Nevşehir attractions & Nevşehir museums
Göreme National Park and Cappadocia
A must-see historical place in Nevşehir province is undoubtedly Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, which were included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. These offer beauties unique to Türkiye: a layer of tuff soil, created millions of years ago by lava and ash from the volcanic Hasan, Erciyes and Güllü mountains, formed unusual shapes due to erosion by rain and wind over time. These natural structures, which we call fairy chimneys, are an integral element of the area’s landscape. Shrouded in a mystical atmosphere, Cappadocia, featuring otherworldly fairy chimneys, cave hotels and impressive valleys, as well as villages and sights such as Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar and Ortahisar as well as Derinkuyu and underground cities carved into solid rock, undoubtedly deserves to be seen.
You can buy a ticket to Nevşehir via the link and visit Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and rock-carved underground cities!
Underground cities in Nevşehir
We highly recommend that you add one or several underground cities to your list of places to visit in Nevşehir. While our three-day trip limits us somewhat, you can opt to tour one or more of the underground cities of Kaymaklı, Derinkuyu, Özkonak, Tatlarin, Mazı, Özlüce and Sivasa Gökçetoprak in the Cappadocia region. In this blog, we’ll discuss Kaymaklı, one of the most popular underground cities.
Kaymaklı Underground City
Dating from the Hittite era, this extraordinary underground city carved into tuff rock has a history of nearly three thousand years. With eight subterranean levels, the expansive underground city featured rooms and areas suitable for any community, including sleeping rooms and public halls, wine storage depots, water cellars, wells and churches. Many of the underground passages had massive circular stones that were used to block off rooms and tunnels in case of intruders.
Three valleys in Nevşehir
Güllüdere Valley
Güllüdere Valley, set between the Göreme and Çavuşin villages, hosts a walking track with wonderful views of fairy chimneys. Therefore, the valley is considered a priority stop among the places to visit in Nevşehir.
Güvercinlik Valley
A visit to the Güvercinlik Valley, where you can observe pigeons residing in picturesque “pigeon houses” carved into the rocks, is an enjoyable way to spend time in Nevşehir. There is also a wonderful 4,100-meter hiking trail in the Güvercinlik Valley.
Love (Aşk) Valley
Once you see it, you will understand how Love Valley acquired its name. As the launch point for many of Cappadocia’s famous hot air balloon tours, the 4,900-meters Love Valley presents a fairy-tale landscape populated by dramatic fairy chimneys and other rock structures. Love Valley is also known for its wonderful sunset views, which makes it among the top attractions to visit in Nevşehir.
Nevşehir museums and historical sites
- Nevşehir Museum: Founded in 1967, the Nevşehir Museum has 13,160 works according to the 1997 census. Among the artifacts, archaeological and ethnographic items and manuscripts stand out.
- Ürgüp Museum: In the exhibition hall of the Ürgüp Museum, opened to visitors since 1971, archaeological and ethnographic items from prehistoric times to the Ottoman Period are exhibited.
- Kurşunlu Mosque: The mosque in the Damat İbrahim Pasha Complex, which was built in 1726-1727 by Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha, the grand vizier of the Tulip Age, stands out among the historical places to visit in Nevşehir.
- Hacı Bektaş Veli Müzesi: The complex, founded by the promient 13th-century Turkish mystic Hacı Bektaşı Veli, was organized as an ethnography museum in 1964 and opened to visitors. The Hacı Bektaş Veli Museum is another address that stands out among the historical places to visit in Nevşehir.
Avanos
As you know, Kızılırmak is the longest river in Türkiye. The beautiful district of Avanos, built along both sides of the river, is considered a center of culture and art in the Nevşehir province. Visitors can observe the most authentic pottery and wine production and carpet weaving in the Avanos district, a top attraction in Nevşehir. As well, the Zelve Valley, Priests (Rahipler) Valley, Özkonak Underground City, and the Saruhan Caravanserai are nearby.
Ihlara Valley
While a visit to the beautiful Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia may require expending a little more energy than usual, it is worth it. Located 85 km from Göreme, the Ihlara Valley is certainly among the must-see places in Nevşehir. The gorgeous canyon features walking and hiking trails along with dozens of rock-carved churches and other structures. Please note that one of the descents into the valley is via a steep stairway – but afterwards, a view of heaven on earth will be waiting for you.
Zelve – Paşabağlar Archaeological Site
Five kilometers from Avanos and just one kilometer from Paşabağları, the Zelve-Paşabağlar Archaeological Site is open to visitors daily between 08.00-17.00. The Zelve-Paşabağlar Archaeological Site is where the famous fairy chimneys of Cappadocia are most densely located, making this destination a must-see place to visit in Nevşehir province. Consisting of three valleys Zelve, is also home to the churches of Balıklı, Üzümlü, and Geyikli, which are significant for Christians. As well, the monasteries, tunnels and mills in the area offer picturesque landscapes.
Çavuşin Village
Çavuşin Village presents a warm atmosphere among the historical places of Nevşehir. Like much of the Cappadocia region, Çavuşin features fairy chimneys, old churches and historical structures. We particularly recommend the Çavuşin Eski Kaya Mosque, Çavuşin Church, St. John the Baptist Church and Kızılçukur Valley (Red Valley).
Dining in Nevşehir
Some of the wonderful dishes you can encounter in Nevşehir include:
- Testi (Pottery) kebab – meat and vegetables in clay pots, cooked in a tandoor oven
- Düğü soup – a tasty soup starring bulgur and butter
- Delicious sweet dolaz, a type of flour halva
- Güveçte Kuru Fasulye (dried beans in pot)
- A catchy flavor, stuffed quince
Transportation in Nevşehir
In the city of Nevşehir and the surrounding areas, minibuses and buses are available. The bus schedules are here for you. You can also reach touristic areas such as Avanos, Cappadocia, and Ürgüp by public transportation from the Nevşehir city center. You can visit our car rental page to rent a car with Turkish Airlines privileges and earn extra Miles.
Transportation from Nevşehir Airport to the city center
Nevşehir Airport (NAV) is about 30 km away from the Nevşehir city center. You can use the bus services or the Turkish Airlines shuttle services for a fee. In addition, there are shuttle services, as well as transportation services offered by many hotels to their guests.
