Cappadocia

Cappadocia: Best Place To Visit in Turkey

Cappadocia is one of the most frequently visited tourist areas in Turkey. Cappadocia is an important region both in terms of landforms, natural green areas and historical features. Cappadocia, which hosts thousands of followers every year, is also known as ‘’the land of beautiful horses’’. Because horse breeding has been done in the region for many years. In addition, Cappadocia, as a place located in the middle of Anatolia, has hosted many civilizations in various periods of history. Therefore, the natural heritages in Cappadocia coexist with the historical heritages.

The History of The Cappadocia

Research on Cappadocia has indicated that the history of the region can be tracked back to 3000 BC. During this period, the Assyrians’ trade colonies were doing various commercial activities here. After the Assyrians, the Hittites also lived here and there are very important inscriptions from the Hittites to the present day.

Cappadocia was home to very important tribes in prehistoric times. Recently, the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire reigned on this land for many years. When you start to visit Cappadocia, you will see that there are very important Christian monuments in the region. The churches, living spaces and underground cities built by Christians are very popular in Cappadocia. The reason for this was that until 1071, the region was dominated by Christians.

Must Seen Places in Cappadocia

There are many places to visit in Cappadocia. Therefore, the tour companies often divide the Cappadocia tour into some basic themes. Themes such as Cappadocia Red Tour, Cappadocia Yellow Tour or Cappadocia Green Tour are alternatives for tourists who want to visit different parts of Cappadocia. Here are some of the most popular structures in Cappadocia!

Göreme Open Air Museum:

Cappadocia has 2 different open-air museums. One of these two museums is located in Göreme. The most important feature of Göreme Open Air Museum is that it is surrounded by a sacred place. This region, which is accepted as the religious center of Cappadocia, was the living space of monks and clergy. There are many churches built in this region centuries ago. The structures in this region began to be built in the 4th century BC. Since this period, the number of structures has increased in every century, and there are many shrapnels, monasteries and churches.

We have compiled the names of some of the most famous churches in Cappadocia:

1. Barbara Church
2. Apple (Elmali) Church
3. Snake (Yilanli) Church
4. Dark Church
5. Buckle (Tokali) Church

Each of the above churches contains wall motifs with a special meaning. Each church in Göreme Open Air Museum is named according to the wall motifs inside. The colorful paintings drawn on the walls of the churches symbolize important religious moments. We have to let you know that you can’t take pictures inside while visiting these churches. Because this is legally forbidden.

All of the churches and other structures you will see in the Göreme Open Air Museum were built by carving stones. The challenging construction process continued until the 13th century AD. Today, the region is one of the important regions that have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Pigeon Valley

Are you ready to meet a very wide valley between the two main regions of Cappadocia? The Pigeon Valley is a 4 km wide valley between Uchisar and Goreme. The rocks in this valley are carved to form a nest for pigeons. It is, therefore, possible to see many small holes in the rocks. These pigeon nests were built by people living in the area. Because until the 9th century BC the peoples of the region were breeding pigeons here. Pigeon manure was important for the people of the region at that time. Because it enabled the production of higher quality products in agricultural fields. There were also large vineyards here. The impressive vegetation of the vineyards adds a different ambience to the valley.

There is another structure that will surprise you when you see it in Pigeon Valley. This structure, which you are not used to seeing in the inner Anatolia region, is a waterfall. Flowing from the height of about 15 meters towards the ground, the waterfall will create a pleasant visual feast.

Pigeon Valley is also an excellent destination for panoramic views. Taking a photograph of Cappadocia by visiting into the valley of the region can be an excellent idea.

Rose Valley

Rose Valley, the first stop of Cappadocia tour by many tour agencies, will impress you with its excellent stones and fairy chimneys. The valley is 4 kilometers in size. Fairy chimneys on the valley have a very large structure. Therefore, the landscape here will make you feel like you are in a different dimension. The most pf fairy chimneys of the valley have been formed as a result of various natural events occurs for many years. For more information on the formation of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, you can check out our other articles.

In Rose Valley, there are very important structures of Christian history. The most important of these structures are listed below:

1. Ayvali Church: It was built in the 9th century.
2. Three Crusader Church: It was built in the 7th century.
3. Yovakim – Church of Anna
4. Crusader Church (Church of St. Agathangelus)
5. Column (Mast) Church

The structures of the fairy chimneys in Rose Valley consist of highly volcanic materials. As a result of the natural events that took place in Anatolia for centuries, lava and tuff formed different rock structures. This is why different rock and fairy chimney structures in Rose Valley are formed.

