Nicosia, also known as Lefkosia, the island’s capital, combines both old and new in a busy modern commercial and business centre and a centuries-old culture. The centre of the city comprehends its old quarter surrounded by a Venetian sandstone fortress wall with a moat and heart-shaped bastions. Mosques and palm trees give an oriental atmosphere to the old city. Wander along narrow streets with overhanging balconies and beautifully restored pedestrian precincts with craft shops, cafes and taverns. Make sure you stop off at St John’s Cathedral with its frescoes and the marvellous museum of Byzantine icons. In the evening catch a concert or an exhibition at the Famagusta Gate, one of the three original entrances into the old city, which has now been restored and it is used as a cultural centre. The new town spreads beyond the walls with a modern European-like centre of high-rise buildings, office blocks, shops and cafes, expanding into suburban residential areas. Lefkosia offers the best in shopping with Stasikratous Street as the destination for an ultimate shopping experience. Of the city’s main sights, Cyprus Museum houses the best collection of archaeological artefacts on the island, including a first century AD Roman statuette of Aphrodite of Soli and the original mosaic of Leda and the Swan, while the Leventis Museum depicts the history of the town.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is the official museum dedicated to the Great War in the United States. Located in the heart of Kansas City, it offers an extensive look at World War I, particularly focusing on American involvement. Visitors can explore diverse exhibits that feature authentic artifacts, immersive interactive displays, and engaging narratives. Key exhibits, such as "The Battlescape,” recreate the feeling of being in the trenches during artillery barrages, providing a deeper understanding of the soldiers' experiences. At the museum's grounds, you'll find a stunning poppy field and the Liberty Memorial Tower.

Kretsloppshuset provides an eco-friendly experience and educational facility with a winter garden, rose cultivation, garden park, traditional henhouse, café and restaurant, slide shows, lectures and courses, as well as sales of environmentally friendly produced goods in an old-fashioned shop.

These kovils or temples dedicated to the Hindu war god Murugan (Skanda) bring colour to Colombo’s back streets with their ornate exteriors of sculptured Hindu deities. Visit at night when priests perform the evening puja or prayers to the sound of drums.