Nicosia is also the capital of Turkish Cyprus (the Turks call the city Lefkosa). The Turkish side also has part of the original Venetian city walls intact, but it has a more exotic feel than the Greek side: The streets are narrower and more winding and filled with shops, cafes and restaurants serving Turkish cuisine.
It contains several museums as well as the 14th-century Gothic Armenian Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Don't miss the Mevlevi Tekke Museum, which focuses on the Islamic sect known as the Whirling Dervishes, who occupied the building in the 17th century. Also worth seeing are the 13th-century Selimiye Mosque (formerly St. Sophia's Cathedral) and the Bedesten, the covered market next to the mosque and Kyrenia Gate. For a good example of Ottoman Turkish architecture, look for Buyuk Han (the Great Inn, or caravansary). Also of interest are the Sultan's Library and the Women's Market (Friday is most active). Plan one day.
Note: Tourists can freely cross between Turkish and Greek Cyprus at all nine checkpoints. EU citizens do not need a passport to cross from Greek to Turkish Cyprus (an identity card is sufficient). Citizens of non-EU countries do need a passport, however. The border crossing is open 6 am-midnight, and tourists can stay overnight in Turkish Nicosia for up to 90 days. Travelers who arrive on Cyprus on the Turkish side, generally by boat from Turkey, may have issues crossing the border into Greek Cyprus.
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