Nicosia

Whenever we go on holiday we do the guidebooks, we look at all the websites, but when we actually get there we have to do all the finding-out that many people have done before. We don't want you to have to duplicate our work. So while this page isn't everything about Nicosia, it's the things that might save you a bit of time.

Getting There

Larnaca Airport is far closer than Paphos (though still several hours away), but cheaper flights from UK regional airports may end up at Paphos anyway. From either, you can catch a shared taxi-bus which will drop you to your hotel, and there are also infrequent public buses.

Our first recommendation is the Asty Hotel, 12 Prince Charles St, about a mile to the West of the town centre. It does everything you need a hotel to do. Phone 22 773 030.
An alternative is the Cleopatra Hotel, 8 Florinis St, less than a mile South of the city. This is clean and convenient, with some good views. Phone 22 844 000.

Walking and bus tours leave from the Tourist Information Centre in Laiki Yitonia each day. Monday's tour to Kaimakli and Chrysaliniotissa takes you by bus to outlying suburbs of Nicosia, a visit to the Mayor's house and art collection, several churches and craftsmen's workshops, and also views of the Green Line, with historical background.
Just strolling anywhere within the city walls is sure to find shops and sights of interest. There are plenty of churches, craftsmen, and bakers.
There are galleries of ancient and modern art. We recommend the State Gallery of Contemporary Art, corner of Leoforos Stasinou and Kritis, just south of the City Wall.
The Debenhams store on Ledra has a panoramic view from the 11th floor.
The Postal Museum has a new home at 3B Agiou Savva St, and has displays of Cypriot stamps, explanations of historical background, and a 'post office' with a badly-coiffured mannequin. The director gave us free pre-paid postcards in a goody bag, he was so pleased to see us!
The Anglican Cathedral is smaller than a village church, but serves the Diocese of the Eastern Mediterranean. When we visited, a group of Brownies were playing in the garden. It's on Leoforos Lordou Vyronos.
If you fancy a laugh, visit the 'worst theme park in the world', Ostrich Wonderland. Agios Ioannis, Malountas. See more at our photo page.
For a trip out of town, Larnaca is about an hour away, and is a nice beach town with a medieval castle, fantastic fish restaurants and some boutique shops.

There are plenty of snackbars and cafes in the city centre. City Plaza on Arch. Makarios III Avenue has a good Croissanterie with pastries and bakery products. International travellers may stick with Starbucks and Costa instead.
For an authentic Cypriot meze, the Erinias Tavern at 64 Arch. Kyprianos Ave in Strovolos has the best. Phone 22 422 860.
Take home the best Cypriot treats with a visit to Zorpas, a chain of bakeries. There you can buy gift boxes of Baklavas, a sticky confection of nuts and pastry. There are lots of other tasty cakes here too.

Debenhams has taken over all of the department stores in the city, so you can find stylish clothes and cosmetics. Beware though, that the Cypriot pound is more expensive than the British pound, and the label price looks the same. So it needs to be something you can't wait to get home for! There are also branches of Marks and Spencers around town.
Funk Republic has cool t-shirts and more, at the City Plaza on Arch. Makariou III Ave.
For design buffs, there are a few shops with nice objects (like door handles and coathangers). One is Zone Denmark, on 28th October Avenue, behind Arch. Makariou III Ave. Nearby is the Cross Contemporary Store, at Zena Kauther 17.

Don't try to drive! Cypriot drivers express themselves forcefully, park suddenly, and inch forward at traffic lights until they're halfway across! Hopefully you have friends or relatives you can use, or else walk or take the bus.

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