Varosha Northern Cyprus

Before 1974, Varosha in Northern Cyprus was considered the island’s premier holiday town: over 50 percent of Cyprus’ tourism was in Varosha – a thriving town on the edge of Famagusta. Because: Here there was not only the desired Mediterranean bet on over 300 days a year, but also sandy beaches as far as the eye could see, numerous hotels and culinary experiences, but also action-packed adventures to discover. I bought investors cheaply into the supposedly promising paradise – only to experience a shock later. We explain here what Northern Cyprus’s Varosha has to offer today – and why it came to this.

Northern Cyprus’s Varosha is now considered an untouchable ghost town

Northern Cyprus’ once-thriving tourist town of Varosha was declared a restricted area during the Turkish invasion in 1974. As a result, the tourist town came to a standstill – and tourists were no longer able to stimulate the local economy. The result: planned hotel buildings lay derelict, existing facilities were abandoned and all buildings were evacuated. Today this appears to be a ghost town that now appears anything but paradise. 40,000 people had to forcibly leave their homes – which still leaves us with an uneasy feeling today.

Is Varosha in Northern Cyprus worth visiting today?

Northern Cyprus’s Varosha is now seen as a symbol of the division of Cyprus. Since the tourist town was now more than 45 years old, the facades were crumbling and no more money was invested in care and maintenance. If you really want to become aware of the separation of the two halves of the island and want to explore more than just the Mediterranean nature and beauty, you can pay a visit to Varosha. For the residents of Cyprus, however, the area represents division, uncertainty and political instability – which is why it is avoided. Whether Northern Cyprus Varosha will experience a second spring remains uncertain – but the city’s former residents and tourists no longer have much hope. 

If you are interested in investing in Northern Cyprus and would like to buy property in Northern Cyprus, then please contact us.