Crossing to South Nicosia: The 3 Border Crossings

01Lokmacı Crossing (Ledra Street)

Right in the heart of the walled city, where the Arasta bazaar ends, Lokmacı is the most central and most touristic of the three crossings. Opened on 3 April 2008, this pedestrian passage links Arasta Street in the north with the famous Ledra Street in the south — the walk between the two control points takes only a few minutes. Most nationalities need a passport, while EU citizens can cross with an ID card; passports are not stamped and crossing is free of charge. The gate is open 24 hours and formalities usually take just minutes, though short queues can form at peak tourist times. Step through and you emerge straight into the busy shops and cafés of Ledra Street. Tip: breakfast in the north, lunch in the south and back by late afternoon is a favourite itinerary. Note that photography is prohibited at the checkpoint itself.

02Ledra Palace Crossing

Ledra Palace, opened on 23 April 2003, was the very first crossing to open on the island — a fact that gives it real historical significance. Reached on foot from Kyrenia Gate through the Arabahmet quarter, it is open to pedestrians and cyclists. It takes its name from the historic Ledra Palace Hotel inside the buffer zone — the island's most prestigious hotel when it opened in 1949, now used by the UN peacekeeping force. The few hundred metres between the two control points lead you past the hotel's grand but weathered façade and the Home for Cooperation, a cultural centre hosting bi-communal events; this short walk is a window onto the island's recent history. The gate is open 24 hours; document requirements are the same as at Lokmacı. Tip: combine the crossing with your Arabahmet walk — Dervish Pasha Mansion and the quarter's restored streets are right on the route.

03Metehan Crossing (Kermiya / Agios Dometios)

About three kilometres west of the city centre, Metehan — known as Agios Dometios on the southern side — is Nicosia's only vehicle crossing and the busiest crossing point on the island. Opened on 10 May 2003, it serves cars, motorbikes, cyclists and pedestrians, 24 hours a day. The gate was modernised under an EU-funded expansion project completed in February 2026: an extra lane was added in each direction, raising capacity from two to three lanes, a new pedestrian walkway was built and the road layout was redesigned. The notorious rush-hour queues have shortened noticeably as a result, though you should still allow extra time at morning and evening peaks. If you are driving south you will need your driving licence and vehicle registration, plus insurance valid in the south, which can be bought at the offices by the gate on a daily, monthly or yearly basis; the same applies in reverse for cars entering the north. As photography and filming are prohibited at the crossing points themselves, the images in this section show the surrounding area and buffer zone as photographed before the expansion. Tip: use Metehan if you're planning a day trip by car to Troodos, Larnaca or Paphos; for exploring the city itself, walking through Lokmacı is far more practical.

Related news (in Turkish): EU-funded expansion project completed (February 2026) · Roadworks began on 4 December