Nicosia

Akakiko

Asian-Japanese Sushi restaurant. Part of an Austrian franchise and not much different to a Benihana.

Average €20-30 a head

Archangel Michael Trypiotis Church

Orthodox church built in 1695 according to an inscription, but its icon of Archangel Michael is older. Other points of interest of this church are its beautiful 18th-century iconostasis and the relics of Saint Riginos.

Archbishop's Palace and St. John's Cathedral

The residence of the Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus. It's built in neo-Byzatine style and finished in 1960. Not open to the public, but viewable from the outside. Next to the palace are the old palace, as well as St. John's cathedral, the main church of Cyprus, constructed in 1662 on the site of a former Benedictine monastery. On the palace grounds are also the Byzantine museum and the National Struggle museum.

Artisans Burgerbar

Hamburgers that can be customized in many different ways, also serves salads, different small dishes, and steaks. Reportedly very good burgers, though prices are a bit steep.

Sun–Thu 12:00-22:30, Fri Sat 12:00-23:00·small dishes €5-10, burgers around €13, steaks €15-25 (Apr 2020)

Babylon

Popular, long-established bar in a converted 1950s house. Has a large beer garden for the hot summers and cosy log fires for the cold winters.

Bayraktar Mosque

Built and expanded gradually during the 18th and 19th centuries, around the tomb of an unknown Ottoman flagbearer (bayraktar) who fell during the conquest of Cyprus in 1570. The mosque went through some rough times during the violent decades after World War II, being bombed three times and heavily vandalized in 1975, possibly in retribution for the Turkish invasion. Since 2003 it has been open to worshippers again.

Byzantine Museum

Easily spotted thanks to the giant statue of Archbishop Makarios standing outside, has one of the world's best collections of Orthodox icons and other artworks, mostly ranging from the 9th to the 16th century.

Mon-Fri 09:00-16:30, Sat 08:00-12:00, Sun closed·€2

Cookshop

Dishes from many European and Middle Eastern cuisines. Friendly but sometimes slow service. Reservation is recommended.

lunch Mon-Sat 12:00-15:30, dinner Fri 19:00-22:30·Has a nice price menu with mains for €8.50, and their regular menu with mains €10-15 (Apr 2020)

Cyprus Folk Art Museum

Ethnographic Museum of Cyprus

Now housed in the old Archibiscopric Palace, the museum holds more than 5000 exhibits of folk art: clothing, tools, pottery, artwork and paintings. In the museum shop there are traditional handicraft for sale, and the museum cafe has traditional drinks and snacks.

Cyprus Museum (Κυπριακό Μουσείο)

Cyprus Archaeological Museum

Showcases the best of Cypriot archeology from the 9th millennium BCE to the end of antiquity. There is a café on the grounds.

Tue-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-13:00, Mon closed; closed New Year's, Easter, Christmas·Free

Cyprus Museum of Natural History

Museum showcasing the animal life of Cyprus and the Mediterranean, including mammals, marine life, insects and fossils. There's also an exhibition about dinosaurs, as well as mammals from North America.

Mon-Fri 08:30-13:00·Free entrance

Cyprus Police Museum

Learn more about the history of law enforcement on the island. On display are police equipment from different periods, and items and documents related to infamous crimes and 20th century conflicts. The museum was opened in 1933 in the main police station, and got its own dedicated building in 2004.

Mon-Fri 09:00-13:00·Free entrance

Cyprus Postal Museum

Presents the postal history from the Venetian era, and has a very large collection of stamps.

Mon-Fri 09:00-15:00, Sat 09:00-13:00

Domus Lounge Bar

Mediterranean, mainly Italian, fine dining restaurant with indoor dining in the winter and outdoor in the summer. It has a bar and a wine cellar.

daily 19:30-02:30·mains about €20-25 (Apr 2020)

Eleftheria Square

This square next to the city walls has taken over Faneromeni's role; major events and rallies take place here.

Erodos Cafe-Restaurant

Within the Venetian walls and in the heart of Old Town. Live music, fine wines, good beers and traditional, yet eccentric gastronomy.

