Northern Cyprus: Ancient Ruins & Ghost City

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: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Choirokoitia - Take a coffee break at Choirokitia during your journey.
  • Strovilia - Pass through the Strovilia checkpoint to enter North Cyprus. All participants should have their EU ID or passport ready for inspection. Once cleared, the journey continues towards the Salamis Ruins.
  • Salamis - Discover one of Cyprus’s most significant…
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

Discover the intriguing history of Northern Cyprus on this engaging tour. After a brief rest, cross the border to explore the ancient city of Salamis, featuring a grand theatre, Roman baths adorned with detailed mosaics, and a magnificent gymnasium.
In the old town of Famagusta, appreciate the Gothic-Ottoman architecture of St. Nikolaos Cathedral (now…

Location
Choirokoitia
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(260 Ratings)
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Linda_p
Jun 15, 2025
Well worth the long day - Long day and weather was really hot so was tiring but such a worthwhile excursion. So hard to believe its now 51 years since the Greek cypriots had to flee their homes & their livlihoods when the Turk cypriots invaded with nothing more than the clothes they stood up in. Very moving and eerie walking round the streets showing the abandoned buildings that once, long ago, was full of families living their lives! The beach is divine with beautiful crystal clear water yet the backdrop is devastating - rows of apartment blocks and Hotels all derelict and abandoned! Just outside of the Ghost town the Turk Cypriots live in apparant normality when just a few metres away, is the result of their invasion - where time has stood still and certainly is very haunting!
Review provided by Viator
Thomas_m
Jun 15, 2025
Fascinating place! - A really excellent tour! A chance to see the unusual sights over the green line, in comfortable transport and with a knowledgable guide. It is a long day, and the heat and humidity was heavy going, but the way the day was broken up with the air conditioned coach journey worked really well!
Review provided by Viator
Melanie_s
May 23, 2025
Mel and Dave - A long day, but well worth it. Famagusta very humbling. Guide was great and very informative. Take plenty of water.
Review provided by Viator
Joan_h
May 4, 2025
Famagusta & varosa & villages - Well organised trip to famagusta & varosa. Guide gave plenty of information about history of places visited. Well worth the long day.
Review provided by Viator
Anita_r
Apr 22, 2025
Absolutely amazing experience - This was by far one of the best tours in Cyprus very informative and really interesting. Honestly book this tour if you are interested in history and want to get a real insight about past happenings in Cyprus. I loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Maddie0003
Apr 20, 2025
Trip to the North - Long day but well worth it! Enjoyed the history and visiting Famagusta. Ghost town very memorable but sad Would recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Keeley
Apr 19, 2025
Great trip - This was a long day but worth it. Our tour guide Emma was so knowledgeable and gave us great information about the history of Cyprus.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bigal52
May 26, 2025
Awesome - The overall trip was amazing, the coach driver had excellent driving skills felt very safe, the tour rep was very knowledgeable, found all the information she gave was great, just unfortunately the lunch that was recommended by the rep was not very good, the food was not great but being made to all sit at the one table was not comfortable at all, the whole 12 of us agreed, on the plus going to the ghost town was amazing, would loved to seen the whole place, maybe next time, I would highly recommend this trip to everyone
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gary_h
May 3, 2025
Vargosha. Ghost Town. Remainder of trip lost cause. - I think most people on this trip wanted mostly to visit Vargosha. The trip to the ruins could have been removed and visit to walled city then longer visit to ghost town would have been better. Delay on return to checkpoint took 40 minutes. Guide repeated herself many times and we were like the poor relatives at recommended lunch stop. We only got moved from tatty garden area after insisting we should be seated inside where there was plenty of tables. Highlight was Vargosha though too short a time here. This trip needs to be rethought 11+ hours way too long.
Review provided by Viator
Pohas2017
May 2, 2025
Long day trip to Famagusta - A full 12.5 hour trip, 2.5hra of which we’re picking and dropping off other passengers. Followed by a 30 minute coffee stop, before heading onto the check point and the first stop at Salamis to see the ancient ruins of this town. A very poor 40 minute visit with just enough time to rush through the front area of the ruins before being herded back to the coach to go onto to Famagusta where 2 hours were spent in a very mediocre town with nothing to offer apart from the Venetian wall and mosque. Most of that time was spent getting ‘lunch’ although there was no room to seat everyone. Then on to Varosha the abandoned city, again herded around in 30 minutes without time to digest the history. Back on to the coach and a stop again at the same coffee place for another 30 minute break. Less time on the coffee breaks and certainly less time in Famagusta would free up the time for Salamis and Varosha which was desperately needed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $78
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).