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Cyprus

Nicosia is the last capital in Europe still split by a buffer zone.

Eastern MediterraneanCapital: Nicosia

Cultural HeritageBudget FriendlyFamily FriendlyFoodie

A United Nations buffer zone has run across Cyprus since 1974, and it cuts straight through the middle of Nicosia, leaving it the only divided capital left in Europe. You can cross on foot at Ledra Street with a passport; the shuttered buildings either side of the line have been standing empty for fifty years. The United Kingdom also still holds two sovereign base areas on the island.

Away from the line, the Troodos range climbs to 1,952 metres, high enough for a ski run in winter, and shelters ten painted Byzantine churches on the UNESCO list. On the south-west coast, the sea stack at Petra tou Romiou is where Greek myth puts the birth of Aphrodite.

Quick facts

Currency

EUR

Euro

Language

Greek

+ Turkish

Power

—

Driving

Left

UK-style

Airport

LCA

PFO

Emergency

—

Police · Fire

When to go

Monthly breakdown

Storm risk: None

Jan

Rain

Feb

Rain

Mar

—

Apr

Best

May

Best

Jun

Best

Jul

—

Aug

—

Sep

Best

Oct

Best

Nov

Best

Dec

Rain

Best monthsRainy season

Major events

Mar

Limassol Carnival

Ten days ending with a Grand Parade along Makariou Avenue, opened by the King Carnival float. The dates follow Orthodox Lent, so they move with Easter.

Carnival

Jun

Kataklysmos

The Festival of the Flood, marked only in Cyprus. Coastal towns hold water fights, boat races and improvised verse duels called tsiattista.

Religious

Sep

Limassol Wine Festival

Twelve days in the Municipal Gardens celebrating a wine tradition that includes Commandaria, made continuously for longer than any other named wine.

Food

Hidden gems

Nature

Avakas Gorge

A limestone slot on the Akamas peninsula narrow enough to touch both walls, with rockfall closures after heavy rain.

Village

Lefkara

A lace-making village since Venetian times; the story that Leonardo bought an altar cloth here is repeated locally and unproven.

Historical

Ancient Kourion

A Greco-Roman city on a bluff above the sea, with a theatre still used for performances and mosaic floors under shelter.

Local food

Halloumi

dietary_tags.vegetarian

A sheep and goat curd cheese with a high melting point, so it grills rather than runs; PDO-protected since 2021.

Souvla

Fist-sized chunks of pork or lamb turned slowly on a long skewer over charcoal, distinct from the small-cube souvlaki.

Meze

Twenty to thirty small plates brought in sequence over two or three hours; ordering it commits the whole table for the evening.

Safety tips

Transport

Traffic drives on the left, a legacy of British rule, which catches out visitors arriving from mainland Europe. Roundabouts are where it goes wrong most often.

General

Crossing between the south and north is routine at the designated checkpoints with a passport, but car insurance usually does not cross with you. Separate cover is sold at the crossing.

Health

Inland summer temperatures in Nicosia and the Troodos foothills regularly exceed 40C. The Troodos trails are far cooler than the coast and are the sensible midday option.