What To Do in Cappadocia ?

If you want to have a different vacation, you’re the type not fitting in the sky, both your eyes and heart will be full in the moment you’ll have in Cappadocia. There are numerous things to enjoy Cappadocia, it’s impossible to list em all. But here you can find my what to do in Cappadocia list for a good start.

What Activities To do in Cappadocia?

Cappadocia is a miraculous land which you can’t find anywhere else on Earth! Besides fairy chimneys which amazes everyone, unexplained secrets of underground cities, castles, churches, religious frescoes and even the color of sky you’ll consider “different”. Here’s the ultimate list of what to do in Cappadocia.

1. Stay in Cave Hotels

I’d like to start this what to do in Cappadocia list with a unique accommodation experience since Cappadocia is famous for its caves and landscapes. In cave hotels you can experience both the traces of ancient life and the harmony of modernity together, and you can say ”good morning” to the most beautiful mornings of the world with hundreds of hot air balloons saluting you.

If your expectation is comfort and luxury in accommodation, you can check the best cave hotel in Cappadocia here.

2. Hot Air Balloon Ride

Let’s start the day with the most beautiful highlight of Cappadocia! To witness the best sunrise you wake up early in the morning but it’s gonna be one of the best mornings of your life. Passing through the clouds, seeing the valleys gliding through the fairy chimneys below, fluctuating according to the pleasure of the wind and landing wherever the wind takes you will be one of the most freest moments of your life.

Maybe for a proposal or a honeymoon, who knows!

3. Visit Historical Sites of Cappadocia

In every corner of Cappadocia you’ll find different structures and traces that different civilisations left. History of Cappadocia dates back from ancient Hittites to first Christians, Seljuks and Ottomans. First Goreme open Air Museum churches that Christians carved in secret parts of marvellous valleys, Saruhan and madrasahs which are fantastic examples of Seljuk Turks stone work, Uchisar Castle and houses carved in fairy chimneys, Pasabag the monk habitants, pigeon valley and pigeon holes carved for delicious Cappadocia wine production and mysterious stories of Cappadocia will take you to a time travel.

4. Descend in Underground Cities

Visiting underground cities will be one of the most interesting things in what to do in Cappadocia list. As mysterious as Egyptian Pyramids, underground cities are perfect examples of excellent engineering intelligence. We still don’t know how deep some underground cities went. Entries are closed with huge millstones, against who or what we don’t really know yet. And the protection measures are astonishing. There are 36 underground cities discovered so far. And the biggest ones are from the 3000 BC Kaymakli and Derinkuyu Underground Cities.

5. Hike in Sunset Valleys

If you’re one of those who love trekking, enjoy bird chirping and walking among fruit-laden trees; let’s not forget the most enjoyable walks of what to do in Cappadocia list. Flora changes color with every season here. The leaves turned red in autumn are replaced by a lush nature in spring. I should add that you’ll have never seen more charming flora in winter. Ihlara Valley, Pigeon Valley, sunset queen Red Valley, climax of romanticism Love Valley, forest of fairy chimneys Zelve and Pasabaglari are worth seeing for sure. Moreover undiscovered valleys, such as Gomeda, are waiting for you. 

6. ATV or Jeep Safari and Horse Riding

Okey we catch the romantic sunrise with hot air balloons. But what to do in Cappadocia for sunsets? You can join jeep safaris for fun rides, ATV quad bikes rides for a full day or for a few hours. And you don’t need to be an experienced jockey to ride a horses. You’ll be very well instructed in horse farms and after a small lesson you are good to go. Moreover they are tame horses that know how to do their jobs. It wouldn’t be a lie if I say that the full sunset is more saturated by riding a horse or 4×4 jeeps.

7. Making Pottery, let your hands work

In the Avanos you’ll see many pottery workshops and masterpieces created by vert talented hands. The most talented title of what to do in Cappadocia list is about handcrafting! There you can sit on an ancient kick wheel and shape the clay by your imagination. Creating something with your hands will make you feel relieved even if it isn’t looking super good.

8. Enjoy The Local Cuisine

There are a few special presentations that we must try. Especially pottery kebab cooking and presentation is unique to Cappadocia. Kebab is cooked in a pot at high degrees and the pot is broken on your table right after it is off the oven. You may also try some other local and undiscovered tastes like stuffed quince, divil, kombe and sizgit. 

Read about the best restaurants in Cappadocia.

9. Taste Award Winer Wine of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is the center of wine making in the central part of Turkey. The wine produced from Emir grapes has a worldwide reputation. The vineyards planted since the Hittites owe the quality of their grapes to the tuffaceous soil of the region.

Tuffa helps for better quality grapes and saves them from bugs. It’s also an advantage for carving a wine cellar. The cellars carved into the rocks add a quality maturity to the wine with constant temperatures in summer and winter. Urgup Turasan and Uchisar Kocabag wine stores are famous local wine producers of Cappadocia. 

10. Have Drinks with Belly Dance Show

Many of the tourists are very interested in these night shows mostly performed in cave restaurants. You can have fun sipping local wine and watching different folkloric dances from orientation, fasil to folklore in a unique atmosphere rock-carved underground restaurants.