Although the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia sports none of the glitz expected of a metropolitan city or an international tourist resort. Very traditional, it is less touristy than the other beach resorts of Southern Cyprus. Nicosia’s beaches, its lodging and dining facilities, the town, its shops and markets are all reflective of the simplicity and guileless charm of this place.

Nicosia offers a fine selection of accommodation options. Whatever your budget, expect to find a hotel, apartment, inn, villa or cottage of your choice. While elegance and aesthetics are the key features of Nicosian lodging, superb service and international amenities determine its quality. Everything from swimming pools, pool side bars, restaurants, cafes, lounges, spas, fitness centres, tennis and squash courts, golf and mini-golf courses, souvenir shops, children’s centres, water sports and excursion tour facilities can be found at up-market hotels. You can expect most 5 and 4-star hotels to be designed lavishly, complete with sprawling gardens, superb walkways, and alfresco cafes and bars for spending that perfect evening watching sunsets.

Nicosia is blessed with numerous historical sights. No holiday in Nicosia is complete without visiting the places containing Byzantine, Turkish, Egyptian, Roman, Ottoman and British remnants. Day-tours around Nicosia also include visits to the atmospheric medieval village of Kakopetria and ancient city of Gazimagosa, both astounding in their historical splendor.

There are several tour operators in Nicosia. Most up-market hotels also provide organized tour facilities around the island. Talk to your hotel’s tourism department to pick from a choice of tour packages. Some hotels also provide car hire facilities, in case you want to explore Nicosia on your own.