1. Güllüdere Valley
The Güllüdere Valley, located between Göreme and Çavuşin, is home to numerous churches, monuments and living quarters. The 4-kilometer long trekking trail is home to some of the finest views of the famous fairy chimneys.
2. Pigeon Valley
As the name suggests, Güvercinlik (Pigeon) Valley, is home to a great number of pigeons. You can observe the pigeons nesting in the carved stone facades. This valley is also has a 4,100-meter long trekking trail.
3. Zemi Valley
Popular trekking 5600-meter trails Zemi Valley, Güllüdere and Güvercinlik Valley, are located on the Ürgüp-Nevşehir. Make sure to visit Sarnıç (The Cistern), Saklı, El Nazar and Göründere Church.
4. Aşk Valley
This 4900-meter long valley is a nice walking trail, a popular spot for hot balloon tours and is a great place to watch the sunset.
5. Uçhisar
In Uçhisar, which covers the entire region beneath your feet, you can climb Uçhisar Castle and enjoy a panoramic view that extends across Ürgüp, Ortahisar, İbrahimpaşa, Kızılçukur, Göreme, Avanos, Çavuşin, Çat, and even as far as Erciyes.
6. Avanos
Avanos, famous for pottery making, is home to manifold interesting places. You can explore Paşabağ, Devrent Valley, Çavuşin Village, and Güray Museum when you are not at ceramic workshops.
7. Paşabağ
Paşabağ is close to the Goreme Open Air Museum and Zelve Open Air Museum. Also known as the Valley of the priests, Paşabağ was commonly used by the Christian clergy for seclusion and refuge over history and became an important religious center for Christians centuries ago. Explore traces of past in the Valley and interesting capped fairy chimney formations.
8. Devrent Valley
In Devrent Valley, you will see a large number of fairy chimnies that resemble animals and human shapes and the famous camel figure fairy chimney of Cappadocia is also in this region. While you are here, visit the fairy chimney of the Virgin Mary, which looks like a nun with her hands open.
9. Çavuşin Village
Çavuşin village, located 2 kilometers from Goreme, is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia. St. John the Baptist Chapel is a must-visit site, the oldest structure in the village dates back to the 5th century, where Christian dervishes and their communities lived.
10. Güray Museum
Visitors travel far and wide to visit Güray Museum, the world’s first and only underground ceramic museum, that displays the rich cultural accumulation of Cappadocia over thousands of years. At the museum, you can learn the historical development of pottery and ceramic art and participate in pottery making courses.
11. Three Beauties
Üç Güzeller (The Three Beauties), is a must-see sight and symbol of Cappadocia, a formation of two small and one large fairy chimnies. You can’t miss the Three Beauties while exploring Cappadocia.
12. Ortahisar
Ortahisar, a pristine local village living in Cappadocia, consists of houses carved into Tuff rock and its surroundings. Apart from these structures, you must see the Churches of Tavşanlı, Sarıca, Cambazlı, Harim, Balkan Creek, Ortahisar Castle and the Hallaç Dere on your visit.
13. Zelve
Consisting of three valleys built on steep slopes, Zelve is the densest region of the pointed fairy chimneys. The Zelve, home to an open-air museum, is also one of the most important settlements and religious centers of Christians in the 9th and 13th centuries. In Zelve, visit the churches and monasteries of Balıklı, Üzümlü, and Geyikli.
14. Mustafapaşa
Mustafapaşa is a region of Ürgüp that was once inhabited by Christians. Therefore, it is home to a large number of churches and chapels. The Church of St. George, St. Vasilios, St. Stefanos, Constantine and The Church of Helena and the Chapel of St. Basil are prominent places to visit in Mustafapaşa.
15. Ihlara Valley
The settlement of Ihlara Valley dates back to the 4th century and is home to interesting structures which are a source of much fascination. The Melendiz River winds through the valley, stretching 14 kilometers long at an average of 200 meters deep canyon. This unique landscape is further accentuated by the surrounding churches carved into rocks.
16. Kaymaklı Underground City
This Underground City descends 20 meters below ground level, spans 8 floors and can hold up to 5000 people. It dates back to 3000 BC and is known to have been built by the Hittites. The city, carved into tuff rocks comprises of has rooms and halls connected by corridors, water cellars, kitchens, and churches.
17. Derinkuyu Underground City
Although it has a total area of 4 square kilometers, only 2.5 square kilometers and 8 floors of the Underground City, is accessible to visitors. The Derinkuyu Underground City has enough space to accommodate a large community. Apart from the kitchens, rooms, and lounges, the areas that distinguish this underground city from the others are the confessional and the baptismal pool sections. It is amazing to imagine how people lived in underground cities before they moved above the land.
