Things to Do in Cappadocia: Valleys, Rock Churches, Cities
Göreme, the open-air museum, underground cities and rock castles: a practical guide to Cappadocia from TripNVB's own data.
· 2 min read
Cappadocia is a historical region of Central Anatolia, spread over several provinces, and nothing else in Turkey looks like it. Soft volcanic rock was carved into churches, houses and entire underground cities, and the landscape itself is the main attraction.
Below are the places to build your days around, then smaller sites that are easy to add.
Göreme: the heart of Cappadocia
Most visitors base themselves around Göreme — and for good reason.
Göreme National Park
Nature & Adventure · Ürgüp
Göreme Historical National Park covers nearly 100 km² in Nevşehir Province. Its valleys are best explored on foot.
Go to Göreme National ParkChurches of Göreme
Museums · Nevşehir
The Göreme Open-Air Museum gathers rock-cut churches in the soft rock formed by ash and lava millions of years ago.
Go to Churches of GöremeTokalı Church
Religious Sites · Nevşehir
Inside the open-air museum, Tokalı Church is known as the oldest and largest rock-cut church in Cappadocia.
Go to Tokalı ChurchDark Church
Religious Sites · Nevşehir
The Dark Church, also inside the museum, is a Byzantine church from the late 11th to early 12th century.
Go to Dark ChurchUnderground cities
Whole towns were dug into the rock below ground — at least one belongs on every itinerary.
Derinkuyu underground city
Historic & Cultural · Derinkuyu
Derinkuyu is an ancient underground city on several levels near the modern town of Derinkuyu.
Go to Derinkuyu underground cityKaymaklı
Historic & Cultural · Nevşehir
Kaymaklı underground city lies within the citadel of Kaymaklı and was first opened to visitors in 1964.
Go to KaymaklıÖzkonak
Historic & Cultural · Avanos
Özkonak, in the Avanos district, has its own underground city and is usually quieter than the two above.
Go to ÖzkonakRock castles and quieter sites
Small detours with big views.
Uçhisar Castle
Historic & Cultural · Nevşehir
Uçhisar Castle is a rock castle formed by natural formations on a high hill, about 6 km from the centre.
Go to Uçhisar CastleCastle of Ortahisar
Historic & Cultural · Ürgüp
Ortahisar Castle in Ürgüp is a rock formation about 90 metres high, considered the largest fairy chimney in the region.
Go to Castle of OrtahisarSarıhan Caravanserai
Historic & Cultural · Ürgüp
Sarıhan Caravanserai stands on the Aksaray–Kayseri route, the east-west Silk Road connection through the region.
Go to Sarıhan CaravanseraiCappadocia's sights are spread out, so group them by area: Göreme and the open-air museum, then the underground cities, then the castles. Opening hours are on each place's TripNVB page.
This article was written by the TripNVB team from our own data: places, locations and facts come from our records. Check opening hours and prices on each place's page before you go.
The full Cappadocia guide →
