HI Hostel

About 1.5km (1mi) from the city walls, just off Themistokli Dervi, this brightly painted hostel has a guest kitchen, fan-cooled dorms and resident cats. It's handy for the new town, less so for old Lefkosia. The manager is usually off doing other things, so it pays to let them know in advance when you'll be arriving.

Hostelling seems to be going out of fashion in Cyprus. Only two hostels remain on the island and most of the guests at the Lefkosia hostel are students from Greece or migrant workers. On the plus side, this means that there's usually space in the dorms. Although the hostel is loosely affiliated with Hostelling International, you don't need to be a member and everyone pays the same rate. Facilities are basic but adequate - there's a kitchen and clean shared bathroom and shower and beds are in kiddy-style bunks in single-sex dorms. The building is painted in bright, friendly colours and neighbourhood cats seem to come and go as they please. Guests often hang out in the evenings on the upstairs balcony, taking advantage of the quiet location and cool evening breezes.