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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Don't be frustrated if you don't find a hiking map or if you get confused by conflicting directories. It's part of the game – and you can't get lost. Just walk in the direction of the red-colored mountain, and you will find a most bizarre landscape of rock scupltures and rich valleys. It's amazing and definitively worth a couple of…
The Open-Air Museum is worth visiting and has plenty to see, but it is super crowded (and I wasn't even there in the peak season!). I preferred hiking in the surrounding areas more.
a landscape like you'll never see again, very interesting, seeing the eyes gouged out on the icons was disturbing
Nice place, very similiar to the rest of Kapadokya, many old churches, but nothing very special about it.
If you do nothing else in Turkey — this is a must. I took the balloon ride over the Fairy Chimneys and it was the best $$$ I ever spend. Well worth the early morning rise and price. It is nothing but facinating. A must see.
Carolyn Belden — Turkey – 2011
One of the highlights of visiting Cappaducia, it would be part of the privatetour which is recommended when visiting Cappaducia.
We walked from town one morning and enjoyed this so much as it was cooler and there were not many people at the museum. Once the tour groups arrive it is too crowded to get into the caves and have a good look.
They gave us 20 minutes for pictures and stroll around St. Simon place. Take care not to climb so you avoid being part of statistics. Do not get to close of Camel for pictures. It is really a bad tempered Camel.
Make sure you go at lunch time to avoid the huge bus loads of tourist groups, since coping with them makes it take ages to get into each individual site. Pay the small extra fee for the Dark Church as it is gorgeous, filled with restored frescoes and unique.
This is a great thing to see in Capadoccia, a canyon full of decorated churches and that you can take pictures of provided that you do not use flash.
The downside is that travel agencies of course know about it and bring hundreds of tourists to march through the small path of the canyon so it feels really crowded.