Haydarpaşa Mosque

Top choice in North Nicosia (Lefkoşa)


The second-most important Gothic structure in North Nicosia after the Selimiye Mosque, this building began life as the 14th-century Church of St Catherine. Annoyingly, despite the mosque being open officially, in practice it rarely is. Even if it's shut when you stroll by, take the time to admire its chunky facade, and also the ornate carving at the top of the entrance gates, which sprout dragon and rose motifs. The southern and western entrances have the Lusignan coat of arms.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby North Nicosia (Lefkoşa) attractions

1. Lapidary Museum

0.05 MILES

Housed in a lovely 15th-century building, exhibits of the medieval-era stonework here include a varied collection of column capitals, stelae, and a Gothic…

2. Eaved House

0.07 MILES

Unique for its wide eaves, this house is a combination of Lusignan and Ottoman architecture and now functions as an art and culture centre hosting…

3. Kıbrıs Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi

0.11 MILES

This museum has a small but beautiful collection of Turkish carpets that is worth popping in and having a look at if you're a textiles fan. It's tucked…

4. Selimiye Mosque

0.11 MILES

North Nicosia’s most prominent landmark (also clearly visible from the southern half of the city), the Selimiye Mosque is a beautiful mongrel of a…

5. Bedestan

0.12 MILES

Renovated as part of the Nicosia Master Plan, the imposing Bedestan dates from the 6th century, when it was built as a small Byzantine chapel. It was…

6. Bandabulya

0.13 MILES

Dating back to the early 20th century, this covered market has a mix of produce stalls piled high with fruit and vegetables for local shoppers, craft…

7. Kumarcılar Han

0.19 MILES

This caravanserai is a smaller version of the neighbouring Büyük Han and was built in the early 18th century. Today its courtyard hosts cafes, and the…

8. CVAR

0.19 MILES

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