The Turkish region of Cappadocia, a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage, boasts one of the most dramatic sights in the world.
Visiting Cappadocia is such a change from visiting many other busy bustling sights all over Turkey. It is a great pleasure to wander in the vast open space filled with captivating natural attractions which have seen human history dated back in the Bronze Age.
While in Goreme Open Air Museum , the conical formations resulting from the volcanic eruptions that took place millions of years ago, just follow the path up to the top of one of the ridges where a spectacular view of the fairy chimneys awaits you. The natural cone formations contain caves and labyrinths. As early as the third century, those chimneys became a hiding place for early Christians who fled persecution from the Romans, and then later from raiding Muslims. In modern tourism, many caves have been turned into cave houses for tourist stays and the lunar-like setting of Goreme Valley has become popular for hot-air ballooning.
Many say the extremely unique landscape of Cappadocia resembles some scene in a Star Wars movie and yet you may be surprised to discover that no major commercial movies have been filmed there. It would be a perfect setting for movies such as Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter series.
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A very beautiful place with unique views. Definitely a must go if you come to this area.
Suggest to visit some non-tourist-site areas around Goreme, in addition to the major sites. For example, the area opposite Goreme Open Air Museum is very beautiful and have very few tourists despite of being so close to the museum. On the way from…
Fantastic place, nice view. If you go to Cappadocia you must go to this place.
Just fantastic. So old, and steeped in history. The atmosphere is amazing. It,s like stepping into another world and time.
If you have special interest in ancient christanity, it's great. But even if you don't have, it's worth visiting, in that case better you explore on your own with map, without tour guide.
The Goreme Open Air Museum is a large collection of cave dwellings and early Christian churches in the monastic tradition. For us, the he highlight was the Dark Church with its stunningly restored frescos. The Goreme Museum is really the essence of Cappadocia and is worth spending half a day here.
Our tour group visited Kaymakli. I went into just the first few rooms to get a sense of it. I decided not to do the full descent as it was more of the same. I was focused on getting enough shopping time at the stalls set up outside. The shopping was great, I got all of the souvenirs I wanted,…
It was a great experience the caves and the valley we had lunch in a outdoor resturant food was fresh and ambeince was excellent wish I could stay there
I arrived with a private tour organized by the hotel, and walked from Ihlara to Belisirma alone. Somehow it was not crowded and I was sometimes afraid I was lost (but was not). It could be an hour walk but I ended up with spending 3 hours.
Actually, it should be, and probably is really cool. I found out the hard way that I don't handle this sort of thing very well, particularly when you're in a tunnel, a fair way down, with people in front and behind and no one's moving.
But fortunately for me a very kind malaysian tour group, with a lovely turkish guide…
Within a couple of days you are familiar with the Cave landscape and Valleys of Central Anatolia…then you enter Derinkuyu and you are left 'Breathless'! Literally too!! 8 levels of accommodation, storage, pathways even a church…all underground! Historically, Derinkuyu is a very significant structure with the city being built as a refuge from the enemy but even as a structure…