Northern Nicosia is the Northern Cyprus-controlled side of the city, containing approximately half of the Old City. The city streets are visibly crumbling.
Most tourists visit northern Nicosia as a daytrip from the southern side.
If arriving from abroad without going southern side first, from nearby Ercan Airport you can take a scheduled bus called Kibhas or take a taxi which costs about 50 TL.
The Old City of northern Nicosia can be comfortably covered on foot. If crossing through the checkpoint at from South Cyprus, there are taxis that can be rented by the hour or by the day to cover the Old City and surrounding areas.
Selimiye Mosque (St. Sophia Cathedral). Northern Nicosia's top attraction, this fortress-like cathedral-cum-mosque was completed in 1228 and has survived a number of earthquakes since then. The cathedral was converted into a mosque in 1570 and the two minarets added at the same time are a Nicosia landmark.edit
Kyrenia Gate. Built in 1567, the impressive Northern entry gate into Nicosia was built when the Venetians were in charge of Cyprus. Today it is home to the tourism information centre in Nicosia.edit
The Great Inn (Büyük Han). It has been totally transformed through sympathetic renovation and restoration over the past few years and today it’s a place where you can shop for eclectic crafts, enjoy a light meal, watch some street theatre or listen to live music and marvel at the incredible architecture of this building constructed back in 1572.edit
Dervish Pasha’s House. Another cultural anthropology centre is the recently resorted mansion that was once owned by Dervish Pasha.edit
The Museum of Barbarism. The house of Dr. Nihat Ilhan, a major who was serving in the Cyprus Turkish Contingent in 1963. During the inter-communal troubles of December that year, the house was attacked by the Greek-Cypriot terrorists. Dr. Ilhan's wife and three children were ruthlessly murdered in the bathroom where they had tried to hide. The house, in the Kumsal district of Nicosia has been preserved as a museum.edit
The Lusignan House. A French medieval residenceedit
The Indoor and Outdoor Markets are the markets in North Nicosia are certainly worth a visit…There are many market stalls to browse selling everything from genuine fake designer clothes, bags, belts and shoes to stalls overflowing with fantastic fresh, organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables. You can pick up all the local cheese (Hellim cheese), Turkish delight, olive oil and such like that you want to take home to family and friends and you can negotiate a good clothing bargain or two to boot.
Molhiya is a well developed dish appealing to Turkish Cypriot taste, preparation and presentation, since they were Arabs known for their spicy and tasty food who passed it to Turks.
Yalanci Dolma (vine leaves stuffed with rice, onions, and tomatoes) is a Turkish Cypriot dish. In Turkish Yalanci Dolma means "stuffed liar".
Shish Kebab (marinated lamb, skewered and grilled over charcoal), shis is the everyday word used by Turkish people which refers to "skewer", similarly Doner Kebab means "spinning kebab".
Musakka (layers of mince, potatoes, and aubergines baked in the oven with cheese topping).
If your visa allows it, it would be fine to stay in northen Nicosia and see both areas of the city, the crossing is hassle free and open 24 hours a day, and there are more budget options on the northern side (in particular if you don't want to or can't to use the youth hostel on the southern side).
The going rate for a Pension is 30 TL for a 1 or 2 person room. There are many of them around the Great Inn. They don't have online reservations, but hotels are a minimum of 100TL in the low-season so it's much cheaper to walk into any pension.
Aksaray Pensiyon, Mecidiye Sokak No: 63 LEFKOŞA (north of the Great Inn), ☎ 0392 228 46 48 (info@aksaraypansiyon.com), [1]. About €30 for private room for 2 with breakfast. edit
Antalya Pansiyonu, Iplik Pazari No. 17 (just north of the Hamam), ☎ 22 77 396. €25 for a private room for 2. edit
Tourism information may or may not be available at the tourism office on Atatürk Square. The telephone code of the city has no difference with the whole Northern Cyprus; (+90) 392.
Until recently, it was impossible to visit the South from the North, but controls have been relaxed recently. Now it is possible to visit the South on a day trip, provided you are an EU-Citizen. Citizens of other western nations (e.g. US, Canada, Australia) are allowed to pass by the Greek Cypriots on a case to case basis only. People from countries that need a visa for the Republic of Cyprus cannot visit the South if they entered the island via the TRNC. The main checkpoint for pedestrians is on Ledra Street.
The pleasant port town of Kyrenia is 20 minutes hour away by car, and St. Hilarion Castle makes an interesting detour along the way.
