Nicosia (Lefkosia in Greek, Lefkoşa in Turkish) has been the capital of Cyprus for about a thousand years. Its historic centre is enclosed by sixteenth-century Venetian walls with eleven heart-shaped bastions, and since 1974 it has been divided by the Green Line, a UN-controlled buffer zone. The south of the city is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus; the north is administered by the Turkish Cypriot authorities. It is often described as the last divided capital in Europe.
For visitors the division is part of the experience: you can walk down Ledra Street, show your passport or ID card at the crossing point, and within minutes be standing in front of the Gothic Selimiye Mosque or in the courtyard of the Ottoman Büyük Han. Back on the southern side, the Cyprus Museum holds the island’s greatest archaeological collection, and the old streets around Faneromeni are full of cafés and bars.
Highlights
- The Cyprus Museum — 9,000 years of island history, from Neolithic idols to Roman statues.
- The Venetian walls — a star-shaped ring nearly 5 km round, with Famagusta Gate.
- Ledra Street crossing — walk across the Green Line in the heart of the old city.
- Selimiye Mosque — a Gothic cathedral converted into a mosque, with minarets added.
- Büyük Han — a sixteenth-century Ottoman caravanserai with cafés and crafts.
- Old-town cafés — around Faneromeni Church and Laiki Geitonia.
Quick facts
| Where | Centre of the island, on the Mesaoria plain |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (€) in the south; Turkish lira (TRY) in the north (euros often accepted) |
| Airport | Larnaca (LCA), about 45 min |
| Ideal stay | 1–2 nights, or a day trip |
| Best for | History, museums, the divided city, cafés |
| Getting around | On foot inside the walls; Intercity buses to the coast |
How long to stay & where to base yourself
Nicosia is often done as a day trip from Larnaca or Limassol, but one or two nights let you see the museums at a relaxed pace, cross to the north side and enjoy the evening café scene inside the walls. Stay within or just outside the walls to walk everywhere.
