Exploring the Magic of Cappadocia: 20 Unmissable Experiences

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Exploring the Magic of Cappadocia: 20 Unmissable Experiences

If you’re headed to Turkey, you’re going to want to make sure you leave a few days for Cappadocia – a little paradise nestled in the heart of Turkey. Whether you’re a history buff, an adrenaline junkie, or a hopeless romantic, there’s something here for everyone. We spent 3 nights in Cappadocia (or Kapadokya) on our resent trip to Turkey, and savored every moment of it. We got a thorough taste of everything and left without a single regret. Below you’ll find our vetted list of the Top 20 Things to Do in Cappadocia for your next vacation.

Google Map of Cappadocia

For your convenience, as with all our blogged destinations, we save a thorough list of all our recommended tours, restaurants, hotels, sites, museums, etc in Google. You can find our Cappadocia map below, or on our Travel Maps page.

Top Things to Do in Cappadocia

Know Before You Go: The Red and Green Tours

Before you plan your trip to Cappadocia, you’ll want to consider if you want to take a DIY approach to the area, or book the red and green tours. The red and green tours are pre-planned tours with a guide that take you through the top sites. We chose a DIY approach, but if you prefer have everything planned for you, these might be the tours for you!

The Red Tour takes you to these sites:

  • Uchisar Castle
  • Goreme National Park
  • Love Valley
  • Monks’ Valley Fairy Chimneys
  • Avanos for pottery making

The Green tour takes you to these sites:

  • Goreme Panoramic Point
  • Kaymakli Underground City
  • Selime Monastery
  • Ihlara Valley
  • Pigeon Valley

All of the destinations listed above are part of our list of top 20 things to do in Cappadocia, which you can keep reading about below!

The Essential Six

Before we get into the full list, we wanted to separate out the key highlights of Cappadocia. The “Essential Six” that we’ve put together below are the must-do activities. Whatever you plan or decide on doing, make sure these 6 are part of your itinerary!

1. Watch the Iconic Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Sunrise – Every Morning

cappadocia hot air balloon morning
  • Admission: N/A
  • Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise, 1 hour after sunrise, April – October
  • Time to spend: 1-2 hours

If you haven’t already been blasted on social media with the hot air balloons of Cappadocia, you will be soon. The hot air balloons of Cappadocia are by far the #1 tourist attraction. During the season (April through October), every morning, hot air balloons drift through the Cappadocia sky and the entire area wakes up to watch.

Our recommendation, which you’ll read below, is to stay in a cave hotel and watch the hot air balloons every morning from a terrace. Alternatively, you can hike up to the viewpoints around Goreme, such as Gün Batımı ve Doğumu / Balon Seyir Noktası, to watch the hot air balloons.

You want to arrive 15-30 minutes before sunrise and plan on staying for an hour or more.

The hot air balloons will start climbing into the air 30 minutes before sunrise and will start to deflate 30 minutes after. We recommend doing this every morning – the views never get old, and it’s hard to sleep in with all the tour buses doing drop offs and pick up anyways!

2. Enjoy Sunrise from a Hot Air Balloon

cappadocia hot air balloon sunrise tour
  • Admission: $100-$500
  • Hours: starts ~1 hour before sunrise
  • Time to spend: 2-3 hours
  • Website: Discovery Balloons

To get the full experience, you’ll want to book a hot air balloon ride, and book it early. Prices go up the longer you wait, and can range anywhere from $100-$500 depending on the season. It is on the pricier side, and may require you to wake up pretty early for sunrise, but it is 100% worth it. We booked ours with Discovery Balloons and they were everything we were looking for – timely, thorough, safe, and informative. They handled everything from transportation, food & drink, and safety. Compared to other hot air balloon tours, they had some of the best navigation of the balloons. They got us up close to the Goreme caves and even low enough to touch some tress.

Protip: If you’re staying in Cappadocia for multiple days, do this on your first morning. Weather (including winds) can delay or cancel balloon tours. Better to leave time to reschedule just in case!

3. Wander Through Göreme Open-Air Museum

cappadocia goreme open air museum
  • Admission: 480 TL (~$15 USD)/person
  • Hours: 8am – 7pm
  • Time to spend: 1-2 hours
  • Tour: part of the red tour

The second must-do activity in Cappadocia is to visit an open-air museum, specifically the Goreme Open-Air Museum. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, that preserves the carved soft tufa rock from Byzantine monks. You’ll find a huge collection of churches with frescoes of scenes from the bible, carved right into the rock. Most of the Cappadocia area features these caves and chimney structures, but the Goreme Open-Air Museum has the best collection of churches and is the highlight of the area.

4. Explore the Underground Cities

  • Admission: 13 euro, museum pass accepted
  • Hours: 8am – 7pm
  • Time to spend: 2 hours
  • Tour: Kaymakli is part of the green tour

Besides the hot air balloon ride, one of the coolest things we did during our visit of Cappadocia is explore the underground city of Derinkuyu. Derinkuyu served as a hiding place for early Christians fleeing persecution. It features 8 underground levels of tunnels, rooms, and stairs. In addition, or alternatively, you can visit the city of Kaymaklı.

