Places to Visit in Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a very special and valuable place. Because it has almost no equal in the world. As the soft layers were eroded by rain and wind for 60 million years, an exquisite geography of interest and beauty that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world emerged. This place is called Cappadocia today . It is one of the most special places on earth with its underground cities, interesting fairy chimneys, rock hotels, impressive valleys and astonishing activities.

This beautiful country has a magical geography unlike any place you have seen before in the world. It is an extraordinary region that will cause people to lose their sense of time and space. A large part of the geography of Cappadocia, which extends to Kırşehir, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Niğde and Kayseri , remains within the borders of Nevşehir.

Cappadocia-Places-To-Visit-See
It is thought that the name Cappadocia derives from the ancient Persian word ‘katpatuka’, but there are different opinions. In an inscription belonging to Wasusarma, the ruler of the Talba Kingdom, who ruled in the region before the Persians, the strength and purity of the horses bred in the region are mentioned. Therefore, it is quite possible that the word katpatuka means ‘land of beautiful horses’, as is accepted today.

It is possible to come across traces of the Hittite Empire, Persian Empire, Cappadocia Kingdom, Seljuks and Ottoman Empire in the region’s history dating back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. These lands, which have hosted countless civilizations for centuries, offer a unique richness by blending rich historical and cultural features. That’s why those who come to the region for the first time open the mysterious doors not only of geography but also of history.

Göreme Open Air Museum, Ihlara Valley, Paşabağları, Güllüdere Valley, Derinkuyu Underground City trips; Shopping at the stalls selling pottery, leather, dolls and copper items, visiting Avanos on horseback and making ceramics at the stalls in the workshops, walking in the Valley of Love, floating above the landscape with a balloon should be on the to-do list when you go to Cappadocia.

There are 429 registered buildings and 64 protected areas belonging to 10 different civilizations in Cappadocia. Due to its cultural and historical riches, it is among the regions to be protected by UNESCO. Traditional Cappadocian houses and dovecotes carved into the rocks are the unique architectural structures of the region.

WHERE TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA
If you are going to stay in Ürgüp, Fresco Cave Suit Suites is wonderful. ✔︎ Located in the old city center of Ürgüp, the hotel is an Ürgüp hotel with its own attractive character, created by combining three historical mansions and caves. Whether you stay in cave rooms or spacious mansion rooms. In addition, a wonderful terrace, restaurant, and peaceful fireplace area, which I see getting more beautiful every time I go, increase the quality of the time you spend at the hotel.

You can download VPN and book a room via Booking ✔︎

CONTENTS GUIDE ▽ hide
Places to Visit in Cappadocia

1. Göreme
2. Uchisar
3. Avanos
4. Zelve Open Air Museum
5. Urgup
6. Ortahisar
7. Mustafapasa
8. İbrahimpaşa
9. Ihlara Valley
10. Guzelyurt
    Underground cities
    Cappadocia is like a different planet in the middle of Anatolia. It is a dream country so beautiful that you can forget the world you live in while wandering through its valleys and canyons. Cappadocia is the name of a very wide geography. Göreme, Ürgüp, Avanos and Uçhisar are among the regions touched by nature with its magic fingers. However, squeezing Cappadocia into the classical Göreme-Avanos-Ürgüp triangle means impoverishing it and being unfair to it.

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It is impossible to visit all of them in a few days. So don’t rush through them all at once. Stay in one place every time you come; In Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar or Ortahisar. Based on that location, start exploring its surroundings. The more time you spend in Cappadocia, the more it reveals its beauty. This is a fascinating land, explore it with due care, respect and time.

It is one of the rare places in Turkey where tourism is carried out for 12 months. Cappadocia is a place to be visited in all four seasons whenever you get the chance. The most beautiful months are spring and winter.

1. Göreme
   Cappadocia-Places-To-Visit-Goreme
   Göreme Open Air Museum is one of the must-see places in Cappadocia. Göreme, which hosts a very large Byzantine monastery settlement, bears the traces of an important period in the history of Byzantine Church architecture and religious art. It is one of the rare places in the world that has natural, historical, cultural and religious significance. The most beautiful churches in Göreme Open Air Museum, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, are Elmalı, Karanlik and Tokalı churches.

