Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey. In Persian Cappadocia means the “land of beautiful horses”.  There are two main tourist towns in this region: Nevşehir and Göreme. Let’s take a look at the best things to do on this UNESCO Heritage site of Cappadocia. 

Stay in a Cave Hotel

First things first, Cappadocia is not a place that you can visit on a day trip. You must spend a few days to truly experience this region. In that case, why not try out a unique accommodation? Have you stayed in a CAVE before? If not then this is your chance to experience this once-in-a-lifetime experience in Cappadocia. 

The town of Göreme was carved into the rocks, and the valleys and chimneys are dotted with ancient cave houses, chapels, tombs, and temples. Do you know people in this town still live in cave houses? Many of these cave houses are now converted into cave hotels giving you a very unique experience.  

These cave hotels offer beautiful terraces to relax and enjoy breathtaking views of the surroundings.  Especially at sunrise, you can witness a panoramic view of the village and surrounding valleys with hot air balloons filling the sky. We stayed in the Luvi Cave Hotel during our visit to Cappadocia.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

The landscape of Cappadocia showcases a remarkable combination of natural beauty and human history, characterized by its fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, scenic gorges, pigeon houses, and flourishing vineyards and orchards. A sunrise hot air balloon ride offers breathtaking views of these stunning sights.

I highly recommend Royal Balloon for this experience—it was genuinely my favorite hot-air balloon ride. The pilots and crew are exceptionally skilled, ensuring a quick lift-off, smooth landing, and remarkable maneuverability, so you can take incredible photos from anywhere in the basket. Cappadocia is renowned for its hot air balloon rides, and I’m confident it won’t disappoint.

Kaymakli Underground City

Do you know there are about 200 underground cities in this region? Kaymakli is one of the largest and best-preserved underground cities among all of them. Historically, this city was designed by Phrygians civilization for refuge against invasions and calamities. It was designed to host up to 3000 people. This city is 85 meters deep and has 8 floors. Out of these 8 floors, only 4 floors are accessible to the tourists. While exploring Kaymakli you will come across different tunnels, passages, chambers, galleries, steep stairs, and rooms designed for different purposes. 

Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley is located between the villages of Göreme and Uçhisar. Wondering why it’s called Pigeon Valley? Well if you are thinking this might be somehow related to pigeons then you are not wrong. This valley has many pigeon houses built in the rock formations by Cappadocia residents. They used pigeon droppings as fertilizer to improve crop yield.

Depending on how much time you have at your disposal, you can explore Pigeon Valley differently. You can embark on a 4 km hike along the trail that links the towns of Uchisar and Goreme, or simply stop at a viewpoint along the road at the top of the valley for a stunning view of the town and its rock formations. From this viewpoint, you will see an evil eye tree. The evil eye is a big thing in Turkey. Local people say that your wishes will come true if you hang an evil-eye pendant on the tree. Nevertheless, this is a cool spot to click an Instaworthy picture. 

Ihlara Valley

The Ihlara Valley is a popular attraction in the region, featuring a 16-kilometer-long river that flows through the heart of the valley, carving its way through volcanic rock. You can explore this area with various hiking trails alongside the river, as well as visit different churches and ancient cave dwellings.

For a unique experience, climb the stairs to the top of the valley to see St. George Church (Kirkdamalti), located near Belisirma village. This church is notable for being the last one built in the valley and is situated within a burial cave. After your visit, consider stopping at Belisirma village for an afternoon break and enjoying a traditional Turkish meal at one of the nearby riverside cafes.

Selime Monastery

Located at the end of Ihlara Valley, Selime monastery is one of the largest religious complexes built in Cappadocia. The complex includes an enormous kitchen, two halls, a basilica church, and a courtyard. It is said that this monastery was also used as a caravanserai for traders traveling along the Silk Road for resting. This is a wonderful place to stop on your Ihlara Valley trip. 

Goreme Open Air Museum

Goreme Open Air Museum is one of the places with great historical and archaeological importance. This is one of the UNESCO heritage sites with ancient paintings, churches, and cave houses from centuries ago. If you like frescoes don’t forget to visit Dark Church (Karanlık Kilise) located inside the Göreme Open Air Museum.  

Sunset ATV Bike Ride

Cappadocias Rose and Red Valleys are the best places to witness sunset. You can hike to these valleys to take an ATV bike ride. ATV bike ride will start approximately 2.30 hours before sunset and make several stops along the way in these valleys finally ending at the sunset viewpoint in the red valley. 

3 Days Itinerary Cappadocia

• Day 1
  • Pigeon Valley 
  • Kaymakli Underground City
  • Ihlara Valley 
  • Selime Monastery
• Day 2
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride
  • Sunset ATV Bike Ride
• Day 3
  • Relax on the Cave Hotel terrace and enjoy beautiful views of Cappadocia
  • Goreme Open Air Museum

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