Must-see attractions in Nicosia (Lefkosia)

  • 16th century Venetian walls of Nicosia, Cyprus; Shutterstock ID 132634124; Your name (First / Last): Brana V; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Nicosia destination page

    Venetian Walls

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The Venetian walls form a border around the Old City and are so unusual that, once seen on a map, you’ll never forget the odd snowflake-like shape.

  • Cyprus Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Just outside the Old City walls, this excellent museum houses the island's most important collection of archaeological finds. Highlights include Hall 11's…

  • AG Leventis Gallery

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Located just outside the Old City, this art museum features three collections displaying European paintings and sculpture from the 16th to the 20th…

  • Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This contemporary-art museum is housed in a former power station, and is the city’s equivalent to London’s Tate Modern. The former industrial setting is…

  • CVAR

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Opened in 2014, CVAR's collection of art and archival material showcases the story of modern Cyprus. Galleries full of paintings and other artworks…

  • Leventis Municipal Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The best place in town to get to grips with Nicosia's rich and convoluted history. The permanent collection inside this handsome neoclassical mansion…

  • Chrysaliniotissa Quarter

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Centred around the Panagia Chrysaliniotissa church, this residential neighbourhood on the edge of the Old City rubs right up against the Green Line, and…

  • Maheras Monastery

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    It’s a fair hike out to this sprawling monastery perched in the foothills of the eastern spur of the Troödos Mountains and under the all-seeing radar…

  • Agios Mamas Church

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The somewhat forgotten site of the 16th-century Gothic church of Agios Mamas is like an exercise in nonstarters: it was never finished in the first place,…

  • House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    From 1779 to 1809 the House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios belonged to Kornesios, the Great Dragoman of Cyprus, who accumulated his vast wealth through…

  • Laïki Yitonia

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Meaning ‘Popular Neighbourhood’, Laïki Yitonia was restored after serving for many years as an area for painted ladies and dodgy merchants. This tiny…

  • Pancyprian Gymnasium Museums

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The extensive museum collection belonging to the Pancyprian Gymnasium lies just to the north of the school, housed in a line of restored houses. The…

  • Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The highlight here is the beautifully curated Museum of George and Nefeli Giabra Pierides Collection on the mezzanine floor, which contains more than 600 …

  • Green Line

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The presence of the UN Buffer Zone (commonly called the Green Line) slashing through the capital is a prominent reminder of the island's ongoing division…

  • Church of Archangelos Michail

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This domed church was built in 1695 and is thought to have replaced an earlier Gothic church on the same site. The exterior is built in Franco-Byzantine…

  • Famagusta Gate

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Easternmost city gate Famagusta is the most photographed and best-preserved of the three original gates that led into the Old City of Nicosia. Its…

  • Loukia & Michael Zampelas Art Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This small private gallery, dedicated to promoting contemporary Cypriot art, houses the Zampelas family's permanent art collection. A range of Cypriot and…

  • Panagia Chrysaliniotissa

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and its name means ‘Our Lady of the Golden Flax’ in Greek. It’s considered to be…

  • Agios Ioannis Church

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Located in the courtyard of the Makarios Cultural Foundation, this 17th-century church has an interior covered in lively and intricate frescos dating from…

  • Ancient Tamassos

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Tamassos’ main claim to fame was its once seemingly endless supply of copper – the mineral from which the name of Cyprus (Kypros in Greek; Kıbrıs in…

  • Monastery of Agios Irakleidios

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    A visit to this historic monastery – a nun's convent since the 1960s – is easily combined with an excursion to the nearby archaeological site of Ancient…

  • Folk Art Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This museum houses the largest collection of popular art and ethnography in the Republic. The building dates back to the 15th century and was used as the…

  • Kasteliotissa

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Opposite Pafos Gate, this medieval-era vaulted hall is thought to have been built in the 14th century. Its original function has never been confirmed but…

  • Omeriye Mosque

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Originally the Augustinian Church of St Mary, the Omeriye Mosque dates from the 14th century, with its tall minarets added after its conversion in 1571…

  • Church of Panagia Faneromeni

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Built in 1872 on the site of an ancient Orthodox nunnery, this is the largest church within the city walls and is a mixture of neoclassical, Byzantine and…

  • Shacolas Tower Observatory

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Shacolas Tower Observatory provides a superb vantage point across the city and the mountain range beyond. Boards below each window point out and provide…

  • Pancyprian Gymnasium

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Cyprus' oldest still-operating school dates back to 1812. Lawrence Durrell, author of Bitter Lemons of Cyprus, taught English here for several years in…

  • National Struggle Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This display is really for die-hard history buffs. The National Struggle Museum exhibits documents, photos and other…

  • Archbishop’s Palace

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This rather grand building is the residence of the current archbishop and also houses the offices and administration of the archdiocese. It was built in…

  • State Gallery of Cypriot Contemporary Art

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    Housed in a historic colonial-style building, this museum comprises a vast collection of quality Cypriot art, ranging over the 19th and 20th centuries,…

  • Municipal Gardens

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    A pleasant park located right on the edge of the Old City, with a large children’s playground, ponds and water features, plus plenty of mature shady trees…

  • Ledra Information Bureau

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    At the Ledra St crossing, this municipal office has multilingual leaflets about the city and hosts regular photographic and other exhibitions, generally…

  • Cyprus Classic Motorcycle Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    The owner of this private museum is more than happy to chat extensively about his 150-plus bike collection. It may just bring out your inner Hell’s Angel …

  • Cyprus Postal Museum

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    For the dedicated philatelist. Devoted to Cyprus' postal history, this museum holds a collection of stamps dating back to British colonial rule.

  • Bayraktar Mosque

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This small mosque marks the spot where the Venetian walls were successfully breached by the Ottomans in 1570. The Ottoman bayraktar (standard bearer;…

  • Liberty Monument

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This thought-provoking monument on the Podocataro Bastion represents Greek Cypriot liberation from British colonial powers. The figures of 14 Ethniki…

  • GSP Stadium

    Nicosia (Lefkosia)

    This football stadium is the main venue for football games, as well as being used for major concert events.