Nicosia in February: A Founder’s Guide
Flying LOT & Staying Hydrated
For this trip from Warsaw, LOT was the winner—cheaper than Wizz Air and with much better return times. One of my personal missions is to stop the cycle of overpriced airport plastic. If you’re traveling with your Travel Bottle, you can fill up for free at Warsaw Chopin (past security, near the Schengen exit) and at Larnaca Airport (middle of the terminal). Considering airport water can cost up to €5, your Travel Bottle pays for its first coffee before you even land!
The Charm of South Nicosia
The Greek side of Nicosia is a mix of modern boutiques and crumbling Venetian walls. Don't miss the Leventis Municipal Museum—it’s free and covers the city’s history beautifully. My favorite part? Laiki Geitonia. It’s a pedestrianized maze where you can find artisans working silver in traditional ways. Even if the churches are closed, the Byzantine Museum’s icon collection is absolutely breathtaking.
Two Worlds: Crossing the Green Line
Crossing from the South to the North is incredibly straightforward—you just need your passport. The buffer zone looks like a post-apocalyptic movie set, frozen in 1974. Once you step through to the North, the atmosphere shifts to vibrant markets and the smell of strong Turkish tea. Be sure to visit the Selimiye Mosque and walk the internal balconies of Büyük Han—the atmosphere there is pure magic.