The Dark Church is a domed, four-columned monastery built in the 11th century. It is the church with the best-preserved frescoes in Cappadocia. Since it has a small window, very little daylight can enter, and the rich colors of the decorations have survived to this day. The domes are decorated with scenes from the New Testament. The frescoes of Jesus and his apostles, whose faces were scratched off by the enemies of art of the past, are now under protection.

Göreme Open Air Museum visiting hours are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (1 April – 1 October) and 08.00-17.00 in the winter period (1 October – 1 April). The ticket office closes at 18.30 in the summer and at 16.15 in the winter. The open-air museum is open to visitors 7 days a week. Göreme Open Air Museum entrance fee is 75TL. Museum Card is valid.

Güllüdere Valley is located between Çavuşin and Göreme. There are many ruins of churches, monasteries and living spaces in the valley. Güllüdere, which is popular as a trekking route where the fairy chimney formations can be best observed, is approximately 4 kilometers long and can only be covered on foot. Three Cross Church and Ayvalı Church should be seen.

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Zemi Valley is located on the Ürgüp-Nevşehir Road. The valley extending in the north-south direction to the east of Uçhisar is located between Göreme Open Air Museum. The 5600-meter valley between the beginning of the valley and Göreme is one of the important trails suitable for hiking. Sarnıç Church, Saklı Church, Görkuldure Church and El Nazar Church are also places to visit in the valley.

Love Valley is also known as Baglidere Valley. It is a 4900 meter long place, starting from Örencik on the Göreme-Uçhisar road and ending on the Göreme-Avanos road. The valley, where balloon tours are visited depending on the weather conditions, is also very suitable for walking among the places to visit in Cappadocia.

Sunset Point is one of the most special areas of Cappadocia to watch the Göreme sunset. Cappadocia looks red at sunset. Go here to end the day with a beautiful view.

2. Uchisar
   Cappadocia-Places-To-Visit-Uchisar
   Uchisar
   Cappadocia-Places-To-Visit-Uchisar-Castle
   Uchisar Castle
   Uçhisar is built on the highest point of Cappadocia and hosts the region’s most striking rock hotels and stylish restaurants. The town, where you can see the geography of Cappadocia in the most beautiful panoramic way, is a place preferred by high-income visitors.

As you walk along the narrow streets and cobblestone roads at the foot of the castle, you see a preserved settlement, although neglected. In recent years, ruined buildings have been incredibly restored and extraordinarily beautiful buildings have been revealed.

Göreme Street leads to the parking lot, from there you buy a ticket from a souvenir shop, pass through the shop, and reach the summit in about 15 minutes. This is the most strategic point to admire the geological structure of Cappadocia once again. Mount Erciyes in the east and Melendiz and Hasan Mountains in the southwest are even more breathtaking from here.

Uçhisar Castle, where there was a settlement in the past, was also evacuated because the security of the people living here was endangered. The best time to climb to the top of the approximately 160-meter rock that dominates Uçhisar is sunset.

Uçhisar Castle has a location that allows panoramic views of all the places to see in the Cappadocia region. From the summit of Uçhisar Castle, a large geography can be viewed from Kızılçukur, Ortahisar, Ürgüp, İbrahimpaşa, Mustafapaşa and Gomeda valleys to Göreme, Avanos, Çavuşin, Nevşehir, Çat and Erciyes.

This is another one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunset. Uçhisar Castle visiting hours are 07.30-17.30. Uçhisar Castle entrance fee is 8TL, discounted ticket is 4TL. Open to visitors 7 days a week. Museum Card is not valid.

Güvercinlik Valley is a 4100-meter valley stretching from Uçhisar to Göreme in Cappadocia, where pigeon houses are densely located. It takes its name from the pigeons that feed in nests called dovecotes carved in the valleys. A nice trekking route to watch the pigeons and enjoy the view.

3. Avanos
   Devrent Valley
   Devrent Valley
   Cappadocia-Places-To-See-Pasabag
   Cappadocia Trip Cavusin Bay
   Çavuşin Village
   Avanos , located on the banks of the Kızılırmak , is known for its pottery workshops that have existed since the Hittites. Most of the stone houses with courtyards in the hilly village have been converted into ceramic workshops. Ceramic making is the main source of income of the district.

