Abandoned Town from the '70s: Discover the potential for tourists to explore the long-deserted Varosha once more.
Varosha, once known as the "Las Vegas of the Mediterranean," has been frozen in time since the 1974 Turkish military intervention in Cyprus. This once vibrant luxury resort town, located in the Cypriot city of Famagusta, is now an increasingly dilapidated ghost town under Turkish military control[1].
In its heyday, Varosha was a premier Mediterranean tourist destination, boasting around 10,000 hotel rooms, 45 hotels, and thousands of businesses. It contributed 60% of Cyprus's tourism revenue by 1973, attracting celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, and Brigitte Bardot[2]. However, following the conflict, the Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled, leaving the area abandoned and fenced off[1].
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) asserts that Maraş (Varosha), as it is known in Turkish, remains under their control[1]. In 2025, parts of Varosha were reopened to visitors for the first time in about 50 years, offering controlled access tours and limited visits to some parts of the area[3]. Visitors can now explore abandoned 1970s architecture, shops, and beaches, albeit with large parts remaining inaccessible and heavily guarded[3].
The prime minister of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar, has voiced plans to reopen Varosha to visitors and bring it back to its former reputation as a luxury tourist attraction[4]. This partial reopening marks a significant but cautious step towards reintegrating Varosha into Cyprus's tourism scene while navigating the complex political situation.
However, the prospect of Varosha's recovery and tourist reopening is viewed positively by many Turks, while for Cypriots, it could be a dangerous step towards the reunification of the island. The conflict between nations led to Varosha's streets becoming empty and its houses being abandoned in the 1970s[2].
Despite the UN Security Council resolutions calling for Varosha's return to its original inhabitants, it remains within the territory of the TRNC, and a 1984 UN security resolution forbade resettlement in Varosha, making it a legally accessible area only for the Turkish military[1].
As Varosha remains a symbol of Cyprus's divided history, its elegant past preserved in ruins, its recovery and reopening to tourists under Turkish control continue to be met with ongoing uncertainties around full reopening or resettlement plans[1][3].
References: 1. BBC News 2. The Guardian 3. Al Jazeera 4. TRNC Prime Ministry
- Varosha, once labeled the "Las Vegas of the Mediterranean," served as a premier luxury tourist destination, boasting around 10,000 hotel rooms and 45 hotels.
- In its heyday, Varosha attracted celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, and Brigitte Bardot, contributing 60% of Cyprus's tourism revenue by 1973.
- Following the 1974 Turkish military intervention, Varosha was abandoned, leaving its 1970s architecture, shops, and beaches in a state of decay under Turkish military control.
- In 2025, parts of Varosha were reopened to visitors, offering controlled access tours and limited visits to some areas, but many parts remain heavily guarded and inaccessible.
- The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has plans to reopen Varosha as a luxury tourist attraction, but for Cypriots, this could be a dangerous step towards reunification of the island.
- The UN Security Council has called for Varosha's return to its original inhabitants, but it remains within the territory of the TRNC, and a 1984 UN security resolution forbade resettlement in Varosha, making it a legally accessible area only for the Turkish military.
