Nicosia (North) Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
capital of Northern Cyprus
About Nicosia (North)
This ancient city was Leucotheon (Λευκοθέον) or similar names meaning "white deity" until the 13th century, when the "L" morphed into "N". It was the capital of the island from the 10th century, ringed by walls and a moat in the 16th to try to repel the Ottomans, and became capital of the Republic of Cyprus on independence in 1960. But inter-community tensions and violence persisted, leading to the Turkish invasion of 1974, and the eventual ceasefire line split Nicosia through the middle. And so it remains, a strange example of a divided city, in an era when Berlin, Jerusalem and Sarajevo have re-combined, and the Greek-Turkish partition of Cyprus is a "frozen conflict" blighting the entire island. The border however is straightforward to cross for individuals - vehicles, goods and pets ar
Top Attractions in Nicosia (North)
Explore the best things to see and do in Nicosia (North):
- ★Arab Ahmet Mosque
- ★Armenian Church of Our Lady of Tyre
- ★Büyük Han
- ★Dervish Pasha Ethnography Museum
- ★Lusignan House
- ★Mevlevi Lodge Museum
- ★Museum of Barbarism
- ★Selimiye Mosque
Where to Eat in Nicosia (North)
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Asmaaltı Köftecisi
- 🍴Barasta Cafe
- 🍴Californian
- 🍴Eziç
- 🍴Merkez Restoran
- 🍴Meyhaneci
Where to Stay in Nicosia (North)
- 🏨Aksaray Pansiyon
- 🏨Concorde Tower
- 🏨Djumba Hotel
- 🏨Grand Pasha Nicosia Hotel
- 🏨Merit Hotel
Nicosia (North) Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: