10 Best Things to Do in Nicosia
Updated: Sep 17, 2023
Nicosia is known as the last divided capital in Europe, which is split between the Republic of Cyprus (the country that is a part of the European Union) and the self-recognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with the buffer zone of the UN in the middle.
Nicosia is a very interesting city from a historical and cultural perspective, it has an incredible ambiance and can offer a lot to those who want to explore the heart and the soul of the island. I would say, it's the most Cypriot city in Cyprus - less spoiled by tourists, and the most authentic place on the island. You can find there plenty of cozy hotels and apartments - check out the discounts on Booking.
What are the top things to do in Nicosia? How to spend the perfect weekend in the capital of Cyprus? You will find the answers to these questions in this post that will cover (for now) the European part of Cyprus. Remember, that it is hasworth renting a car to enjoy Cyprus more.
I forgot to mention that I lived in Nicosia for 5 years, so all the places that I recommended there I visited a lot of times, and it's a real pleasure for me to write about Nicosia. I'm not done with this city - there are more posts to follow, but this one is a good starting point to explore Nicosia in 1-2 days.
8. Explore the Invisible River
Check Out the Renewed Elefteria Square
Elefteria (Liberty) Square is located in the centre of Nicosia: just below the medieval Venetian walls and in front of Ledra Street, and it had always been an important location for both locals and tourists. It divides the center of the capital into two parts: a historical one, an old town, and a modern one, full of nice restaurants and cafes.
In December 2021, the square, which had been under construction for almost 9 years, was finally opened to the public. The renovated square is considered one of the top projects of a notable Iraq-British architect Zaha Hadid, and the result is worth attention - especially in the evening.
Explore Ledra Street & the Checkpoint
Ledra Street starts right after Elefteria Square and finishes at the border that separates the Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is considered to be one of the major commercial streets of Nicosia. Apart from various shops, you can find nice cafes and restaurants where you can chill and get some rest before continuing to explore the capital.
The name of the street comes from the ancient city-kingdom Ledra, established in 1050 BC, that was located in the center of the island. Overall, starting from Elefteria Square you can reach the border in around 15-20 min and then either cross the border to explore the Northern part (do not forget your passport though) or walk along the border (or Green Line - the Buffer UN zone), where you can find a lot of signs of the historical armed conflict that caused the division of the country into two parts.
Get Lost in the Historical Heart of Nicosia
Once you explored Ledra street, make a tour along the border or visit another half of the city, come back to the old town - the area between the walls and the border, where Ledra is only one of all the remarkable streets, there are plenty of other small streets and even abandoned houses.
Do not be surprised to find a few mosques - the legacy of times when Greek and Turkish Cypriots lived in the same united city. Switch off your Google Maps and enjoy traveling back in time.
Have Traditional Souvlaki for Lunch
You cannot say you've been to Cyprus (especially - to Nicosia) and haven't tried souvlaki - the traditional dish - grilled pieces of meat - that you can find in all traditional taverns, including those in the old town. Piatsa Gourunaki is a nice tourist-friendly place - not the best souvlaki in town, but one of the most conveniently located and overall - a good price-quality option.
Walk Along the Venetian Walls
Try to walk along the walls that were built by the Republic of Venise in the 16th century: from the well-preserved Famagusta gate, where you can find a nice gallery with various exhibitions inside, to the Paphos gate. The walk should take you around 30 minutes, and you can also make notes of some nice restaurants and bars to come back later in the evening: an Italian place Da Paolo, Rock Bar Neverland and Sarah Jazz Club, for example.
Do not miss a historical Liberty Monument - reminding the observers of the sad times of the war preceding the division of the island into two parts.
Coffee Break & Modern Heart of Nicosia
Once you are done with exploring the historical center of Nicosia, come back to Elefteria Square and cross the road to continue your journey towards the modern center of Nicosia, where you can see many shops, nice cafes, and restaurants. Follow Stasiandrou or Stasikratous Streets to see most of the places where you can stop for shopping, lunch, or a cup of coffee.
Some of the best places to have a cup of freshly brewed coffee are the Collaborative Coffee Roasters, A Khoffee Project and a bit further from the city center - the Daily Roast.
If you want to have a quick lunch or dinner - come to Cito cafe, where you can find plenty of sandwiches, salads, and wraps and have a decent cup of coffee as well.
Visit Local Museums & Galleries
In Nicosia, and attention. If you decide to come back to the old town, then you can visit Shacolas Tower Museum and Observatory at Ledra Street, where you can get more information about the history of Cyprus and observe the views from the center of Nicosia - including the Northern one.
Further in the center, there is also a nice Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage and Archeological Museum, and if you come back to the modern part of the city, you can visit Leventis Gallery, where you can find plenty of works of the brightest impressionists (be prepared to spend there at least 1.5-2 hours to enjoy the expositions).
Explore the Old Quartier & the Invisible River
You can easily combine the visit to Leventis Gallery with exploring the Agion Omologiton area: there are plenty of nice old street views (check out this purple car that has been there for more than 5 years for sure), and you can escape from the heat in the longest park of Nicosia. Continue walking along the river Pedioios, which is not flowing anymore (except for rainy days in winter) so you can see only the bridge as evidence that there used to be a river.
Walk in the Athalassa Park
If you love nature and are a bit bored of city tourism, then welcome to Athalassa National Forest Park - the largest park in Nicosia, located on the southeastern edge of the city with a total area of 840 hectares. The park is an oasis of greenery with a lot of indigenous trees and herbs.
Its 20 km network of trails allows visitors to immerse themselves in nature, relax, and recharge their batteries while walking, running, cycling, or just cooling a bit before coming back to the heat of the city.
Best Places for Dinner and Drinks in Nicosia
At the end of the day, it's time to get dinner and/or some drinks, preferably - in the city center, depending on your mood and preferences, either in its historical or modern parts. For traditional cuisine, go for Piatsa Gourunaki, To Anamma or Mezostrati Tavern (souvlaki, halloumi dishes, or Mediterranean meze).
Do you miss high-quality European-style food and are ready to pay a premium for the beautiful interiors and atmosphere? Then you can check Pralina, Skinny Fox, Pixida (for fish and seafood), Ivory All Day Concept, and Tocayo.
For wine lovers - check out a wine bar Vino Cultura or Barrique Wine and Deli; for cocktails - check out Lost + Found Drinkery (it's one of the most famous bars in Nicosia, known for its award-winning cocktails), New Division (for rock atmosphere), Notes and Spirits and plenty of others nice places.
For burgers & beer go to Moondog's bar to check out their beer menu (but skip local Keo please), get nice fulfilling beer-matching food, and enjoy a classic rock playlist.
If you love craft beer and want to try something local of an amazing quality - check out the website of Pivo Microbrewery, founded by locals - three brothers and their cousins. They used to have a restaurant as well, where in addition to perfect beer you could enjoy your evening with some food and a perfect playlist. Unfortunately for us, the visitors, they closed the restaurant during the pandemic, but they continue brewing the best beer in Cyprus (and one of the best in Europe), and supply their beer to a few bars & restaurants all over the island. Check out their website for more info and where exactly you can find them.
Here they are - some of the best things to do in Nicosia. I hope this information will help you to plan your visit to this marvelous city, undervalued by tourists. There are even more to try and enjoy in Nicosia - check out this blog in some time to find more informative posts!