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Cappadocia, Turkey Culture & history

Our most recommended Cappadocia Culture & history

Cappadocia: Full-Day Highlights Tour

1. Cappadocia: Full-Day Highlights Tour

Your tour will begin as you are picked up from your hotel in the morning. From here your first stop will be a meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia, where you will discover rock formations beyond belief in the Devrent Valley. You will visit the famous Pasabag "fairy chimneys", where the sound of the of wind mixes with the "songs of fairies" near Zelve. You will later have lunch in Avanos, the center of the terracotta art medium since 3000 B.C. It is at this location that you will enjoy a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. In the afternoon, you will visit the famous Goreme Open-Air Museum, where you will be able to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. This is demonstrated in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings which date from the 10th to the 13th century. Next, you will continue to the panoramic viewpoint of Esentepe, which will provide you with a spectacular view over Goreme. You can see the complete view of the Goreme Valley and Goreme Village, including fairy chimneys, rock formations, and cave houses. You will later end your day with Uchisar Castle, a tall rock which is the highest point of the Goreme region. At the completion of your tour, you will be returned safely back to your hotel.

From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flights

2. From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flights

Get an insider’s view of Cappadocia’s most iconic spots on a trip from Istanbul. Walk in the land of fairy chimneys. Hear commentary from your guide along the way about fascinating sites like Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos Village, Uchisar, Avanos, Underground Cities, Ortahisar, and Pasabag. Day 1: Flight to Kayseri and Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia Catch your domestic flight to Kayseri. Start with a visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum, a cave city in the Goreme Valley. See rock-cut churches, kitchens, and wineries left by Anatolian Christians. Gaze at Byzantine frescos at this UNESCO World Heritage Site and learn about its history. Next, make your way to Devrent Valley, famous for its animal-shaped rocks. See a rock pillar that looks like the Virgin Mary, holding Jesus Christ. Continue to Pasabagi Valley or Monks Valley to enjoy the wonderful landscape. Make your way to Avanos Village, the region known for its pottery, silk, wool, and carpet weaving, wine cultivation, and agriculture. See the natural as well as human-made masterpieces of this charming old town. Savor a typical Turkish lunch. Experience pottery-making with local experts. After treating yourself to a hearty lunch, continue to Goreme Panorama, for views of fairy chimneys, which are tall rock formations with caps on top. Make the most of your time in Cappadocia by visiting Uchisar. Get to the top of the rock castle in the center of the town, the highest point of the region, a perfect vantage point for a panoramic view of the stunning Cappadocian landscape. After sightseeing, be driven to your hotel. Spend the night in Cappadocia in a special-class cave hotel. Day 2: Underground Cities Of Cappadocia and Flight to Istanbul Start your day with breakfast at the hotel. After check-out, embark on a full-day tour. Visit Rose and Red Valley, an incredibly unique area of Cappadocia with sharp ridges, tinted in pink, especially during sunset. Go off the beaten path to visit Cavusin. See its famous rock churches. Next, enjoy a tour of Pigeon Valley, named after the countless man-made dovecotes or pigeon houses carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Walk through a picturesque maze of rock formations. Then, go down to the world of underground cities. Once a refuge for 15000 Christians, these settlements were of enormous value to the development of Christianity. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall, and food storage rooms in this 8-story city connected by 30 kilometers of corridors and passageways. Continue the tour with Ortahisar, famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets, and lovely churches. See the famous castle-like rock formation standing dominantly over the town. After the tour, be driven to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, be greeted by your driver and return to your hotel.

