Nicosia walking tour & city guide
A walled old town divided by a green line.
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Nicosia has been the capital of Cyprus for a thousand years. Its old town is enclosed by star-shaped Venetian walls, and since 1974 it has been divided by the UN buffer zone known as the Green Line, with crossing points that let visitors walk from one side to the other.
Ledra Street and the old town
Ledra Street, the main shopping street, runs north through the old town to the Ledra Street crossing point. The quieter lanes of the Laiki Geitonia quarter have been restored with cafés and craft shops, and the Archbishop's Palace and Saint John's Cathedral, with its painted interior, lie to the east.
The Shacolas Tower has an observatory with a view across the whole city and the Kyrenia mountains to the north.
The northern part of the old town
Across the Ledra Street crossing, the Büyük Han, a 16th-century Ottoman caravanserai with a courtyard of cafés and craft shops, is one of the finest buildings on the island. Nearby, the Selimiye Mosque was built as the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Sophia in the 13th century.
Visitors need a passport or ID card to cross. Summers are very hot, so spring and autumn are the best times to explore on foot.
Top sights in Nicosia
- 1
Ledra Street
The main pedestrian street of the old town.
- 2
Venetian walls
Star-shaped 16th-century fortifications.
- 3
Laiki Geitonia
A restored old quarter of lanes and cafés.
- 4
Büyük Han
An Ottoman caravanserai with a courtyard.
- 5
Selimiye Mosque
A Gothic cathedral turned mosque.
- 6
Shacolas Tower Observatory
A view over the divided city.
Food markets & where to eat in Nicosia
Laiki Geitonia
Tavernas serving meze in the old quarter.
Bandabulya
The old municipal market in the northern old town.
Ledra Street
Cafés and bakeries along the main street.
Food to try in Nicosia
Halloumi
Cyprus' famous grilling cheese.
Meze
A long feast of small dishes.
Souvlaki
Grilled meat skewers in pita.
Cypriot coffee
Strong coffee boiled in a small pot.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Nicosia
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in NicosiaCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Nicosia.
- eSIM for CyprusStay online from the moment you land.
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