Inside the Famagusta Ghost Town of Varosha – North Cyprus

On a rented bicycle, I toured the Famagusta Ghost Town of Varosha.

Can you visit Varosha on your own?

Yes, you can visit Varosha on your own. I did. From the walled city of Gazimagusa, as the Turks call Famagusta, I walked to the “Varosha Visitor Entrance” and then hired a bike.

However, if you need a guided tour, contact Mr John, who was born and brought up in Varosha but was forced to leave in 1974 along with everyone else. He now runs his own tour company: Ghost Town Famagusta by Mr John.

How to get to Varosha:

Varosha is near the town 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.

I based myself at the Betul Guest House 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 cannot offer any advice about them.

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.

Across from the entrance, there are 2 small kiosks where you can get some water and snacks (no cash card only). You can also rent a bicycle (or e-scooter) for 150 TL, which I highly recommend doing. Card payment only.

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. The place was as busy as. 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!

Varosha was once referred to as the French Riviera of Cyprus. In its heyday, celebrities such as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Brigitte Bardot would vacation here.

What happened in Varosha

Well, it depends on whose side you are on. In war, no one is innocent. One side is always accusing the other of some atrocity whilst trying to have the world believe they are angels.

Cyprus was home to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. 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 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.

And Varosha became a Ghost Town.

Varosha opens to tourists

Varosha partially reopened to visitors in 2020. You can tour and explore 2 of the main streets and take photos from a distance. ALL buildings are off limits due to the danger of falling debris.

And from the damage, this is just not from 46 years of neglect. You can quite clearly see the extent of the fighting that went on here, with the rocket holes in the walls. And buildings just don’t collapse on their own accord.

These are my photos of 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 holiday makers fleeing. In this photo, 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.