Varosha, a ghost town in Cyprus
Varosha is an abandoned neighbourhood of the town of Famagusta in Cyprus.
In the 1960s, it was an exclusive Mediterranean resort with luxurious, multi-story hotels where celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren stayed.
After the Turkish invasion in 1974, the Greek Cypriot population fled when the city of Famagusta came under Turkish control. They sealed it off and turned it into a strictly enforced military buffer zone.
Varosha is one of those places where the silence is louder than words…
Margarita Hotel
Varosha (called “Maraş” in Turkish) is located in the southern quarter of the city of Famagusta, on the eastern coast of the island of Cyprus.
Today it is under the rule of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (a de facto state, recognised only by Turkey). There are several checkpoints, so take your passport or EU national ID card with you. Deryneia Checkpoint is a short drive from Famagusta, perfect for visitors coming from Ayia Napa or Protaras.
You can visit Varosha individually by taxi from Famagusta. It is situated about 4 km away; the drive takes 10 minutes, and it costs between 15 and 20 EUR.
Another option is the local one-day guided tours from Nicosia, Larnaca, and Ayia Napa. The tour includes transportation, a guide, and visits to key locations in Varosha and nearby towns. For example, we visited Varosha, Famagusta Old Town and Salamis, an ancient city.
📍What to know before visiting Varosha
🚗 If you rent a car, be aware that you have to pay additional insurance for Northern Cyprus (around 25 EUR). Cars are not allowed inside Varosha.
🪪 As I have already mentioned, take your passport (for non-EU visitors) or EU national ID card with you. Sometimes expect a brief inspection of your bags at the entry checkpoint.
🛴🚲 At the entrance to Varosha, you can rent an electric scooter or bicycle (300 TL or 6 EUR) or take a golf cart tour with a driver (2,000 TL, 35 minutes). There is also a small kiosk where you can buy some water and snacks. Both can be paid by card; no cash is accepted.
Varosha entrance, kiosk for renting an electric scooter or bicycle
👣 It is allowed to walk only on the marked open paths, because the area is still restricted.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring water with you.
⚠️Do not enter closed-off buildings or unpaved military zones. In front of many houses and buildings, you can see the red warning signs in Turkish and English that say: “Caution! The building may collapse. Crossing the safety lines and entering the building is dangerous, and it is prohibited”.
A warning sign in front of the abandoned hotel
📷 Taking photos of buildings is allowed, but it is not allowed to take photos of guard zones or military personnel. Drones are also strictly forbidden.
🚾 In the open part of the beaches, there are cafes and toilet facilities.
Varosha before 1974
Well, in the 1960/70s, Varosha was the symbol of Cyprus’s tourism industry.
It was the place of Mediterranean glamour, known for its long golden beach and crystal-clear water. There were over 100 luxurious hotels, villas and apartments. Some of the most famous luxury hotels were the King George Hotel, the Florida, the Golden Sand, the Argo Hotel, etc.
The streets were lined with boutiques selling fashion brands, many restaurants, nightclubs, and car dealerships selling modern cars. The children were playing on the beautiful beach, and families were strolling along the streets. In a word, it was a perfect place for life and those seeking sun, luxury and relaxation.
Varosha also attracted the international jet set and Hollywood stars, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren. But the golden years of prosperity and happy life were interrupted in the summer of 1974.
Postcard of Varosha Beach in the 1970s. Source: The Guardian
🚷 The Turkish invasion in 1974
By the way, Cyprus had gained independence from British rule in 1960. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and the Turkish Cypriots were always present, and due to political and inter-ethnic conflicts, they escalated in July and August 1974. Actually, there was a Greek-backed military coup aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece.
The events had a huge impact on the citizens of Cyprus, especially in Varosha and Famagusta. After that, nothing was the same.
The Turkish military intervened and occupied the northern part of the island. The Greek Cypriot population of Varosha and Famagusta fled for their lives. Both residents and tourists had only a few hours to leave the town.
And everyone was expecting to return in a few days. But it did not happen.
Buildings and Pooh Corner House
Instead, the Turkish military fenced off the entire resort district, sealed it with barbed wire and designated it a forbidden no-man’s-land. Only Turkish military and UN personnel could enter the town. It became a military zone.
Many people lost their homes, businesses, and land. Once a vibrant, cosmopolitan town, it became a ghost town, and for nearly five decades, Varosha was frozen in time.
After the invasion, Turks occupied North Cyprus, drawing a thick line known as the Green Line that separates TRNC and Cyprus today. This line also goes through Nicosia, making it the last divided capital in Europe today.