Full-Day Cappadocia Red Plus Tour

3. Full-Day Cappadocia Red Plus Tour

See the top sights of Cappadocia on this guided day tour. Visit Monks Valley, marvel at the fairy chimneys, and see Goreme Valley. You will be picked up from your hotel by a professional tour guide after your breakfast. Your first encounter with Cappadocia will be in Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley).  In this valley, different rock formations can be seen as animals which is why this valley can also be called Imagination Valley. Use your imagination to describe all these rocks. Then, head to Monks Valley or also known as Paşabağları.  There is a bit of a difference between these two meanings in English and Turkısh. Monks used to live here and hide from the religious pressures of the Roman government or local people.  During the Roman period, most of the people were pagans and not Christian. That's why all the history of these places comes from this point.  In Turkish, Paşa means men who have lots of money and land. Bağ means land or area that can be purchased. In the following years, all these rich men bought some part of the land for their own economic power. Afterward, the local people were known as Paşabağları. Avanos town will be your third point of interest. In the art center, you will see how to make pottery and ceramic in the Cappadocia region. The history of pottery making and ceramic dates back to the Hittite emperors (B.C. 4000).  Avanos is the only town that is famous for pottery and ceramic made using red and white clay only. In the art center, you will be shown a pottery-making demonstration and will also be able to try it yourself. Then, head to an open buffet lunch in a local, clean restaurant as a tour break.  After a short photography break at the Esentepe viewpoint, see the stunning Gōreme Valley and fairy chimneys. The largest and tallest fairy chimney known as Uchisar Castle will be your next point of interest located in Uchisar. It is also a natural structure, not made by human hands.  In case of dangerous situations, you will not be allowed to climb the castle.  The most important place for Christianity, Zelve Open Air Museum will be waiting for your visit after Uchisar Castle. This will be completely similar to today's university model. You will see dormitories (for men and women), churches (9 to 10), chapels, dining rooms, mutual places, and classrooms.  You will see wall paintings or frescoes on most of the walls of the churches in this museum. These paintings depict some scenes from the Bible or some other important point in the life of Jesus Christ. People used to live here as students and teachers together. In addition, teachers gave Christian courses to their students from the Bible. Then after their graduation, they would go to some other part of Turkey in order to spread and teach Christianity to the people.  Finally, you will visit the deepest and largest underground city in Cappadocia. Consisting of seven floors, you will see all parts of the underground city open to the public and learn how people survived under limited opportunities.  Mainly, you will see stalls, dining rooms, food storage rooms, churches, kitchens, and other similar places you would normally find in a living area. Your professional art historian guide will gladly explain all the details and the history of the places you will visit during your tour schedule. 

Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets

4. Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets

Your tour of Cappadocia's highlights begins with a pickup from your hotel. Head to the Devrent Valley and see why it is also known as Imagination Valley. See countless different types of Fairy Chimney formations, which formed almost 30 million years ago. Head to the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia and a UNESCO site. See the cave town's dwellings built into the sides of rock formations. Now a ghost town due to unsafe erosion, this place once housed Christians and Muslims in harmony with each other. Have the opportunity to stop by a local shop to discover the real Anatolia. See how people survived and created beautiful art in this region dating back to the Hittite period. Sit down for lunch in a local restaurant and rest up for the second half of the tour.   Then stop in Pasabag, where we will see the most interesting fairy chimneys, resembling those seen in the Hobbit and Smurfs.

From Istanbul: 2-Day All-Inclusive Cappadocia Guided Trip

5. From Istanbul: 2-Day All-Inclusive Cappadocia Guided Trip

Get an insider’s view of Cappadocia’s most iconic spots on an all-inclusive trip from Istanbul. Float above volcanic spires and honeycombed hills on a hot air balloon. Be accompanied by a guide to Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos, Pasabag, Uchisar, and Kaymakli Underground City, and more. Day 1 Depart from your hotel in an air-conditioned minivan and make your way to Istanbul airport. Catch your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon your arrival to Cappadocia, meet your guide and begin your tour of North Cappadocia. Walk in the land of fairy chimneys. Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Red River, Devrent Valley, and Pasabag. Make your way to Avanos Village for a traditional lunch and pottery demonstration. Get to the top of the Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the region, a perfect vantage point for a panoramic view of the stunning Cappadocian landscape. After sightseeing, be driven to your hotel. Spend the night in Cappadocia. Day 2 You can opt to join a balloon flight in the morning. Your day tour will be organized according to the balloon flight hours. After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Go off the beaten path to visit Cavusin. See its famous rock churches. Head to Goreme Panorama for views of fairy chimneys. Hike in the Red Valley. Visit Old Greek Love Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, and Pigeon Valley. Walk through a picturesque maze of rock formations. Witness an onyx demonstration by local experts. Savor a typical Turkish lunch. Conclude the day tour by 5 PM. Then, be driven to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your driver and taken to your hotel.

