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Goreme Open Air Museum

Goreme Open Air Museum: Our most recommended tours and activities

Cappadocia: Full-Day Private Cappadocia Tour

1. Cappadocia: Full-Day Private Cappadocia Tour

Explore the beautiful city of Cappadocia on a full-day guided tour. Admire the main highlights of the city like Goreme Open Air Museum, Paşabağı, Old Greek Village of Çavuşin, and more while learning about the history and culture of the city from your guide. Arrive in Göreme after pickup from your hotel and marvel at some of the best views in the region. Continue to the Underground City, the biggest and deepest underground settlement, which boasts eight levels connected by narrow tunnels. Enjoy time to explore the stalls, stores, churches, wineries, kitchens, and other sections open to visitors, while your guide provides insightful commentary. Stop for some lunch in a traditional restaurant, before making your way to Pigeon Valley, located in Uçhisar town. Here, take in the spectacular panoramic views. Make your way to the Goreme Open Air Museum and marvel at the rock-cut churches carved by early Christian monks. Learn about Christianity and the Monastic Life of Cappadocia from your guide. Visit the Old Greek Village of Çavuşin, located on the banks of the Red River, which is the longest river in Turkey. Embark on a tour of the town, visiting a pottery workshop and learning about red clay work and ceramics. Watch a demonstration of the ancient free-hand technique and hear about the pottery-making tradition which dates back to the 2nd millennium B.C by the Hittites. Then, head to a rug workshop with hand-woven products. Continue to Paşabağı where the 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 Imagination Valley. Admire the curious red rocks, which resemble animal forms, including a camel, a lizard, an owl, a snake, a chicken, and a penguin. At the end of your day, enjoy a relaxing return transfer to your hotel.

Full-Day Cappadocia Red Plus Tour

2. 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 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. Continue on your adventure as you visit Cappadocia's indispensable leather shop. 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, visit one of Cappadocia's deepest and largest underground cities. Uncover all parts of the underground city that are open to the public and learn how people survived with limited resources.  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. 

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

3. 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. Visit 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.

Red Tour: North Cappadocia with Göreme Open-Air Museum

4. Red Tour: North Cappadocia with Göreme Open-Air Museum

Discover Cappadocia on a 7-hour guided tour. Visit Avanos town, known for its earthenware pottery. See a demonstration of the Hittite technique. Explore Çavusin, one of the area's oldest settlements. People still live in rock-cut dwellings and stone houses. Walk among the Devrent Valley's fairy chimneys, and marvel at unique rock formations that resemble animals. Visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum and see centuries-old rock-cut churches and monasteries. In the Pasabag Valley, marvel at the best collection of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. Uchisar Rock Castle is the area's highest point. Take in panoramic views from the top of the castle.

Göreme Open Air Museum: Express Guided Walking Tour

5. Göreme Open Air Museum: Express Guided Walking Tour

The mystifying Göreme Open Air Museum or the Göreme National Museum, one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey, is a complex of monasteries at the center of the Cappadocian region. The honeycomb cave dwellings of the museum are etched into the landscape, providing visual intrigue and amazing history. Go on a guided tour with a friendly certified guide who will brief you on the history of the Byzantine monastic settlement and point out several important structures such as churches, cave dwellings, rock formations, and more. Understand what it was like in the day of the life of the monks and discover historical details and tidbits of this UNESCO World Heritage Site from your knowledgeable guide.

Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets

6. 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 Trip to Cappadocia with Flights

7. 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.

Cappadocia: Full-Day Private Guided Tour with Transportation

8. Cappadocia: Full-Day Private Guided Tour with Transportation

Discover the wonders and mysteries of Cappadocia on a private tour with your own personal tour guide and roundtrip transportation from your address. See the Goreme Panorama, Derinkuyu Underground City, Pigeon Vally, and Avanos. Admire 5th-century frescoes and watch a pottery demonstration. Following hotel pickup, head directly to the Goreme Panorama viewpoint. Take in sweeping views of almost all of Cappadocia and learn significant info about the region from your guide. Enjoy plenty of free time to take photos and explore the area yourself. Next, head to Derinkuyu Underground City, Cappadocia's biggest and deepest underground city. Learn about the site while exploring the eight different levels. See a kitchen, a sitting room, a restroom, tombs, stables, and a missionary school. After the underground city, arrive in Uchisar for a panoramic view of Pigeon Valley. See hundreds of pigeon houses and feed the pigeons before continuing to Goreme Open Air Museum, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1985. You can see rock churches, carved chapels built by early Christians, and an orthodox monastery sheltered to escape from Roman attacks. Admire well-preserved frescoes from the 5th century on the walls of churches and chapels. In Avanos, the center of terracotta arts in 2,000 B.C., watch a traditional pottery art demonstration. Then, the next stop is Pasabagi (Monks) Valley. Pasabagi is the best place to see three-hatted fairy chimneys. Hear about the formation of Cappadocia from up to down. After Pasabagi, visit Devrent (Imagination) Valley. Feel inspired by a dream-like picture of rock formations. Last, discover Love Valley. Spot another unique rock formation before heading back to your pickup location.

Istanbul: 3-Days, 2-nights in Cappadocia & Hot Air Balloon

9. Istanbul: 3-Days, 2-nights in Cappadocia & Hot Air Balloon

First day 07.00 Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport. 08:00 Depart from Istanbul for Kayseri 09:00 Arrive in Kayseri airport, meet in the airport. Transfer to Cappadocia. 13:00 Check in hotel 16:00 Atv tour Back to hotel Second Day 04:30-05:00 Hot Air Balloon Tour 07:00 back hotel Cappadocia Tour 09:30: Join in the first day tour of Cappadocia including Uçhisar castle viewpoint, Goreme Open Air Museum, Cavusin old village, lunch in Avonos, pottery demonstration in Avanos, Paşabağı Fairy Chimneys, Devrent Valley (magic valley), Urgup fairy chimneys, Urgup Carpet Factory. After the tour transfer to hotel and stay the night in Goreme. Overnight stay in Cappadocia (Boutiquestyle Hotel "Alaturca House" etc *standard rooms) Third Day 09:30 You will attend the tour which begin with the Göreme Panaromic view. Here, you will be given information about the geological and historical background of the city, then you will visit Underground City which was constructed as a temporary shalter against invasions and raids. The next step will be a small hiking in the Ihlara Valley, followed by a lunch break in Belisirma village. At the Yaprakhisar Panorama, you will see Selime Monastry, which is important because you can see all the different sections of a monastry in one composition. Finally, our tour will be finished with the Pigeon valley and onyx demonstration. In day transfer to airport and fly to Istanbul Arrive Istanbul and transfer to your hotel Plase Note:If hot air balloon cancel because for weather we give you 75 euro per person Tours days can be change

From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch

10. 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.

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What people are saying about Goreme Open Air Museum

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 1,032 reviews

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

Our tour was wonderful! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She showed us all the beauty Cappadocia. She took the time to explain and describe every important fact about this magic place. Everything was organized and coordinated. We definitely recommend this tour to everyone who wants to visit the beautiful Cappadocia.

Very well organized tour that started with the taxi pick up and driving us to the airport. There are a lot of amazing places to see, and plenty of historical facts get to know about Cappadocia. A big thanks to our guide, Shukram - she was very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed the tour.

Amazing tour with a very kind and smart guide Arzu. We had a tour in Russian around beautiful Cappadocia places. I highly recommend this tour to everyone. Just make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes.

Excellent trip. Everything worked out as planned. The locations were out of the world. The hotel stay was outstanding and exceeded our expectations