Protips: Of any activity you do first thing in the morning, we recommend you prioritize this one. With the limited space underground, they start limiting entry when there are too many visitors. Definitely want to get in before all the tour buses arrive! Be prepared to duck – the passage are small! And bring a sweater or jacket – it gets cold down there!

5. Stay in a Cave Hotel

For the complete Cappadocia experience, you’ll want to book at least one night in a cave hotel, if your budget allows. Reminiscent of the former inhabitants and their dwellings, these luxury/boutique hotels are retrofitted into the cave of Cappadocia. If you do your research, you can book a room directly in a cave. Many rooms, though advertised as part of cave hotels, are actually built as extensions from the cave rooms.

Sultan Cave Suites is one of the top hotels in Cappadocia, because of its iconic presence from its terrace on Instagram and social media. It’s important to note that if you want that iconic terrace view, you must book a night at the Sultan Cave Suites. Due to their growing popularity, they’ve closed the terrace to non-hotel guests. If Sultan Cave Suites is not in the budget, know that there are many other hotels in the area with terraces that will also get great views of the balloons!

6. Sample Traditional Turkish Cuisine (also in a Cave!)

There is no better way to experience a country’s culture than through its food. So, when visiting Cappadocia, we recommend you skip the Italian and Indian restaurants and focus on the local Turkish restaurants. Some key meals or foods you’ll want to try are:

  • Clay pot – meat of choice and veggies baked in a clay pot to juicy perfection (and served straight from the pot!)
  • Mezze – a collection of veggie, yogurt, and hummus appetizer dips served with pita
  • Pide – a pizza but on pita bread, opt for the minced lamb!
  • Lahmacun – “Turkish pizza”, a very thin bread with toppings of choice (we recommend the minced lamb meat again)
  • Turkish Ravioli – little bundles of pasta with meat, yogurt, and tomato sauce (ideally freshly made)
  • Kebab + Doner
  • Breakfast breads – acma (soft & flaky Turkish bagels), simit (sesame rings/bagels), Poğaça (brioche-like bread stuffed with feta-like cheese)
  • Turkish delights
  • Baklava
  • Raki – the famous Turkish anise-based liquor that gets diluted with water and served with feta
  • Turkish tea and coffee

There are dozens of highly-rated Turkish restaurants in the area. A few of them are built into caves, so we definitely recommend at least one dinner in a cave restaurant. Here are a few we recommend (also tagged in our Google Map of Cappadocia):

Places to Explore

7. Explore Uchisar Castle and the Panoramic Views

uchisar castle cappadocia
  • Admission: ~4 euro, museum pass not accepted
  • Hours: 7am-8pm
  • Time to spend: 1 hour
  • Tour: Part of the green tour

No visit to Cappadocia is complete without exploring the iconic Uchisar Castle, the highest point in the region and a testament to Cappadocia’s rich history. Carved into the towering rock formations, this ancient citadel offers panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and fairy chimneys.

Protip: Visit at sunrise or sunset for the most magical views and don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the beauty of this ancient marvel.

8. Discover Selime Monastery and Fairy Chimneys Valley

  • Admission: <10 euro
  • Hours: 8am – 6pm
  • Time to spend: 1 hour
  • Tour: Part of the green tour

Carved into the rugged cliffs overlooking the valley, this ancient monastery offers a fascinating glimpse into Cappadocia’s rich religious history. Explore the labyrinthine corridors, climb to the rooftop for panoramic views, and marvel at the well-preserved frescoes adorning the walls. After exploring the monastery, wander through the enchanting Fairy Chimneys Valley, where surreal rock formations tower above verdant vineyards and fruit orchards.

If you want to make it more of an experience, there’s a very cool sunset horse riding tour you can book through the valleys and fairy chimneys.

9. Explore Gumusler Manastiri: A Hidden Gem of Cappadocia

  • Admission: <5 euro
  • Hours: 8:30a – 5:30pm
  • Time to spend: 30 minutes

Gumusler Manastiri is an ancient monastery tucked away in the rugged hills of Cappadocia. It’s less visited and more of a hidden gem – we were the only Americans there when we visited. It’s a quick visit, 30 minutes to 1 hour tops.

10. Hike the Rose Valley at Sunset

Put on your walking shoes and embark on a scenic hike through the Rose Valley, named for its rosy hues at sunset. Meander along winding trails that lead past surreal rock formations, hidden cave dwellings, and fragrant orchards. Don’t forget your camera – this place is a photographer’s dream!

To make it more of an adventure, you can also book a camel riding tour through Rose Valley for sunrise or sunset.