Paşabağları Archaeological Site , in my opinion, is one of the most important places to visit in Cappadocia. A valley where interesting examples of capped fairy chimney formations can be seen. The most photogenic of the impressive Cappadocia fairy chimneys are here. It is very close to Zelve on the Göreme-Avanos road. It is also called the Valley of Priests or the Valley of Monks. As its name suggests, the valley and its surroundings, which are used as a retreat by monks, are surrounded by shops selling souvenirs.

It took its name from St. Simeon Stilit, a wandering saint who first came here. This place was the favorite retreat of a group of monks called ‘stilit’, who lived by abandoning worldly blessings. Monks lived in these fairy chimneys with black basalt cones, sometimes two or even three. There is a small church dedicated to St. Simeon Stilit in one of the three-coned fairy chimneys. There is a monk’s cell at the top.

Visiting hours for Zelve Paşabağlar Ruins are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (April 1 – October 31), 08.00-17.00 in the winter period (October 31 – April 1). It is open to visitors 7 days a week. Zelve Paşabağlar Ruins entrance fee is 20TL. Museum Card is valid.

It is also called Devrent Valley , Dream Valley or Perili Valley. It is located in the geography of Avanos. One end of the valley, which has a U-shaped structure, leads to Dervent and the other end leads to Kızılçukur. The section in the middle is called Zelve and Paşabağları. The fairy chimneys in the valley, which is only 10 minutes away from Göreme, create silhouettes that can be compared to many animal and human shapes. In this must-see region of Cappadocia, which is also famous for its fairy chimney where the famous camel figure appears, see the Virgin Mary fairy chimney, which looks like a nun with open hands from afar.

Çavuşin Village is one of the oldest settlements in the Cappadocia region. It is located on the Göreme-Avanos road, 6 kilometers from Göreme. It is built on a giant rock and its foothills, which was first broken and then collapsed. One of many rock-carved settlements in the region. What makes this place different from others is that, after the evacuation of the rock houses that started in the 1950s, the newly established village is today intertwined with the old Çavuşin. So, unlike Zelve, this place was left as a living museum.

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The oldest structure of the village, which is a region where Christian dervishes and communities live, is the Church of John the Baptist, dating back to the 5th century . Kızılçukur and Güllüdere Valleys, where 12 churches are located, start from the Çavuşin border of Avanos. The Crusader Church near Güllüdere was also used for defense against the raids of Muslim Arabs.

When you enter the old village, there is a beautiful tea garden under a large walnut tree and a walking path in front of the garden. After seeing the old mosque of the village, which is a typical example of a Seljuk Mosque, leave yourself to the walking path, which will take you to the top of the old village. After seeing the magnificent view of Kızılçukur Valley, go down the other slope of the hill to the square of the new village. My accommodation recommendation is Phocas Cave Hotel .

Guray Seramik, Cappadocia
Guray Museum
Güray Museum is the world’s first and only underground ceramics museum. It introduces the region’s thousands of years of rich cultural heritage to visitors from many parts of the world. Tourists who come to the museum, which exhibits the development of traditional pottery and ceramic art throughout history, can see all the stages of ceramic and pottery production and experience pottery making themselves if they wish.

The building, which is the largest manufacturing and sales workshop in Cappadocia, is in the style of a two-storey rock-carved underground city, in line with the architecture of the region. Güray Museum visiting hours are 09.00-19.00. Güray Museum entrance fee is 10TL.

4. Zelve Open Air Museum
   Zelve Valley
   Zelve Open Air Museum is one of the places where the most striking rock-carved living spaces can be found. It is located 5 kilometers from Avanos and 1 kilometer from Paşabağı. Consisting of three valleys, the region with the highest concentration of pointed and wide-bodied fairy chimneys. It was one of the important settlement and religious centers of Christians in the 9th and 13th centuries.

On the left side of the first valley, there is a mosque converted from a church. In the upper and lower parts of the valley, there are countless small churches where crosses and frescoes are rarely seen. Rare paintings in Zelve can be found in the churches on the left slope of the third valley.

Üzümlü Church , Geyikli Church and Balıklı Church , which have red and green vines on their walls , are typical examples of the Iconoclastic period.

