Things to do in Cappadocia

The essential things to do in Cappadocia

Our pick of the experiences worth building a trip around.

1. 

   1. Sunrise hot air balloon flight.

   Do it if your budget allows, but do not build the whole trip around it. Flights need official weather clearance, so stay at least three nights if this is the thing you came for.

2. 

   2. Göreme Open Air Museum.

   Go close to opening, before tour groups fill the paths. The rock-cut churches and frescoes are the clearest history stop in the region, and the separately ticketed Dark Church is usually worth it if you care about painted detail. Check current hours and ticket rules before you go.

3. 

   3. Derinkuyu Underground City.

   Derinkuyu is the more intense underground-city visit, with narrow passages, deep sections, storage areas, and ventilation shafts. Skip it if you hate enclosed spaces, because this is not a gentle museum stroll.

4. 

   4. Kaymaklı Underground City.

   Kaymaklı feels more maze-like and domestic than Derinkuyu. If you are short on time, choose one underground city, not both, unless old engineering is your main interest.

5. 

   5. Uçhisar Castle.

   Climb it near sunset for the clearest sense of how the towns and valleys sit together. The stairs are uneven and the top gets crowded, but the view beats another cafe terrace.

6. 

   6. Rose Valley and Red Valley hike.

   This is the walk I would pick over an ATV tour. Start late afternoon in cooler months, carry water, and expect dusty shoes rather than polished paths.

7. 

   7. Zelve Open Air Museum and Paşabağ.

   Zelve gives you a wider, rougher cave-settlement feel than Göreme Open Air Museum. Pair it with Paşabağ if you want the famous fairy-chimney shapes without pretending they are secret.

8. 

   8. Avanos pottery workshops.

   Avanos is where Cappadocia finally slows down beside the Kızılırmak River. Watch a potter at work, but be ready for a sales pitch if you sit for a demonstration.

Landmark guides for Cappadocia

In-depth guides to the major sights: what to see, how to visit, and whether they are worth it.

• Landmark guide Göreme Open Air Museum
• Landmark guide Zelve Open-Air Museum
• Landmark guide Paşabağları (Monks Valley)
• Landmark guide Derinkuyu Underground City
• Landmark guide Kaymaklı Underground City
• Landmark guide Uçhisar Kalesi
• Landmark guide Ihlara Valley
• Landmark guide Selime Katedrali ve Peribacaları
• Landmark guide Pigeon Valley
• Landmark guide Aşıklar Vadisi (Love Valley)

Plan your trip to Cappadocia

• Itinerary One Day in Cappadocia: Balloons, Cave Churches, and the Right Valleys
• Itinerary Two Days in Cappadocia: Rock Churches, Valleys, and One Hard Choice
• Itinerary 3 Days in Cappadocia: Caves, Valleys, and One Long Day South
• Day trips Best Day Trips from Cappadocia
• Best time Best time to visit Cappadocia
• Compare Göreme Open Air Museum vs Zelve-Paşabağları: which Cappadocia open-air site to pick
• Compare Derinkuyu vs Kaymakli Underground City: Which One Should You Visit?

By the kind of trip

• Guide Cappadocia With Kids: Fairy Chimneys, Cave Churches, and One Underground City Too Many
• Guide Cappadocia at Night: Sunset Valleys, Cave Dinners, Dervishes and the Nights I Would Actually Plan
• Guide Cappadocia When It Rains: Underground Cities, Pottery, Frescoes, and Plans That Still Work