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Nicosia

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Destination facts

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Where is located

How to get there

Car, Bus

Local public transportation

Bus

Time Zone

(GMT+2:00) Asia/Nicosia (Eastern European Time)
Local Time in Destination: 07:49

Elevation

220 m

Top 5 landmarks

  • Cyprus Museum
  • Liberty Sqare (Plateia Elefterias)
  • Ledra Street
  • Famagusta Gate
  • Liberty Monument

Personal Rating

Food: 10 / 10
Nightlife: 9 / 10
Landmarks: 9 / 10
Activities: 9 / 10
Mobility: 7 / 10

Weather in Nicosia

Nicosia, the last divided capital in the world

Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world today. The North part of the capital is occupied from the so called "Northern Republic of Cyprus". The part that is controlled from the Republic of Cyprus has a total population of around 244.200 People. Nicosia is a city full of vibes, full of history and tradition and has also its moderns aspects.

History of Nicosia

Nicosia, city and capital of the Republic of Cyprus. It lies along the Pedieos River, in the centre of the Mesaoria Plain between the Kyrenia Mountains (north) and the Troodos range (south). The city is also the archiepiscopal seat of the autocephalous (having the right to elect its own archbishop and bishops) Church of Cyprus.

Nicosia came successively under the control of the Byzantines (330–1191), the Lusignan kings (1192–1489), the Venetians (1489–1571), the Turks (1571–1878), and the British (1878–1960), and thus reflects the vicissitudes of Cypriot history and both Eastern and Western influences. Nicosia, known in antiquity as Ledra, is a medieval corruption of the Byzantine name Lefkosia. The city was a kingdom in the 7th century bce and has been a bishopric from the 4th century ce. It has been the seat of government of Cyprus since the 10th century. In 1954 its name was changed to the Selimiye Mosque in honour of the Ottoman sultan Selim II, under whose reign Cyprus was conquered.

During the 20th century the city boundaries were extended beyond the existing circular Venetian walls, and the old town within them was rebuilt. As a result of the Turkish invasion in 1974, part of the northern section of Nicosia, including the former international airport, has remained within the United Nations Forces in Cyprus operational boundary separating the Republic of Cyprus (south) from the Turkish Cypriot-administered areas (north). The city experienced an influx of an estimated 35,000 Greek Cypriot refugees from the north in the mid-1970s.

A new international airport was established in 1974 at Larnaca, about 34 km southeast of Nicosia. The Cyprus Museum in the city houses many archaeological treasures.

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What to do there

There are a lot of things to see in Nicosia. First of all Nicosia has plenty of museums to visit such as the Museum of Cyprus, the Leventis Art Gallery, the State Gallery of Contemporary Art and many others.

The old city of Nicosia is also worth to visit with its small streets and pedestrians zones. Start your walk from the Liberty Square and walk the Ledra Street up to the Lidra Crossing Point.

Also the modern part of the city south of the old city is worth a visit. Many companies have their offices there and the pedestrian zone of this section is rebuilt with many cafes and shops.

In addition Nicosia has many traditional restaurants and you will have no problem communicating with any Greek Cypriot as the English is widely spoken. Cyprus was a British colony between 1878–1960.

What to eat there

In Nicosia you should definitely try Halloumi a traditional type of cheese. Then you should try seftalies a traditional speciality in Cyprus. Seftalia is like a sausage but instead the use of a cover a net of fat is used to hold the sausage together. It consists from pork or lamb meat.

Zivania is a Cypriot pomace brandy produced from the distillation of a mixture of grape pomace and local dry wines made from grapes

Where to stay there

Refer in our Recommendations above to find your perfect accomodation Hotel in Nicosia.

How to get there

In Cyprus, they drive on the left-hand side of the road like in the UK and overtake on the right so if you rent a car to explore the city and the island keep it that in mind.

We recommend the SEMELI Car Rental in Ayia Napa should you require a car.

Alternative you can use the Intercity Buses to reach Nicosia.

There is no International Airport located near Nicosia and the two International Aiports of the island are the Larnaca Airport and the Pafos Airport. Larnaca Airport ist located 50km south from the capital while Pafos Airport is located around 140km west from Nicosia. The table below shows the arrivals in the Larnaca Airport.

Arrivals inside the last hour in Nicosia Airport

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