18. Sobesos Ancient Town
One of Cappadocia’s archaeological treasures waiting to be uncovered, the ancient city of Sobesos is located near the village of Şahinefendi in Ürgüp. Among the remains dating back to the 4th century AD, a reception hall decorated with colorful stone mosaics, a bath complex, and a chapel stand out. Excavations, which had been paused for a long time, have recently resumed under the leadership of Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, revealing new insights into the region’s history. Unlike Cappadocia’s rock-carved structures, Sobesos features examples of classical urban settlements, making it an important discovery that expands the known boundaries of the region.
Gastronomy in Cappadocia
Cappadocia has recently gained recognition not only for its landscapes but also for its culinary scene. Its inclusion in the Michelin Guide’s Türkiye selection has boosted the region’s reputation worldwide. Revithia, located in the historic Kayakapı district of Ürgüp, has become Cappadocia’s first Michelin-starred restaurant by reinterpreting the region’s nearly forgotten recipes with modern techniques. Babayan Evi, focusing on local ingredients and sustainability, has received a Michelin Green Star. Additionally, many restaurants in the area have made it onto the Bib Gourmand and Michelin Recommended lists.
Beyond the Michelin scene, Cappadocia’s cuisine showcases a rich culinary heritage that links the land to the plate. Dishes crafted with local ingredients offer a true treat for visitors. During your trip to Cappadocia, you should definitely try the famous testi kebab (a clay pot kebab with lamb and vegetables). Apricot stew, gendirme (a type of keşkek made with cracked wheat), düğü soup (fine bulgur soup with ground beef), quince stuffing, zerde rice (Turkish sweet rice pudding), dried kaymak (clotted cream), and dolaz (a particularly rich variation of flour halva) are also among the must-try flavors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cappadocia?
Cappadocia, one of Türkiye’s most important touristic destinations, is located in the province of Nevşehir, in the heart of Central Anatolia. It includes some parts of Kayseri, Niğde, Kırşehir and Aksaray.
When to visit Cappadocia?
Although Cappadocia has a wonderful atmosphere throughout the year, the best time to visit the region, where the continental climate is strongly felt, is in spring and autumn. Summers can be very hot and winters quite cold; the mild weather of spring makes your trip more comfortable and enjoyable while exploring Cappadocia’s must-see sights. During the summer months, events like the Culture Route Festival, the Cycling Festival, and the Harvest Festival add extra vibrancy to the area.
When to go to Cappadocia?
Although Cappadocia offers a magnificent atmosphere in all seasons, spring and autumn are the best times to visit a region where the terrestrial climate has generously displayed its character. In the region, summer is very hot and winter is very cold. Warm weather in the spring and autumn will make your trip to Cappadocia more comfortable and enjoyful.
How to go to Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is located at the crossroads of many cities. As a result, you have two options for getting here: by road and by air. There are direct buses from neighboring cities to Cappadocia. If you want to travel by plane, you can fly to either Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport or Kayseri Airport. They’re nearly the same distance from the area!
After your flight to Nevşehir or Kayseri, you can rent a car, take a shuttle, or take a taxi for travelling to Cappadocia.
When visiting Cappadocia, what should you wear?
If you want to visit Cappadocia at different times of the year, you can have a wonderful trip by taking the necessary precautions. Winters in Cappadocia, for example, are usually snowy, harsh, and cold. As a result, when visiting the region in the winter, we recommend bringing your thermal coat and underwear, sweater, thick trousers, scarf, and beanie. In the spring, autumn and summer, while the region is quite hot during the day, the temperature drops suddenly at night. Therefore, in addition to t-shirts, sunscreens, hats, and sunglasses, we recommend you to bring your seasonal coats, knitwear, and cardigans.
What to do in Cappadocia?
We don’t know where to start, because there are so many wonderful things to do in Cappadocia. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of places to see and activities you should do in this unique city, Cappadocia. Choose from or try them all!
- Visit the historical places carved into the rocks and turned into museums in Cappadocia.
- See the underground cities of Cappadocia. You will have one of the most interesting experiences in the world.
- Take a walk through the endless Cappadocia valleys, photographing fairy chimneys.
- Take a balloon tour that starring the most beautiful photographs.
- Make pottery in Avanos. There are numerous pottery workshops in the Avanos Region.
- Rent an ATV daily or hourly.
- Pay a visit to the famous Turkish nights in Uçhisar and Avanos.
- Taste the most special flavors of Cappadocia cuisine.
- Take a cycling tour through the valleys; MTB, gravel, and e-bike routes are becoming more popular in the region.
- Experience Cappadocia’s growing gastronomic scene at Michelin awarded restaurants.
Join events like the Culture Route Festival, the Cycling Festival, and the Harvest Festival held during the summer months.
