Our Favourite Nicosia City Centre Attractions (Cyprus)

Nicosia City Centre Attractions (Cyprus)…

Welcome to Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus…!! :-)

Important: Please note, all the road signs in Cyprus refer to Nicosia as “Lefkosia” not “Nicosia”. So, if you are driving around the island and intend to visit Nicosia, pay close attention to that.

Now, back to the attractions…

…In the centre of the capital city, there are so many wonderful attractions to visit that it’s best to spread your adventure over one or two days… It’s the most wonderful city on our beautiful island…!! The best bit…? Most of these attractions and places of interest are within walking distance…!! How super…!! :-)

Here, you will find the places of interest and attractions we love to visit the most, in the amazing city centre of our Capital (the South side only).

But, before we continue, we should point out, if you intend to walk from your hotel to visit these splendid attractions or, from one attraction to another, it’s wise to wear comfortable shoes, take a hat, also a bottle of water (it’s very highly recommended, because it’s hot) and you are ready to start your adventure…!! :-)

Why a bottle of water…? We hear you say…!!

Because, the heat during the summer in Nicosia is real…!! It can reach over 40 Deg C (105 Deg F)…!!

The buildings and the asphalt absorb the heat quickly, and reflect it…So, you might want to plan your visit during the morning, or in the late afternoon. Don’t forget your dog…!! Your pet does not have heat proof feet. So, remember their little pads are feeling it too, but without shoes…Can you walk barefoot on the concrete paths during the hottest part of the day…?

Click on one of the quick links below for more in-depth information and the best pictures of our favourite city centre…


Quick links:


Nicosia City Centre Attractions: Shopping Streets

A shopping spree is our kind of thing…!! Lol :-)

How about you? :-) Do you like shopping?

If you do, then you might want to jot down the main shopping streets in Nicosia’s splendid city centre…!!

Let’s dive in to it...!!

  • Ledra St.
  • Onasagorou St.
  • Stasikratous St.
  • Themistokli Dervi Ave.
  • Archbishop Makarios III Ave.

All of the above streets and avenues are easily within walking distance. Full of all kinds of shops and curiosities, cafes, restaurants, fashion, shoe shops, antiques, and home design...basically every type of shop you can imagine…!! :-)

If you are specifically looking for high-end shopping (e.g. designer clothes) then you might want to visit Stasikratous St. or Themistokli Dervi Ave. and also try Archbishop Makarios III Ave. too…!!

But, let’s see one by one what each street and avenue has to offer you...

Ledra St. and Onasagorou St. are two very famous pedestrianised streets that are lined with all kinds of shops and are visited by locals and tourists the whole year round…!!  

In addition, Ledra St. and Onasagorou St. lead to narrow alleyways where you will find cute little art exhibitions and antique shops – amongst others.


The Shakolas Tower Museum and Observatory

Whilst walking down Ledra St. you can’t miss the iconic Shakolas Tower Museum and Observatory (also known as “The Observatory”).

What will you see from The Observatory…?

Spectacular, panoramic views of the city…!! It’s a wonderful experience to look down on the city from above. :-) So, check it out…!! It’s a must-see…


Ledra St. Checkpoint

If you have chosen Ledra St. for your brisk morning walk, then bear in mind that you will eventually reach Ledra Street Checkpoint. It’s the controlled crossing point between the South (The Republic of Cyprus) and the North (The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).

Please note: If you wish to cross the border into the TRNC, you will have to show your national I.D. card, and or passport to be allowed to cross…

Stasikratous St. and Themistokli Dervi St. are the two streets that run parallel to the Archbishop Makarios III Ave. These two streets are famously known for their high-end designer boutiques, quaint up-market coffee shops, and elegant restaurants…!! This unique blend makes it a must-go-and-see, a chance to meet up with friends, relax with colleagues, or even for a cheeky little business meeting or two.

You will see many locals and tourists alike wondering around these streets, doing some shopping, going about their daily business, or enjoying a cup of coffee in one of the enticing little corner coffee houses.

In addition, you should consider that many of the shops on Stasikratous St. offer tax free shopping too. Wow…!! How does that work…? :-)

The Archbishop Makarios III Ave. is the city’s main street, very popular for its designer boutiques, cute coffee houses, and vibrant restaurants.

If you are planning to visit Nicosia City Centre don’t miss visiting this beautiful Avenue…!!

The avenue covers a distance of 2 km and it’s named after the first President of Cyprus (Archbishop Makarios III). As we’ve previously mentioned, this avenue runs parallel to Stasikratous St. and Themistokli Dervi Ave.

If you love walking, then you’re going to love browsing through these streets and avenues in the centre of Nicosia our capital city.

So, are you ready for a shopping spree…? :-)


Eleftheria Square

This is where the traditional classic style meets the up-lifting captivating new modern era…!!

Eleftheria means “Liberty”.

Eleftheria Square in Nicosia was officially inaugurated in December 2021 following an extensive makeover that was co-funded by the EU, marking a major milestone in efforts to revitalise the Cypriot capital, and the result is outstanding…!!

Make sure you visit this amazing Square, it’s really very easy to find, take a rest, and enjoy the bustling vibe of the city.

Note: The two most famous streets that can be found very near to the Eleftheria Square are Ledra St. and Onasagorou St. go and search them out, you won’t regret it…


Faneromeni Square

This is a very important historical Square which is located within the ancient Medieval (Venetian) Walls of Nicosia.

