🇨🇾 Cyprus

10 best places in Nicosia

Nicosia is Europe's last divided capital, where Venetian bastions meet a UN buffer-zone checkpoint, and the walled old town blends Greek and Turkish Cypriot life.

Sight

Ledra Street

The old town's main pedestrian artery runs straight up to the checkpoint into the island's northern side.

Sight

Faneromeni Cathedral (Agios Ioannis)

This compact 17th-century baroque cathedral is covered in frescoes depicting the relics of Saint Barnabas.

Museum

Cyprus Museum

The island's largest collection of antiquities spans the Neolithic to Roman eras, headlined by the terracotta figures from Ayia Irini.

Museum

Leventis Municipal Museum

A neat mansion houses the full sweep of Nicosia's history from antiquity to the present day.

Sight

Venetian Walls

The 16th-century star-shaped ring of bastions still traces the boundary of the old city.

Sight

Büyük Han

This Ottoman-era caravanserai in the northern old town has been revived as a lively courtyard of shops and cafés.

Park

Municipal Gardens

A shaded city park with a rose garden offers welcome relief from the midday heat.

Café

Ergon House

A gourmet food concept store serving coffee, pastries, and Cypriot delicacies inside a historic old-town building.

Restaurant

Zanettos Taverna

A legendary taverna has been dishing out endless meze plates since 1938.

Market

Municipal Market

This early-20th-century covered market is the place for fresh produce and a slice of everyday Cypriot life.

FAQ

Is Nicosia worth visiting?

Yes, largely because it is Europe's last divided capital: from Ledra Street you can walk across the checkpoint from the Greek side to the Turkish side. Inside the Venetian walls there are museums, old quarters and a busy cafe scene, and the Cyprus Museum holds the country's best collection of antiquities. There is no beach here, so many people visit for a day and stay on the coast.

How many days in Nicosia?

One full day covers the old town on both sides plus a couple of museums. A second day makes sense if you want long lunches and a trip out to the surrounding villages. Plenty of visitors do Nicosia as a day trip from Larnaca or Limassol.

Best time to visit Nicosia?

April to May and October to November are ideal - warm without being punishing. Nicosia sits inland with no sea breeze and is the hottest city in Cyprus, so July and August are hard going. Winter is mild and a little rainy, which suits museum days.

Is Cyprus good for relocation?

Cyprus is an EU country where English is widely used and expat communities are large, which is why it comes up so often. Options include permanent residence through property purchase, permits for staff of foreign companies and the non-dom tax status; the citizenship by investment programme was shut down back in 2020. Thresholds and conditions get revised regularly, so check the current requirements.