Nicosia Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal€12.00≈ $13.71
- Mid-range meal€28.00≈ $31.98
- Cappuccino€3.00≈ $3.43
- Domestic beer€4.50≈ $5.14
- Taxi (per km)€1.00≈ $1.14
- Public transport ticket€1.50≈ $1.71
- Museum entry€4.50≈ $5.14
- Mid-range hotel (night)€95.00≈ $108.50
Food & Drink
- Zanettos TavernaCypriot · $$
Historic meze taverna in the old town near Ledra Street, serving traditional Cypriot small plates in a decades-old family-run setting.
- Mattheos TavernCypriot · $$
Long-running Cypriot taverna known for grilled halloumi, souvla and generous meze spreads.
- 1900 Art CafeMediterranean · $$
Neoclassical building turned cafe-restaurant on Ledra Street, popular for a relaxed lunch amid old-town architecture.
- Piatsa GourounakiCypriot grill · $$
Popular grill house famous for souvla (spit-roasted meat) and traditional Cypriot village-style dishes.
- Ledra Street area bars
Nicosia's central pedestrian shopping street, lined with cafes and bars that get lively in the evening near the Green Line crossing.
- Laiki Geitonia
Restored traditional quarter of narrow lanes near the city walls, with taverns and bars in a picturesque old-town setting.
Culture & History
- Cyprus Museum
The island's principal archaeological museum, holding artifacts spanning Cypriot history from the Neolithic era through Roman times, including the Chatzichristodoulou statues.
- Leventis Municipal Museum
Museum tracing the history of Nicosia from antiquity to the present, housed in a restored 19th-century building in the old town.
- Byzantine Museum and Art Galleries (Makarios Cultural Foundation)
Extensive collection of Byzantine icons and ecclesiastical art, one of the richest icon collections in Cyprus.
- K-Cineplex Nicosia
Modern multiplex chain with a Nicosia location showing first-run international films.
- Nicosia International Festival
Summer arts festival bringing theatre, music and dance performances to venues around the capital.
Nature & Outdoors
- Troodos Mountains
Cyprus's highest mountain range with painted Byzantine churches (a UNESCO World Heritage cluster) and hiking trails, a popular day trip from the capital.
Active & Fun
- Total Fitness Nicosia
Multi-branch gym chain with locations across the city offering standard equipment and classes.
- Nicosia Municipal Swimming Pools (Eleftheria Sports Center)
Public outdoor pool complex operated by the municipality, a popular summer respite from the inland heat.