33 Attractions in Nicosia You Must Visit

Attractions in Nicosia are well known to many travel enthusiasts, and today we will talk about them in more detail. Nicosia is the last capital in the world still divided between two states, and its <<Green Line>> in Ledra attracts thousands of tourists who want to see for themselves what it's like to cross a demarcation line in Europe in the 21st century.

On both sides, you can see many attractions, such as the Selimiye Mosque, which is a hybrid of Christian and Islamic architecture, or the Cyprus Museum, which houses the best collection of ancient artifacts found on the island. The vibrant old town has no shortage of cozy cafes and museums, where you can also book exciting day tours to the north or the mountains to the west. Let's have a look at what else can be seen in Nicosia!

This excellent museum, located just outside the walls of the Old City, houses the most important collection of archaeological finds from the island. For example, in hall number 11 are rare and valuable artifacts from the Royal Tombs of Salamis excavations, including a huge, intricately crafted bronze pot and a bed frame adorned with ivory and glass.

In hall number 4, you will see 2000 terracotta offerings and statues dating back to the 7th-6th centuries BC, discovered during the excavations of the Sanctuary of Saint Irene in 1929.

Address: Cyprus Museum, Museum 1, Nicosia, Cyprus.

These walls form a boundary around the Old City. They are so unusual that once you see them on a map, you will never forget their bizarre star-shaped form. The Venetian rulers built this defensive fortification in 1567 to repel attacks from Ottoman invaders.

Unfortunately, the walls did not help them. In July 1570, the Ottomans landed in Larnaca, and within three months, they stormed the fortifications, resulting in the deaths of about 50,000 locals. Since then, the walls have silently remembered those distant events.

Address: Venetian walls of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This art museum is located near the Old City. It houses three collections featuring European paintings and sculptures from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The Paris collection showcases works by masters such as Chagall, Monet, and Renoir, while the Greek collection includes vibrant masterpieces by Greek artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The highlight of the Cypriot collection, located on the first floor, is a magnificent and rather unusual 17-meter long painting titled <<The World of Cyprus>> by the famous Cypriot artist Adamantios Diamantis.

Address: AG Leventis Gallery, Leonidou, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This unusual mosque was once a former Gothic church. St. Sophia Cathedral was founded during the Crusades by the Lusignans, but it was never actually completed, despite being the main church on the island.

A keen eye will quickly spot all the features of a Gothic church, including plastered windows and floating buttresses, yet the average person will immediately notice the two tall minarets at the front of the building.

The conversion of the church into a mosque occurred immediately after the Ottoman conquest in the 16th century when much of the Christian iconography was removed from the building.

Address: Selimiye Mosque, Selimiye Sk, Lefkoşa 99010, Cyprus.

In the years leading up to the Ottoman invasion of Cyprus, the Venetians were actively strengthening the defenses of Nicosia, so even today we can still see remnants of the walls and gates that they once built.

Famagusta Gate is the most prominent of the remaining fragments of these old fortifications. It is an exact replica of the Lazaretto Gate, which was constructed by the Venetians for Candia.

During British rule, the gate served as a storage facility for fuel and other materials, and only in the 1980s was it decided to restore it, breathing new life into the surrounding area of Taht-el-Kala.

The gate features two pedestrian archways illuminated by a dome overhead in Roman style. Today it is a popular cultural center that hosts various exhibitions throughout the year.

Address: Famagusta Gate, Athinas, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This amazing caravanserai was one of the first structures built by the Ottomans after their conquest of Cyprus in the 16th century. A caravanserai is a type of hotel for traders and travelers, surrounding a central courtyard that contains a small mosque.

The two floors of Büyük Han have been skillfully restored over the past 20 years and now serve as an arts center with galleries, studios, and workshops.

Address: Büyük Han, Asmaaltı Sk, Lefkoşa 99010, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This modern art museum is located in a former power station and is a local equivalent to the famous Tate Modern in London. The industrial architecture of this building, with its characteristic arches and elements, pairs well with the trendy installations displayed inside.

The permanent collection includes paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures, and other works from the Dimitris Pierides Museum of Modern Art in Greece. Exhibitions change monthly and often focus on pressing political and cultural issues.

