This post was most recently updated on January 6th, 2023
What country is Nicosia in?
Nicosia is one of the 6 administrative districts of the country of Cyprus.
Today in this article, we are going to learn about Nicosia. We will try to answer every question there is about the district of Nicosia, so keep reading till the end to know better.
You can click the links below to learn about different cities in Cyprus.
Let’s start, shall we?
Where is Nicosia located?
Nicosia is located near the center of the Mesaoria plain, on the banks of the River Pedieos. It lies between the Kyrenia Mountains (north) and the Troodos range (south).
Map of Nicosia
Nicosia is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. Nicosia is called Lefkosía in Greek and Lefkoşa in Turkish.
Area and Population of Nicosia
The total area of Nicosia is 2,710 sq km (1,046.34 sq mi).
The total population of Nicosia district as of 1st October 2021 was estimated to be around 351,600.
History of Nicosia
After the independence of Cyprus from British rule in 1960, Nicosia became the capital city of Cyprus. In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus and captured a total of 37% of Cypriot territory including the northern part of Nicosia. Till date, Nicosia is a divided capital. One part is in southern Cyprus and the other half is in northern Cyprus.
Is Nicosia Turkish or Greek? What language do they speak in Nicosia?
Nicosia is both Turkish and Greek. The northern part of Nicosia is a part of the Turkey Republic of Northern Cyprus and the southern part is a part of the Republic of Cyprus. The majority of people in the northern part speak Turkish and the majority of people in the southern part speak Greek.
Nicosia is divided into Greek and Turkish Cypriot quarters with the Green Line, named after the color of the pen used by the United Nations officer to draw the line on a city map.
There are 2 places in Nicosia from where you can cross the border. One is Ledra street and another is Agios Dometios. The Agios Dometios crossing point was opened on 9th May 2003 and the Ledra street crossing point was opened on 3rd April 2008.
Why is Nicosia called Nicosia?
According to Greek mythology, Nicosia (Lefkosia in Greek) was a siren, one of the daughters of Acheloos and Melpomene and its name translates as “White State” or city of White Gods.
Area and telephone codes
The area code of Nicosia is 22. The telephone code for South Nicosia Cyprus is +357. The international country code for Northern Cyprus is also +90 whereas 392 is the area code of all landlines.
Which Time Zone is Nicosia?
Nicosia has 2 time zones. The southern part uses the Eastern European timezone and the northern part uses Turkey standard time. The southern part observes Eastern European Summer time during Summer, while the northern part doesn’t observe daylight saving time.
What currency do they use in Nicosia?
Southern Nicosia uses Euro as its official currency, whereas the Northern part of Nicosia uses the Turkish Lira as its official currency. At today’s rate (22nd August 2022), 1 Euro is equal to 18.13 Turkish Lira.
Distance between Nicosia to Other Cities
| Nicosia to : | Distance | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| Limassol | 85.4 km | 68 mins |
| Paphos | 151.3 km | 107 mins |
| Larnaca | 46.3 km | 44 mins |
| Kyrenia | 26.8 km | 54 mins |
| Famagusta | 82 km | 74 mins |
| Ayia Napa | 86.4 km | 66 mins |
Does it snow in Nicosia, Cyprus?
Yes, it snows in Nicosia. Snow is only possible in the Troodos Mountainous region in the central part of the country. Troodos is the largest mountain range in Cyprus. During winter, the temperature stays low for almost 4 months. Snow endures in Nicosia from December to April every year.
Weather in Nicosia
The days in summer are hot, and the winters are cold and rainy. The temperature goes up to 40 degrees Celsius in summer and 8 degrees Celsius in winter. You can click here to read in detail about the climate in Cyprus.
How safe is Nicosia?
Nicosia is moderately safe. Even though it is divided into 2 parts, crime in Nicosia is very less. There are some pickpocketers in the street, so you are suggested to be extra cautious. You will see some beggars in the street, but very few. Vandalism is there also corruption and bribery. The shops mainly target tourists and charge you more, but if you don’t want to buy it, they don’t force you.