11. Hike through Ihlara or Pigeon Valley

  • Admission: 15 euro, Museum Pass Turkey valid
  • Hours: 8:30am – 5:00pm
  • Time to spend: 1-2 hours
  • Tour: Ihlara Valley is part of the green tour

There are many places to hike and explore in the Cappadocia area. But, in particular, you want to hike down into and through one or more of the famous valleys. Ihlara and Pigeon Valley are the most popular. They each feature rock formation and cave dwellings from the Byzantine area. Ihlara Valley is famous for the cave churches while Pigeon Valley is famous for the pigeon houses carved into the cliffs.

12. Watch the Sunset from Sunset Point

Cap off a day of adventure with a mesmerizing sunset from Sunset Point in Göreme. Perched atop a hill overlooking the valley, this scenic spot offers panoramic views of the surreal landscape bathed in golden hues.

13. Take a Picture at Panorama View Point

panorama viewpoint of cappadocia
  • Admission: n/a
  • Hours: n/a – go during daylight
  • Time to spend: 15-30 minutes
  • Tour: Part of the green tour

Along the rim of the Goreme valley, there are multiple cafes with viewpoints into the valley and panoramic views of the area. There’s a couple “Instagram” spots where they’ve added swings or backdrops to take photos with. Or you can take a normal photo looking into the valley and not wait in line.

Tours to Book in Cappadocia

14. Experience a Turkish Night Extravaganza

turkish night in cappadocia

On one of your evenings in Cappadocia, you’re going to want to book a 2-3 hour Turkish Night at a local restaurant. A Turkish Night is a fun way to experience Turkish culture by enjoying local food, drink, music, dance, and performance. Local restaurants will put together a dinner and a show featuring traditional dances – belly dancing, spinning, etc.

This experience includes transportation, dinner, unlimited drinks, and the performance for a very reasonable price.

Protip: This is very much a “night” experience. Some venues will encourage their guests to join them on the dance floor and it turns into a party. Even if this isn’t your thing, the performances are well worth the evening out!

15. Experience a Historical Pottery Class

Channel your inner artisan with a pottery workshop in the charming town of Avanos. Learn the ancient art of pottery-making from skilled craftsmen who have been practicing their trade for generations. Get your hands dirty as you mold and shape clay into beautiful works of art, guided by expert instructors who will teach you the techniques passed down through centuries. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced potter, the hands-on experience is sure to be both educational and rewarding. And the best part? You get to take home your own handcrafted souvenir as a memento of your Cappadocia adventure.

16. Relax with a Traditional Turkish Hammam (Turkish Bath)

  • Admission: Varies on services, ~50-60+ euro/person
  • Hours: Varies based on appointment
  • Time to spend: 1+ hours
  • Tour: Turkish bath

Exploring Cappadocia requires a lot of walking, so what better way to work out the knots in your legs than with a traditional Turkish bath, or Hammam? Hammam experiences vary in time and services, you can opt for the basic package or add additional time, massages, facials, or other spa experiences. We highly recommend this Turkish bath for your visit to Cappadocia.

17. Ride a Camel through the Dunes

  • Admission: $59+
  • Hours: recommended for sunrise or sunset
  • Time to spend: 1-2 hours
  • Tour: Camel ride tour

For the true nomad experience, we recommend a camel ride through Rose, Red, and Mesken Valley. You’ll get to ride a camel and see all the views in one trip. We recommend this tour.

18. Go Horseback Riding in the Valleys

  • Admission: $60+
  • Hours: recommended for sunrise or sunset
  • Time to spend: 2.5 hours
  • Tour: Horse riding tour

Horseback riding in the valleys of Cappadocia is another essential activity. Horse back rides vary from a couple hours to half or full day experiences. You’ll get to ride through picturesque landscapes dotted with fairy chimneys, vineyards, and ancient cave dwellings. Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian or a first-time rider, there are horseback riding tours available for all skill levels. We highly recommend this tour for horseback riding.

19. Ride on an ATV Safari

  • Admission: $60+
  • Hours: recommended around sunrise/sunset, appointment based
  • Time to spend: 2 hours
  • Tour: ATV Tour

If you’re seeking an adrenaline-filled adventure amidst the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, an ATV tour is the perfect option. Hop on your all-terrain vehicle and embark on a thrilling journey through rugged valleys, ancient villages, and lunar-like terrain. This tour typically lasts 2 to 3 hours and can be taken during the day, though we highly recommend a sunrise or sunset tour if you can make it work – like this tour (book fast, it sells out!).

20. Attend a Whirling Dervish Ceremony

Instead of, or in addition to, a Turkish Night, another way to experience the local Turkish culture is through a whirling dervish. A whirling dervish is an Islamic ceremony where the Sufi people dance and tap into their inner emotions, a spiritual practice that dates back centuries. The ceremony (which becomes a performance for locals), lasts about an hour. We recommend this tour here, which includes transportation. No food or drink is allowed.

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