United Nations resolutions demanded the area be handed over to UN control for the return of its lawful inhabitants. Despite many negotiations, the Turks still control Varosha, and no one was allowed to come there and see their own house or hotel for years.
Abandoned hotel and a building
Reopening part of Varosha
However, in 2020, the situation in Varosha began to change, because Turkey and Northern Cyprus decided to open part of the town to visitors. Despite protests by the Greek Cypriots and condemnation by the UN and the European Parliament, they opened a small part of Palm Beach and a few streets, first only for Turkish Cypriots.
They also reopened the small Bilal Aga Mosque in July 2021. Then, in May 2022, the second part of the beach along the John F. Kennedy Avenue was opened for commercial use with sunbeds and umbrellas. Sounds weird, doesn’t it?
Cyprus: opened part of the Varosha Beach
Bear in mind that Varosha is not a museum exhibit.
And I have to say, walking through Varosha was an emotional experience. For many visitors, it is one more unusual “tourist destination”.
But for anyone who was a witness to war, bombing, occupation… it is something different.
The contrast between the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and the ruins of abandoned hotels and houses evokes a range of feelings…
What to see today in Varosha
Although a small part of the town is open, the distance can be long, especially during a hot, sunny day.
Actually, only two main avenues and part of the beach are open on a tourist route.
Avenue of Democracy was a central and commercial street with shops, and John F. Kennedy Avenue was known for luxurious hotels.
Walking through the town, you can see abandoned houses, hotels, various shops…
Abandoned shops in the town
Buildings and one postbox
About 300 metres from the entrance, you can find a small square with palms and trees.
On the left side you can go to the beaches, and on the right to the Avenue of Democracy. Since we had limited time, we didn’t see the whole street, where you can see the remains of the Edelweiss Cafe, the Culture Centre, the Boys’ Gymnasium, the Esteria Hotel, Barclays Bank, and the famous Toyota car centre.
Varosha Square and UN observation post on the roof
Remains of the hotels and houses
Walking the streets, we had a feeling that we stepped into a movie from the past. The buildings, homes, luxury hotels, shops, and cars were left untouched for years, overgrown by shrubs and trees. Broken windows and balconies, the remains of the furniture, and a giant crane near an unfinished hotel are all witnesses to the former vibrant life in the coastal town.
Street with abandoned buildings and church
At the end of the paved street, there is a modern Agia Trias Church, which looks unreal in this place.
Abandoned Agia Trias Church
Many buildings are very dilapidated and in danger of collapse.
New Smokey Joe’s Restaurant
We passed by one of the most famous hotels, the King George Hotel, and next to it, Blue Bungalow. Words are unnecessary.
King George Hotel and Blue Bungalow
🏖️Palm Beach
Once, Varosha was famous for its stunning long beach with golden sand and shallow water.
By the way, the only open hotel is the Arkin Palm Beach Hotel, located right at the edge of Varosha. It is a five-star resort with beachfront access, an outdoor pool, and spa facilities.
Palm Beach of Varosha
The small open part of Palm Beach covers 210 meters, starting in front of the King George Hotel. Sunbeds and umbrellas are also available, and close to the beach there is a small cafe and toilet facilities.
Palm Beach with sunbeds and umbrellas
Fenced part of the beach in Varosha
Although the warm and crystal-clear water tempted us to refresh ourselves on a hot day, we could not enjoy the beach. For my sister and me, it was a strange feeling to see people swimming and sunbathing on golden sands, while the ruins of hotels were just a few meters behind them. But it is part of dark tourism…
The hotel ruins around the Palm Beach
The second fenced beach is situated along John Kennedy Avenue (which runs parallel to the beach), near the Asterias Hotel and Argolis Hotel. It is 640 metres long, with sunbeds, umbrellas, a cafe and toilet facilities as well.
🌴🌸🌿Nature has taken over the town
Despite the ruins of the abandoned town, nature found a way to live and survive.
Various plants, flowers, shrubs and trees are growing wild among the walls, roofs, balconies, and foundations of houses, shops, and hotels. They are still fighting for life, hoping for better days to come.
Nature survives in the abandoned town
Varosha, the forbidden town
In recent years, it became a new tourist hotspot in Northern Cyprus. Nearly 5 million people visited it by the end of 2025.
But for Greek Cypriots, it is a wound in the heart, with no formal agreement reached on comprehensive resettlement or return.
Frozen behind barbed wire, the ghost town of Varosha waits in silence, waiting for its residents and tourists, and yearning to reclaim its crown as a jewel of the Mediterranean.
Forbidden zone of Varosha
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