CY
Nicosia
Europe’s last divided capital, inside a ring of Venetian walls
Europe’s last divided capital, inside a ring of Venetian walls
The Venetians built the star-shaped walls with 11 bastions in the 1560s. Famagusta Gate, the main eastern entrance, is now a cultural centre.
Photo: Iakovos Hatzistavrou, European Commission, CC BY 4.0
The main shopping street of the old town runs straight to a pedestrian crossing point on the Green Line. Show your passport or EU ID card to cross to the north and back.
Carry your passport or ID card; rules can change, so check before you go.
Photo: NicosiaKypros, CC BY-SA 3.0
In the northern part of the old town, this was the Gothic Cathedral of St Sophia, where Lusignan kings were crowned. Minarets were added after the Ottoman conquest in 1570.
Dress modestly and avoid prayer times.
Photo: Nicosia Turkish Municipality, CC BY-SA 4.0
Built by the Ottomans in 1572, this arcaded inn around a courtyard now holds craft shops and cafés.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try a meze of many small dishes, halloumi, souvlaki and sheftalia (grilled sausages), and in the north kebab and Turkish coffee.
The streets around Laiki Geitonia and Ledra Street have many tavernas and cafés.
Cyprus has two international airports, Larnaca and Paphos. There are no trains; intercity buses link Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa, and car hire is common. Nicosia has no airport of its own; Larnaca Airport is about 45–50 minutes by road, and airport shuttle buses run to the city.
The old town is compact and walkable. Cyprus is in the EU but, as of late 2026, not yet a full member of the Schengen area, so expect passport or ID checks on arrival.
Cyprus uses the euro (€); the Turkish lira is the main currency in the north, but euros are widely accepted there. Traffic drives on the left, and sockets are the UK three-pin type.
Prices are approximate; check current rates.
Both sides of the old town.
Walk the Venetian walls to Famagusta Gate, visit the Cyprus Museum and explore Laiki Geitonia and Ledra Street.
Cross at Ledra Street to see Selimiye Mosque and Büyük Han, then return for a meze dinner.
🛂 Entry rules: Cyprus and the EU’s new systems
Cyprus is in the EU but not yet in the Schengen area, so the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) isn’t used at its borders and passports are still stamped.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
ETIAS will cover Cyprus when it starts.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Bring your passport or EU ID card to cross the Green Line.
July and August often exceed 35°C; sightsee early.
Rental insurance from the south usually does not cover the north; buy separate cover at the crossing.
Do not photograph military posts or enter the buffer zone outside crossing points.
Quick answers for planning time in Nicosia.
Yes, at official crossing points such as Ledra Street, with a passport or EU ID card.
No, it is inland, about 45–50 minutes from Larnaca.
The island’s main archaeology museum; a new building is planned to open later in the decade.
Generally yes; stay away from the buffer zone except at official crossings.
Spring and autumn; summers are very hot.
English is widely spoken, but translation helps with Greek and Turkish signs.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Cyprus travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.