Once a vibrant holiday destination graced by Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Varosha, the southern quarter of Famagusta in Cyprus, has undergone a dramatic transformation over the decades.
Following the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974, triggered by a Greek junta-supported coup, Varosha was swiftly evacuated by its 15,000 residents, leaving behind homes, businesses, and idyllic beaches.
It is recognised only by Turkey, and its territory is considered by all other states to be part of the Republic of Cyprus
Since then, Northern Cyprus has illegally controlled Varosha, which has remained frozen in time, guarded by the military. Nature gradually reclaimed its abandoned streets and buildings, with plants creeping over walls and sea turtles nesting on its beaches.
In a surprising turn in October 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ersin Tatar reopened Varosha to visitors. Since then, more than 1.8 million tourists have flocked to this once-ghost town, now a leading destination in dark tourism—travel to sites associated with tragedy and historical significance.
Hubert Faustmann, a history and international relations professor at the University of Nicosia, noted the transformation: "Certain parts of Varosha have opened up, offering guided tours, e-bikes, vehicles, and coffee shops. It has become a tourist attraction, though without any former residents returning." Despite its popularity, Varosha remains contentious, as two UN resolutions have called for its return to its original inhabitants-turned-refugees.
