Where to go in Cappadocia?

It’s impossible to explain Cappadocia with a few words. It’s a fairytale land full of mysterious history. We are living in a world of technology, long distances don’t mean much to us nowadays. So there comes the question of the era “where to go?”. If you’re ready to take a time travel, change your dimension, your questions change into “where to go in Cappadocia?”

Cappadocia is best known for its fairy chimneys, cave dwellings carved into volcanic rock, and hot air balloons floating above the valleys, but there are many places to discover when deciding where to go in Cappadocia.

But with so many villages, valleys, viewpoints, and historic sites spread across the region, knowing where to go in Cappadocia can make a big difference to your experience. From exploring the atmospheric streets of Goreme to discovering the underground cities and quieter valleys beyond the main tourist routes, where to go in Cappadocia depends on whether you want dramatic views, history, local food, hiking, or a mix of everything.

1. Open Air Museum

Goreme, which is one of the “Unesco World Heritage” in the Cappadocia region and connected to Nevsehir, or Korama with its first name known in history. Goreme is like the center of Cappadocia. If you consider staying here you can check the best hotels of Goreme here.

Goreme open air museum will change your dimension. Many churches, chapels and living spaces carved into the rocks will welcome you in this different world, where the monastery life began, and the missionary and retreat of Christians who fled from oppression began.

Monasteries for girls and boys, Apple Church, Snake Church, Church with Sandals, Dark Church, Buckle Church, Saint Barbara and Saint Basil Churches will dazzle your eyes with the vivid frescoes inside them.

Goreme Open Air Museum has been in the Unesco World Heritage List since 1985. 

2. Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley, which starts from Uchisar and goes until Goreme for 4 km, takes its name from the pigeon holes carved to rocks in the valley. Locals of Cappadocia used to feed the pigeons and use their fertilizers in the vineyards and their eggs in the plaster of the frescos. To see these pigeon holes and unique floral beauty around you have to hike in the valley.

Additionally there is a 15m waterfall in the valley. You should add this amazing valley to your “where to go in Cappadocia” list if you like trekking and wonderful routes for photography. 

3. Rose and Red Valleys

You’ll see the most beautiful and artistic fairy chimneys while hiking in this valley. There are many traces of monastic life and churches in the valley. Ayvali Church is the most important historical heritage you’ll see during your hike among the vineyards and apricot trees.

4. Love and Zemi Valleys

Love valley is the best for proposing or having the most romantic moments with your beloved. Valley starts from Goreme – Uchisar road and ends in Goreme – Avanos after 4.9 km. Love Valley is also one of the favorite locations of hot air balloons. Hiking here takes around 2.5 hours till the end. Fairy chimneys display a colorful and magical visual feast with their cute hats.

5. Panorama points of Goreme

After visiting the town itself you should additionally consider visiting panorama points to take wonderful photos and give a break in front of the best views of the town for a coffee. Especially during the sunset the valley is painted in red which is the best time to feast your eyes. 

6. Uchisar Castle

Located in the highest panoramic point of the region, the town is also a favorite of travelers who seek comfortable hotels. Here you can see the best hotels of Uchisar. It is one of the oldest settlements that you should tick on the list of where to go in Cappadocia, with its historical streets and castle, which you will love the stone houses.

7. Derinkuyu and Kaymakli underground Cities

Derinkuyu is the biggest underground city in Cappadocia and takes its name from a very deep well there. Even it’s much more bigger than touristic visit zone, open portion of the underground city is total 8 floors. How did they live in underground cities? How to survive there for long periods of time without going out and how did they build it? Here you can find all the answers in my article about underground cities.

8. Kocabag and Turasan Wine

Besides its historical and natural sites you should also visit local wine stores where the grapes from local vineyards of Cappadocia transform to wine art. You definitely find something fitting your taste. 

9. Pasabag the Monks Valley

Pasabag is on Goreme – Avanos road 3.5 km to Avanos. It’s the valley where you can watch interesting formations of capped fairy chimneys. The three-headed fairy chimney chapel in the middle of the valley is dedicated to St. Simeon. According to legend, St. Simeon lived in this chapel for 15 years in seclusion.

10. Camel Rock Valley

This valley is also known as imagination valley. One edge of the valley goes to Devrent when the other touches Red Valley. And Pasabag is in the middle of it. You may reach the valley in 10 mins from Goreme.

Famous camel rock formation gives its name to the valley. Camels and some other animal shapes, Virgin Mary praying with her hands open, Baby Jesus and many more examples of human imagination are waiting here to be discovered. 

11. Zelve

One of the biggest open air museums in Cappadocia, Zelve is 3 km to Avanos and 1 km to Pasabag. As one of the most important religious centers for Christians, Zelve has 15 churches inside, especially from the 9th and 13th centuries.

Night light shows on chimneys in Zelve is another reason to revisit the museum after sunset.

12. Avanos Hair Museum

This museum may be the weirdest one you can ever visit in where to go in Cappadocia list. It’s a 500 m long cave with 16.000 pinches of women’s hair pinned on walls. Founder of the museum is famous pottery master Chez Galip.

Museum was selected as one of the most interesting 15 museums in 1998 and recorded in Guinness World Records. There you may get to listen to the story of the museum from its founder maybe. 

13. Visiting pottery workshops

Avanos is the town of pottery. There you can see how simple clay is unbelievably shaped by talented hands. You may also try it yourself. These pottery workshops are more like art centers. One of the biggest pottery workshops, Guray is the first and only underground museum where you can watch the historical development of pottery in the region. 

14. Temenni Hill

History of the hill dates back to 1288. Temenni Hill is the best spot to enjoy the whole Urgup town. 

15. Twin Sisters or Three Beauties

This is the place where almost all the travellers have photos with 2 twins and 1 small fairy chimney family behind them. Twin Sisters are famous on postcards of Cappadocia, too. 2 million visitors come here to see the twins every year.

16. Ihlara Valley

What is the secret, deepest and most mysterious paradise of Cappadocia? Of course Ihlara Valley. First settlers came here around 4th century. Valley is a 120 m deep canyon. From 105 historical sites 14 are open to visit in the 6 km long valley(total 15 km if you can reach Selime Monastery). Melendiz Stream is accompanying you along your hike here after you step down 397 stairs down to reach the bottom. 

17. Tignaz Castle

Second biggest castle of the area Tignaz Castle is a historical monument worth seeing with its settlement from the slope to the underground.