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This full day tour to the occupied northern part of Cyprus takes you to three of the territory's most intriguing spots. You'll discover the ancient city of Salamis, the old town of Famagusta and the ‘ghost town' of Varosha. Elpida, one of our local guides, says, ‘Northern Cyprus is a place frozen in time. We can even pinpoint the date – 1974. And the result is an Instagrammable potpourri of unfinished hotels, half-ruined churches and skinny minarets.'
Your journey into the past starts all the way back in classical times at Salamis. You'll explore its ruined temples, the partially restored theatre and more. Stavroula, another of our local guides, says, ‘Not only is Salamis steeped in ancient myth, but Saint Barnabas, who brought Christianity to Cyprus in the first century, is buried in a nearby monastery.'
After free time for lunch, you'll visit Famagusta, whose old town is still protected by intact defensive walls built the Venetians centuries ago. Your guide will show you sights such as the castle and the Gothic cathedral-turned-mosque. Elpida says, ‘In front of the main entrance is a fig tree that was planted by the Crusaders who built the cathedral – so it's the oldest living thing in Famagusta.' To round off the visit, there's a walking tour in the ‘ghost town' of Varosha. This once-popular beach resort lay abandoned since the Turkish invasion and was only opened to visitors in 2020. It's a surreal experience to walk on overgrown streets of crumbling façades with rusted shutters and broken windows.
Based on 123 reviews from verified customers
Review categories
Service
4.6/5
Value for money
4.5/5
Staff
4.6/5
Safety
4.6/5
Anonymous
From United Kingdom - September 2024Average
Overall rated3/5
Was a very good tour and Nick the Greek was a great guide but would of preferred to have spent more time at the ghost town rather then Famagusta and S ...
Richard
From United States of America - August 2024Travelled as a couple
18 - 24 years old
Excellent
Overall rated5/5
Chris (guide) and Marios (driver) were very good. Going through the checkpoints were smooth and Chris was very informative around the history of the i ...
Cassy
From United Kingdom - August 2024Travelled with family
25 - 34 years old
Excellent
Overall rated5/5
Jean
From United States of America - July 2024Travelled as a couple
45 - 54 years old
Great
Overall rated3/5
rs
From United Kingdom - July 2024Travelled as a couple
18 - 24 years old
Excellent
Overall rated5/5
The guide was very informative giving a real background to the 1974 invasion. The ghost town walk was a highlight in what was a very enjoyable day. Th ...
Paul Finch
From United Kingdom - July 2024Travelled with family
35 - 44 years old
Great
Overall rated4/5
The 2 hours in Salamis walled city is too long. There is little choice for lunch and during July and August it is unbearably hot. I used to look at Ve ...