Nicosia by Car — Best Places to Drive To & Parking Tips

# Nicosia by Car: Best Places to Drive To & Parking Tips Nicosia (Lefkoşa) is the world's only divided capital. With a hire car you can explore both the walled old town and the day-trip destinations within an hour's drive. ## Inside the walls The Venetian walls enclose a compact pedestrian-friendly old town. **Park outside the walls** and walk in — narrow streets and limited turning circles make driving inside frustrating. Recommended car parks: - **Sarayönü car park** — £0.60/hour, 4-minute walk to the Selimiye Mosque. - **Kyrenia Gate (Girne Kapısı) car park** — £0.50/hour, closest to the bazaar. - **Atatürk Square** — free after 18:00 and on Sundays. ## Five places worth driving to ### 1. Salamis ruins (52 km, 50 min) Roman gymnasium, theatre and basilica on the Famagusta coast. Free parking on site. Combine with a swim at Glapsides beach next door. ### 2. St. Hilarion Castle (38 km, 45 min) The "fairy-tale castle" that inspired Walt Disney. Twisting mountain road — slow drive but stunning views. £2.50 entry, car park £1. ### 3. Buffavento Castle (32 km, 50 min) The highest of the three Kyrenia castles. Last 4 km is unpaved — take an SUV. Empty even in August. ### 4. Karpaz wild donkeys (135 km, 2 h) Long but easy drive on a coastal dual carriageway. The donkeys roam free near Dipkarpaz. Bring carrots. ### 5. Lefke and the abandoned mines (78 km, 1 h 10 min) Ottoman village turned ghost town. Coffee at Çamlıbel café, then a swim at Yeşilırmak beach. ## City driving tips - **Avoid 16:30–18:00** — school pickup + commute traffic is intense. - **Friday lunchtime** is busy near mosques. - The **Lokmacı/Ledra crossing** is pedestrian only — drive to Metehan crossing if you want to cross into the south. - One-way streets in the bazaar district are heavily enforced. ## Fuel A 24-hour Lukoil station sits on the ring road just before the Gönyeli roundabout — handy for early-morning departures to the airport.