Christmas in Nicosia: Laiki Geitonia & Eleftheria Square Market

Summarise this page 5 key points · 1 minute

What is Laiki Geitonia?Laiki Geitonia is a restored pedestrian corner of old Nicosia near Eleftheria Square, with stone houses, tavernas, coffee shops and craft shops.
Christmas in Nicosia old townLaiki Geitonia is not on the official 2026-27 Christmas Villages list, so head to the free Christmas Market and Fairytale Town at Eleftheria Square.
Planning your festive visitPark by the moat around the Venetian walls, visit the market after dark at weekends or school holidays, and finish with dinner in Laiki Geitonia.
More Christmas in CyprusFor a traditional village market, the official Christmas Villages run across the island from 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Getting thereParking inside the walls is limited, so use the car parks around the moat or take the bus to Solomou Square and walk.

Quick answer

Laiki Geitonia is the restored 1900s-style neighbourhood inside the Venetian walls of Nicosia. At Christmas the old town fills with lights, and the main festive market now runs at nearby Eleftheria Square, linked to Fairytale Town. Laiki Geitonia is not on the official 2026-27 Christmas Villages list.

Laiki Geitonia opened on 21 December 1983 and won FIJET's Pomme d'Or in 1988.
Nicosia's Christmas season opens with the lighting of the big tree at Eleftheria Square, with a free concert.
The Nicosia Christmas Market (Handmade In Cyprus with the municipality) is held at Eleftheria Square, with free entry; the 2026-27 dates had not been announced at the time of writing (October 2026).
The nine official Christmas Villages of 2026-27 open from 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Laiki Geitonia is not one of the official 2026-27 Christmas Villages, so check the 2026 programme before you go.

What is Laiki Geitonia?

Laiki Geitonia ("people's neighbourhood") is a restored corner of old Nicosia, just inside the Venetian walls near Eleftheria Square. It was rebuilt to keep the look of the city around 1900: stone houses with wooden balconies, narrow lanes and tiled arcades along Aristokyprou and Praxandrou streets.

Today it is a pedestrian area of tavernas, coffee shops, craft and souvenir shops. It was officially opened on 21 December 1983 and in 1988 the International Federation of Journalists and Writers of Tourism (FIJET) gave it the Pomme d'Or for preserving Nicosia's heritage.

Tip: Laiki Geitonia is a good starting point for a walk to Ledra Street, the Archbishop's Palace and the Ledra Street crossing to the north side.

Christmas in Nicosia old town

Laiki Geitonia used to host its own Christmas Village. It is not on the official 2026-27 Christmas Villages list, so do not plan a trip around it. Nicosia's festive action is now a few minutes' walk away, around Eleftheria Square.

Tree lighting at Eleftheria Square

Nicosia's Christmas season opens with the lighting of the big tree at Eleftheria Square. It comes with a free concert. The 2026 date had not been announced at the time of writing (October 2026); it is usually published in November.

Nicosia Christmas Market

Organised by Handmade In Cyprus with Nicosia Municipality at Eleftheria Square, with handmade gifts, local makers and festive food. Free entry. It opens at weekends and almost daily over the holidays, until early January; check the 2026-27 dates once the municipality publishes them.

Fairytale Town

Fairytale Town (Paramithoupoli) is the children's Christmas world linked to the market, with decorations, activities and characters. It is the easiest family outing in the capital in December.

Neighbourhood festivals

The municipal districts, such as Engomi, Ayios Dhometios and Aglandjia, add their own events, announced with the Nicosia programme.

Planning your festive visit

Getting there: Laiki Geitonia sits inside the 16th-century Venetian walls, which ring the old town with eleven heart-shaped bastions. The 80-metre-wide moat around them now holds gardens, sports fields and car parks, so park by the moat and walk in.
When to go: the market is liveliest at weekends and over the school holidays. Go after dark to see the lights, and check the municipality's programme for the days it is open.
Make a day of it: walk from Eleftheria Square through the old town to Laiki Geitonia's tavernas for dinner. Our Nicosia old town guide and 10 best things to do in Nicosia have more ideas.
With children: start at Fairytale Town, then see our family-friendly activities in Nicosia.

More Christmas in Cyprus

If you want a traditional village market, the official Christmas Villages run across the island from 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. For the whole season, see our Christmas in Cyprus guide.

Getting there

Parking inside the walls is limited. Use the municipal car parks around the walls and the moat, or take the bus to Solomou Square, then walk. Laiki Geitonia and Eleftheria Square are about five minutes apart on foot.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a Christmas Village at Laiki Geitonia in 2026?

Laiki Geitonia is not on the official 2026-27 Christmas Villages list from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. The old town is still decorated and its tavernas and craft shops stay open, while Nicosia's main Christmas market runs at Eleftheria Square, a few minutes' walk away.

When is the Nicosia Christmas market?

It is held at Eleftheria Square at weekends and almost daily over the holidays, until early January. The 2026-27 dates and hours had not been announced at the time of writing (October 2026); Nicosia Municipality usually publishes its programme in November.

Is there parking near Laiki Geitonia?

Parking inside the walls is limited. Use the municipal car parks along the moat and walls, such as near Eleftheria Square or Solomou Square bus station, and walk in.

Is Christmas in Nicosia old town family-friendly?

Yes. Fairytale Town at Eleftheria Square is aimed at children, and the market, lights and tree lighting concert are free.

Can I eat traditional Cypriot food there?

Yes. Laiki Geitonia has tavernas and coffee shops serving meze, souvlaki and Cypriot coffee, and the Christmas market adds stalls with festive treats and hot drinks.

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