Nicosia: the city that tells the story of Cyprus.
Nicosia has no sea, which is probably why it feels different from the rest of the island. Here, you get to know Cyprus in another way: walking among Venetian walls, houses with hidden courtyards, small workshops, museums, cafés and streets where different layers of history sit almost on top of one another.
Type
City · History · Culture
Time
1 full day
Best time to visit
Autumn · Winter · Spring
Car needed?
Not needed for exploring the centre
Ideal for
Combining with days on the coast and discovering another side of Cyprus
Nicosia is not the most obvious postcard image of Cyprus.And that is exactly why it is worth visiting.
The capital without a coast
This is Nicosia.
Nicosia is an inland city best explored slowly. Rather than arriving with an endless list of monuments, walk within the walls, stray from the main streets and notice how it changes from one corner to the next.
The old town is still shaped by its 16th-century Venetian fortifications. Within them are shopping streets, traditional houses, neoclassical buildings, workshops, churches, museums and cafés. This is more than a historic city: the contrast with contemporary Nicosia appears around every corner.
Within the walls
Within the walls.
There is no need to see everything. These stops help you find your bearings between the old town, the former moat and the contemporary city.
recommends
Ledra Street
Ledra and Onasagorou make a good introduction, but Nicosia becomes more rewarding as you move away from the main shopping streets.
This is the place to start. Ledra and Onasagorou make a good introduction, but Nicosia becomes more rewarding as you move away from the main shopping streets. Traditional houses, small churches, neoclassical buildings, courtyards, workshops and cafés line the backstreets. Here, wandering without a fixed route is more rewarding than rushing from one monument to the next.
recommends
Eleftheria Square
Where the old town, the former moat and contemporary Nicosia meet.
One of the best places to see the contrast between historic and contemporary Nicosia. The square spans the former moat of the Venetian walls and connects the old town to the modern city.
See the city from below
Nicosia's city walls
The fortifications that still define the shape of the old town.
The Venetian fortifications still define the shape of the old town. Rather than seeing them simply as a monument, use them as a guide to finding your way around Nicosia. At some points you can descend into the former moat and see the walls from a different perspective.
Keep exploring
Museums, a route and tips
Culture, recent history, a route for the day and all the practical information.
Keep exploring
Museums, a route and tips
Culture, recent history, a route for the day and all the practical information.
Culture & museums
One museum.
Not five.
Nicosia has some of the most interesting museums in Cyprus. If you only have one day, our advice is simple: choose one and leave time to explore the city.
Museum · Archaeology
Cyprus Museum
Archaeology to help you understand the island's ancient history.
Map
The city's background
A city shaped by its recent history.
In some central streets, the contemporary history of Cyprus stops being abstract and becomes part of the urban landscape.
Crossing to the north: checkpoints, documents and practical tipsBarriers, buildings frozen in time and checkpoints are reminders that Nicosia remains shaped by the island's division.
More than a tourist curiosity, it is an essential part of understanding the recent history of the city and Cyprus.
If you decide to cross a checkpoint, check the current document requirements and conditions beforehand.
Another perspective
Beyond the obvious.
Most visitors enter the old town and pay little attention to the space around the fortifications. Descending into the former moat completely changes your sense of the walls' scale and helps you understand how the city was designed.
Just a few streets away are small workshops, traditional houses, cafés, churches and a city much less geared towards visitors.
recommends
A day in Nicosia, the
way
A route for exploring the city without trying to see everything.
Step 01
Morning
Eleftheria Square + old town
Start where historic and contemporary Nicosia meet; use Ledra as your starting point, then venture into the side streets.
Step 02
Midday
Coffee + a museum
Leave time to sit down and choose Cyprus Museum or Leventis Museum depending on what you want to learn about.
Step 03
Afternoon
City walls + neighbourhoods within
Explore another part of the old town and descend into the former moat if your route allows.
Step 04
End of the day
Stay for dinner
Nicosia changes once the day visitors leave.
Practical information
Before you go.
A full day works very well for a first visit.
If you are coming from another city in Cyprus, a car can be useful for the journey, but once you are in the centre, Nicosia is best explored on foot.
Winter: perfect for museums, cafés and exploring the city without the heat.
Spring: pleasant temperatures for walking throughout the day.
Summer: focus on early mornings and late afternoons; avoid scheduling outdoor visits in the middle of the day.
Autumn: one of the best times to combine the city with day trips around the island.
Wear comfortable shoes. Walking is the best way to discover the city.
Start at Eleftheria Square or around Ledra Street, but venture into the backstreets and leave time to wander without a fixed route.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Where do I start?
A quick guide to Cyprus to help you make your first decisions. Request it for free and receive it by email.