At the top of our list on what to do in Cappadocia is getting on a Cappadocia hot air balloon . The trips are available year round, with each season boasting unique views of the region’s valleys and mountains. Sunrise is said to be the best time for this activity, when the region’s canyons and fairy chimneys take on dazzling hues. Hundreds of balloons take to the skies early each morning, adding to the landscape with their festive colors and designs. Pilots flying the Cappadocia balloons are rigorously trained and praised for their impressive flying skills, with safe take-offs and smooth landings. However, do pick a reputable company; very cheap Cappadocia air balloon prices may mean the company scrimps on safety! Ready to go? Choose between our two experiences: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight - 1 hour DELUXE Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight – 1.5 hours

Cappadocia Balloon Tours

The deserted city of Zelve , spreading across three valleys, is a fascinating remnant of Cappadocia’s troglodytic past. It’s hard to believe, when walking through the cave churches and monasteries of the empty ‘ghost-town’, that this place was once one of the largest communities in ancient times. The valley was inhabited by Turkish Muslims until 1952; however, rock falls made it too dangerous to remain. Several areas of the zone are often closed off due to unstable surrounds; ignore warning signs at your own peril! If you’re set on exploring the complex for classic Cappadocian art and architecture, bring a torch (flashlight) and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. At the top of the right-hand valley, on the right as you go up, a honeycomb of rooms can be approached by climbing metal staircases. Enter by means of precarious steps, or swing up through large holes on the floor (search for ancient hand and foot holes!) Scattered up and down the valleys are old stables, pigeon houses high up on the walls, an old mill with its wheel stone intact, and a large collection of chapels and medieval oratories. Many of the latter are decorated with carved crosses and preserved altars; it’s no surprise rock climbing and walking tours are popular activities within this area! The few painted images located in Zelve are located within the churches of the third valley. Nearby, the twin-aisled Uzumlu Kilise features grapevines in red and green on the walls, as well as a cross carved into the ceiling. How to get there: The Zelve Open-Air Museum is 8km from the Goreme city center. You can take a taxi to the entrance or rent a car and park by the entrance. Drive 3km off the Avanos-Cavusin Road Open daily from 9am-6.30pm May-Oct, 8am-4.30pm from Nov-April

Zelve Open-Air Museum

The mystifying Göreme Open Air Museum or the Göreme National Museum , one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey, is a complex of monasteries at the center of the Cappadocian region. It is located near the village of Göreme , 3km northeast of Uchisar. The honeycomb cave dwellings of Göreme Cappadocia ’s open-air museum are etched into the landscape, providing visual intrigue as well as a dwelling for carpet shops, tour companies and restaurants everywhere. Despite commercialization, however, the place has held on to a degree of authentic charm. A short stroll off the village’s main street or into the nearby valleys will take you up into tuff landscapes, vineyards cultivated for pekmez (grape molasses), and rock-cut cave churches from the 10th-12th centuries. The latter includes: St. Barbara Church Apple (Elmali) Church Snake (Yilanli) Church The Dark Church (Karanlik Kilise) Carikli (Sandals) Church Buckle (Tokali) Church Check out our Green Tour Cappadocia to immerse yourself in them: Cappadocia Ihlara Valley & Göreme (Green Tour) – Full Day How to get there : From Goreme, follow the signs to Müze Cd going east. The Goreme Open Air Museum is only 1 mile (1.7 km) from the town center. While it is walkable, be advised that the road is steep and winding. Cars also pass by this road, so practice caution while heading back after dark. If you’re driving, there is plenty of parking near the museum entrance. 1.5km southeast of Goreme village; open daily in the summer from 8am-7pm, winter from 8am-5pm