In the Square you will stumble across many significant historical buildings, like The Panayia (Virgin Mary) Faneromeni Church, The Faneromeni School, The Marble Mausoleum, and the St. Mark Library, named after the holy saint of Venice. In 2009 the neo-classical building of the library was restored according to strict specifications... There are also a number of quaint shops and cafes, if you wish to collect some souvenirs to remind you and your friends of your adventures when you get back home…

What we love most about the Faneromeni Square are the historical buildings and the stunning architecture. We most certainly enjoy our time there every time we visit…!! :-)


The Panayia (Virgin Mary) Faneromeni Church

This wonderful church, with its amazing architecture, was built in 1872 within the old city walls. The Faneromeni church was described as “old and most ancient” by Archimandrite Kyprianos from the 18th century.

In 1821: All the Bishops and Priests were executed by the Ottoman Empire.

The relics of this event can be found in the Marble Mausoleum to the east of the church. It’s worth pointing out that The Panayia Faneromeni Church used to be the largest church in Nicosia (Lefkosia).

According to Historical Myth, the Ottomans tried to convert The Faneromeni Church into a mosque. However, they stopped trying to do this when all the Imams appointed there died shortly after assuming their duties.

A visit to this amazing church is well worth it, you won’t only just enjoy the architecture of the church and its surrounding buildings, you will also be delving into Nicosia’s unique historical culture. Many locals and tourist alike go there to find peace and tranquility. So, you might want to include it in your schedule of beautiful awe-inspiring places of interest to visit whilst you relax on this wonderful Mediterranean island…!! :-)


The Old and The New Archbishop’s Palace

The Old Archbishop’s Palace is an important monument in the heart of Nicosia. It’s an 18th century two-storey building, and it is associated with more modern Cypriot history.

Next to it, you will find the New Archbishop’s Palace. The new Palace houses the offices of the archdiocese, the residence of the Archbishop, the Byzantine Museum, and the Library of the Archbishopric.

Since the completion of the new Archbishopric, the Old Palace housed the Folk Art Museum and the National Struggle Museum.

It’s a Neo-Byzantine style two-storey stone Palace and it was built by Archbishop Makarios III between 1956 and 1960.

We never miss a chance to visit, as it reminds us of our history and culture. Nothing beats that…!! :-)


Laiki Geitonia (A Traditional Neighbourhood)

We love Laiki Geitonia and everything that goes with it…!!

Laiki Geitonia means “Traditional Neighbourhood”.

This pedestrianized area is inside the old city walls. Just follow the signs and you will find it in no time at all…!! It’s very close to Ledra St.

This “Traditional Neighbourhood” reminds us of old Nicosia gone by, from the lovely classical town houses, to the amazing architecture of the surrounding buildings that dates back to the 18th century. You will find sweet little souvenir shops, taverns, coffee shops, and art exhibitions that will thrill you to your core.

Every time we visit, we have fun, but above all we admire the architecture of the traditional buildings most. It’s easy to get the “feel” of old Nicosia. It’s something that we love to experience again and again…!! :-)


The Liberty Monument

This stunning monument is on the Podocattaro Bastion of the old city walls (Venetian walls). It’s close to the old aqueduct, and only a few minutes away (on foot) from the Famagusta Gate.

The Liberty monument was erected in 1973 to honour the anti-British EOKA fighters. The EOKA was a Greek Cypriot anti-British nationalist guerrilla organization that fought against the British colonial rule in Cyprus from 1955 to 1959. Its goals were to end British control and achieve Enosis (union with Greece). The armed campaign ended with the London-Zurich Agreements in 1959, leading to Cyprus gaining independence in 1960.


The Venetian (Medieval) Walls & The Famagusta Gate

The Venetian (Medieval) Walls

The 16th century walls built by the Venetians form a circle around Nicosia (Lefkosia), they were fortified by 11 heart-shaped bastions and reinforced by an 80-metre-wide moat.

The Venetians built the walls with mud-brick and the lower part was only buttressed by stone.

The upper part was covered by stones by the Ottomans who occupied Nicosia and repaired the walls.

Nowadays, the now empty moat around the Venetian walls is used as public gardens, car parks, open-air sculpture exhibitions, and so forth.

You can’t really walk the walls like a rampart anymore, but you can trace their footprint via the moat promenades.

The highlight of the old Venetian walls in the South of Nicosia is the amazing Famagusta Gate. It’s an arched portal that has been repurposed to host some of the most splendid art exhibitions in Cyprus.


The Famagusta Gate

One of the most significant gates of the Venetian era in Nicosia is the Famagusta Gate…!!

The gate was built in 1567 by the Venetians, as a part of the new city walls and was originally called the Porta Giuliani after its designer.

This Gate originally led to the most important harbour town of the island, hence its name. Originally, it was known as “Porta Giuliana” in honour of Giulio Savorgnano, the engineer who designed and erected these wonderful Medieval walls.

The Famagusta Gate is impressive…!! It consists of an impressive vaulted passage leading to a large domed room. Along the passage you will find the oblong rooms that used to house the guards.


The Cyprus Museum

After a 10 to 15 minute-walk from The Eleftheria Square you will find the spectacular Cyprus Museum, the island’s main and largest archaeological museum. This museum houses the largest archaeological collection of historically important artefacts from various excavations all over the island…!! :-)

It charts the development of the civilization of Cyprus from the Neolithic Age to the Early Byzantine period (7th century). Neolithic figurines, wonderful pottery of the Bronze age, beautiful jewellery, sculptures, and valuable coins are some of the artefacts you will discover in this awesome museum – which resembles a time machine spanning over 11000 years.

In addition, the building of the museum itself was historic…!!  When Cyprus was still a British Colony, work on it commenced in 1908 and it was completed in 1924. Extensions were added later, making it the building you can see today.


...That closes the gate on our article “Our Favourite Nicosia City Centre Attractions (Cyprus)”. We wish you the best time here on our island and especially in the capital city of Cyprus...Nicosia…!!

Can’t wait for you to come back…!! Missing you already…!! :-)


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