Address: Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, Παλιάς Ηλεκτρικής, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The collection of artistic and archival materials at the Visual Arts and Research Centre (CVAR), which opened in 2014, showcases the history of modern Cyprus.

The galleries, filled with paintings and other artworks, show Cyprus through the eyes of its visitors, from the 15th century to the mid-20th century, while exhibitions of photographs, books, artifacts, and archival documents from the colonial period offer an intriguing glimpse into the British rule era.

There is also a library containing an extensive collection of books about Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Address: CVAR, Ermou 285, Nicosia, Cyprus.

If you want to understand the rich and complex history of Nicosia, this is the place to go.

The permanent collection of this beautiful neoclassical mansion includes numerous ceramics from the Bronze Age to medieval times, an engaging collection of maps dating back to the 16th century, photographs, posters, and early 20th-century artifacts, documentary evidence of independence and subsequent division of Cyprus, and much more.

All exhibits are accompanied by detailed and comprehensible information labels.

Address: Leventis Municipal Museum, Hippocratous 15-17, Nicosia 1500, Cyprus.

Located around the Church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa, this residential neighborhood on the outskirts of the Old Town borders the very <<Green Line>>, which is why it has long remained derelict.

Today, its narrow streets, early 20th-century house facades, and alleyways adorned with potted plants look quite tidy and charming. Now this area is a delightful and peaceful spot for romantic strolls.

Address: Archiepiskopou Filotheou, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This magnificent museum, located in the Archbishop Kyprianos Square, houses over 300 icons and frescoes dating from the 9th to the 19th centuries. Here you will see many beautiful works of art that were removed after the Turkish invasion in 1974 from churches that are now located in Northern Cyprus.

These creations were returned only after long legal battles. In particular, pay attention to the dome with frescoes from the Church of Saint Euphémie, and six fragments of exquisite mosaics from the Church of Panagia Kanakaria located in the village of Lintrangomi.

Address: Byzantine Museum, Πλ. Δημαρχείας 26, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This ancient monastery is located in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. It was founded in 1148 by the hermit monk Neofitos, who discovered an icon (presumably painted by Saint Luke) in one of the caves, next to which lay a knife (in fact, the Greek word <<Machairas>> means <> or <>).

Thus, this remarkable monastery was built around the site of the discovery.

Address: Monastery of Machairas, Cyprus.

As a distinctly multi-religious island, Cyprus and all its cities boast a wide variety of beautiful historical buildings and relics of both Islamic and Christian origins. The sacred temple of the Virgin Mary of Phaneromeni is no exception.

It is still an active temple, so you can attend its services and enjoy the ancient decorations and beautiful frescoes. Phaneromeni is the largest church in the old part of Nicosia - its Venetian architecture is truly impressive.

Thanks to its elegant appearance, locals have nicknamed this temple <<Lady Nicosia>>. The building is located in the heart of the Old Town, surrounded by many cozy cafes, so you certainly won't miss it.

Address: Phaneromeni Church, Onassagorou, Nicosia, Cyprus.

What to see in Nicosia for those who want to immerse themselves in the true spirit of the island? We recommend visiting the Folk Art Museum! This exhibition of Cypriot craftsmanship is located in the old episcopal palace, which was built in the 15th century, while some parts of it were erected a full 200 years before the palace itself.

The museum was founded in the 1930s as part of a project to preserve national traditions of embroidery, blacksmithing, ceramics, lace-making, weaving, and many other crafts that were threatened with disappearance due to the development of mass machine production.

The museum's collection includes 5000 objects, among which you can see ancient farming tools such as olive presses, water mills, and threshers.

Address: Folk Art Museum, Square of Archbishop Kyprianos, Πλ. Αρχιεπισκόπου Κυπριανού, Nicosia 1016, Cyprus.

This small mountain village, now home to only three residents, is located approximately 45 minutes southwest of Nicosia. Currently, there is a proposal to grant this settlement UNESCO World Heritage status, as it is a perfect example of traditional Cypriot rural architecture.

The village has been inhabited since the 5th century AD, but by the 19th century, its population began to decline significantly. Today's Fikardou conditionally demonstrates what an average Cypriot settlement looked like before electricity and cars arrived on the island.

When visiting the village, it makes sense to wander through its steep paths, surrounded by fanciful stone houses with faded red terracotta roofs.

Address: Fikardou, Cyprus.

