Lonely Planet: Nicosia among top 10 cities to visit in 2022

Prestigious travel guide publisher Lonely Planet has included Nicosia in the 2022 edition of its annual ‘Best in Travel’ book, which ranks the planet’s must-visit countries, cities and regions.

Described as “Europe’s brightest capital,” and a multicultural city with a rich history and cultural heritage, Nicosia took sixth place among the top 10 cities to visit in 2022.

Reflecting on post-pandemic travel, the 2022 edition focuses on inspiring people to reconnect with travelling “as we re-engage with the world with a new appreciation for what a privilege and responsibility travel is,” according to Lonely Planet.

“We also reveal how you can have a positive impact as you return to the road, with practical advice that will help you to make sustainable travel choices, support local communities and celebrate inclusivity”.

Nicosia ranked high in the “Community” category, which awards cities that place local communities at the forefront of their tourism initiatives, thanks to efforts being made to build bridges for the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and communities.

The project that put Nicosia in the list is United by Sound, an initiative by Home for Cooperation, a community centre located right on the Green Line in Nicosia focused on fostering intercommunal cooperation, peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue.

United by Sound uses music for peacebuilding and social change. “We use music as a tool to build connections, foster empathy and shape communities,” the organisers said. “We use music as a means to address the needs of societies divided and affected by conflict”.

During lockdown, when crossings were closed, the project brought together 40 musicians from all over Cyprus to create the song “Time is Ripe”.

Home for Cooperation director Lefki Lambrou expressed her gratitude to Lonely Planet for the distinction and recognition of the project.

She added that the Centre will continue through its programmes to strive towards strengthening ties between communities and cultivating an intercultural dialogue, both in Cyprus and on European and global level.

Nicosia tourism board head Theodoros Kringou said this is an important and positive distinction for the capital.

“As Nicosia Tourism Board, we will continue to help every cultural initiative that can help promote Nicosia as a tourist destination,” he said.