Visiting hours for Zelve Paşabağlar Ruins are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (April 1 – October 31), 08.00-17.00 in the winter period (October 31 – April 1). It is open to visitors 7 days a week. Zelve Paşabağlar Ruins entrance fee is 20TL. Museum Card is valid.

5. Urgup
   Temenni Hill
   Ürgüp is one of the settlements in the Cappadocia Region where fairy chimney formations can be seen best. In the district, where there are small bars and wine houses carved out of rocks, the rock carvings and craftsmanship of the stone houses amaze those who see them.I shared very detailed information about Ürgüp in my blog post Ürgüp Travel Guide and Places to Visit in Ürgüp.

Temenni Hill is the location of the mausoleum built for Kılıçaslan by Vecihi Pasha in 1288. There are two important graves here from the Ottoman period. The tomb located in the middle of the hill was previously used as the Ürgüp Tahsinağa Public Library. You can see the entire Ürgüp and Erciyes from the hill. My accommodation recommendation is Fresco Cave Suites .

Cappadocia Art and History Museum is a museum where more than 200 dolls collected from Turkey and the world, reflecting the historical, cultural and architectural features of Cappadocia, are exhibited. The museum is divided into thematic sections and displays handmade dolls and costumes.

The Three Graces consists of two large and one small fairy chimneys, which are the symbols of Cappadocia. A must for Cappadocia tour programs. These are the most famous fairy chimneys not only in Cappadocia but also in the world. The most photographed fairy chimneys in Cappadocia are the Three Beauties.

The Sinasos-Soğanlı route is one of the most beautiful walking routes in the region. It is a 47-kilometer route starting from Ürgüp. Not only the destinations, but also the villages of Cemil, Taşkınpaşa and Ayvalı in between are definitely worth seeing. The mosque in Taşkınpaşa, an example of 14th-century Seljuk architecture, and Ayvalı, an example of a central Anatolian village with its texture intact, are noteworthy stops for those wondering what Göreme and Ürgüp were like before tourism.

Mazı Underground City is located 18 km from Ürgüp and 10 km east of Kaymaklı Underground City. It is famous for its many rock tombs from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The city, whose name was Mataza in ancient times, has four different entrances. One of the most magnificent parts of the city, which is thought to have been built to be used for a very long time, with its abundance of animal stables and wineries, is its church, which can be reached through short corridors opening from the stables.

Unlike Kaymaklı, the church has a hidden chimney directly opposite the vertically designed apse, which provides access to other parts. Since most of the passages are closed, it is not known how much area the city extends, but it is thought to be at least as wide and deep as Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı.

Visiting hours of Mazı Underground City are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (April 1 – October 31) and 08.00-17.00 in the winter period (October 31 – April 1). It is open to visitors 7 days a week. Mazı Underground City entrance fee is 12TL. Museum Card is valid.

Sobesos Ancient City is located in the south of Şahinefendi Village of Ürgüp, in the region called Örencik. The ancient city of the Roman period has structures estimated to date back to the mid-4th century and the 5th century. With its administrative buildings, meeting rooms and bathrooms decorated with wonderful mosaics, it shows that it was a very developed campus in the past.

6. Ortahisar
   Cappadocia-Ortahisar-Things to Visit
   Ortahisar is a delightful town that maintains the unspoilt local village life of Cappadocia. It is connected to Ürgüp. It consists of tuff rock in the village center and stone houses carved around it. You will never see anything like the tourist crowd in Göreme here. It is mostly known as Turkey’s cold storage. Citrus fruits grown in the Mediterranean are stored in caves dug into the tuff rock in Ortahisar.

In Ortahisar, where Christians left examples of monastic life before leaving the region, do not leave without seeing the Tavşanlı, Harim, Sarıca, Cambazlı, Balkan Deresi Churches and Hallaç Dere Monastery. The first and only Ethnography Museum of the region, which reflects Cappadocia life, should be visited. The town is located between Göreme and Ürgüp, 1 km from the Ürgüp-Nevşehir road.

It is impossible to find some of the churches in the valleys around Ortahisar on your own. If you are willing to walk, there are many churches in Pancarlık Valley, which very few tourists visit. These are all worth seeing, but they may not always be open. Before you set off, find Crazy Ali, Ortahisar’s volunteer tourism ambassador. The little-known Hallaç Hospital Monastery on the Ürgüp-Ortahisar road will also surprise you.

