Holiday in Nicosia
City in Cyprus — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇨🇾
Country
Cyprus
Type
City
Best time to travel
April to June and September to November (20-30 °C). Summer extremely hot (up to 45 °C). Winter mild.
Budget/day
60-120 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Larnaca (LCA, about 3.5-4 h direct flight) or Paphos (PFO). Nicosia 45 min by bus. No visa required for Germans (EU).
About Nicosia
Nicosia (Greek Lefkosia, Turkish Lefkosa) is the last divided capital in the world — a Green Line (UN buffer zone) has divided the city since 1974 into a Greek-Cypriot south and a Turkish-Cypriot north. This unique status makes Nicosia fascinating: In one day, you can have breakfast and dinner in two cultures, two currencies, and two culinary worlds. The old town within the Venetian fortress walls (perfect circle with eleven bastions, built in 1567) houses both sides: In the south, the Faneromeni Church, the Leventis Museum, and the Laiki Geitonia (restored old town alleys). In the north, the Selimiye Mosque (formerly Gothic St. Sophia Cathedral, 1209), the Buyuk Han (Ottoman caravanserai), and the bustling Arasta Bazaar. The border crossing at Ledra Street in the pedestrian zone allows you to switch between worlds in seconds — a surreal experience. On the Greek side, Halloumi cheese and Commandaria wine; on the Turkish side, Lahmacun and Turkish coffee. Nicosia outside the walls is a modern Mediterranean city with shopping centers, nightlife, and an emerging food scene.
Top 5 highlights in Nicosia
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Ledra Street Border Crossing
Pedestrian crossing between south and north: in seconds from Greece to Turkey — the last divided capital in the world.
Selimiye Mosque (Gothic Cathedral)
Gothic cathedral from 1209, mosque since 1570: minarets on Gothic towers — Nicosia's most impressive building.
Venetian Fortress Walls
Perfect circle with eleven bastions (1567): the best-preserved Venetian walls in the eastern Mediterranean.
Buyuk Han (Ottoman Caravanserai)
Restored caravanserai from 1572 in the north: cafes, crafts, and atmosphere in historic walls.
Cyprus Museum
Cyprus's most important archaeological museum: 9,000 years of history from the Stone Age to the Roman period.
Hotels in Nicosia
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Nicosia
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Nicosia
Recommended travel time
April to June and September to November (20-30 °C). Summer extremely hot (up to 45 °C). Winter mild.
Summer
30-40 °C, very hot and dry
Winter
8-16 °C, mild and rainy
How much does a holiday in Nicosia cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
30-55 € (south), 20-40 € (north)
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
60-120 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
150-350 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Nicosia
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Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Nicosia
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Border crossing with passport — simply walk over Ledra Street. ID card is sufficient for EU citizens.
Two currencies — south: Euro. North: Turkish Lira (1 € ≈ 38 TRY). Significantly cheaper in the north.
The northern side is cheaper — same quality, half the price. Buyuk Han for coffee, Arasta for souvenirs.
Halloumi from the source — Cyprus has EU-protected designation of origin for Halloumi. Try it fresh from the market.
Commandaria wine — the oldest named wine in the world (since the Crusaders). Sweet wine specialty of Cyprus.
Food & drink in Nicosia
These specialties you must try!
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