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Full-day Famagusta, Ghost City of Varosia and Salamis Tour: Exploring Historical Cyprus from Paphos
4.5
197 Ratings
Choirokoitia
Explore the historical wonders of Cyprus on a full-day tour from Paphos. Visit the ancient Kingdom of Salamis, the monastery of St Barnabas, and the city of Famagusta. Discover the hauntingly beautiful ‘Ghost Town - Varosi’ and enjoy the best sandy beaches of the island.
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Choirokoitia - Coffee break at Choirokitia on your way.
- Strovilia - Strovilia check point to pass to North Cyprus
- Salamis - Visit to the ancient Salamis (entrance fees included)
- Monastery of Apostolos Varnavas - Visit to the monastery of Saint Varnavas.
- Famagusta Walled City - Visit to the St.Nikolaos cathedral
- Famagusta Walled City - Free time at leisure or Lunch
- Famagusta - Short walking to visit part of the Ghost town -Varosi
What's Included
- Licensed guide
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off in Paphos
- Air-conditioned transportation
- Professional driver
What's Not Included
- Meals and drinks
Additional Information
Our first pause will be at Choirokitia, where we’ll have a coffee break before we proceed to the Strovilia checkpoint (bring your passports) to traverse the United Nations Green Line. We’ll make a stop at the former monastery of St Barnabas, now a museum exhibiting a collection of icons and the tomb of St Barnabas. Next, we’ll head to the ancient Kingdom of Salamis, established in the 12th Century BC, where we’ll explore the amphitheatre and gymnasium. We’ll then reach the city of Famagusta, renowned for its Gothic churches and encircled by Venetian walls. We’ll carve out time to visit the 1312-built Cathedral of St Nikolaos, repurposed into a mosque in 1570, after which we’ll have some free time for shopping and lunch (not provided). Lastly, we’ll take a short walk to visit a section of the “Ghost Town – Varosi”, where we can view the deserted residences and hotels that have been cordoned off behind wire since 1974, as well as appreciate the island’s top sandy beaches.
Note: A Passport or EU ID (for EU citizens only) is required. Individuals from Turkmenistan, Nigeria, Syria & Armenia are not permitted to cross the checkpoint.
- Passports are required to cross or European id (Passport holders of Turkmenistan,Syria,Armenia and Nigeria cannot cross .Also handwriting Greek identity cards are not accepted).
- Hotel pick ups commence 30-60 minutes earlier than the tour start time displayed on the voucher. Exact time will be advised after reservation is made.
- 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.
- Not recommended for persons with mobility issues
Location
Choirokoitia
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(197 Ratings)
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Germanvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Sep 1, 2024
Highly recommended excursion to understand the history of Cyprus - Very complete excursion, led by a great Guide.
If you are in Cyprus for several days you should not miss this tour.
The experience of crossing the border and having the feeling of being in a few minutes in Turkey from Greece is very exciting.
Visiting the ruins of Salamis, Shopping in Famagusta and the ghost town of Varosi make this tour an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y9651psthomasm
Aug 13, 2024
A great day out in Famagusta - A great day out with Eva a very knowledgeable guide detailing her experiences as a child when the Island was divided.
Very experienced and professional approach. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bazdev
Jul 29, 2024
History and heartache - I really enjoyed this trip, ancient history and seeing the other side of Cyprus, especially Salamis and Varosi. Its quite sad walking through the ghost town and listening to how events happened in 1974, but also extremely interesting. Punctual pick-up and a short break on the journey, which is needed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Terri
Jul 26, 2024
This is a full day but learnt so much a heart felt experience learning the history behind the civil war in 1974 would re - Would definitely recommend this trip I traveled with my brother the guide was fantastic the coach was clean with air con and made enough stops for toilet breaks
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katiedw5033tp
Jul 22, 2024
Fantastic and informative day out. - A very informative and interesting day out. The guide was very knowledgeable and made the journey go a lot quicker with his wealth of information.
The journey there and back does take most of the day so be mindful of this. We were more than happy with this, but expect to be out for 12+ hours.
A great price for everything you get to see and do. And loved seeing the Famagusta Old Town. Would have loved to have a bit more time exploring here though as this was the main reason for booking the trip. Highly recommend though.
It was very warm during the summer so wear appropriate clothing, take lots of water and a fan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mark_o
Aug 17, 2024
Interesting trip to the North - It was a good day out, the tour guide was really friendly and full of knowledge. The coach was more or less brand new with good air conditioning and turned up exactly on time. Famagusta was a really nice place, the only downside was it felt really rushed there in both the Turkish town and the occupied Ghost town area but half hour was wasted on each journey in a service station, personally I would have preferred the extra hour spent in Famagusta. Well worth the trip though.
Review provided by Viator
Thomas_s
Aug 1, 2024
Go and see Famagusta - Loved visiting Famagusta, such a harrowing place and seeing the town as it was left 50 yrs ago. Varsity was also good. Salamis was ok. Only downside was the guide Yanis would start talking before the whole group were together and when we were all together he'd speak just to one end of the group. He also spoke quietly so was hard to hear him. When you stood in front of him he gave you some nice interesting information but it wasn't often enough unfortunately. A long day but driver was good and coach was lovely and cool
Review provided by Viator
Robert
Jul 13, 2024
Famagusta and the Roman ruins - Really informative and interesting trip. The tour guide was knowledgeable and quite funny. The stops were well spaced out and the sites we visited beautiful, if slightly sad when you see the old Famagusta town.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tanya_g
Aug 5, 2024
Good tour - Enjoyed this tour, informative tour guide , a couple of the stops felt like they were not needed, Enjoyed famagusta and the ruins of the baths , amphitheatre and gymnasium
Review provided by Viator
Paul_g
Jul 19, 2024
Nice to see, but not original anymore - The tour itself is very well organised, but unfortunatly, the ghost town has now been spoilt by the roads all being tarmac'd so its not genuine anymore, No scenes of old cars left laying around. We visited it back in 2018 and you could peep over the fences to see the town as it was left when it was invaded, but its all false now. The unspolit beachs now have people on them, and a beach bar has now arrived. For the history behind it the information was very good, but it would be far better to be left as it was. These decisions were made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkey's ambassador to Nicosia before as they visited
Review provided by Viator
