Nicosia (Lefkosia)
The joy of this traditional coffee shop dating from the 1930s is that little has changed. There's no chill-out background music, no cutting-edge decor and, somehow, it’s not the sort of place where you feel tempted to whip out your iPad.
Owner Stavros stresses that this is a place for people to talk, drink coffee, down a beer or shuffle cards. The regulars are far from old fashioned, though; this is one of the coolest cafes in town.
24.8 MILES
For divers, the one reason to come to Larnaka is to explore the Zenobia, a Swedish-built cargo ship that sank just off the coast of Larnaka in 1980…
10.76 MILES
The full fairy-tale outline of St Hilarion Castle only becomes apparent once you’re directly beneath it. The stone walls and half-ruined buildings blend…
0.17 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…
23.92 MILES
This Unesco-listed church is in a stunning setting on the perimeter of the Adelfi Forest 4km southwest of Nikitari village. Dedicated to the Virgin of …
29.05 MILES
Part of the excellent Troödos Geopark, this is a small but well-laid-out botanical garden with a lily pond and other water features, including a tumbling…
11.79 MILES
If the grand fortifications of Kyrenia Castle could talk, they could sure tell some tales. The castle was first built by the Byzantines – possibly over…
23.69 MILES
This 9th-century church is dedicated to Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus is said to have resurrected four days after his death. The church itself is an…
0.3 MILES
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.
1. Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre
0.05 MILES
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…
0.08 MILES
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…
3. Archbishop Makarios III Cultural Foundation – Byzantine Museum & Art Gallery
0.12 MILES
This foundation next door to the Archbishop's Palace is home to the magnificent Byzantine Museum, which holds a collection of more than 300 icons and…
0.13 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…
0.14 MILES
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…
0.14 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…
0.14 MILES
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…
0.14 MILES
Located in the courtyard of the Makarios Cultural Foundation, this 17th-century church has an interior covered in lively and intricate frescos dating from…