Nicosia, Cyprus is an incredible place to drop your maps, phones, tablets and all other electronic devices to just explore on your own. However, before you do so, this is one place that I’ll tell you is extremely important to understand the history of before you set off on your journey.

To make it a little easier, here’s a quick timeline:

• Millions of years ago – The city of Nicosia comes up from the ocean, land is known to be home to only the smallest of hippos and elephants.
• 1192 – Nicosia becomes the capital of the island of Cyprus.
• 1567 – The Venetians take over the island and a few years later the venetian walls are built (the star-like fortification).
• 1570 – The Ottomans break down the walls and take of the island.
• 1878 – The country becomes part of the British Empire.
• 1960 – The Cypriot’s have won independence from the British Empire.
• 1963 – A feud breaks out between the Greek-Cypriot’s and the Turkish-Cypriots and the city is divided by the green line. 
• 2003 – People are finally allowed to cross the border between what is now known as the Buffer Zone.
• Today – History is still very alive and relevant. The two parties are in the midst of trying to solve the issues… to be continued…

And for the fun stuff…

Once you have an understanding about the history of the place, you can drop those maps go out and have fun. If there’s one thing to mention, it’s that Nicosia is a hot city filled with hipster bars and upcoming trends. It’s a great place to relax while still being able to feel the vibes of the city.

 

Here’s the top ten things to do in Nicosia:

 

1 – Walk the Venetian Walls

There is so much to see along the walls, including some beautiful views and some neat opportunities to peak behind the buffer zone.

 

2 – Embrace the Coffee Culture

There’s more than just a handful of incredible coffee shops around the area. Inside the venetian walls you can check out just a few of my favourites: Pieto’s, The Weaving Mill or 300.

 

3 – Eat the Local Food

There is quite a mix between cultures in Nicosia which makes for some delicious cuisine. Here’s just a few that you’ll have to try while you’re there: Souvlaki, loukoumades, halloumi and tahini.

 

4 – Take a Trip to the Museums

There is a couple museums within the city walls. You’ve got the Cyprus Archeological Museum which is the biggest archeological museum in the country, and then you’ve go the Leventis Municipal Museum which offers a neat collection in a modern space.

 

5 – Get a Stunning View of the City

This is usually the first thing I do when I visit a city, look around… find the tallest building or mountain around the area and climb my way up. The tallest building within the city walls is called the Shacolas Tower. Make your way up, pay a 2 Euro entrance fee, getting a beautiful view of the city and make sure you watch the 10 minute historical video while you’re up there.

 

6 – Enjoy the Bar Culture

There’s so much to explore by night in Nicosia. Once the sun goes down, there is a whole other world within the small walled city. Here are just a few bars you’ll have to stop in at: Gym Concept, Plato’s, Lost + Found Drinkery and Brewfellas.

 

7 – Bike the Pedieos River

This isn’t something you’ll typically find around the city, but there is a spot to rent bicycles. It’s a little tricky getting out of the busy city, but it’s worth the time to get out and explore the Pedieos River.

 

8 – Visit the Small Handicraft Shops

There is certainly no shortage of handicraft shops around the area. You’ll find copper shops, welding shops, wooden working shops and quite a few smaller antique shops. As I mentioned before, the hipster community within Nicosia is growing and creative minds are filling all corners of the city.

 

9 – Visit the Historical Sites

There’s quite a few historical sites to explore along the way. Luckily, most of them you’ll find as you explore the Venetian walls (including Farmagusta Gate and the Liberty Monument). Others worth exploring around the area include: the Ledra Street Sculpture, the Arch Bishop’s Palace and the Omeriye Mosque.

 

10 – Take a Peak on the Other Side

You don’t need to walk very far to understand that the north side of Nicosia is quite different both culturally and architecturally. It’s worth a peak on the other side of the buffer zone just to get a better understanding of the history behind the two communities.

I could carry on with more stories and wonderful things to do in Nicosia, Cyprus, but this should give you a good head start! Create your own memories, get out there and have fun!

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