VILLA ZEYTIN · NORTH CYPRUS
North Nicosia / Lefkoşa
Step through the old city for courtyard coffee, craft shops and streets shaped by centuries of history. Follow the walking route at your own pace, with time to linger at Büyük Han.
Planning a visit to North Nicosia
Explore on foot
The main sights are close enough to visit on foot. Leave the car outside the narrow old-town lanes and walk between the hans, mosque and markets.
Allow time for lunch and shade
Allow time for coffee in Büyük Han and a stop for lunch. In summer, plan around shade and the midday heat.
Allow a day from Karşıyaka
Allow a day from Villa Zeytin so you have time for the drive and a walk through the old city.
Start at Kyrenia Gate
Kyrenia Gate is the natural northern entry to the walled city. The scale changes quickly here: traffic edges through narrower streets, shop signs crowd older facades and the old city begins to feel like a place of errands rather than a museum zone.
Before heading straight to Büyük Han, look around the northern entrance. Mevlevi Tekke is close to the gate and introduces a religious and cultural strand that feels very different from the Gothic stone farther south. The historic map shows the fortified outline of the old city.
From Karşıyaka, allow time for the drive, parking and a walk between the sights. Keep water with you and take breaks in the shade.
A simple first walk
- Kyrenia Gate
- Mevlevi Tekke
- Venetian Column and Sarayönü
- Büyük Han
- Kumarcılar Han
- Selimiye Mosque and Bedesten
- Bandabuliya and Arasta
- Büyük Hamam
- Arabahmet
- Ledra / Lokmacı, only if it suits the day
This historic map is useful for understanding the walled shape of Nicosia and the northern entry at Kyrenia Gate. Use it for context rather than street navigation.
Sights along the walking route
Kyrenia Gate
One of the old city’s principal gates and the clearest place to begin a first visit from the north. Pause outside and inside it because the change in scale is part of the experience.
Mevlevi Tekke
Close to Kyrenia Gate, the tekke adds a Mevlevi religious and cultural layer before the route reaches the commercial heart of the old city.
Venetian Column
The Venetian Column stands in Sarayönü / Atatürk Square. It is a useful landmark between Kyrenia Gate and the hans.
Büyük Han
Büyük Han is an Ottoman inn with a central courtyard and upper galleries. Its former rooms now house cafés, workshops and small shops.
Kumarcılar Han
Kumarcılar Han is a smaller Ottoman inn near Büyük Han. Its courtyard is worth a stop as you walk between the main sights.
Selimiye Mosque
The former Cathedral of St Sophia remains one of the city’s strongest architectural encounters. Present use comes first. It is an active mosque whose Gothic height still shapes the surrounding streets.
Bedesten
Bedesten stands beside Selimiye. Its restored stonework makes it an interesting stop before continuing into the market streets.
Bandabuliya and Arasta
Bandabuliya and Arasta are good places to browse for clothing, household goods and food, or stop for coffee.
Coffee and craft shops at Büyük Han
Büyük Han once provided rooms and shelter for travelling merchants and their goods. Walk around the courtyard and upper galleries to see the layout of the old inn.
Today the rooms are used by cafés, workshops and small shops. Sit for coffee, look at what is being made or sold and let the old city slow down before moving towards Selimiye.
Find Kumarcılar Han as well
Kumarcılar Han is smaller and quieter than Büyük Han. Visit both if you have time to see how the two courtyards differ.
Selimiye, Bedesten and the market streets
Selimiye Mosque occupies the former Cathedral of St Sophia. Its Gothic stonework rises above the market streets, with Bedesten beside it.
Selimiye remains an active mosque. Dress appropriately, respect worshippers and follow the current visiting arrangements.
After Selimiye and Bedesten, continue through Bandabuliya and Arasta for shops, cafés and everyday market life.
Büyük Hamam and the Arabahmet neighbourhood
Büyük Hamam
Büyük Hamam is one of the city’s most useful small details because its entrance sits below the present street level. Even if you only pause outside, it shows how the old city has risen around earlier fabric.
Arabahmet lanes
Quieter streets, restored houses, old thresholds and domestic scale give a different city from the central market cluster. Walk slowly and keep private courtyards private.
Derviş Paşa Mansion
Derviş Paşa Mansion is a house museum with traditional rooms, timberwork and a courtyard.
Street endings
In parts of the old city, the division of Nicosia affects how streets terminate and move. Notice it calmly. Do not seek out security infrastructure for photographs.
The Ledra Street / Lokmacı crossing
Ledra Street / Lokmacı is a pedestrian crossing between the two sides of Nicosia. People use it for work, shopping and visits as well as sightseeing.
For eligible travellers, current crossing procedures and documents govern the journey. Keep cameras away from checkpoint and security infrastructure. Use the Visiting North Cyprus page for practical travel checks before relying on any plan that crosses the Green Line.
If you want to visit both sides of the old city, allow extra time. Otherwise, there is plenty for a day on the northern side.
Half-day and full-day routes
Half day core
Start at Kyrenia Gate, continue to Mevlevi Tekke, Venetian Column and Sarayönü, then Büyük Han, Kumarcılar Han, Selimiye, Bedesten, Bandabuliya and Arasta. Finish with coffee before returning.
Full day walk
Follow the core route, then add Büyük Hamam and Arabahmet for the neighbourhood lanes and Derviş Paşa Mansion. Keep a proper lunch break rather than treating shade as wasted time.
Shops, markets and lunch stops
Try Büyük Han for crafts and coffee, Arasta for textiles and small shops, and Bandabuliya for the market hall.
Ask where gifts were made, and stop for food as you explore. You can fit a simple lunch between the sights without leaving the old city.
Leave enough time for the drive back to Karşıyaka, particularly after a hot day of walking.
Ask before you go
Contact Villa Zeytin directly if you want help deciding whether North Nicosia fits your stay. We can help you think through timing, parking, the drive and whether a day involving the crossing is sensible for your group.
Frequently asked questions
How long should we allow?
A half day is enough for the central cluster. A full day is better when Arabahmet, Derviş Paşa Mansion, Büyük Hamam and a proper meal matter.
Should we drive between sights?
Walking is the easiest way to visit the main sights. Leave the car outside the narrow old-town lanes.
Is Selimiye Mosque a tourist attraction?
It is an active mosque with major Gothic architectural history. Present worship comes first, so dress and behave accordingly.
Can we cross at Ledra / Lokmacı?
Eligible travellers use the pedestrian crossing under current procedures. Check official travel advice for your own documents and route before travel.