Inside The Buffer Zone Of Nicosia

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Hotel pickup Available
  • Duration: 3 Hrs
  • Language:
    English
  • Return Details :
    Returns to original departure point
  • Cancellation Policy :
    This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

I love nothing more than sharing the sights, sounds and secrets with intimate knowledge of the best places off the beaten path, on streets rarely discovered. I've been leading recreational walks for many years, purely out of interest and passion for my city. I enjoy connecting and showing people around this great city and I feel the best way to connect is on foot!
The intention is to leave you with an insiders perspective of Nicosia.

Know More about this tour


The Famagusta Gate is the most significant of the gates of Venetian Lefkosia, built in the 16th century, It is the Gate that once opened on the road leading to the most important Port of Cyprus in Famagusta.
This is not a regular city walk, but a passage through a town frozen in time. It will give you an insight into the current situation of the Buffer Zone Green Line off the beaten track, on streets that are hard to discover without the experience of a local guide.You will see the Venetian walls and how they form a boarder around the Old City, so unusual that once seen on a map will never be forgotten as a design synonymous with the unique shape of this ancient fortification. On our walk we will explore the Southern side of the city and follow the infamous Green line that cuts through the centre, separating the city into southern and northern sections. This division has kept the two major communities, of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots apart for more than four decades. Our journey begins at the Ledra Palace Hotel known in its era as the largest and most majestic hotels of the capital. You will witness life having evolved along either side of this schism, something once impossible to do until recent agreements between the two sides to open border crossings. We will explore Ledra Street located at heart of the aforementioned walled city now once again rekindled to one of the most popular pedestrian commercial streets accented by abandoned buildings reclaimed by nature through decades of lost time scarred by bullet holes, military outposts and barricades.
Guests will experience both the Ledra Palace and Ledra Street crossing and have an understanding of the two intrinsically different cultures as we walk by them.

Itinerary:


The Famagusta Gate is the most significant of the gates of Venetian Lefkosia, built in the 16th century, It is the Gate that once opened on the road leading to the most important Port of Cyprus in Famagusta.
This is not a regular city walk, but a passage through a town frozen in time. It will give you an insight into the current situation of the Buffer Zone “Green Line” off the beaten track, on streets that are hard to discover without the experience of a local guide.You will see the Venetian walls and how they form a boarder around the Old City, so unusual that once seen on a map will never be forgotten as a design synonymous with the unique shape of this ancient fortification. On our walk we will explore the Southern side of the city and follow the infamous “Green line” that cuts through the centre, separating the city into southern and northern sections. This division has kept the two major communities, of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots apart for more than four decades. Our journey begins at the Ledra Palace Hotel known in its era as the largest and most majestic hotels of the capital. You will witness life having evolved along either side of this schism, something once impossible to do until recent agreements between the two sides to open border crossings. We will explore Ledra Street located at heart of the aforementioned walled city now once again rekindled to one of the most popular pedestrian commercial streets accented by abandoned buildings reclaimed by nature through decades of lost time scarred by bullet holes, military outposts and barricades.
Guests will experience both the Ledra Palace and Ledra Street crossing and have an understanding of the two intrinsically different cultures as we walk by them.

Inclusions

  • Cypriot traditional Coffee or "Frape" in a very traditional Kafenio.

Exclusions

  • Private transportation

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Accessible Toilet available at meeting point

Traveler Reviews

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  • 08-Aug-2023

    Without a doubt the most informative tour I have ever been on! It was an incredible few hours in which so much was covered and I came away feeling like I have now got a much greater knowledge of the events of the islands partition. The tour is well worth doing and Eleni is such a lovely person and a warm soul. Her lived experience adds to the knowledge through first hand accounts of what she went through, I couldn't recommend more going on this tour! A wonderful woman with an interesting life and an impressive knowledge. A must for anyone visiting Nicosia!

  • 30-Jul-2023

    Very glad we took this tour, Eleni was a great guide who provided interesting and well-balanced insights into the history and current situation.

  • 17-Jul-2023

    Eleni, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable, articulate, and personable. She quite literally brought us back in time with her thorough understanding of the history of Cyprus and her compelling personal experiences. Eleni knows the community well, as evidenced by the many interactions she had with the locals on our tour. Highly recommended!

  • 17-Jun-2023

    Our guide Eleni was the absolute best! She spent more time with us than she needed to. We only wish we could have had her for our other tours!!

  • 15-Jun-2023

    People travel for lots of different reasons: to relax, to have adventures, to experience new things. For us, the best part of traveling is experiencing connection, seeing the joys and sorrows of a place through someone else's eyes. Our walk through the city with Eleni was really a journey into the deep heart of Cyprus. She weaves together history, observation, architecture, her own life experiences and the stories of others into an incomparable introduction to the hidden life of Lefkosia (Nicosia). If you are planning a trip to Cyprus, I highly recommend starting in the capital and doing this tour FIRST. It will change your understanding of everything you see afterward. And - on a more practical note - Eleni has some really excellent recommendations about other things to see and places to eat. Well worth your time!!!

  • 31-May-2023

    Would give this 10 stars if I could! Do not leave Nicosia without doing this tour! Assuming other visitors are as ignorant as me - I had no idea this beautiful country was split into Northern and Southern Cyprus - especially Nicosia itself! Doing this tour with Eleni was truly the highlight of my short trip! I learned SO much about the history, culture, present day situation and reality - the stuff you can’t learn from google or books! I did 2 tours with Eleni - on both sides of the border. The first was with another person and the second was alone - you get such an amazing experience you wouldn’t get in large groups. Chatting with Eleni was truly like chatting with an old friend and her company is so enjoyable, and the passion for her country is very engaging. Eleni also took me to an amazing bookstore with a restaurant upstairs for traditional Cypriot food on the Turkish side when I asked for a pit stop for lunch haha - she went out of her way to do this for me and introduced me to local delights which added another level to the tour! Thank you so much Eleni - I had such a great time and have fond memories of this! I can’t wait to tell my friends to come and visit and go touring with you!! Thank you again for your hospitality and accommodating my requests and for teaching me so much!!! Til we meet again!!

  • 27-May-2023

    An incredibly enjoyable tour with Eleni, who has the experience of the challenges of the Cyprus history and the knowledge to bring it to life. Most enjoyable - a great way to spend holiday time.

  • 25-May-2023

    This is a great tour of the buffer zone on the southern side of Nicosia. You really get to understand the story of the divided city. Eleni is an excellent knowledgeable and passionate guide. We went beyond the beaten track and it is highly recommended !

  • 24-May-2023

    In my opinion, this tour is essential for anyone visiting Cyprus. The history told through Eleni's extensive knowledge and own personal accounts is both beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking. Eleni has to be one of the most genuine and knowledgeable persons I've been lucky enough to meet. Her love for her city and country is contagious and I felt privileged to hear her stories. A must do!

  • 20-May-2023

    We took a tour inside the Buffer Zone with Eleni on day 2 so that we could get an overview of life in Cyprus from the beginning of our 10 day holiday. The tour was fantastic, Eleni is knowledgable, patient and enthusiastic making this tour one of the highlights of our time in Cyprus. As a wheelchair user, the tour was perfectly accessible - flat with just a few gentle slopes here and there. I fully recommend this tour to anyone interested in exploring the history of divided Cyprus.

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