Lefkoşa (Turkish Nicosia) is the northern half of the world's last divided capital, separated from its Greek counterpart by the UN-patrolled Green Line. Tourists can cross at the Ledra Street and Ledra Palace checkpoints — a strange experience, walking between two worlds in a matter of minutes.
The difference is immediately visible. Where Greek Nicosia to the south is modern and commercial, Lefkoşa is quieter, more traditional, and full of layered history. Gothic churches converted to mosques sit alongside Ottoman-era caravanserais and crumbling Venetian walls. The Selimiye Mosque, originally built as the Cathedral of St. Sophia in the 13th century, still has its French Gothic structure intact beneath the added minarets. The Büyük Han (Great Inn), beautifully restored, is the finest Ottoman building on the island — its inner courtyard now houses shops and cafes.
For more on the Greek side, see Nicosia.