Cappadocia: Full-Day Private Highlights Tour

6. Cappadocia: Full-Day Private Highlights Tour

Get picked-up from your hotel. First, enjoy a panoramic view of Göreme and marvel at some of the best views in the region. Your guide will have plenty of knowledge to offer you about your surroundings. Afterwards, visit Underground City which is the biggest and deepest underground settlement. It has 8 levels connected with narrow tunnels. You will visit stalls, stores, churches, wineries, kitchens and the other sections which are open for visitors. While you are visiting the sections, your guide will complement the experience with their expert knowledge. Next, enjoy a local lunch in an authentic restaurant. After, visit Pigeon Valley which is located in Uçhisar town and offers another spectacular panoramic view. The next destination is Goreme Open Air Museum, where you can see rock-cut churches carved by early Christian monks. Your guide will give you information about Christianity and the Monastic Life of Cappadocia. The next stop will be Çavuşin, which is the Old Greek Village, abandoned after Population Exchange in 192. This town is located on the banks of the Red River which is the longest river in Turkey. It is famous for its pottery which started around the 2nd millennium B.C by Hittites. You will have a tour of the town and then visit a pottery workshop and learn about red clay work and ceramics. One of the masters of the discipline will even demonstrate the ancient free-hand technique that has been used throughout history. Visit a rug workshop where all the products are made by hand in the traditional way. Then visit Paşabağı where spectacular mushroom-shaped rock formations can be seen. Paşabağı is also called Monks Valley because of the Chapel of Saint Simeon which is located in the valley. The next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also known as İmagination Valley. The valley contains curious red rocks, some of which resemble animal forms: a camel, a lizard, an owl, a snake, a chicken and a penguin.

Cappadocia: Green Tour in the Ihlara Valley

7. Cappadocia: Green Tour in the Ihlara Valley

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel and get a panoramic view of Göreme en route to Derinkuyu Underground City. Marvel at the subterranean city, used by the Romans to shelter against invasions by the Arabs. Get explanations about the area's deepest underground city before moving on to the Ihlara Canyon, formed by volcanic activity from Mount Hasan and erosion by the Melendiz River. Learn how early Christians carved churches from the rock on a 3.5-kilometer hike through the Ihlara Valley, and pause for lunch at a riverside restaurant. Next, visit the rock-carved Selime Monastery and learn about monastic life in Cappadocia. Continue to the Pigeon Valley to learn how the locals have used pigeon eggs and droppings for different purposes and why they carved pigeon houses on the slopes of the valley. End with a visit to an onyx factory in Uçhisar and watch a demonstration about how volcanic stone is shaped by a master craftsman.

From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch

8. From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch

Explore the most important landmarks of Cappadocia along with its fascinating rock formations on a full-day guided tour from Istanbul. See the Goreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, fairy chimneys from Goreme Panorama, and more with an authentic Turkish lunch at a restaurant. Get picked up from your hotel in Istanbul and arrive at the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Kayseri. Meet your local driver and enjoy the ride to Cappadocia, where you will join other group participants and begin your tour. Explore the Goreme Open Air Museum and study the many rock-cut churches from as far back as the 10th century. Next, visit Devrent Valley, famous for its quirky animal-shaped rocks, and feel like you're in another world. Head to Pasabag, also known as Monks Valley, and see the chapel dedicated to St. Simeon along with a hermit's shelter. Admire some of the most striking fairy chimneys with a unique mushroom shapes. Stop for a typical Turkish lunch in Avanos. Then learn to make pottery with local experts. Take in the best views of the fairy chimneys from Goreme Panorama before marveling at more magnificent landscapes from Uchisar Rock Castle. Drive back to Kayseri for your return flight to Istanbul where your driver will greet you and take you back to your hotel.

From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia w/Balloon+Cave Hotel

9. From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia w/Balloon+Cave Hotel

Day 1:The adventure starts with pickup from your hotel in Istanbul. Travel to the airport where you'll take an early flight to Cappadocia. Stop by the hotel to drop-off your luggage before starting the Red Tour at 10:00 AM. The first stop is Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley due to the countless Fairy Chimney formations, some dating back 30 million years. Next, head to the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia and a UNESCO site. See the cave town's dwellings built into the rocks and learn about the site where Christians and Muslims in harmony. Stop by a local shop to admire artistic techniques dating back to the Hittite period. Finally, set down for a buffet lunch in a local restaurant. The second half of the tour includes a visit to Pasabag, where you'll admire Fairy Chimneys that resemble those seen in the Hobbit and Smurfs. At the end of the day, return to the hotel for an unforgettable night sleeping in a cave. Day 2: Start with a sunrise balloon ride at Soğanlı Valley. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast and check out. The driver will then pick you up for a stop at Göreme Panorama. Next, drive to Kaymaklı Underground City to learn how early Christians protected themselves from centuries of persecutions and invasions. Hike through Turkey's largest canyon, which features over 2,670 different plants that thrive in the valley's microclimate. Afterward, drive 1.5 hours to Ihlara Canyon for a 3.8-km hike along the river. After working up an appetite, enjoy lunch in Belisırma. Next, visit Selime Monastery, the biggest religious building in Cappadocia with a cathedral-size church. Before returning you to your hotel, your guide will stop at Pigeon Valley, the best photo spot in all of Cappadocia. The day ends with transport to the airport in Cappadocia. Once in Istanbul, a driver will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel.

