Nicosia off the beaten track: hidden quarters and unusual activities

Street art in the buffer zone

Nicosia's buffer zone, the strip of no man's land separating north from south, has become an unexpected canvas for urban artists. Where buildings abandoned since 1974 slowly crumble, vibrant murals have appeared in recent years. Cypriot, Greek, Turkish and international artists use these forgotten facades as giant canvases to evoke peace, reconciliation and island identity. Specialised guided tours allow visitors to safely explore accessible sections of this zone, offering a striking glimpse of the island's recent history through contemporary art.

The Phaneromeni quarter, located just south of the Green Line, is the epicentre of this alternative art scene. Its narrow lanes house independent galleries, creative coworking spaces and third-wave coffee shops where baristas roast their own beans. Phaneromeni Church, the largest within the city walls, watches over this reviving neighbourhood where students, artists and young entrepreneurs mingle.

Hammams and Ottoman-style wellness

Few tourists know that Nicosia is home to several historic hammams still operating or recently restored. Buyuk Hamam, in the northern part near Buyuk Han, occupies a 14th-century building converted into a Turkish bath during the Ottoman era. Beneath its domes pierced with stars of light, visitors can still enjoy a steam bath and traditional black soap scrub, just as they did five centuries ago. Omeriye Hamam, on the southern side, has been meticulously restored within a 14th-century Augustinian church converted into a bathhouse by Mustafa Pasha. Today it is a spa blending ancestral Ottoman rituals with modern treatments in an exceptional architectural setting.

Excursions around Nicosia

The capital's surroundings hold equally captivating discoveries. About thirty minutes by car, Machairas Monastery, perched at 870 metres above sea level in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains, offers a spiritual retreat in a magnificent forest setting. Founded in the 12th century, it houses a miraculous icon of the Virgin attributed to the Apostle Luke. Even closer, the village of Aglandjia hosts a Saturday farmers' market where local producers sell citrus fruits, wild thyme honey and wood-fired sourdough bread.

For nature lovers, Athalassa Park, the green lung of the metropolitan area, stretches over 840 hectares of pine forests, hiking trails and cycle paths. The artificial lake at the park's centre attracts migratory birds in spring and autumn, delighting amateur birdwatchers. It is the ideal spot to escape the summer heat of the capital and enjoy a picnic in the shade of Aleppo pines.