Cyprus Districts

Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon, and a member of the European Union. It is worth knowing on its own terms: the island is small enough to hold in your head, its six districts are each named for their main town, and they are the tier that addresses, courts and election results are organised by.

The quiz: Name to place, on the map
Grouped by: The west, the centre and north coast, and the east
In the game: 6 districts

Start

What you are looking at

The six districts as the Republic of Cyprus defines them, which together cover the whole island. The map draws them that way on purpose, so Kyrenia and most of Famagusta are shown whole even though the Republic has not administered them since 1974. The British Sovereign Base Areas and the United Nations buffer zone are not cut out of the districts around them.

Nicosia, the capital, sits in the middle of the island and is the largest district. Paphos holds the west, Limassol the south coast, and Larnaca the south east. The long finger pointing north east at the end of the island, the Karpas peninsula, is part of Famagusta.

The groups are not an official classification. They are three pairs that sit together on the island, and a way to learn the map a piece at a time.

How to place one

Start with the middle. Nicosia is the broad district across the centre of the island, and Kyrenia is the narrow strip along the north coast just above it.
Take the west and south. Paphos is the western end, and Limassol is the district along the southern coast to its east.
Finish in the east. Larnaca sits on the south east coast, and Famagusta is the large district beyond it that runs out to the Karpas peninsula.

Every district, by group

West2 districts: Limassol, Paphos
Centre and north coast2 districts: Kyrenia, Nicosia
East2 districts: Famagusta, Larnaca

Worked examples

Nicosia

The capital

Nicosia is the largest district and fills the middle of the island, with Kyrenia to its north and Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos around its southern and western edges.

Famagusta

The peninsula

Famagusta is the district that takes in the Karpas peninsula, the long finger at the north east tip of the island, and its coast faces Syria and Lebanon.

Kyrenia

The north coast

Kyrenia is the narrow strip along the north coast, squeezed between the sea and the northern edge of Nicosia.

Frequently asked questions

How many districts does Cyprus have?

Six: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Famagusta and Kyrenia. Municipalities and communities divide them further, and this game does not.

Why are Kyrenia and Famagusta drawn in full?

The game draws the districts as the Republic of Cyprus defines them, which cover the whole island. That is a statement about the map and not about who administers which part of it.