Istanbul: 8-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus, Konya, Pamukkale Tour

10. Istanbul: 8-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus, Konya, Pamukkale Tour

Discover the highlights of Turkey on a guided 8-day sightseeing tour. See the best of Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Konya. Visit the famous sites of Ephesus, Pammukale, and the Devrent Valley. Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) or SAW airport where the tour representative will meet you with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for your overnight stay in Istanbul. Day 2: Full-Day Istanbul Tour with Breakfast After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Istanbul. Visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Visit the Grand Bazaar for shopping and spend the night in Istanbul. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays so the Spice Market will be visited instead. Day 3: Istanbul – Izmir – Ephesus Tour – Kusadasi with Breakfast and Dinner Start day 3 with early morning pickup from the hotel and transfer to Istanbul IST or SAW airport for your flight to Izmir. Arrive at Izmir Airport and be met by your tour guide. Drive to Ephesus and see the Artemis Temple before continuing to Ephesus, one of the 12 cities of Ionia (an ancient Greek district on the western coast of Asia Minor). After Ephesus, visit the House of the Virgin Mary. This house is located in the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. Then drive to Kusadasi to stay overnight. Day 4: Kusadasi – Pamukkale Tour with Breakfast and Dinner Drive to Pamukkale to visit the Travertines, white terraces, and Hierapolis ancient city. Stay overnight in a Thermal Hotel. Day 5: Pamukkale – Cappadocia Cave Hotel with Breakfast Drive to Cappadocia which will be approximately 8 hours of driving. Visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the worldwide famous mystic, and Sultanhani Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travelers could rest Overnight in Cappadocia in a cave hotel. Day 6: Cappadocia Tour Cave Hotel with Breakfast See the Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup. Then, visit Kaymakli Underground City. Visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum Continue to Uchisar Rock Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Spend the night in a traditional Cappadocia cave hotel. This day includes an optional hot air ballooning experience during sunrise. Day 7: Full-Day Cappadocia Tour - Istanbul with Breakfast In the morning, admire the lunar landscape of the Devrent Valley. Stop at Avanos, the center of terra cotta works of art since 3000 BC, and enjoy a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Transfer to the airport for your domestic flight from Kayseri to Istanbul and then head to your hotel for an overnight stay. Day 8: Home with Breakfast After breakfast check out from the hotel and relax with a private transfer to the airport. Depends upon flights/hotel availabilities, reverse (Istanbul-Capp.-Pamukkale-Ephesus-Izmir-Istanbul) can be organized.

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What people are saying about Cappadocia

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 321 reviews

All-inclusive trip made planning easy! Ahmed and Mustafa were great guides, Cappadocia was super neat (and a great respite from the craziness of Istanbul), and the hotel was absolutely lovely. My only critique is that some of the stops felt too focused on consumerism, though the rugs, jewelry, and ceramics were all beautiful. Definitely plan to buy things (that is, have space in your luggage, though if you spend a lot, they’ll ship for you), or be okay with not buying things but feeling pressure from the shops.

An extremely event filled day of experiencing the best Cappadocia has to offer. Our tour guide Faruk was very knowledgeable and friendly. He explained everything in detail which really helped us appreciate and learn about the Turkish culture, tradition and history. Faruk also had excellent English which made the information easy to understand. Faruk ensured the tour was interesting, fun and interactive. We highly recommend this day tour for a wholesome Turkish experience! Regards, Roshan and Milan Anand - NZ

It was one of the most wonderful experiences ever. Excellent service. Comfortable vehicles throughout the journey and our guide was super nice. The cave hotel booked for us was the most amazing place and worth the money. We just sat and enjoyed the pretty views and sites and that's it. Nothing for us to worry about. The hot air balloon ride was just breathtaking. Totally recommend the tour package. you won't regret it at all.

It was a really nice experience as the tour was organized, pleasant and offered us the chance to visit all the sightseeings of Göreme.

Fun chill day exploring South Cappadocia. The tour wasn’t rush but everything was very interesting.