This stunning castle, which once guarded the mountain pass between Nicosia and Kyrenia, adorns the slopes of the Kyrenia mountain range. From a distance, it may be difficult to discern against the white stone cliffs.

Here, you can see the remains of crumbling staircases, the old walls, and towers of the castle, and then enjoy the incredible landscape of the northern coast. The castle was envisioned as a mountain retreat, but later the Byzantines and then the Lusignans fortified this site to protect the area from Arab raids.

Address: St. Hilarion Castle, Girne 99320, Cyprus.

From 1779 to 1809, the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios House belonged to Kornesios, the Grand Dragoman (interpreter) of Cyprus, who was responsible for collecting taxes on the island and soon became the most influential person in Cyprus.

The house itself seems more interesting and beautiful than the exhibits inside it. Several rooms on the upper floor are decorated in typical Ottoman style, while other rooms house fascinating antiques from the time of Ottoman rule.

Address: The Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion, Patriarchou Grigoriou 20, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The <<Neighborhood Quarter>> has notably transformed from its past as a district of affordable women and unscrupulous merchants. This tiny part of the Old City is the only tourist area in Nicosia, thus it is full of nondescript restaurants with dubious service and inflated prices.

Nevertheless, one cannot miss visiting it while in Nicosia.

Address: Λαϊκή Γειτονιά, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The highlight of this place is the remarkable collection of the museum of George and Nepheli Jabra Pierides, consisting of more than 600 ancient finds (mostly ceramics), dating from the Bronze Age to the 16th century.

Among the exhibits are incredibly rare samples of Mycenaean ceramics. Don't forget about the small museum of the history of Cypriot coinage on the first floor, which is much more interesting than it seems at first glance.

Address: Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage, Faneromenis, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The extensive museum collection belonging to the Pancyprian Gymnasium is housed in separate buildings located to the north of the school. The gymnasium itself was built in 1812 and is the oldest school in Cyprus.

In the museum, you can see items of student antiquity and various works of art, but the main attraction is still the rare historical artifacts stored here, including a geodetic map from 1885 drawn by Lord Horatio Kitchener.

Address: Pancyprian Museum of Social and Educational History, Thiseos, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The presence of a neutral buffer zone (commonly called the <<Green Line>>) running through the capital is a vivid reminder of the island's challenging ethnopolitical situation.

Visiting this area is unlike anything else: the streets are blocked by barricades made of empty metal barrels, and you can see abandoned half-destroyed houses adorned with flags of Greece and Cyprus.

Address: Green Line Nicosia, Cyprus, Αριάδνης, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Once, this street was the main shopping artery of Nicosia, however after the <<Bloody Christmas>> of 1963, a military border appeared here, dividing the cities to the north and south. Ledra was reopened only in 2008, and now it has again become the center of trade in the city.

Its reopening was a significant step toward improving relations between the once irreconcilable sides. The 11th floor of the tower located on this street has a public observation deck from which you can get a good view of the very <> and everything that is in it.

Address: Ledras, Nicosia, Cyprus.

This church was built in 1695 on the site of an earlier Gothic church. The exterior is distinguished by a Franco-Byzantine style - a synthesis of Byzantine architecture traditionally used by the Greek Orthodox Church and Gothic elements introduced by the Venetians.

Inside, you will find a beautiful golden iconostasis housing wonderful icons, the oldest of which dates back to the 15th century.

Address: Trypiotis, Archaggelou Michael, Nicosia, Cyprus.

In this small private gallery, created to popularize modern Cypriot art, there is a rare collection of works from the Tsampelas family.

Here you will see works by modern Cypriot and Greek artists, prints by Picasso and Dali, and two outstanding paintings by Welsh artist Glynn Hughes, who spent most of his life in Cyprus.

Address: Loukia and Michael Zampelas Art Museum, Archiepiskopou Makariou III, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The Church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa was built in honor of the Virgin Mary, and its name in Greek means <<Mother of God of golden linen>>. It is considered the oldest Byzantine church in Nicosia and was built in 1450 by Queen Helena Palaeologus. It houses a rich collection of ancient and rare icons.

Address: Panagia Chrysaliniotissa Church, Χρυσαλινιωτίσσης, Nicosia, Cyprus.