Ortahisar Castle is a natural rock rising in the middle of the town. The 86 meter high castle was carved and used for both shelter and strategic purposes. Going up to the castle is not as easy as going up to Uçhisar Castle, but the views of the valley are breathtaking. Ortahisar Castle visiting hours are 08.30-17.30. Ortahisar Castle entrance fee is 5TL. Museum Card is not valid.

7. Mustafapasa
   Mustafapasa Church
   Mustafapaşa Town was a region where Christians lived densely. Mustafapaşa, whose old name means Sinasos in Greek, meaning ‘City of the Sun’, is worth seeing with its local cut stone workmanship, nearly 30 churches, chapels and mansions. Greek stonemasonry can be seen on the front facades, door and window frames of the stone mansions that are still standing.

Cappadocia is a geography that has been shaped by tolerance for hundreds of years. People from different religions have managed to live in peace here and create a common culture. People from different religions lived together in the town until the population change in 1924. Asmalı Konak, St. George, St. Vasilios, St. Stefanos Churches, Constantine and Helena Church and St. Basil Chapel are the most important places to see in Mustafapaşa. It is located 5 km away from Ürgüp. My recommendation for accommodation is Arno Valley Hotel .

When you go south from Mustafa Pasha, you come across Taşkınpaşa and Şahin Efendi villages, which you should put on your list of places to visit in Ürgüp. The road is very beautiful. Further south, there is Soğanlı, which is connected to Kayseri . Compared to other tourist attractions in Cappadocia, it is more untouched, calmer and quieter. Along the way, there is also the opportunity to sit and chat with the people of Soğan who are serving pancakes and ayran at a single table in the backyard of his house.

When you arrive in Soğanlı, the first thing you see are the disaster houses. Here too, people were evicted from their homes because of the danger of rolling rocks. The only place where you can witness the lives of the people still living in this open-air museum is Yukarı Soğanlı Village. The nature of Soğanlı is quite majestic.

It is impossible not to notice the dovecotes on the steep rocks. After crossing the bridge on the right, within 500 meters there are the small churches carved into the mountains: Karabaş, Yılanlı, Kubbeli and Saklı Churches. All of them are marked with signs and can be visited without feeling like you are in a museum, but the beautiful frescoes are in a dilapidated state. The Soğanlı dolls, which are unique to this region and contribute to the livelihood of the local people, are also very nice.

Gomeda Valley is located near Üzengi Valley on the Ürgüp-Mustafapaşa road. It is located in the west of Mustafapaşa Town. It is a valley that is less known than other valleys of Cappadocia and has relatively fewer fairy chimney formations, but is richer in terms of vegetation. It has a flora similar to Ihlara Valley in terms of geomorphology. In the area consisting of churches, monasteries and dovecotes on the slopes, you can visit the rock-carved St. Basil Church, St. Nicola Monastery and other churches in the valley.

8. İbrahimpaşa
   Ibrahimpasa, Cappadocia
   Muşkara is the birthplace of Grand Vizier Damat İbrahim Pasha, the Ottoman pasha who laid the foundations of today’s Nevşehir with his own development plan. The most important building in the village, where bridges, inns, baths, madrassas and mosques were built, is Damat İbrahim Pasha Social Complex .

Damat İbrahim Pasha Complex, built by İbrahim Pasha in Nevşehir between 1726 and 1727, is a building complex consisting of a mosque, madrasah, library, primary school, soup kitchen and bath.

Kurşunlu Mosque is a building located in a courtyard surrounded by a high and thick wall and known as the İbrahim Pasha Mosque. The mosque and social complex, whose western gate is still used today and has two interlocking arches, have tulip era architectural features. My accommodation recommendation is El Puente Cave Hotel .

9. Ihlara Valley
   Ihlara Valley
   Ihlara Valley was formed as a result of collapses caused by the cooling of andesite and basalt-containing lava coming from Hasandağ. Ihlara Valley is located in Aksaray ‘s Güzelyurt District, Ihlara Town and northeast of Hasan Mountain. The valley, which starts from Ihlara and ends in Selime, is 14 km long. Melendiz Stream passes through the middle of the canyon, which is 100-200 meters deep in places. There is a paid entrance at the 3rd kilometer, at the end of 386 steps.

