Turkey Nevsehir / Cappadocia Tours

Discover Turkey: Nevsehir / Cappadocia Tours

Places to see in Cappadocia / Nevsehir

1. Ihlara Valley, located in Aksaray, the westernmost point of the Cappadocia region. To reach this valley, formed over years of erosion by the 12-kilometer-long Melendiz

River, you'll need to descend nearly 400 steps. Within Ihlara Valley, you can explore the Agacalti Church and the Snake Church, both dating back to the 4th century.

2. Narligol Crater Lake: On the way from Ihlara Valley to the Derinkuyu Underground City, you can make a pleasant photo stop at Narligol. The lake derives its name from the nearby Nar Village. Although it's referred to as a crater lake, some believe it formed due to a meteor impact.

3. Goreme Open-Air Museum: Encompassing numerous churches built by the early Christians, Goreme Open-Air Museum is a fascinating area characterized by its volcanic tuff structure and panoramic views. It began hosting monastic life as early as the 4th century.

      Places to see in Goreme Open Air Museum 

• The Dark Church; The Dark Church is one of the most famous parts of the museum because of its extremely well-preserved paintings that have kept their brightness over the years. Inside, you can see stories from the life of Christ and other religious stories. The small windows let in soft natural light that makes the scenes come to life. 
• The Tokali Church: The Tokali Church is another great part of the Goreme Open Air Museum. Its beautiful building and detailed paintings make it stand out. Explore the finely carved rock rooms and be amazed by the pictures of angels, saints, and historical events that are carved into the walls.  
  
• The Elmali Church; The Elmali Church is a great example of how symbolic Cappadocian art can be. Its name comes from the Tree of Life that is painted on its walls. If you look closely, you can find images from the New Testament that are painted with great care. 
  
• The chapel of St. Barbara: The St. Barbara Chapel is a peaceful place to visit with beautiful, simple building. It is set in a beautiful garden. Pause for a moment to enjoy the peaceful mood and beauty of this small place of worship. 
  
• The Nunnery (Rahibeler) Monastery: Explore the rooms that are linked in this old church that used to be home to a group of nuns. Look at the well-preserved paintings that cover its walls. They show how the people who lived there lived their daily lives and their spiritual routines. 
  
• Chapel of St. Catherine: The Chapel of St. Catherine is dedicated to the venerated saint and has a beautiful painting of her death on the cross, as well as scenes from the life of Christ and other religious themes. 

4. Derinkuyu Underground City: Cappadocia boasts 37 underground cities discovered so far, with only seven open to visitors. The largest among them is Derinkuyu Underground City. Initially constructed by the Hittites for defense, it expanded over time to reach a diameter of up to 7 kilometers and a depth of up to 60 meters.

5. Three Beauties: Featured in numerous postcards showcasing Cappadocia, the Three Beauties in Urgup are iconic fairy chimneys often referred to as the mother-father-child formations.

6. Pigeon Valley: Stretching 4 kilometers from Uchisar to Goreme, Pigeon Valley offers a delightful trekking route. The best views of the valley can be enjoyed from the historical Uchisar Castle.

7. Pasabag Valley: Known as the area with the highest concentration of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, Pasabag is home to the tallest, hat-shaped chimneys. With the acceptance of Christianity in the region, Pasabag Fairy Chimneys became places of seclusion for monks, with some chimneys hollowed out to accommodate them.

8. Devrent Valley: Also known as Pink Valley or Imagination Valley, Devrent Valley showcases a variety of rock formations eroded into whimsical shapes, resembling a playground for the imagination.

9. Tuz Lake: Located in Sereflikochisar, Tuz Lake is a two-hour drive away. The breathtaking scenery here makes it hard to tear your eyes away.

10. Lovers' Valley: Situated northwest of Goreme, Lovers' Valley is best experienced on a hot air balloon tour. The slopes facing Ortahisar in Goreme offer prime spots for viewing both sunset and sunrise.

11. Uchisar Castle: The largest fairy chimney formation in the region, Uchisar Castle, hosts Byzantine-era carved rock tombs. It stands out as one of the most significant places to visit in Cappadocia.

12. Ortahisar Castle: When you arrive in Ortahisar, you'll be greeted by an enormous fairy chimney. This chimney, located right in the town square, is known as the largest fairy chimney in the Cappadocia region. Initially carved out for defense purposes, it later served as a refuge.

13. Zelve Open-Air Museum: In this area, you'll find worship halls and ancient settlements belonging to various beliefs.

14. Kaymakli Underground City:  Kaymaklı Underground City is a famous for its complex network of tubes and rooms cut into soft volcanic rock. Ancient civilizations used it as a multi-level safe haven and defense fortress. It had living rooms, kitchens, churches, and store rooms spread out over many floors. The city has about 100 tubes and 8 floors, and up to 5,000 people can live there at once. It is an amazing feat of engineering and architecture that these people were able to create. 

15. Cavusin: Cavusin's old town is a time-traveling experience with weathered stone houses, cave homes, and Byzantine churches. The ruins tell stories of devotion and faith, while stunning views from the hill add to its enduring appeal.

16. Haci Bektas-i Veli Museum: Haci Bektas-i Veli was an Islamic scholar, mystic, and philosopher from Khorasan who lived and taught in Anatolia. His museum showcases traces of his life and teachings.

17. Avanos: Avanos, is a region where skilled craftspeople have been making beautiful pottery for generations using methods that have been passed down from generation to generation. Watch master potters at work and get a feel for the creative spirit of the town as they make works of art out of clay that reflect the beauty and history of Cappadocia. 

18. Acik Saray (Gulsehir): The old ruins of Acik Saray used to be a huge palace complex that showed how powerful and wealthy the Seljuk Empire was. You can walk through the ruins of beautiful gardens, grand halls, and large rooms that were once filled with elaborate carvings and other designs that give you a glimpse into the beauty of a different time. 

Best things to do in Cappadocia