Can you cross the border in Nicosia?
As long as you have proper documents, you can easily cross the border of Nicosia. If you have a Cypriot passport or a pink slip, you can travel to the north without much of a hassle. The same goes for the people from the north. If you are a 3rd country national in North Cyprus, you cannot cross the border and come to South Cyprus. But if you are in south Cyprus and have a Pink slip and passport, you can easily travel to Northern Cyprus. That’s the benefit of having a south Cyprus visa.
What is Nicosia known for?
Nicosia is known for archeological museums, Venetian walls, tourist destinations, fascinating history, and being the only divided city in the world.
Is Nicosia cheap to live in?
Compared to Paphos and Limassol, Nicosia is comparatively cheap to live in. If a nice 2 bedroom flat in Limassol costs 700 Euros a month, then you can get the same flat at 600 Euros a month in Nicosia. Grocery items are almost the same price all over the country. Around tourist areas, the costs of items are slightly expensive.
South Nicosia uses Euro and North Nicosia uses Turkish Lira. North Nicosia is cheaper than South Nicosia.
You can click here to read in detail about the cost of living in Southern Cyprus.
and click here to read the cost of living in Northern Cyprus.
Does Nicosia have an airport?
Nicosia has an airport but it is unused as of now. Nicosia International Airport is an airport located 8.2 km (5.1 mi) west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia in the Lakatamia suburb. It is unused as of now.
You can click here to read in detail about Airports in Nicosia.
Can you drink tap water in Nicosia?
You can drink tap water in Nicosia, but you are suggested not to. Even though tap water is drinkable, people usually drink bottled water. The water may be safe to drink when it leaves the source, but it might collect pollutants (dirt, dust, and other stuff) on its way to your tap. If you have to, then always drink only after filtering and boiling the tap water.
Which plug is used in Nicosia?
3-pin plugs are used in Nicosia. They are the same as the plug from the UK. The associated plug type for Nicosia is type “G”. It’s a plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Nicosia operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Where is Omonia Nicosia?
Omonia Nicosia is a Cypriot professional multi-sport club that is located at 241 Leoforos Lemesos, Nisou, 2571, Nicosia.
Telephone: +357 22 104848
Fax: +357 22100288
Email address: info@omonoiafc.com.cy
What is Fiverr Limited Nicosia?
Fiverr Limited Nicosia is a subsidiary of Fiverr International Ltd located at Lemesou 11, 2112 Nicosia, Cyprus.
Where is Nicosia Mall?
Nicosia Mall is located at 2 Madrid Street, 2306, Nicosia Cyprus. Telephone number: +357 77 770710, Email address: info@nicosiamall.com
What shops are in Nicosia Mall?
Nicosia Mall has all kinds of shops from clothing stores to sim card distributors. Some of the famous shops in Nicosia mall are as below.
- Asics
- Athienitis
- Benetton
- Crocs
- CYTA
- Epic
- Grand Optical
- Jack & Jones
- Lacoste
- Lynne
- Marks & Spencer
- Nespresso
- Puma
- Refan
- Vans
- Zara
Where is the University of Nicosia?
The University of Nicosia is located at 46 Makedonitissas Avenue, CY-2417, P.O. Box 24005, CY-1700, Nicosia, Cyprus. The University of Nicosia also has an office in Greece and it is located at 265 Mesogeion Avenue, 15451 Neo Psychico, Athens, Greece.
How many Casinos are there in Nicosia?
There are at least 12 registered Casinos in Nicosia. Cyprus has 38 legal gambling facilities available in total.
Can you get a bus from Paphos to Nicosia?
Yes, you can get a bus from Paphos to Nicosia. Monday to Friday it operates from 5:15 am to 7:45 pm, and on other days it operates from 8 am to 6 pm.
How far is Nicosia from Protaras?
Nicosia is 94.6 km far from Protaras. It will take you around 1 hour and 13 minutes to reach Protaras from Nicosia on a car or public bus.
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