Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia also colloquially Khora,is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. Nicosia is located at 35°10' north, 33°21' east (35.1667, 33.35). Located on the Pedieos river and situated roughly in the centre of the island, it is the seat of government as well as the main business centre.

Nicosia is the center and capital of an administrative district (Nicosia District), and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is currently the only divided capital city in the world (with the debated exception of Jerusalem), with the northern (Turkish) and southern (Greek) portions divided by the "Green Line", a demilitarized zone maintained by the United Nations, although unlike Cold War East and West Berlin, few use the terms "North Nicosia" and "South Nicosia".

The 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 36 percent of the island's territory literally cut the capital in half. The Turkish Cypriots use it as the capital of the area known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is a state not recognized by any country in the world, except Turkey.

The population of the part of the city under the control of the Republic of Cyprus is 206,200 (end of 2001).