Dereboyu Avenue (Turkish: Dereboyu Caddesi), also known simply as Dereboyu and officially as Mehmet Akif Avenue (Turkish: Mehmet Akif Caddesi), is the busiest avenue in North Nicosia,[1] as well as its centre of entertainment. The term "Dereboyu" means "alongside the river", and although in the traditional sense this is only used for Mehmet Akif Avenue running alongside the Pedieos river,[2] the term has expanded in meaning to denote a region extending to the neighbouring Osman Paşa Avenue.[3][4]
The avenue extends into the Green Line along a northwest to south axis. The part of it under Turkish Cypriot control has a length of 1,500-1,600 metres.[5][6]