Exploring the Famagusta Ghost Town on a rented bicycle.
Famagusta is a city in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Varosha which was once referred to as the French Riviera of Cyprus, is a suburb of Famagusta. And this is the part which is now the Ghost Town.
In its heyday, celebrities such as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Brigitte Bardot would vacation here.
So what happened? Why did Varosha become a ghost town?
In 1974, the Turkish army invaded Cyprus, advancing as far as the United Nations Buffer Zone, which had already been established, as early as 1964, to keep the peace.
As the Turkish forces approached Varosha, the residents, mostly Greek Cypriots and tourists, fled in a hurry and Maraş, as it’s called in Turkish, came under Turkish control. Sealed off. Abandoned.
With the locals unable to return, Varosha became a Ghost Town.
Varosha Reopens to Tourists
In 2020, Varosha was partially reopened to visitors. You can tour and explore two of the main streets and take photos from a distance. ALL buildings are off limits due to the danger of falling debris.
How to get to Varosha:
You can reach Varosha from the modern city of Famagusta in the northern part of Cyprus, which is claimed by Turkey, known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
I crossed from the southern part of Cyprus to the northern part of Cyprus in the divided city of Nicosia, using the Ledra Street Crossing Point and then took a dolmus to Famagusta, also known as Gazimağusa.
As a word of caution, if you’re flying into Larnaca or Paphos and intend on flying out of Ercan International Airport or taking the ferry to Turkey after visiting Varosha, some airlines might not accept any ticket you have as a valid proof of onward travel when you are checking in – I bought a dummy booking from VerifTicket.
In the end, no one asked. But I can’t forget when I flew from Abidjan to Nairobi and had to buy an expensive ticket on the spot. Lesson learned. It’s all about covering my ass.
I based myself at the Betul Guest House in Famagusta for a few days to thoroughly explore the area. The Walled City of Famagusta and the Ancient Roman City of Salamis are great places to visit.
From Famagusta, you can walk to the entry point for Varosha.
I believe that there are a couple of other entry points, but I cannot offer any advice about them.
Can you visit Varosha on your own?
Yes, you can visit Varosha on your own. I did. From the walled city of Gazimağusa, as the Turks call Famagusta, I walked to the “Varosha Visitor Entrance” and then hired a bike.
Is Varosha free to visit?
Varosha is free to enter and is open to everyone, as per the photo:
You don’t need your passport (best to take it anyway), but they will ask to look in your bag. Drones are forbidden.
Hiring a bicycle to explore Varosha
Across from the entrance, there are 2 small kiosks where you can get some water and snacks (card only).
You can also rent a bicycle (or e-scooter) for 150 TL, which I highly recommend doing, but just remember, cash is NOT accepted.
On my Retro “Steel is Real”, double top tube bicycle in Varosha:
But get there early. I was there on a Saturday in late April, and the place was incredibly busy.
Forget the notion that you will be the only one there. The Ghost Town of Varosha is well and truly on the map, for those visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and with good reason. The place is epic!
From the damage, you can quite clearly see the extent of the fighting that went on here, with the rocket holes in the walls. This is just not from the years of neglect. Buildings just don’t collapse of their own accord.
These are my photos of the Famagusta Ghost Town, which was most definitely the highlight of my 2025 trip to Europe:
As of April 2025, there is a UN presence in the abandoned city of Varosha:
And it wasn’t just a case of the Greek Cypriots and holidaymakers fleeing, you can clearly see the damage caused by mortar fire:
This street is still off limits:
Closed Street: provides vehicle access for security personnel.
And the future of Varosha? There is a small kiosk at the northern end of town, which is (sometimes) open for snacks and drinks. Nearer the famous Palm Beach, there is a bigger restaurant.
In the central part of the abandoned city, there is massive construction going on, all concealed with high fences, security cameras and security officers.
That first photo is my family’s home across the street is the apartments my grandpa was building there is still a crane there one of the 2 cranes still standing.
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