Famagusta: Lost Cities & Coastal Secrets from Paphos
Description
Uncover the fascinating past of Northern Cyprus on this immersive tour. After a short rest stop, cross the border and visit the ancient city of Salamis, home to a grand theatre, Roman baths with intricate mosaics, and a majestic gymnasium. In Famagusta’s old town, admire the Gothic-Ottoman architecture of St. Nikolaos Cathedral (now Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque) and explore medieval landmarks, including the Venetian walls, Othello Tower, and the ruins of the Venetian Palace. Enjoy an optional traditional Cypriot-Turkish lunch. End the journey in Varosha, the eerie Ghost City abandoned in 1974. Walk through its silent streets and witness the haunting remains of a once-thriving resort. Blending ancient history, medieval charm, and modern-day mysteries, this tour offers an unforgettable glimpse into Cyprus’ rich and complex past. IMPORTANT: Passport or EU ID required. Nationalities: Turkmenistan, Nigeria, Syria & Armenia cannot cross the checkpoint.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Coffee break at Choirokitia on your way.
Strovilia check point to pass to North Cyprus. All participants must have their EU ID or passport ready for inspection. After clearance, we continue towards Salamis Ruins
Explore one of the most important ancient cities of Cyprus, dating back to 1100 BC. • Highlights: o Ancient Theatre: Once seated 15,000 spectators. o Roman Baths & Mosaics: Beautifully preserved historical remnants. o Gymnasium: A grand Roman complex featuring marble columns and bathhouses. • Learn about Salamis’ historical importance through various empires, from the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. (entrance fees included)
Walking Tour of Famagusta Old Town: o Visit St. Nikolaos Cathedral, now the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, featuring a blend of Gothic and Ottoman architecture. o Admire the 700-year-old fig tree in the courtyard. o Stroll through the medieval streets, visiting: The Venetian Walls surrounding the old town. Othello Tower, linked to Shakespeare’s play. The remains of the Venetian Palace.
Enjoy a traditional Cypriot – Turkish lunch in one of the local taverns in Famagusta. Savor a variety of authentic dishes.While lunch is not included, it is highly recommended for a delightful local dining experience.
• A guided walking tour of Varosha, an abandoned luxury resort town frozen in time since 1974. • Learn about its history, sudden evacuation, and partial reopening. • See deserted hotels, crumbling buildings, and eerie streets, offering a unique and thought-provoking experience.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Message will be send through Viator to advise for your exact pick up point and time . In case you won’t receive the message please call us at least a day before departure.Hotel name is needed. If you cannot find your hotel please call us to give you the nearest pick up point . Failure of the client to be on time at the right pick up point will result to a No show and will be fully charged.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Passports or EU ID are required
- Passport holders of the following countries are not allowed to cross the green line check points to the North Cyprus unless they have a special visa issued by the authorities of the Turkish-occupied area: 1. Armenia 2. Syria 3. Nigeria 4. Turkmenistan 5. India 6. Bangladesh 7. Nepal 8. Philippines 9. Pakistan 10. Sri Lanka 11. Ukrainian citizens living in Cyprus with a refugee status 12. Greek citizens with the old ID cards handwritten with a pen. Greek citizens are allowed to cross if they have new EU ID cards or a passport.
- Only original documents can be used for crossing. Photocopies of the original documents, or other forms of identification (e.g., driving licenses, temporary residence permits, etc.) cannot be used for crossing.
- If you won't receive a message through Viator for your exact pick up point and time please call us at least one day prior your excursion.
- Not recommended for persons with mobility issues
Reviews(284)
Overall the experience was very good, the guide had an in-depth knowledge of the history,culture and smaller details of even the passing towns and centres of attraction. It was explained to us the driver of our coach was a refugee from the Northern territory so each visit to Famagusta was a personal reminder of tradegy.
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the guide’s knowledge of Cyprus’s history, culture and the places along the way. Famagusta is a place with a deeply personal history for many people, and we appreciate you sharing this perspective. We hope to welcome you again in Cyprus!
Famagusta ghost town,The tour guild was very knowledgeable. Even on a hot day the tour was worth the experience.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and appreciated our guide’s knowledge. We hope to welcome you again on another tour! Best regards, Qualiday Travel
An excellent tour the trip there did not seem so long as stops on way. I think visit to inside famagusta wall could be shorter, and time added onto the ghost town so you can see more than two roads or have a swim. The guide ermonie (Emma) was great lots of knowledge happy to answer questions an absolute star. Was happy being a solo traveller on this tourr.
Dear Teresa, thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you had an excellent day and that Ermioni's knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. It's also wonderful to know you felt comfortable traveling solo with our group. We hope to welcome you on another adventure in Cyprus soon! Best regards, Qualiday
Excellent full day tour. Very enlightening and informative. Great guide and bus driver. Good for all ages.
Dear Vicky, thank you for your wonderful review! We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to our guide and driver. We hope to welcome you on another tour in Cyprus soon! Best regards, Qualiday
A very interesting trip into occupied Cyprus. Salamos Roman remains were very spectacular and especially the theatre. Onto Famagusta and the walled city. Very interesting and a lovely meal!! The final stop in Varosha was very thought provoking and almost apocalyptic. The entire holiday complex was deserted after the Turkish invasion and the hotels have been empty since 1974. A sobering experience indeed.
Dear Martin, thank you for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re delighted to hear that you found the excursion both interesting and memorable. Thank you for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you on another Cyprus adventure soon! Best regards, Qualiday
The tour is great and well organized. Our tour guide is nice and knowledgeable. We are satisfied and enjoyed the whole tour.
Dear Henri, thank you for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it well organized. It’s great to know our guide made your experience even better. We truly appreciate your support and hope to see you again on another tour! Best regards, Qualiday Travel
Great day out. Very informative and loved being able to walk around the ghost town for our first time.
Dear Richard, thank you for your kind review. We are truly happy you have enjoyed time in Famagusta with us. We hope to welcome you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Qualiday
A good day out, but nowhere near enough time allowed for looking around Varosha. We were initially told we only had 15 minutes which we managed to stretch it to half an hour, but this was not long enoug. Would have been better to have less time at Famagusta so more time could be spent at Varosha
Dear Emma, thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you had a good day overall and appreciate your comments about Varosha. Timing at each stop can vary, and we understand your point about wanting more time there. We’ll take your feedback into account for future improvements. Kind regards, Qualiday Travel
It was a very good informative tour. Guide and the driver both good. it was emitional as i went throigh the British sovereign base ss i was here in 1998 as a soldier a lot has changed since then . I travelled with my partner we both enjored i
The trip was both informative and emotional. We didn’t know what to expect but it lived up to expectations. Even the rain didn’t stop us enjoying a memorable day.