Göreme Open-Air Museum

The Ihlara Valley of Cappadocia – the highlight of the south – is a deep, 100m canyon formed thousands of years ago. This fertile gorge cut by a deep green river between red cliffs is one of the best places to go trekking, as here you will see not only the cave churches, but also the unique flora and fauna of Cappadocia alongside the sounds of rushing water from the Melendiz River. Prepare yourself for an astonishingly beautiful natural landscape, as well as some of the most attractive and interesting churches and rock-carved villages in Cappadocia. Three villages offer ticketed entry points to the valley: Selime, Belisirma and Ihlara Village. Most visitors, however, come on day-trips from Goreme or Urgup. The 6km walk from Selime to Belisirma takes around three hours. If you want to complete the 10km walk to Ihlara Village, you’ll need to add three more hours to that! You can stop at Belisirma for food as well as take a dip in one or two river-pools to cool down. Selime : The beautiful troglodyte village is the jumping off point to the squat fairy chimneys that dot the valley, many containing churches. There’s even a rock-cut cathedral, divided by irregular pillars into three aisles. Belisirma : Three hours’ walk in between Selime or Ihlara Village is this troglodyte settlement blending into the tawny rock face. Its tranquil riverside location provides the opportunity to enjoy a meal at one of the tree-shaded restaurants on the west bank. See the 11th century Direkli Kilise, or Church with the Columns – which holds fine Byzantine frescoes including a long-fingered Madonna and Child and St George fighting a three-headed dragon. Church of St George: 50m up the cliff-side, 500m south of Belisirma and 3km off the stairs at the main entrance, dedicated to the saint by a 13th-century Christian Amir. It bears an inscription expressing Christian gratitude for the religious tolerance of the Selcuk Turks. Ihlara Village : At the valley’s southernmost point, this village offers two separate entrance points. One is in the village itself, and the other at the Ihlara Valley Visitor Centre, halfway along the main road between Ihlara and Belisirma. This entrance provides direct access to the area containing most of the valley’s churches, via a precipitous but doable descent of several hundred steps descending 130m to the valley floor. Ihlara Valley Churches Peristrema was the monastic occupation of the Ihlara Valley, continuously practiced from early medieval times to the 14th century. Find the most interesting churches with paintings that show both Eastern and Western influences: Find your first church near the small wooden bridge at the bottom of the steps from the visitor centre. A plan down here shows all the accessible churches, most easy to find. Agacalti Kilise (Church under the Tree): To the right of the bridge, on the same side as the steps; this cross-shaped church with a central dome originally had three levels, but two have collapsed along with the entrance hall. Magnificent frescoes inside depict the Magi presenting gifts at the Nativity, Daniel with the lions and the Ascension in the central dome. Purenli Seki Kilise: 500m beyond, 30m up the cliffside on the south bank, and clearly seen from the river below; the badly damaged frescoes of this church mainly depict scenes from the life of Christ Kokar Kilise: Another 50m towards Ihlara, this church showcases the Annunciation, the Nativity, Flight into Egypt and Last Supper in the main hall. In the centre of the dome, a picture of a hand represents the Trinity and the sanctification. Yilanli Kilise (Church of the Snakes): The valley’s most fascinating church located across the wooden footbridge, 100m from the entrance. It contains unusual depictions of sinners suffering in hell; four women being bitten by snakes, and one of them on the nipples as a punishment for not breast-feeding her young! Another is covered in eight snakes; at the center is a three-headed snake behind a rare Cappadocian depiction of Satan, with each mouth holding a soul destined for hell. How to get there : Ihlara Valley is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from central Cappadocia. You can get there via a private car or taxi, or by joining a tour (Try: Cappadocia Ihlara Valley & Göreme (Green Tour) – Full Day ). If you’re driving, start from the city center and follow the road through Nevşehir to Aksaray, then to the village of Ihlara. The main entrance is about a mile from the village. Open daily from 9 am until 1hr before sunset

Ihlara Valley

Cappadocia’s mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys seem even more surreal as they are formed not only by natural forces of wind and water but also by the hands of ancient civilizations. Pasabag Valley, known as Monk’s Valley, was a favourite among hermit monks who lived in seclusion centuries ago. It’s home to some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, and touted as “the most picturesque of all the Cappadocian valleys” by the Rough Guides. Known as hoodoo or peribacalasi , the fairy chimneys are tall spires of rock that protrude almost 130 feet into the sky from the dry desert land. Mineral deposits cause different colors among the layers of rock, and are made even more stunning by the Turkish sunset. See them in our Cappadocia Highlights & Fairy Chimneys (Red Tour) – Full Day. How to get there : Pasabag Valley is approximately 7 km from the Goreme town center , and about 15 minutes away by car. It is quite close to the Zelve Open Air Museum , so it is advisable to do both attractions in a day if possible.