The first settlement in the valley, formerly known as Peristremma, began in the 4th century. Its sheltered geography made the valley a suitable retreat and place of worship for monks and priests, and a good hiding place and protection during wartime. Its frescoed churches carved into the rocks have survived to the present day as a historical treasure unmatched anywhere in the world.

The best guide to find the churches in the valley is Melendiz Stream. As soon as you enter the entrance, Ağaçaltı Church is immediately on the right. As you take the Melendiz Stream on your right and walk in the direction of the flow of the water, after 50 meters you come to Kokar Church, and after the last one comes Sümbüllü Church. When you cross the Wooden Bridge, you come across the Yılanlı Church. At the 7th kilometer, there is Belisırma Village, which is the only place where vehicles can land.

Those who want to walk the canyon can leave their vehicles at the 3rd kilometer and walk up to the 7th kilometer in 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is also enjoyable to have a snack outdoors by the Melendiz Stream after the walk. 3 km after Belisırma Town, there is a magnificent view of the end of the canyon at the point where the canyon ends. Yaprakhisar Village is at the end of the canyon, at the foot of the left foot.

At the foot of the right foot is the rock-carved Selime Cathedral, the largest monastery in this region. This place is like a playground that should never be missed, with its narrow passages, tunnels and softly curved rock formations among tuff rocks. Although it is said that the Star Wars movie was shot here, it is known that the director only came here and did research.

This natural wonder, 40 kilometers from Aksaray and 7 kilometers from Güzelyurt, is a special gift of Cappadocia to its visitors. Ihlara Valley visiting hours are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (April 1 – October 31), 08.00-19.00 in the winter period (October 31 – April 1). It is open to visitors 7 days a week. Ihlara Valley entrance fee is 45TL. Museum Card is valid.

10. Guzelyurt
    Cappadocia bulbous
    Bulbous
    Güzelyurt is an exciting town that has not yet been explored and is outside the tourism craze. It is an ideal day trip for those staying in Cappadocia for more than two or three days. Güzelyurt is reached via Nevşehir-Derinkuyu. You will see a crater lake at the left turn on the 72nd kilometer. You can swim in the lake 2 km inland in the summer and the surrounding area is perfect for enjoyable picnics.

Despite being so close to Ihlara Valley, few people visit Guzelyurt. However, the Monastery Valley of this stone town, formerly known as Gelveri, which bears the traces of the population exchange, is as interesting as the regions flocked by tourists in Cappadocia. Their houses are sometimes more magnificent than those in Sinasos.

You often come across Mount Hasan in this region. Where it looks most majestic, it competes with the High Church made of cut stone. During the population exchange, before the Greeks here reached the other side of the Aegean with great difficulties, the town, whose Greek name was Karvali, was an important religious center for the Orthodox.

Hundreds of Turkish families, some of whom had lost a lot on the ship, coming from Thessaloniki, Kozana and Kesriye, were also settled in the houses vacated by the Greeks. Today, they still live in these houses, some of which are carved into the rocks and some of which are vaulted. The town is divided into three parts: Yeni Mahalle, Aşağı Mahalle and Yukarı Mahalle. The center and Balkırlar Coffee House, the park and gözleme-mantı maker are in Yukarı Mahalle.

The churches, underground cities and houses in the Monastery Valley are all in the Lower District. The Great Church Mosque , or formerly known as St. Georgios Theologos Church, which the people of old Gelver still visit every year, had a bell that could be heard from a distance of three hours. This place was an important place of worship for Christians living in the region until 1924. Another important church in the Monastery Valley is the Sivişli Church carved into the rocks.

Gaziemir Underground City and Caravanserai is located in Gaziemir Village, 14 km from Güzelyurt and 55 km from Nevşehir. Unlike the other underground city and caravanserai of Cappadocia, it contains both at the same time. The Hittite-style stone-coring technique at the entrance is considered the second example of its kind after Boğazkale.

The underground caravanserai, which was used throughout history during the Byzantine and Seljuk periods, consists of a square in the middle and rooms opened around it. You should see the food warehouses, stoves, animal shelters and living spaces in the underground city, where there are two churches, a winemaking workshop and many wine jars.

