Blog · Nicosia guide · 7 min read
Things to Do in Nicosia's Walled City: A Slow One-Day Plan
A walking day in old Nicosia: Büyük Han in the morning, Selimiye and the markets, a long lunch, an afternoon hammam and the old city at dusk.
Nicosia's walled city rewards a slow day. Everything is close together, the lanes are made for walking, and the best moments come from sitting still: a coffee in a caravanserai courtyard, a pause in a covered market, an hour on warm marble. Here is a plan that keeps the pace easy.
Morning: Büyük Han
Start at Büyük Han, the Ottoman caravanserai built in 1572. Its courtyard is at its calmest in the morning, and the cafés and craft shops around it open one by one. If you come by car, the car park beside Büyük Han is the easiest place to leave it.
Late morning: Selimiye, the Bedesten and the markets
A few minutes away stand Selimiye Mosque — begun as the Gothic Cathedral of St Sophia — and the Bedesten beside it. Visit Selimiye outside prayer times, dressed modestly, with your shoes in your hand. Then follow the Arasta, the old market street, and the covered market for spices, sweets and fresh fruit.
Midday: a long lunch
Kumarcılar Han, a smaller Ottoman han nearby, has quiet courtyard cafés. Keep lunch light if you plan a hammam in the afternoon, and drink plenty of water on warm days.
Afternoon: a Turkish bath at Büyük Hamam
Büyük Hamam is on İrfan Bey Sokak, just behind Büyük Han. Book ahead on WhatsApp, then give yourself time: rest on the heated göbek taşı, use the sauna and the steam room for as long as you like, and let the kese and the foam do their work. A massage afterwards — also for two, side by side — turns the afternoon into a proper rest.
Evening: the old city at dusk
As the light softens, walk north to the Kyrenia Gate and the Mevlevi Tekke, or west into the quiet lanes of the Arabahmet quarter. Ledra Street, five minutes from the hammam, is lively until late, and the old city's stone looks its best after dark.
Frequently asked questions
Planning your visit
- Is one day enough for Nicosia's old city?
- One full day covers the main sights inside the walls. A second day lets you add the Arabahmet quarter, a walk along the walls and an unhurried hammam visit.
- When is the best time for the hammam?
- Mid-afternoon, after the markets and lunch, or early evening before dinner. Büyük Hamam is open every day.
