 to 60 min	One price for the car, agreed in advance	Night flights, heavy luggage, parents, groups of friends

The orientation welcome. During orientation weeks EMU has met students at Ercan and taken them to campus. You normally have to register your flight with the orientation office before you travel. Check the dates: if your flight is a day early or late, you are on your own.

The KIBHAS bus. The airport bus to Famagusta stops at the EMU office stop and at EMU South Campus. Buy tickets in the KIBHAS app or at the terminal. Two bags of up to 30 kg are free. Departures are spread through the day with a few at night, but a late flight can mean a long wait, and the stop may still be a walk from your dorm.

A taxi. A booked driver meets you at the agreed meeting point, loads your bags and takes you to the dorm entrance. If three or four of you arrive together, one price for the car shared between you often costs little more than the bus.

Arriving at night

Plenty of flights from Turkey land at Ercan after midnight. If yours does:

• Book your taxi before you leave home and send your flight number and dorm name.
• Check that your dorm has 24-hour reception, or tell them you will arrive late.
• Keep some Turkish lira or a card that works abroad for the first night.

Your first days in Famagusta

• Residence permit. Foreign students need a student residence permit. Rules were updated in August 2026 to allow online applications; EMU’s international office will tell you the current steps.
• Phone. Buy a local SIM at the airport or in town; home roaming is expensive in the north.
• Money. The currency is the Turkish lira. Euros, pounds and dollars are accepted in many shops, usually with change in lira.
• Getting around. Campus, the city centre and the Old Town are close together, and minibuses run along the main roads. For trips to Kyrenia, Nicosia or the Karpaz, or to the airport at the end of term, book a taxi.

Booking an EMU pickup

Ask Robot (the round button at the bottom right of the page) or use the booking form to send Ali your flight number, arrival time, dorm or address and number of people. Once he has checked a car and driver are free, he confirms the price and tells you where to meet him at Ercan, day or night. You get a booking reference and a page to follow your booking. Parents can book on a student’s behalf. See the Ercan Airport taxi page for what is included.