A Trip to Cappadocia – Things to See in Turkey

If you’re planning a trip to Cappadocia, then be sure to bring your best camera, as this city has breathtaking views and numerous things to do.

Nestled among the rocks and ingrained with silence, Cappadocia is stationed in Turkey and qualifies for all the reasons to be on your travel bucket list.

Count your steps towards the city which is studded with the picturesque mountains and colorful motifs dipped in soothing hues. So, what are you waiting for? Pack up your travel essentials and let’s roll in.

Adorable Landscape

If there was only one thing you could do on your trip to Cappadocia, then only viewing its landscapes would suffice. The scenery of Cappadocia is lined with intricate cut mountains, painted in colorful hues and dipped in the sensation of fairy tales.

In the past, three volcanoes emitted the lava over the place. The exposure to nature and wind solidified the lava and carved different shapes out of it. There can be observed deep grooves, rock cuttings (fairy chimneys) and various valleys. When seen first, it gives you an idea of the moon’s surface, yet it exists on earth!

Hop On Hot Air Balloon

All this adorable beauty can be best enjoyed by availing a hot balloon – if would be a shame to miss this on your trip to Cappadocia. Hot balloons are the most favorite activity of the city. Visitors enjoy the breathtaking dawn and dusk views with the stunning backdrop of hills and rocks.

Hot air balloons not only let you have a birds-eye view of the town, but also allow you to glaze all those cave openings and mighty peaks which are the hallmark of Cappadocia.

Enjoy buffet-style morning meal and a sparking champagne (favorite activity of the town) during the trip on a hot air balloon. This is a breakfast that will make you feel like you’re in heaven and above!

Horse Riding in Cappadocia

When looking into the meaning of the name “Cappadocia”, one comes across “the land of beautiful horses”. The village area of Cappadocia gives a wide glimpse of the horses grazing here and there.

Pick up your camera and capture these lively moments behind the lens or just go for a horse ride. There are numerous tours from which you can choose, with prices being quite decent: only $50 USD for a 2 hours ride.

Hike and Explore Nature in Cappadocia

While packing your luggage, be sure not to forget your hiking gear, as a trip to Cappadocia is always welcoming and exciting for hikers.

Carved through the valley and rocky bottoms, the Love Valley hike path is 1.5-miles long. The cone-shaped attic seems to be calling out the hikers to touch its feet.

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Red and Rose Valley is the eye capturing and easy hiking trail (3-miles) to go after. The trail is a linking point between Love Valley and the Grand Canyon. The hills and rocks are dipped in the tints of red, white and pink shades.

Ilhara valley stationed along the river is a very easy hiking trail with several caves splattered along the trip.

Look into the caves

The rocky bottoms of Cappadocia have intricate reserves in them. Yes, you guessed it: gorgeous caves!

The caves once used by the Stone Age people to keep them warm have been transformed into luxurious cave hotels.

You can descend and book a cave of your choice in various cities: traditional or modern ones.

If you’re a traditional kind of traveler, then be sure to check these cave hotels out, in Ortahisar

If you’re mode prone to modern ones, then Urgup, Uchisar or Goreme should be what you’re looking for.

Apart from hotels, one can also find churches in these caves dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Cavusin, Monks Valley, Devrent Valley and Pigeon Valley are the most inviting hot shots of the town.

Goreme Open Air Museum in Goreme

Do not miss out on the Goreme Open Air Museum which is marked by a range of Churches hidden among the caves (dating 1000 years back).

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Before the Christian era, the Ottoman Empire utilized these caves as a pigeon habitat. The waste of pigeon helped to reserve the old paintings and motifs drawn in these caves. Thus, they can be even witnessed and adored today in the Museum. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and holds significant importance. 

Visit the Cave Cities

Cappadocia is as beautiful under the ground as majestic it is above the surface. The underground cities are among the most admired parts of the town. Many ancient cities have been marked by the archaeologists.

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Among these, Derinkuyu remained the most celebrated city of the history which housed 20,000 people. The caves are lined with tunnels and various civilization signs (church, school, food compartments, animal storage, and funeral homes) which uncover the hints about the lifestyle of the citizens.

Eating Delights in Cappadocia, Turkey

The trip to Cappadocia cannot be completed without Turkish food. Stop by Ziggy café (Urgup) and The Old Greek House (Mustafapasa) to savor the best Turkish food sensations. Café Safak might be the best choice when looking for a budget meal.

At least one of your meals should be a pottery kebab, which is the most favorite dish in town. Cooked in a closed pot for 4 hours, it bursts in aromas and delightful tastes.
Turkish tea served in the tulip-shaped glass might surprise you if you enjoy your 5 o’clock hot beverage. It stores the most enriched flavors of tea, releasing them with only one sip – worth every penny!

Now that you’ve got a glimpse of what your trip to Cappadocia might be like, we can only say that words could not express the majestic beauty of this place. Whenever you decide to go, go with all your heart! <3