Cappadocia Travel Guide: Balloons, Fairy Chimneys and Cave Hotels
Balloons at sunrise, the Göreme Open Air Museum, underground cities, valley hikes and cave hotels – the best things to do in Cappadocia, Turkey.
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In the heart of Turkey, wind and rain have carved soft volcanic rock into a surreal landscape of cones, pillars and "fairy chimneys". People have been carving homes, churches and entire underground cities into the rock for thousands of years – and today you can sleep in a cave hotel and float above it all in a hot-air balloon at dawn.
In the air and on the valleys
1. Take a hot-air balloon flight
Watching the sunrise from a balloon, surrounded by dozens of others, is the experience Cappadocia is famous for. Flights leave from around Göreme just before dawn and last about an hour. Book a flight early in your stay so there's time to reschedule if the weather cancels it.
2. Watch the balloons from the ground
If you'd rather stay on the ground, get up early and watch the balloons rise from a viewpoint above Göreme or from your hotel terrace – almost as magical, and free.
3. Hike the Rose and Red Valleys
The pink-tinged rock of these neighbouring valleys glows at sunset. Trails pass hidden rock-cut churches with faded frescoes.
4. Walk through Love Valley and Pigeon Valley
Love Valley is known for its tall, smooth rock pillars. Pigeon Valley, between Göreme and Uçhisar, is an easy walk past dovecotes carved into the rock.
5. Climb Uçhisar Castle
The highest point in the region is a huge rock riddled with rooms and tunnels. Climb to the top for a 360-degree view across Cappadocia.
History underground and in the rock
6. Visit the Göreme Open Air Museum
A UNESCO-listed complex of rock-cut monasteries and churches, with Byzantine frescoes. Pay extra to see the Dark Church, whose paintings are remarkably well preserved.
7. Explore an underground city
Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı are vast underground cities carved many levels deep, where thousands of people once sheltered with their animals. Passages are narrow and low – not for the claustrophobic.
8. See Paşabağ and Devrent
Paşabağ (Monks' Valley) has the most striking multi-capped fairy chimneys, and Devrent Valley's rock formations look like animals – look for the camel.
9. Hike the Ihlara Valley
South-west of Göreme, this green gorge runs beside a river for 14 km, with rock-cut churches in its cliffs. Walk a section and stop for lunch at a riverside restaurant.
Local experiences
10. Try pottery in Avanos
The riverside town of Avanos has made pottery from Red River clay for millennia. Workshops let you try the potter's wheel.
11. Sleep in a cave hotel
Cappadocia's cave hotels range from simple to luxurious, with rooms carved into the rock and terraces with balloon views. Göreme, Uçhisar and Ürgüp are the best bases.
12. Taste the local food and wine
Try testi kebab – meat slow-cooked in a sealed clay pot that's broken open at the table – and the region's wines from local grapes.
Getting there and around
Fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir (Kapadokya) airport; shuttle buses connect with hotels. Join a tour or hire a car to reach the sights, which are spread out. For more of Turkey, see the most beautiful places to visit in Turkey.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cappadocia?
April to June and September to November have mild weather and the most reliable balloon flights. Summer is hot and busy; winter is cold, often snowy and beautiful, but flights are cancelled more often.
How many days do you need in Cappadocia?
Two to three nights. That gives you two chances at a balloon flight if the first is cancelled because of the weather, plus time for the valleys and an underground city.
Are balloon flights safe in Cappadocia?
Flights are regulated by the civil aviation authority and only go ahead when the weather allows. Book with a licensed, well-reviewed company rather than choosing the cheapest offer.
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