Underground cities
Kaymakli Underground City
Cappadocia underground cities are one of the places that attract the most attention from tourists. Its history dates back to the Hittite period, but it was most widely used and expanded during the Byzantine period. The first Christians, escaping from Roman persecution in the 2nd century, came to Cappadocia via Antakya and Kayseri and settled here.

They settled in underground shelters that they carved into soft volcanic ash rocks. They were able to escape the cruelty of Roman soldiers by hiding in underground cities whose entrances were not easily noticed. Its mysteries are still not fully solved. Only a small part of these cities, where 30 thousand people can take shelter, are open to visitors.

The most typical features of underground cities are the huge gate stones used to close the tunnels during enemy attacks. These round stones, also called Tirhaz, are moved from their nests to close the tunnel, and wedges are placed behind them to prevent them from opening from the front. In some underground cities in Cappadocia, there are even stone doors with a diameter of 2 meters and a weight of around 4 tons.

In Cappadocia, apart from the largest ones, Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, there are underground cities carved into the rocks such as Özkonak , Özlüce, Tatlarin. In fact, almost all of Cappadocia is full of tunnels.

Kaymaklı Underground City is located in Kaymaklı Town, 20 km from Nevşehir. It is a city with 8 floors, a capacity of 5 thousand people, and 4 floors of which are 20 meters underground and are open to visitors. The city, which is known to have been built by the Hittites with its history dating back to 3000 BC, was expanded by continuing the carving process during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

In this huge underground city carved into tuff rocks, there are rooms and halls connected to each other by corridors, wine warehouses, water cellars, kitchen and food warehouses, ventilation chimneys, water wells, churches and large bolt stones that close the door from the inside to prevent any danger from the outside.

Kaymaklı Underground City visiting hours are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (1 April – 31 October) and 08.00-17.00 in the winter period (31 October – 1 April). It is open to visitors 7 days a week. Kaymaklı Underground City entrance fee is 50TL. Museum Card is valid.

Derinkuyu Underground City is a giant 8-storey Byzantine era underground city located in the Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir. Unlike Kaymaklı Underground City, there is also a missionary school, a confessional, a baptismal pool and an interesting well. It is on the Niğde highway and 30 km away from Nevşehir.

Derinkuyu Underground City visiting hours are 08.00-19.00 in the summer period (April 1 – October 31), 08.00-17.00 in the winter period (October 31 – April 1). It is open to visitors 7 days a week. Derinkuyu Underground City entrance fee is 50TL. Museum Card is valid.

Cappadocia Balloon Trip
Among the fairy chimneys, rock-carved churches and underground cities, local pigeon houses are often overlooked. Dovecotes arose from the need of the local farmers, who are engaged in winemaking and grape growing, to use pigeon manure, which is very rich in phosphoric acid and organic matter, in order to get more efficiency from their vineyards. Chambers were carved into the rocks to provide shelter for wild pigeons. There are even houses made of cut stone.

Rooms carved into the slopes or inside fairy chimneys have been hosting people for hundreds of years. The rooms, created by carving stone cliffs that can be easily carved and shaped due to the volcanic structure of the region, offer a delightful accommodation experience to their guests. I don’t think there is a single person who sees this place and is not impressed.

There are options for every budget in Cappadocia. It is possible to find any accommodation option you want anywhere in the region, from hostels to boutique hotels.

You can enjoy horseback riding in Cappadocia. You can discover hidden corners in villages full of greenery or on footpaths. Horse tours are organized daily or hourly.

First started in 1991 by Lars-Eric Möre and Kaili Kidner, the balloon tour has become the activity that has contributed most to the recognition of Cappadocia worldwide. The balloon tour is the most important part of the Cappadocia trip.

Plan a minimum of 3-day holiday for Cappadocia, one of the most magical places in Turkey . Join the balloon tours in the morning, tour the valleys with an ATV, go on horseback rides, join trekking tours on various routes, and stay in rock hotels.

Visit this beautiful geography not only once, not during the summer, but many times throughout the four seasons. I expand the content of places to visit in Cappadocia whenever I get the opportunity. If you have contributions, you can write your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section.