Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus. It’s located inland, away from the tourist resorts on the coast, like Aya Napa, Limsassol, and Paphos.
The hotel is located on the outskirts of town. From what I can tell, public transport is de facto non-existent in Cyprus. So if you want to get around and you’re staying at the Hilton, a car is advised. Unless, of course, you fancy getting ripped off by the taxi drivers, or having to haggle about the payment even though you’d agreed on a price before you boarded.
I mention this because there isn’t really anything much to see or do close by. The only noteworthy restaurant is a Jamie’s Italian franchise, which is a ten minutes walk.
The hotel is set in a lush park with palm trees right outside the entrance to the lobby.
The one restaurant and lounge both have a very nice outdoor veranda overlooking the pool area. The menu for the restaurant is quite extensive, with a good selection of dishes, including several vegetarian options. The breakfast, which served in the same location, is extensive and includes a lot of local dishes and cheese.
Adjacent to the pool is a well-equipped gym that is also accessible to non-residents.
The hotel was recently refurbished and renamed. Previously, there used to be the Hilton Park Nicosia and the original Nicosia Hilton. The latter has now closed and is currently being refurbished. It will open again next year as the Nicosia Landmark. What used to be the Hilton Park Nicosia is now the new Nicosia Hilton, where I am staying.
My room is on the second floor and very big. It’s a corner room with a balcony that runs the full length of it.
There is a separate seating area and a small table, which works well as a desk.
The bed is queen size and very comfortable, with just the right firmness to support my slipped discs.
The bathroom is enormous. There are twin sinks and a separate bath and shower.
The Nicosia Hilton is a very old building. But it’s clearly been very well maintained and the refurbishment has given it a new lease on life. The room is comfortable, and the staff were all rally great and very friendly. I would definitely stay here again, not just because it was close to the venue where I was giving a course.