Nicosia City

If you have car hire in Northern Cyprus, try to spend at least a day in Nicosia, the buzzing capital, also known as Lefkosa, where you are sure to enjoy traditional Cypriot warmth and hospitality.  After driving your North Cyprus car hire vehicle through the bustling modern suburbs, head for the charming old city centre, now tastefully renovated and full of atmosphere. 15 minutes away fron North Cyprus Ercan Airport.
It is advised to park your car rental vehicle and explore the attractions of the compact old city on foot. There are many things to keep you occupied:

• Stroll through the remains of the city walls, built in the sixteenth century by the Venetians and stretching 5 kilometres around the city.  Stop by at a pavement café on the way if you get tired and savour a traditional strong Turkish coffee prepared in a jezve, or long handled coffee pot, just as it has been prepared for centuries.
• The Selimiye Mosque (formerly St. Sophia Cathedral), which is the top attraction in Northern Nicosia and one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Northern Cyprus. This imposing building was built in the thirteenth century and then converted into a mosque in the sixteenth century. Despite surviving several earthquakes over the centuries, the Selimiye Mosque together with Its two minarets tower over Nicosia as one of its great and enduring landmarks.
• The Great Inn (or Great Khan), a stunning sixteenth building with a vaulted interior courtyard is a treasure trove for tourists – once an old inn for merchants, it has been stylishly renovated into a centre housing an eclectic range of art galleries and craft workshops as well as cafes and a restaurant serving authentic Cypriot food as well as international fare.
• Historians and art-lovers will delight in the top class museums such as the Cyprus Archaeological Museum, the Byzantine Museum and the Ethnographic museum.

After exploring this charming city, what better way to finish your day than to stop by at one of the city’s fantastic restaurants and try out a traditional Cypriot dish such as Musakka or Shish Kebab.
If you need more information on your stay in Northern Cyprus, don’t forget the Kyrenia Gate! Built in the sixteenth by the Venetians, this magnificent entry gate is now home to the tourist information centre.

If you have Northern Cyprus car hire, there are many short day trips that you can take in the vicinity of Nicosia such as mountain villages of Marathasa, the valleys of Solea and Pitsilia and the Byzantine churches and monasteries scattered around the tranquil countryside.

  Another great place to visit is Tamassos, only 19 kilometres away in your North Cyprus car hire vehicle. Here you can see life sized sculptures of lions and sphinxes, recently excavated and dating back as far as the 6th Century B.C.