Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most otherworldly destinations, famous for its unique, honey coloured rock formations, underground cities and incredible cave hotels. Days here are spent exploring valleys and ancient churches, while hot-air balloons drift over the landscape at sunrise. It’s a bit surreal, a little adventurous, and unlike anywhere else in Turkey (or the world, really).
Cappadocia is spread across a handful of towns and villages, each with its own feel and hotel scene. Göreme is the most popular base, with easy access to the Rose and Red Valleys, Göreme Open-Air Museum and some of the best sunrise balloon views. Uçhisar is quieter and more scenic, centred around its huge rock castle, with hiking trails and panoramic views stretching across the valleys towards Mount Erciyes. Ürgüp feels more like a proper town, with wine bars, restaurants and historic stone houses, plus easy access to nearby wineries and the Three Beauties rock formations. Çavuşin is one of Cappadocia’s most atmospheric villages, built around a cliffside honeycomb of abandoned cave homes and churches. It’s a great base for exploring the Rose Valley and Red Valley, with walking trails leading straight from the village and some incredible sunset viewpoints. Accommodation in the region ranges from simple guesthouses to amazing cave hotels and luxurious boutique stays, particularly around Göreme and Uçhisar.
Ideal for: Hot-air balloons, valley hikes, cave hotels, rock churches
Ideal for: Luxury stays, rock castles, hiking trails, panoramic views
Uçhisar suits travellers looking for a more peaceful Cappadocia experience, particularly couples, photographers and walkers. The village’s landmark is its huge natural rock citadel, which you can climb for sweeping views across the surrounding valleys and as far as Mount Erciyes. From here, walking trails lead into Pigeon Valley, passing vineyards, orchards and plenty of fairy chimneys along the way. It’s also one of the best places in the region for watching the sunset, with the rocky landscape changing colour as the sun goes down. Uçhisar has fewer restaurants and evening options than Göreme, but that’s part of its appeal, with atmospheric terraces and some particularly impressive cave hotels overlooking the landscape.
Did you know? Uçhisar’s rock formations were created by ancient volcanic eruptions from Mount Erciyes, Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz. Over millions of years, wind and rain carved the soft tuff into the fairy chimneys and valleys you see today.
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Ideal for: Cave hotels, foodies, wine tasting, rock formations
Did you know? Ürgüp has a long winemaking tradition, thanks to Cappadocia’s volcanic soil and climate. The area is home to underground wine cellars carved into the soft rock, some of which have been used for centuries.
Ideal for: Valley hiking, rock dwellings, sunset views, cave churches
For history buffs and keen walkers, Çavuşin offers a more low-key take on Cappadocia. The village climbs up the face of a rocky hillside, with abandoned cave homes and the enormous Church of St John the Baptist giving it a wonderfully atmospheric feel. From here, you can set off on foot through the Rose and Red Valleys, or explore the fairy chimneys and ancient cave settlements at nearby Pasabag and Zelve. There’s not much in the way of nightlife or shopping, but if dramatic scenery, old rock-cut churches and peaceful evenings are your thing, Çavuşin is hard to beat.
