Oct 30, 2025
Highly recommended trip to see the sights of Varosha. - This trip was absolutely amazing! The hosts -Clive and Paul -were so informative and made the trip, enjoyable and interesting. Varosha itself was really eerie and quite sad that such a beautiful place was left like this! The beach is stunning and you can imagine how it would have looked before everyone had to leave! On the way back we drove through Varosha town where the locals once lived that was really quite sad abandoned houses on the left and newer places that are lived in on the right!
Clive and Paul made the crossing of the border so easy and there was lots of laughs along the way on the bus.
Overall a super experience that I would recommend to everyone. Thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 23, 2025
Beautiful family excursion - Family fun outing to get to know the history of the surroundings while combining the fun side of the English bus.
Excursion of about 3 hours with a halfway break allowing a passage to the toilet and the purchase of a cold drink.
The driver and the guide were both very friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 18, 2025
The best and easiest way to explore Varosha - This is a fantastic way to explore Varosha in your own time, and we feel it was worth the money for the sheer ease of seeing this fabled town without having to navigate border crossings and car rental insurance yourself.
The Original Red Bus will pick you up at an arranged place near to your accommodation in Asia Napa/Protaras, and they'll collect your passports ready for the border crossing. The staff will check that your passport is suitable before you even sit down, ensuring you're good to go. It could take 1-2 hours from the very first pick up to getting across the border. The border crossing itself took 15 minutes max each way. You'll get your passport back when you return across the last crossing.
Once you get to Varosha, you are dropped off at the entrance to the town and given a return time. Once inside you'll have the option to hire a bike, an e-scooter, or a buggy (that someone will drive for you). Note that there's a safety disclaimer with all of these - not all bikes had working brakes, and the e-scooters will time out after two hours! Also note that card payment is the only way you can pay within Varosha - NO CASH.
This tour gives you 2.5 hours within Varosha itself; we hired bikes, and on these we had plenty of time to see all the sights on all the open roads, and spend time lingering for pictures. Note that even in October, the place was busy with visitors - the further you cycle, the more abandoned the place will feel.
There are at least five areas across in the town that have modern toilets and drinks/snacks facilities. Down at the beach nearest the entrance there were changing facilities, too, and a modern cafe.
This is still a militarised zone, and you are forbidden to take photos in certain areas, or go down certain streets. There are police and soldiers active across the entire site.
With regards to our Original Red Bus hosts, Paul and John were warm and inviting from the moment we stepped on the bus until the moment we left, and their light banter throughout the day made the trip relaxed and informal whilst giving us all the information we needed to know.
This trip was very well run, and was worth every penny to not have to negotiate car hire or border crossings whilst giving ample time to explore at your leisure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 14, 2025
Great trip to Varosha - Great time on the top deck of this bus, it’s very windy! Our guide Hayley was so knowledgeable & kept informing us about the areas we drove through. It did take an hour & half to drive from Ayia Napa to Varosha picking people up on the way. Once there we had nearly 2hrs to look around which you need. There is a lot of walking but you can hire bikes, scooters etc. There are plenty of toilets & your given a map which explains everything.
Big thanks to John too our driver for such an enjoyable & informative day. Well worth the visit.
Review provided by Viator
Oct 1, 2025
Red Bus Double Decker - A great tour of about 3 hours with wonderful driver and guide who offered themselves and told us about the country etc. a break for toilet visits where there is also some fruit included. A simple bar for drinks was available plus some locally grown in the small picturesque shop. Full marks John and Dave did the tour ♥️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 24, 2025
Varosha experience - An interesting, eerie, sad at times experience. One that won’t be forgotten.
Walking around Varosha and seeing the decayed buildings is sobering but glad we went.=•
Easy to forget you’re actually in Turkish Cyprus. Phone network changes and money is Turkish Lira.
A bit hot on the bus. Overall a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 20, 2025
Lovely trip, very interesting - A great trip going through some lovely villages,Varosha was once a beautiful place but it is sad to see now, just rotting away,but it’s a worthwhile trip to see what is was like,remember to take a towel to sit on,the bus seats can get very hot and sticky, oh and a hat too just watch it doesn’t get blown off
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 17, 2025
Unforgettable - Really beautiful and professional. Very nice staff 👍 . highly interesting and advisor.
Thank you very much and see you later.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 17, 2025
Very humbling experience. - A very humbling experience. There is a sense of eeriness in the streets, knowing how it once was and could have still been. Our tour guide Paul armed us with knowledge to think about on our way round. I would advise hiring bikes if you can.
Clive and Paul were our guides. Would definitely want them again. Great sense of humour, light-hearted and knowledgeable.
Definitely recommend going.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 25, 2025
Recommend - The excursion was fascinating, particularly with the insightful commentary from the bus staff, who were cheerful and friendly throughout. The efficient handling of passport formalities was a welcome touch.
The Varosha experience was bittersweet, offering a glimpse into a captivating history tinged with sadness. The opportunity to stop for refreshments added to the comfort of the tour.
Overall, it is a highly recommended experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor