Cappadocia is an area in Central Anatolia in Turkey best known for its unique moon-like landscape, underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks.

Understand

The Cappadocian Region located in the center of the Anatolian Peninsula, with its valley, canyon, hills and unusual rock formation created as a result of the eroding rains and winds of thousands of years of the level, lava-covered plain located between the volcanic mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan as well as its troglodyte dwellings carved out of the rock and cities dug out into underground, presents an otherworldly appearance. The eruptions of these mountains which were active volcanoes in geological times lasted until 2 million years ago. A soft tuff layer was formed, 150 m in thickness, by the issuing lavas in the valley surrounded by mountains. The rivers, flood water running down the hillsides of valleys and strong winds eroded the geological formations consisting of tuff on the plateau formed with tuff layers, thus creating bizarre shapes called fairy Chimneys. These take on the names of mushroom shaped, pinnacled, capped and conic shaped formations. The prehistoric settlements of the area are Koskhoyuk (Kosk Mound) in Nigde, Aksaray Asikli Mound, Nevsehir Civelek cave and, in the southeast, Kultepe, Kanis and Alisar in the environs of Kayseri. This area with unusual topographic characteristics was regarded as sacred and called, in the Scythian/khatti language, as "Khepatukha" meaning "the Country of the People of the Chief God Hepat" The tablets called Cappadocian Tablets and the Hittite works of art in Alisar are of the important remains dating from 2000s B.C. After 1200s B.C., the Tabal principality, of the Khatti Branches of Scythians, became strong and founded the Kingdom of Tabal. Following the Late Hittite and Persian aras, the Cappadocian Kingdom was established in 332 B.C. During the Roman era the area served as a shelter for the early escaping Christians.

There are also several underground cities used by early Christians as hideouts in Cappadocia.

 

Get in

By Bus

Most of the bus companies have bus services to Nevsehir and Goreme. By bus; Istanbul-12 hours, Ankara-5 hours, Bursa - 11 hours, Izmir-12 hours, Konya-4 hours

By Plane

Kayseri, one of the comperatively big cities in Turkey, is an hour drive from Goreme. Kayseri (Erkilet) Airport welcomes flights from Izmir and Istanbul every day of the week.

 

By Train

Kayseri is on a busy railway route. It is possible to find suitable trains to Kayseri from almost all the train stations of Turkey. From Kayseri, you can take bus to go to Goreme.

 Get around

 See

• Rock city in Goreme
• Pottery town Avanos
• Ürgüp
• Uçhisar with its rock castle
• Ortahisar with its rock castle
• Underground cities in Kaymaklı, Derinkuyu, Özkonak or Mazıköy
• Old greek houses in Sinasos

• Goreme Open Air Museum

• Underground cities

• Zelve

• ÇavuÅŸin

• Urgup

• MustafapaÅŸa

• Ihlara Canyon

• Avanos

Do

• Balloon Rides - are one of the most popular activities in Goreme. Typically lifting off at sunrise, these rides last around 45 minutes and literally go wherever the wind may blow in the Cappadocia Valley. The balloon carriages hold around ten people with the pilot riding air currents much like a boat, floating down the valleys, often below the ridge line and quite close to the chimney rocks. It’s a fantastic ride and if you’ve ever had the urge to splurge on a balloon ride (approx. 110 euros), this would be the place to do it. You will certainly be offered the ride (prices are around 110 euros) while you are in Goreme. Several hot air balloon companies offer dawn balloon rides, claiming they are better than anywhere else in the world. Ask around about safety records, as some operators are better than others.

• Hiking - Following the paths along the valleys is an amazing (and free) option. Check with your hotel owner or the tourist office for a map of the area with suggested walks and trails. There are several nice loops on packed dirt, sand and rock, that maintain a constant elevation and pass through the scenic valleys.
• Cross Golf - Cappadocia is a national park and its natural environment must be protected for everyone to enjoy today and in the future.Cross Golf uses the natural features of the landscape to challenge even the most experienced golfer. The fairy chimneys, fascinating rock formations and flora and fauna in the unique environment of Cappadocia remain unaffected by Cross Golf.

Eat and Drink

• Dry apricots and grapes

• Mantı (kind of ravioli with minced meat served with yoghurt and garlic sauce)

• Testi Kebap (jug kebap)

• Pastirmali kuru fasulye (white beans with spiced meat)

• Local wines

 Sleep

 Mid Range

• Goreme House Hotel, [1]. Offers great base to explore the Cappadocia region with friendly and lively atmosphre and 13 bedrooms which 2 of them are suites.

• Traveller’s Cave Pension (pension is located at high position at Goreme, with great Goreme national park view from thier room and terrace. offers great breakfast, hospitality,cheaper OP tours and other service), Gaferli Mah. No:28 - 50180 Goreme (5mins walk from Goreme bus station:free pick up from Goreme bus station), ☎ 0384-271-2707 (pension@travellerscave.com, fax: 0384-271-2624), [2]. Check in: 24-hour; Check out: 10:00am. dorm single double/twin triple quad family room,all in cave….  edit

 

Splurge

• Esbelli Evi selected as one of 550 best hotels in the world by Focus Magazine, a fine small inn of comfortable cave rooms hewn from the golden stone, with beautiful views of the Cappadocian landscape.[3]

• Museum Hotel situated in Uchisar, a wonderfully quirky village, known as the peak of Cappadocia with its cave like castle.[4]

• Rose Mansions located in Mustafapasa, once called Sinasos, consists of two old Greek houses built in the mid 1900s

• Yunak Evleri consists of six cave houses with a total of 27 private cave rooms dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

• Traveller’s Cave Hotel located on the hill top above the center of Goreme, 11 private cave rooms. some of room date back to the byzantine period.[5]