Since Cypriots love spending a lot of their time outdoors, Nicosia and Cyprus in general actually has a lot of available sports to engage in for its relatively small population.  Active expats will find a lot to do in the city and by the water.

One of the many sporting events organized in the country is the Cyprus Rally, a rallying competition held annually from 1970 until today in Limassol, usually in the month of March.

Sporting Events in Nicosia

Football in Cyprus

As the most popular sport in Cyprus, football enjoys a huge following among Cypriot residents. Though Cypriot football clubs and the national team have not made much headway in the World Cup or Euro Cup, many FIFA and UEFA events are still organized by the Cyprus Football Association.

The Cypriot First Division consists of a few semi-professional teams; the two main teams of Nicosia are Omonia and APOEL.

Rugby in Nicosia

Rugby is a small but rapidly growing sport in Cyprus, with the Cyprus Rugby National Team actually defeating quite a few rivals and jumping ahead in the league over the last years.  However, it is still not a major enough sport to have many tournaments on home soil. The main Cypriot teams are the Paphos Tigers and the Limassol Crusaders.

Tennis in Cyprus

Tennis has become more popular in Cyprus over the last few years, in no small part thanks to the success of Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis, who has become one of the most popular athletes in the country. However, not many tournaments are held in the country.

Basketball in Cyprus

The Cyprus Basketball Federation runs the Cypriot national teams, as well as tournaments such as the Cypriot Basketball Cup and the Cypriot Super Cup. Basketball is the second most popular sport on the island behind football, so the sport has its fair share of fans and continues to rise in popularity. There are two men's leagues, Division 1 and 2, and a women's league.

Stadiums in Nicosia

Nicosia's Major Stadiums:

• GSP Stadium
• Makario Stadium
• Eleftheria Stadium
• Costas Papaellinas Arena
• Kykkos Stadium

Physical Activities & Sports in Nicosia

Scuba Diving in Cyprus

Cyprus is a very popular destination for those looking to scuba dive or get their PADI certification. There are many five star PADI diving schools in Cyprus, and not just by the sea; you can find such schools in Nicosia as well, as the distance out to the coast is pretty minimal.

Enjoy the island's clear waters and visibility, and if you are advanced enough, attempt the Zenobia wreck dive, which many sources classify as one of the ten best dives in the world.

Play Football (Soccer) in Nicosia

Football is by far the most popular sport in Nicosia, as is the case in most of Europe. However, because there are relatively few full-size football fields throughout the country, many local people play a variation of the sport called “futsal”. You can book one of the many futsal fields, which are almost identical to soccer fields except for their smaller size, all throughout the country.

Play Golf in Cyprus

Golf is still a relatively new sport in Cyprus, but there are three major golf courses where you can go to practice your swing; most are between Lemessos and Paphos.

• Aphrodite Hills (Address: 3 Aphrodite Avenue, Kouklia 8509 P.O. Box 62769 8072 Paphos; Tel: +357 26 82 80 00)
• Secret Valley (Address: Secret Valley Golf Club, Ha Potami, Kouklia 8510, P.O. Box 60269, 8101 Paphos, Cyprus; Tel: +357 26 27 40 00)
• Minthis Hills (Address: Tsada Village, PO Box 62085, 8062, Paphos, Cyprus; Tel: +357 26 64 27 75)

Play Basketball in Nicosia

You will find plenty of basketball courts all over Nicosia and Cyprus, however most of them are part of high-school grounds. It is technically forbidden to use the courts for recreational games when school is out, but many people seem to use them anyway.

Water Sports in Cyprus

Thanks to the number of cities on the water in Cyprus and peoples' fondness for the sea, water sports are very popular in the country. Whether you want to windsurf, waterski, surf, jetski, or paraglide, you can find plenty of places to rent or buy equipment and engage in your favorite water sports, particularly in the seaside communities of Limassol and Paphos.

Gyms in Cyprus

Gyms have become increasingly popular in Cyprus, especially those offering programs such as yoga, Pilates and boxing classes. Most of the country's health clubs are modern and fully equipped with qualified and certified instructors teaching classes and providing personal training sessions.

As with most gyms, taking classes usually entails paying an extra per-class or monthly fee, as does signing up for a personal training session.

Many newer condos and apartment complexes in Nicosia and the rest of Cyprus now include modern, well-equipped gyms, so you may not even need an outside membership, depending on where you live.

Plenty of upscale hotels on the island also include fully equipped gyms, but it's difficult for non-guests to access most of them.

Popular Gyms in Nicosia

• Nicosia Gym & Spa Center is considered one of the best fitness clubs in Nicosia. It offers customers a sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi, spa, outside and indoor swimming pool, and personal training programs. Pilates classes are also available.
• Olympus Gym is one of the city's oldest health clubs, but has recently been renovated and upgraded to a fully modern gym.
• Gympro is a new, fully equipped gym in the center of Nicosia that uses modern, tailor-made programs to help members achieve their health and personal goals.
• Oxygen Gym offers weights classes, personal training and Pilates.

Recommended Partners