An extraordinary lunar landscape which attracts thousands of tourists with its unique beauty! During the years, erosions has formed caves, clefts, pinnacles, fairy chimneys and sensuous folds, creating an unbelievable scenery!
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia and a Wolrd Heritage Site declared by UNESCO, surrounded by towns such as Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Avanos and Mustafapaşa. This amazing site, became a religious refuge during the early days of Christianity! At the 4th century, Christians fleeing from the Romes persecution, arrived in the area and established monastic communities and dozens underground cities used as hideouts.
While humans did a great job to the formation of this beautiful land, Mother Nature is the one to be thanked for the creation of this wonderful scenery! The eruptions of the volcanic mountains, Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan, helped in the formation of this unique place! The flood water of the rivers, running down the hillsides of the valleys and the strong winds, eroded the geological formation creating unique shapes, called fairy chimneys. One of the most famous attractions in Cappadocia!
This unreal scenery can also be admired from a high point! Hot Air Balloon ride is the perfect way for someone to enjoy all the wondeful views while fliying above the city! Usually the duration of the ride is 1 hour and the operation takes place in the Central Cappadocia. The deparure time is at 5:00 in the morning and rides are scheduled all over the year!
You can reach Cappadocia either by plane or by bus. There are regural flights from the airports at Istanbul and at Ankara. Overnight buses also run from Istanbul (750km) and Ankara (350km) to Cappadocia region.
During your travel to Cappadocia, you can enjoy a totally different experience, choosing to stay overnight in a cave hotel! Incredible crafted fairy chimney rooms at the top of rock formations, providing views to the mountains and valleys!
Cappadocia has a climate of steppe and there is a big temperature difference between day and night. In summer the average temperature is 25 degrees C and -2 degrees C in the winter. The best period for someone to travel to Cappadocia (always according to the weather), is between June and October
Some of the most famous and amazing sights in Cappadocia:
Goreme
A wonderful open air museum… a complex of cave churches, beautifully decorated with frescoes. Located 1,5km from Goreme village. Some of the churches are: Nunnery, St Barbara church, Apple Church, Snake Church, Carikli Church and Bukle Church
Zelve
An empty cave town, which housed one of the largest communities in the region. Located 10km from Goreme, now it is like a ghost town surrounded by three amazing valleys. Some of the churches are: The Church with the Deers, the Church with the Grapes and the Church with the Fishes
Kaymakli Underground City
The widdest underground city, built under the Cidatel hill. A place full of low, narrow and slopping passages, consists of 8 floors, each one used for different purpose
Derinkuyu Underground City
The deepest underground city, located 40km from Goreme. The place contains all the usual rooms, it is about 85m deep and has almost 600 outside doors to the city
Ihlara Valley
The deepest valley with a depth of 100m, formed by the Melendiz river thousands years ago. Located near mount Hasan and mount Melendiz, housed more than four thousand dwellings and a hundred cave churches. Some of them are: the smelly church, the church with the terrace, the church under the tree
Uchisar Castle
A wonderful rock-cut castle providing amazing views, used as a place of refuge when enemy armies overtook the surrounding plains. Located at the Pigeon Valley, there are many rooms hollowed into the rock connected with stairs and passages
Ortahisar Castle
An amazing rock-cut castle, used as a fortress in Byzantine times, located close to Goreme Open Air Museum. It offers a magnificent panorama over the fairy chimneys of Hallacdere and the snowy peak of Mt. Erciyes
Avanos town
Considered the center of pottery since the time of Hittites, located 8km from Goreme. The Red River, passes through the town and not only separates the place from other parts of Cappadocia but also supplies the town with clays for pottery
Pasabag Valley
A beautiful valley also known as Monk Valley, located on the road to Zelve. Contains some of the most striking chimneys in the city, mushroom shaped
Devrent Valley
Also known as Pink Valley, it is a place which hosts animal shaped fairy chimneys such as camel, snake and dolphin… and many different rock formations. There is even a rock pillar which looks like Virgin Mary, holding Jesus Christ
Hacibektas
A sacred center of Besakti sect of Islam, where thousands of people flock every year on 16-17-18 of August. Located 40km from Goreme
Gulsehir
Also known as Rose City, located on the southern bank of the Red River. This place was one of the first settlements in Cappadocia. The ottoman Grand Vezier Karavezir Mehmet Seyyid Pasha, built in the town a complex of 30 houses, a mosque, a madrassa and a fountain
Cavusin
A beautiful old town in the district of Avanos, with a high cliff on the top of which stands the Church of St John the Baptist
Caravanserais
The most beautiful examples of caravanserais are between Aksaray and Kayseri. They were used as hotels on the silk road in the 10th century! Trades across Turkey during the Seljuk times was dependent on camel trains which stayed overnights in inns known as Caravansera. They provided accommodation and other amnities for the merchants and stabling for their animals