From its remarkable natural backdrop to its rock-hewn buildings and frescoes, exploring Cappadocia in its entirety is like wanting to eat one full enchilada in one mouthful. The Goreme National Park is quite challenging to explore in a single visit due to the limitless historical and geographical monuments.
Don’t worry, though; you will have the opportunity to view the highlights because there are 7 UNMISSABLE THINGS TO DO IN CAPPADOCIA that we are going to discuss in detail.
Best Time to Visit Cappadocia
Since Cappadocia is quite high, the weather is not that hot. You can visit throughout the year but keep in mind that you don’t visit in the snow season if you wish to fly in a hot air balloon. However the best time is September and October, but June is the busiest season. Check out Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar to get there at discounted fares.
7 Adventurous Things to Do in Cappadocia
Try to approach Cappadocia as if you were eating an enchilada piece by piece. Even if you don’t finish it all, you’ll always remember the flavor.
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Stroll Around the Goreme Valleys
You can go on a stroll, a mountain bike ride, a horseback ride, or a scooter ride in the valleys of Göreme, which are naturally home to numerous rock formations, including mushrooms, columns, and cones. It resembles a tour of a natural history museum.
Locals say that George Lucas requested to film scenes in these valleys for his Star Wars movies but was refused because the producers did not want to depict phallic symbols in the movie.
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Explore Göreme Open Air Museum
A collection of churches that were carved out of volcanic rock and frescoed throughout the Middle Ages can be found in the Goreme Open Air Museum.
The Apple Church, Chapel of St. Barbara, Chapel of St. Catherine, and the so-called Dark Church are among the group of rock-cut buildings, and their painted frescoes will meet any standard of art. A visit to Goreme Open Air Museum, which is home to the most significant Byzantine cave churches in the world, is a must. If you book for Cappadocia through Southwest, you can make Southwest Airlines Seat Selection through the Manage Booking option.
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Check out Derinkuyu: Ancient City
One of my personal favorite things to do in Cappadocia is this iconic site. Derinkuyu is a historic underground city that was unintentionally found in 1963 by a resident remodeling his home. Can you picture it?
He discovered a fascinating network of caves and tunnels spanning numerous floors and descending nearly 85 meters into the earth’s core. This subterranean city was founded in the seventh century BC.
Deep within the city are chapels, rooms, wine cellars, and even schools. Air shafts were built to convey food and water to the city’s many various levels in addition to maintaining air circulation. So now, just seven of them are accessible.
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Golden Hours at Red Valley
One of my favorite areas in Cappadocia is Red Valley because of the vibrant rock formations there. But, the greatest time to see the vivid red rock is just before sunset, when the sun bathes the surrounding area in a sea of orange and crimson.
The Red Valley sunset viewpoint is a well-liked location to observe the setting sun. There are swing chairs and benches to sit on, as well as various cafes and food stalls where you can buy a snack and a cold beverage, whether you hike there or drive there.
This is perhaps among the most soothing things to do in Cappadocia.
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Balloon Ride in Cappadocia
One of the most well-known activities in Cappadocia, and, let me simply say, the most pricey. To be completely honest, we must admit that while in Cappadocia, we did not partake in the hot air balloon journey that was the subject of so many marvels.
We even ran with a bunch of Turks who traveled all the way from Istanbul on a 12-hour bus journey in order to take advantage of what they dubbed “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Therefore don’t wait to explore it if you can afford it.
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Walk Through Zelve Open Air Museum
You’ll adore the Zelve Open Air Museum if you like the Goreme Open Air Museum. Personally, I preferred this location over the other because it was less crowded and allowed for independent exploration. The museum is like Goreme in that it was once an old town and is now a museum. Old bakeries, stables, wine cellars, cathedrals, and mosques are all visible. You can go to Southwest Airlines Book a Flight option to fly to Cappadocia.
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Amble at Uçhisar Castle
The huge Uchisar Castle, located at Cappadocia’s highest point, is a testament to the scope and intricacy of the region’s prehistoric communities.
The castle, which previously served as the city’s primary defensive position, is reported to have been home to 1,000 inhabitants, most of whom were soldiers. Even though the castle is now mostly in ruins, you can still explore it.
Wrap Up
Traveling to Cappadocia is an enchanting and captivating experience that leaves visitors in awe of its natural wonders and rich history. Explore and go on the excursion of Cappadocia!
