Nicosia: Old Town, Museums and Markets

Nicosia offers several starting points for choosing what to explore during your stay: open-air markets, historic architecture, museums with varied collections and a cycling route through Pedhieos River Linear Park. The following places and topics give you a practical guide to the city—from the walled old town to the route along the river.

Markets and the Old Town

Two open-air markets take place every week in the Constanza car park, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The two market days can serve as a useful time reference when planning your visit. Since opening hours may change, check the city’s information before scheduling your visit around them.

Laiki Geitonia is a pedestrian area within Nicosia’s city walls. Restored houses, 18th-century buildings, residences, art shops and tavernas shape the character of the neighbourhood. Historic architecture and a variety of uses sit side by side here: the architecture is not limited to individual monuments, but forms part of an urban area with shops and homes.

The medieval walls themselves also give the old town a clearly defined historic setting. They include eleven heart-shaped bastions and an 80-metre-wide moat. Together with the lanes and houses of Laiki Geitonia, these features represent two distinct scales: the fortifications and the urban fabric within the walls.

Museums: Urban History, Archaeology and Art

The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia is located in the walled old town. Its permanent exhibition includes objects relating to the region and the ancient city, dating from 3900 BC to AD 325. It also features galleries covering the Byzantine and medieval, Venetian, Ottoman and British periods. The exhibition therefore links early archaeological subjects with later historical periods. The museum also organises educational programmes, guided tours and other events; check specific dates separately.

The museums of the Pancyprian Gymnasium are located in the historic centre of Nicosia. The gymnasium itself is Cyprus’s oldest secondary school. Its collections include archaeological and numismatic exhibits, as well as old maps and weapons; most of the items are connected to Cyprus. The Byzantine Museum in the walled old town has a different focus: it displays more than 200 icons dating from the 9th to the 19th century, as well as sacred vessels, vestments and books. The two collections therefore differ both in their objects and in their historical scope.

Mansion and Folk Art

The Archontiko of Axiothea is an 18th-century mansion in the old town and is considered a characteristic example of urban architecture. At the same time, it serves the University of Cyprus as a centre for cultural activities, exhibitions and literary seminars. The building’s history and cultural use come together in one place, though this does not imply a public event date.

The Cyprus Folk Art Museum is housed in the premises of the old Archbishop’s Palace. It was founded in 1937 by members of the Society of Cypriot Studies. Its collections include basketry and leatherwork, as well as naive art, agricultural implements and weaving tools. The range brings together crafts and objects related to agriculture and textile production, clearly distinguishing it from the archaeological, numismatic and religious collections of the other museums.

Cycling Route in Pedhieos River Linear Park

If you are considering cycling in Nicosia, the cycle path in Pedhieos River Linear Park offers a clearly described route. It starts at the bridge south of the Presidential Palace and ends at the old General Hospital. Along the way, it passes the traditional core of Ayion Omoloyiton and leads to the park opposite the Church of St John the Baptist near Giorkeio. The details of the start, finish and route help distinguish it as a separate focus from the museums and historic sites. Check local conditions before using the route.

Discover more destinations: Vyzakia, Lythrodontas, Galata, Spilia, Lakatamia, Dali, Aglantzia, Lympia.

For the broader travel overview: Nicosia.