The 14 things to do in Nicosia

Are you leaving on vacation in Cyprus? Discover our list of best things to do to visit Nicosia!

Cyprus is an island of the Mediterranean, which has the peculiarity of being divided into two parts. In the south, the Republic of Cyprus is the Greek half of the island. In the north, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognized by the United Nations. In the middle, the "green line" defines a buffer zone that crosses the country and cuts the capital of Nicosia in half.

For about 20 years, the relationship between the two areas of the island has been soothed and it is possible to move from one to another without difficulty. You will thus enjoy all the charms of Nicosia, from the Mediterranean influence to the south, to the architectural beauties of the north. To help you prepare your stay, we present you here the list of the best things to do to visit Nicosia!

1. Take the city centre

The city centre of Nicosia is the most authentic place in the city, delimited by a walled area dating from the Venetian occupation. Scenic alleys await you, in which old houses and charming restaurants follow. You will also find souvenir shops with lace and statuettes of Aphrodite .

During your walk, let yourself be seduced by the servers that offer you a free glass of Ouzo and sit on the terrace. Taste local specialties such as spinach pie during a feast mezze . Some menus have up to 22 dishes to share! The old town houses many must-sees from our list of things to do in Nicosia.

2. Visit the National Museum of Cyprus

The National Museum of Cyprus is the largest in the country, making it a must to visit Nicosia. He devoted himself to archaeology and traced the history of the island’s settlement from Neolithic. 14 rooms organized around a large square offer a chronological journey from the first tools and figures found during excavations, to the advent of the Bronze Age. Count several hours to explore the museum in depth!

3. To visit the Ledra Museum

This museum-observatory takes place on the 11th floor of the Shacolas Tower, formerly the highest building on the island with its 50 meters high. It was at the time the only building that allowed to observe the area under Turkish occupation. The Ledra Museum houses an exhibition on the history of the city, told through an audioguide and interactive maps. Observe the northern zone with the powerful twins available, including the two giant flags painted on Mount Pentadactylos.

4. Go to the Byzantine Museum

The largest collection of Byzantine art of the island is hidden in this museum, in a building of the present archbishop. The exhibitions retrace more than 1,000 years of history, with icons from churches throughout the island, books and sacred objects. Certainly among the best things to see to visit Nicosia!

5. Discover the museum of popular art

Founded in 1937, this ethnographic museum was built in the ancient episcopal palace and showcased the popular Cypriot art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. You will discover more than 5,000 pieces, such as lace works, pottery, weaving or braiding. Don’t miss the sculpted door of the church of Saint-Mammas, at the origin of the famous poem “Little Things of Cyprus”.

6. Visit the Leventis Museum

The A.G. Leventis Foundation aims to preserve and promote the Hellenic heritage of the island of Cyprus. Within this museum, a permanent exhibition describes the various periods of occupation, Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman or British. The main attractions include a 2,700-year-old archaic vase, medieval ceramics, traditional costumes or Renaissance tapestry.

7. Explore the Büyük Han

This unique complex in the world is located in a former Ottoman caravanserail. Built in 1572, it welcomed Cypriot travellers gathered as a caravan of merchants. Literally translated by "Grand Hotel", it was renovated in 1990 to create a cultural and social place in the center of the old city.

Located in the Turkish part of the city, it now houses shops and restaurants. Büyük Han represents a magnificent example of Ottoman architecture and certainly one of the best things to do to visit Nicosia.

8. Make a stop at the Selimiye Mosque

Representative of the complex history of Cyprus, this mosque stands on the former Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Sophia, which would have been erected on an ancient Byzantine church. A unique and original building, with its two minarets on a gothic basis. The mosque of Selimiye dates from 1570, after the capture of the city by the Ottomans, and is one of the must-see visits to Nicosia.

9. Go to the Venetian walls and fortified doors

The fortifications of Nicosia are among the best preserved in Europe. If the first date of 1211, the current walls are 1567, when the Venetians charged their architects with building a wall around the city in anticipation of Ottoman invasions. The circumference of the walls is 5 kilometers.

You will find 5 of the 11 original bastions and 3 monumental doors: Paphos, Famagouste and Kyrenia. A tour of the ramparts is obviously one of the must-see routes to visit Nicosia.

10. To the aqueduct of Nicosia

Near Liberty Monument is one of the most interesting vestiges of Nicosia. Discovered during the destruction of a private building, this small, preserved portion was part of an aqueduct linking the gate of Kyrenia to the North to Famagouste, to the East. It was used to bring water from the mountains to the fountains of the neighborhoods of the city.

11. Take a break at the Pivo microbrasserie

A real historic place with local microbrewery, this is the secret of this Cypriot institution. You will enjoy pilsner, lager and other APIs directly from the reservoir, not filtered and not pasteurized. All in a 100-year-old manor house, surrounded by stone walls and marble arches.

12. Walking in Ledra Street

Ledra Street is a symbol of Nicosia for several reasons. It historically represents the main shopping artery and has always connected the northern and southern parts of the city. Following the Turkish intervention in 1974, it was closed by barricades.

Reopened in 2008, it now forms one of the 7 crossing points of the “green line”, between North and South. This is the main way to cross the border, and one of the essential things to do to visit Nicosia. In a few hundred meters you pass from the chic boutiques and cafés of the South to the bazaars of the northern districts.

13. Visit the monastery of Machairas

This monastery is in our list of the best things to do to visit Nicosia even if it is 40 kilometers from the capital. Lost in the mountains, it fits harmoniously in the heart of nature, while maintaining an impressive and solemn aspect.

A superb monastic church sits in the centre of a cloister, all beautifully preserved. The building contains an icon of the Virgin Mary that would have been painted by the Evangelist Luc. A perfect day trip from Nicosia.

14. Discover the Athalassa National Park

Few capitals can boast a park of 840 hectares a few minutes from their city centre. This green space is an ideal getaway to take a breath of fresh air along the 20 kilometers of trails. Get in the shade of the endemic trees on the island for a family picnic, or go for a swim session in the lake, for the bravest.

How to get to Nicosia?

To visit Nicosia from the France , the most convenient solution is to take the plane. There are two international airports in the South, Larnaka and Paphos.

Paphos is located on the southwest coast, two hours' drive from the capital. To go to Nicosia, it is best to land in Larnaca, only 40 minutes from the city. You can then take a bus or choose a bus car rental for all your stay.

There is an airport in the North, Ercan, but it is not recognized by the international authorities and requires transit through the Turkey . In any case, we advise you to start your stay with the northern part of Cyprus, at the risk of having difficulty going south.

To find the most suitable flights for your stay, use a flight comparison like Ulysses . In a few minutes, you will find the plane ticket for Nicosia at the best price.

Where to stay in Nicosia?

There are a wide variety of accommodations to visit Nicosia, from family pensions to 5-star hotels. To fully enjoy your stay, we recommend you to stay in the city centre, around the Selimiye and Omeriye mosques. So you will be close to all the attractions to visit in Nicosia.

If you want to stay in high-end accommodation, luxury hotels are generally located on the outskirts of the city, and you will need a vehicle or public transport to get around.

Finally, for a dive in Cypriot culture, choose accommodation Airbnb Cyprus. You can meet your guests and discover more in depth the history and local customs.

The range of accommodation prices in Cyprus is very varied, from 10 euros for a boarding room to several hundred euros for a suite in a palace. To find the offer that best suits you, enter your preference criteria and dates in a Compare hotels online. In a few clicks, you will find the ideal nest to put your suitcases.