Things to Do in Famagusta: The Walled City Through the Centuries

The easiest way to see Famagusta is to read it like a timeline. Every age left something behind: a city, a cathedral, a ring of walls, a university. Below we go from the oldest to the newest, with what to look at and where to walk at each stop. Do not try to tick it all off in a day; two half-days are far more fun. We are KARTAL, a tavla and PlayStation café in Famagusta, and our advice is simple: start inside the walls.

Bronze Age to the 7th century: Enkomi and Salamis

The story starts outside town. Enkomi is a Bronze Age settlement, the oldest layer of the area. A little further north, about 8 km from Famagusta, lies Salamis. For centuries it was the chief city of the island, until earthquakes and Arab raids in the 7th century finished it off.

What you walk through today: a gymnasium with its columned courtyard and statues, Roman baths with mosaics, and a theatre that once held around 15,000 people. The Kampanopetra basilica is on the site as well. Tradition says St Barnabas was born here, and his monastery and tomb are close by; the monastery has an icon and archaeology museum. The Royal Tombs are nearby too. Give Salamis two to three hours, and in summer go early or late. More in our Salamis guide.

14th century: a cathedral for crowned kings

Step inside the walls and your eye goes straight to a Gothic front. This is the 14th-century Cathedral of St Nicholas, the church in which Lusignan rulers took the crown of Jerusalem. Today it is Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque, and still a working mosque, so dress modestly and keep clear of prayer times.

The same era left other traces scattered around: the Twin Churches standing side by side, and the roofless shell of St George of the Greeks. Wandering under their roofless arches is one of the quiet pleasures of the old town.

16th century: the Venetian walls

The walls that wrap the old town (Kaleiçi) were built by the Venetians in the 16th century. You still enter through their gates. The Land Gate, or Ravelin, faces inland; the Sea Gate opens onto the harbour. In one corner sits the Canbulat bastion, with its small museum.

Othello Castle and the Shakespeare link

Next to the Sea Gate stands Othello Castle, also called Othello Tower, the town’s link to Shakespeare’s Othello. Climb onto the ramparts for a fine look over the harbour and the rooftops.

The Ottoman centuries: a mosque and a poet’s cell

The cathedral became a mosque and took the name Lala Mustafa Paşa; the call to prayer now rings out from Gothic stone. The best-known story from this period is about a cell: Namık Kemal, the Ottoman poet, was locked up in this town. The Namık Kemal Dungeon is now a museum inside the walls. It is a quick visit, and a moving one for many visitors from Türkiye.

1974: Varosha behind a fence

Varosha (Kapalı Maraş), the resort quarter on Famagusta’s southern edge, was fenced off by the Turkish army after 1974 and has stood empty since. The United Nations calls for its return. It is a politically sensitive subject; here we stick to what a visitor needs.

1979: a university arrives

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU, DAÜ in Turkish) was founded in 1979 and turned Famagusta into a student town, now home to tens of thousands of students. The result: affordable food, late hours and a lively street life. KARTAL is part of that town too, with tavla boards and PlayStation as one more way to meet up with friends. For what to eat, see our Cypriot food guide.

2015: Othello Castle reopens

After a long restoration, Othello Castle opened its doors to visitors again in 2015. It is now the backbone of any walk inside the walls. Tickets and opening times can change, so check before you go.

2018 and 2020: a crossing opens, then part of a fenced town

In 2018 the Deryneia (Derinya) crossing opened right beside Famagusta, now the closest way to or from the south. The details are in our border guide.

In October 2020 part of Varosha opened to visitors. Entry is free. You keep to the marked routes, and bikes and e-scooters can be hired at the entrance. Going into buildings, taking anything away and flying drones are all forbidden, and you must never photograph soldiers or military posts. The beach inside can be used. Hours change with the season, so read the board at the gate. Our Varosha guide covers the visit, and the beach guide covers Glapsides and Palm Beach for a swim afterwards.