Nicosia: Green Line and Buffer Zone Guided Walk
Description
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 insider’s perspective of Nicosia. Kindly note that a minimum of two guests is required for our walk to go ahead.
Tour Options
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(150)
A great tour if you’re into the history of Greek-Turk conflict in Cyprus. Our guide is awesome, fluent English and non-biased commentary content.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! I am absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the commentary valuable. Covering the complex history of Nicosia with accuracy and balance is incredibly important to me, so your feedback truly means a lot. It was a pleasure hosting you, and I truly hope to see you again on another walk in the future! Warmest regards, Eleni Ellinas
It was overall very poor and not good value for money. The guide did not communicate on WhatsApp very well at all and led us to a completely wrong area causing us to miss some of the tour. The tour wasn't worth the money and should have been a better experience.
I take all feedback seriously, but I have a strict zero-tolerance policy for fraudulent reviews. After a thorough cross-examination of my booking database, calendar, and message logs across all platforms, I have no record of anyone under your name or matching this description ever booking or attending my walking tour. Furthermore, your claim regarding communication is completely false. As a professional, I communicate exclusively and meticulously through the official Viator and TripAdvisor platforms to ensure my guests receive highly accurate meeting details and pinpoint location coordinates. I do not use WhatsApp for initial logistics in the manner you described, making it completely obvious that you never actually engaged with my business. Because you did not attend my walk and this review is entirely fabricated, I have formally reported your account to TripAdvisor for a direct violation of their Content Integrity Policy and have requested its immediate removal. I do not accept fraudulent attempts to damage my hard-earned reputation. Sincerely, Eleni Ellinas
The tour is extremely informative and interesting. Eleni gives an overview over the big picture - the history, politics and facts - as well as a lot of touching anecdotes and insights into the human side of it all. She was very friendly and knew a lot of people who we got to meet and talk to. Also she cherished our conversation and questions and answered every one with patience. Me and my partner warmly recommend this tour. It will leave you with a new understanding of a part of this world and a lot of great Tipps for good food :)
Dearest Erina, Reviews like yours truly make everything I do worth it. It was such a joy to share the "human side" of Nicosia with both of you; your curiosity and thoughtful questions made our conversation just as special for me as it was for you. I’m so glad you enjoyed meeting the locals and, of course, the food tips! Please do stay in touch, and I truly hope our paths cross again someday! Warmly always, Eleni Ellinas
My son (22) and I did this tour and it was amazing. We learned so much about the history of the city, of the country, of the Green Line. We were riveted. We would have loved to spend a whole day with Eleni. She was really amazing! Take this tour!!!!
Hi Tara, I just wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for the absolutely warm and lovely review you left. It is so deeply appreciated! I truly enjoyed your company and it was such a pleasure meeting your son as well. You both made the three hours fly by with your interest and energy, and I honestly enjoyed our time together just as much as you did. It’s guests like you who make my work so rewarding. I would love to welcome you both back to Cyprus someday for perhaps a full day of exploring. Warmest wishes, Eleni
Anyone interested in the history of the division between Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus needs to go on this tour. Eleni, our guide, was part of this story since the 70s and shared her first-hand experience, which made the tour very powerfully vivid. And the great recommendations for places to visit after the tour on both sides of the buffer zone were the cherry on top.
Dearest Ali, I am so touched by your review. Sharing my first-hand experiences from the 70s isn't always easy, but it becomes so rewarding when I meet people as appreciative and kind as yourselves. Thank you for your interest in our complex history and for being such wonderful guests. I’m thrilled the 'cherries on top' made your visit even more special! I really hope to see you both soon again in Cyprus! Warmly always, Eleni Ellinas
Eleni is fantastic, know’s the area, its history and its people really well, and was able to explain, educate and share stories with passion and enthusiasm. Fascinating period of the cities history, and Eleni made sure all guests enjoyed the tour.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am truly touched by your review. It was such a pleasure to meet you and share the stories and history that I care so deeply about. Meeting people like you is exactly why I love what I do—it makes the history feel even more alive. I am so grateful our paths crossed, and I hope to see you again in the future! Warmly always, Eleni Ellinas
Eleni provided one of the very best historical city walking tours I’ve ever done. She has deep personal knowledge of Northern/Occupied Nicosia, I couldn’t have imagined a better guide. She took the time to answer all our many questions and pointed out all the best spots to take photos, relax, shop, and have a bite to eat. Totally worth the price! If you’re curious about life in divided Nicosia, don’t hesitate to take this tour!
Dearest Teresa, Thank you so very much for these kind words! Reading this has truly moved me. It was an absolute pleasure to walk through Northern Nicosia with you and share the stories of my home. My goal is always to provide more than just a history lesson, I want my guests to feel the pulse of the city and understand the reality of life here. I am so glad you enjoyed the local spots I shared and that our time together felt meaningful. Your curiosity and thoughtful questions made the tour just as rewarding for me as I hope it was for you. Wishing you wonderful travels ahead, and really hope to see you in Cyprus soon again! Warmly always, Eleni Ellinas
Eleni is an excellent guide, has curated an interesting route and provides personal anecdotes and tells the story of the city in a very engaging and informative way. A great tour and one we’d thoroughly recommend -we both really enjoyed the walk and learned a lot.
Thank you both so much for your wonderful review! It was such a pleasure to meet you both, and I am genuinely touched by your kind words. I will truly treasure the time we spent walking through the city together. Sharing the stories and personal anecdotes of Nicosia is a passion of mine, but it is the connection and the shared steps with lovely people like yourselves that make these tours so meaningful for me. I’m so happy to hear that you found the route engaging and that you left with a deeper understanding of our history. Thank you for being such curious and thoughtful guests! I wish you all the very best on the rest of your travels, and I hope our paths cross again. Warmly, Eleni Ellinas
Eleni did a great job welcoming us as a group and taking us on a walk through the history of Cyprus. She shared her personal experience and also introduces us to locals whom she new along the border, which gave this a very human touch. We ended with a nice coffee which allowed the group to also get to know each other as well. Thanks Eleni for a great experience and being a very warm guide!
Dearest David, Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was a true pleasure hosting you and your wonderful family. I always believe that the best way to understand the 'Green Line' is through the faces and voices of the people who live there every day, so I’m so happy you enjoyed meeting my local friends along the way. I also truly valued our time over coffee at the end, it’s moments like those, where we can sit together and share our thoughts, that make these walks so special for me too. Thank you for your curiosity and your warmth. I hope you carry the stories of Cyprus with you! Warmly always, Eleni Ellinas
Wonderful walking tour for those interested in learning about the history of Nikosia and Cyprus and the green line. Eleni shared her knowledge of the events in Cypress in 1974, as well as her personal experience. Based on the interest of the group, she offered to take us into the northern side, which was wonderful.
Dearest Sonia, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback! I truly appreciate your review and am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the walking tour and found the history of Nicosia and Cyprus, especially regarding the Green Line, insightful. It is always a pleasure to share both the historical facts and my personal perspective on the events of 1974. I'm especially glad that we were able to include the visit to the northern side; that spontaneity and connection with the group's interests is what makes these tours special for me too! Thank you again for your kind words. I hope your time in Nicosia continues to be memorable! Warmly, Eleni Ellinas