Famagusta Gate

Leoforos Athinon

One of Nicosia's three old gates, it has been turned into the Lefkosia Municipal Cultural Centre, used for various exhibitions and performances.

Faneromeni Square

An important historical square dating from Venetian times, and until 1974 considered the heart of the city. Faneromeni square is surrounded by historical buildings and monuments such as the Faneromeni Church, Faneromeni School, Faneromeni Library, and the Marble Mausoleum.

Hamam Omerye

In the heart of the old town within the ancient Venetian walls. Find your way to the 'Ohi' Round about, then head straight all the way until you find the Omeriye Mosque on your right - you can't miss it. Turn right here and the Hamam Baths are on your left. 14th-century building restored to operate once again as a Turkish bath. The site's history dates back to the 14th century, when it stood as an Augustinian church of St. Mary, built by the Lusignan (French) and later maintained by the Venetians. In 1571, Mustapha Pasha converted the church into a mosque, believing that this particular spot is where the prophet Omer rested during his visit to Lefkosia. Most of the original building was destroyed by Ottoman artillery, although the door of the main entrance still belongs to the 14th-century Lusignan building, whilst remains of a later Renaissance phase can be seen at the north-eastern side of the monument. Couples on Mondays, men only Tu Th Sa, women only W F Su. €20/two hours, including towels, disposable underwear, tea, and sponge.

Holy Mother of God Cathedral

Surp Asdvadzadzin Church

To replace the main church of Nicosia's Armenian community which was left on the Turkish side, the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church was built and opened in 1981. It's the only church built in traditional Armenian style on Cyprus, and around it there are also other monuments related to the Armenian community, like the Armenian Genocide Monument, a marble khachkar (Armenian cross stone) and several statues.

Horse Racing

Nicosia Race Club

The small and picturesque race track has a colonial feel to it. Emotions run high here every Wednesday and Sunday. Check website or call them for race timetable.

House of the Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios

A beautifully restored 18th-century building now housing an ethnological museum.

Mon-Fri 08:00-14:00, Sat 09:00-13:00, Sun closed·€1

K. Cineplex

Modern multiscreen theatre, not much different to what one would find anywhare else in the world.

Ledra Observatory Museum

Shacolas Tower Museum and Observatory

The Shakolas (older Nicosians know it by its former name The Mangli) building sticks out like a sore thumb in the medieval old city. To reach the observatory you have to go into the Debenhams shopping complex which is right in the middle of Ledra street, a mini skyscraper of 12 floors, towers over other buildings not rising higher than 2-3 floors. On its penultimate floor you find the observatory, where it's possible “to see” the division of the island. There is a café up on the sixth floor which also has some nice views which you can enjoy should it be quiet, but usually there are paying customers sitting at the best viewpoints. Entrance to the observatory on the 11th floor is a low €2.50 so it's a must-see.

Daily 10:00-20:00·€2.50

Leventis Gallery

Cypriot and European paintings. There are temporary exhibitions, in addition to the three permanent exhibitions; the Greek, the Paris and the Cyprus collections.

Mon 10:00-17:00, Tue closed, Wed 10:00-22:00, Thu-Sat 10:00-17:00

Leventis Municipal Museum

Housed in a converted, two-storey house since 1984 the Leventis Municipal Museum has exhibits dating from 2300 BC to the present day. Voted European Museum of the Year in 1991.

Tue-Sun 10:00-16:30·Free

Liberty Monument

A monument to honour the fighters of the EOKA guerilla organization against the British colonial rule during the Cyprus emergency in the 1950s.

Moondogs

Bar and grill, with a very wide selection of beer (Belgian beers especially) which are also sold in their beer store as well as other drinks, burgers and salads on the food side, and regularly live music (rock).

daily 12:00-02:00

Murphy's Pub

British-style pub with occasional live music and football on TV.

Mon-Thu 10:00-02:00, Fri Sat 10:00-04:00, Sun 10:00-00:00

Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage

A numismatics museum with hundreds of coins on display, from ancient to modern spanning nearly 3,000 years of coinage history on the island.

Mon-Fri 08:00-14:30