Pasabag Valley

Derinkuyu is the deepest and most thoroughly excavated underground city complex in Cappadocia, said to have accommodated 20,000 people at its peak. The site is well lit, the original ventilation system surprisingly functional to date. However, some of the passages can feel claustrophobic due to their low and narrow build; avoid the lowest floor in particular if you have back problems. To date, the clearing occupies around 1,500sqm consisting of eight floors reaching up to 55m below ground. On the first two floors, you’ll see wine and oil presses, stables, and what was once perhaps a dining hall or school with two long, rock-cut tables. On the third and fourth floors, you’ll find chapels, living quarters, armories, and tunnels. On the lower levels, you’ll find a crucifix-shaped church, a grave and dungeon. Other cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and more are contained in the site, now generally uninhabited (although open to tourists keen on learning about history). The city’s name means “deep well,” after 52 large ventilation shafts and deep wells dropping up to 85m far below the level of the lowest floor. Escape routes connect different floors to each other, while passages lead beyond to the city. Don’t miss the circular doors used to seal one level from the other, making each floor virtually impregnable from the outside! How to get there : Drive approximately 10km south of Kaymakli; it is also possible to use public transport to get to Derinkuyu. From the Goreme bus station, get on a mini-bus and head toward Nevşehir. Tell the driver you are heading to Derinkuyu and get off at Nevşehir. Once in Nevşehir, wait for another bus to Derinkuyu and get off at the last stop, which is already the entrance of Derinkuyu.

Derinkuyu Underground City

The underground city of Kaymakli is second only to Derinkuyu , its more popular counterpart. However, that makes it less crowded with plenty to marvel at with at least five levels excavated to date! Contained within the citadel of Kaymakli in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, this underground city is a must-visit attraction when in Cappadocia. It contains constructed houses, storage areas, stables, and cellars connected through low, narrow, and steeply inclined tunnels. The layout is quite similar to Derinkuyu, showcasing ingenuities such as a winery, with its 30m-deep winepress and 60m-deep ventilation shaft if you look through the footholds along the wall. Small living spaces open into underground plazas and storage spaces; most adults may have to duck to get through the low passageways. The floors open are ventilated enough for tourists to explore, to see how ancient settlements lived their lives beneath the soil. Moreover, the small size of Kaymakli means the streets are navigable without a guide; however, the added information you get from a tour helps to bring the place to life! How to get there: It is easy to take public transport to the Kaymakli Underground City. Start from the Goreme bus station, and get on a mini-bus heading toward Nevşehir (approximately 30 minutes). Tell the driver that you’re heading to Kaymakli, so the driver will know where to drop you off. Once you reach your stop, you’ll see a sign for the underground city. Walk through the market to reach the entrance. You can also drive yourself via rented car or scooter. Parking is available at the entrance. Open daily from 8am-7pm from March to September; 8am-5pm from October to February

Kaymakli Underground City

Caravanserais (caravan palaces) are buildings that provided accommodation and other amenities for the merchants and travelers from the ancient times. Some of the most beautiful examples of caravanserais are in the region of Cappadocia, like the Sarihan Caravanserai where you can witness the whimsical and sacred Whirling Dervish Turkish Dance Ceremony. The Saruhan Kervansaray also comes highly recommended – a Selcuk-era structure built in 1238. It features five knaves, a courtyard, and the ruins of a hamam . Beautifully restored, it hosts atmospheric evening performances by a troupe of whirling dervishes. New Kayseri Road, 6km east of Avanos; schedules vary.

Cappadocia City guide

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