In ancient times, Tamassos was known as a place of copper mining - the metal which gave the very name to the island of Cyprus (<<Kypros>> in Greek, <<Kıbrıs>> in Turkish). Copper mining began here as early as the 7th century BC and continued throughout the Hellenistic period.

Excavations of the ancient city began in 1889, and around this time two graves dating back to the 6th century BC were discovered. These serve as the main attraction of this site today.

Address: Tamassos, Politiko, Cyprus.

Located on the northern coast of Cyprus, Kyrenia is a magnificent little port town surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Pentadaktylos Mountains. The Venetians fortified the harbor by building an impressive fortress with thick walls that have survived for almost five hundred years.

Here you can take a tour through the narrow streets of the old town and have dinner by the water in the evening. If you visit Kyrenia in June, you will also get to experience the city's Turkish culture, as national concerts and festivals frequently take place during this time.

Address: Kyrenia, Cyprus.

The glorious slopes of the Troodos Mountain range, located southwest of Nicosia, hide stunning examples of Byzantine heritage. Be sure to visit the local ensemble of ten medieval churches that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The most accessible of these sites is the Church of Panagia Asinou, located 50 kilometers west of Nicosia. The church's interior walls are adorned with 12th-century Constantinople frescoes that still look as vibrant as they did on the day they were painted.

Address: Panagia Asinou, Cyprus.

This vast green area, located in the suburbs of Nicosia, spans 840 hectares and features a beautiful park lake. There are plenty of play areas for children - both among the trees and in a designated playground next to the park café.

For animal lovers, there is a special dog walking track surrounding the park, offering fantastic views of the city.

Address: Athalassa National Forest Park, Aglandjia, Cyprus.

To the west of Nicosia lies a region called Mesaoria, filled with tiny villages and ancient monasteries. If you have your own transport, this is a great option for a day of cultural relaxation.

For instance, the village of Peristerona (30 km west of Nicosia) is famous for its five-domed church of Saints Barnabas and Hilarion, built in the 10th century. Inside, you will see valuable and remarkably well-preserved 16th-century icons depicting Christ.

To the south of this spot, on a rocky hill, is the Machairas Monastery, and to the northeast is the Agios Iraklidiou Monastery and the remains of the ancient city of Tamassos.

Address: Peristerona, Cyprus.

Bellapais is a wonderful old-fashioned village consisting of modest whitewashed cottages that stretch down the hillside. At the base of this hill lies a monastery of the same name, which, thanks to writer Lawrence Durrell, has become one of the island's most famous tourist attractions.

While living here, the English author wrote his famous book <<Bitter Lemons>>, immortalizing in prose the image and way of life of the Cypriot village at the end of the British colonial period. Though the village itself is incredibly picturesque, its main attraction is Bellapais Monastery, an old Augustinian monastery filled with quirky arches and cypress trees.

From the roof of the monastery, you can enjoy panoramic views of the coast of Northern Cyprus. The village is located 29 kilometers northeast of Nicosia.

Address: Bellapais, Cyprus.

Alongside ancient Curium, ancient Salamis is the most significant archaeological site of the city-state era in Cyprus. The complex of gymnasiums and baths with beautiful sculptures and a grand inner courtyard is the main attraction of this site, and you can also find interesting remnants of two basilicas, an agora, and a huge complex of reservoirs.

Almost all the ruins date back to the Greco-Roman and Byzantine periods, but the history of Salamis goes back far in time.

It is said that the city was founded immediately after the Trojan War and has since been influenced by Assyrian, Persian, Greco-Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab influences, which is undoubtedly impressive. The city is located 73 kilometers east of Nicosia.

Address: Salamis Ancient City, Yeni Boğaziçi, Cyprus.

Buffavento Castle is less popular than St. Hilarion Castle, as it has deteriorated to a greater extent. Today, the castle is a massive ruin located on the summit of a rocky mountain in eastern Kyrenia.

The ruins themselves are rather unremarkable; however, they are situated in a picturesque location, rising above beautiful wooded slopes. It is believed that Buffavento was built during the Byzantine reign, and that Richard the Lionheart once commanded to capture this place.

The castle played a strategically important role in protecting the coastline (like St. Hilarion Castle to the west). Buffavento Castle is located 52 kilometers northeast of Nicosia.

Address: Buffavento Castle, Çatalköy 99370, Cyprus.