When you enter the Rose Valley, you will see that the walking route is divided into two. The walking routes of the valley are determined by the location of the churches. The walking routes are divided into Rose Valley 1 and Rose Valley 2. The hiking route beyond the valley can take you to Çavuşin Village.

Love Valley

There is no way for someone not to love the Cappadocia’s unique hot air balloon landscape! If you want to see the perfect view and experience a short ride on hot air balloons, Love Valley can be a suitable destination for you. Love Valley is one of the valleys where Cappadocia hot air balloon flights take place. There are long walking paths within the valley. The valley has a quite large cruise terrace. It is possible to watch the beautiful view of Love Valley through this cruise terrace.

The Love Valley has a length of about 4900 meters. It is possible to take a long walk in this wide valley. This region, especially shown among the trekking regions of Cappadocia, has a walking route of approximately 2.5 hours. If you want to participate in Cappadocia hot air balloon tours, you can apply to tour agencies like ToursCe. In the entrance of Love Valley, there are various boutiques where you can buy gifts for your loved ones and yourself. The small gifts you can get from here can create beautiful memories for you.

Üçhisar Castle

One of the most popular regions of Cappadocia is Üçhisar. Üçhisar Castle is a perfect destination for you to enjoy the unique view of Cappadocia. After a detailed tour of Cappadocia, you must come here to watch the general view of Cappadocia from a high point. In the 17th century BC, Cappadocia was under Roman rule. The Romans built numerous castles, cellars and churches in the area. Üçhisar Castle is one of the structures built by the Romans. The castle has been used for many years to meet the needs of defense and asylum.

When the Romans stopped living in Cappadocia, especially after 1071, Turks began to live in the region. During the period when the Turks lived in the region, this castle was an important asylum center. The length of Üçhisar Castle is quite high. But the reason for the castle being used by many civilizations is not its height, but its location. This castle is located on a mountain with a height of 1350 meters. For this reason, many people prefer Üçhisar Castle for a perfect panoramic view of Cappadocia. You need to pay an entrance fee to visit Üçhisar Castle. The entrance fee is determined as 6.50 TL. The entrance fee for students is only 3.25 TL.

Çavuşin Village

One of the most visited regions of Cappadocia is Cavusin Village. Unlike other regions, Çavuşin hosts a regular living space. There are houses built by individuals living in the past in Çavuşin Village. These houses are small-sized houses made of rocks. These houses carved into the rocks are called Cappadocia cave houses. The majority of these houses were built in combination with fairy chimneys. The village is built around a large area. Within the village of Çavuşin, first Christian settlement took place. After the entry of the Seljuks in 1071, the region became the living area of ​​the Turks.

There are many churches in the Çavuşin Village, as well as very valuable old mosques. It is possible to say that the religious lives of all nations that lived here in the past are sophisticated. Some of the important structures in the region can be listed as follows:

1. Church of Çavuşin
2. Church of St. Paul
3. Three Crusader Church
4. 7th-century frescoes
5. Church with grapes
6. Hidden Church
7. Church of St. Jean
8. Crusader Church
9. Mary’s Church
10. Church with columns

Çavuşin is also a region that has developed itself in the field of ceramic work. Ceramic workmanship in the region will provide you with highly aesthetic souvenirs.

Kaymaklı Underground City

The most mysterious structures in Cappadocia are generally underground cities. In the past, when Christians lived in this region, Christians felt the need to protect themselves for various reasons. Therefore, Christians are very successful in building underground cities. Kaymaklı Underground City is a city spread over a wide area. This underground city has a total of 8 floors. It is known that the city continues underground for miles. According to the measurements, the fourth floor of the city is approximately 20 kilometers deep.

In the past, approximately 5,000 people lived in Kaymaklı Underground City. Almost all of the inhabitants were Christians. There are places of worship, cemeteries, kitchens and warehouses within the underground city. There are even stables with animals in the underground city. These stables were located on floors closer to the top of the ground. This allowed the animals to breathe more comfortably.

You’re going to have to bend all the time while you’re wandering the underground city. Because the underground city is too narrow for an ordinary person to walk upright. It is recommended that people with asthma or people with claustrophobia do not visit.

It is known that there are nearly 200 underground cities in Cappadocia. 36 of these underground cities have been fully identified. There is a hidden tunnel between the underground city of Kaymaklı and the underground city of Derinkuyu in Cappadocia. This tunnel is approximately 10 kilometers long. Research has shown that this tunnel is used by soldiers for defense purposes.

The underground city of Kaymakli has a very complex map. You should follow the arrows inside to avoid getting lost. You can walk around the city by following the red arrows inside the structure. You have to follow the blue arrows to get out of the city. It is known that the city was built around 3000 BC. Many civilizations such as Hittites, Assyrians and Phrygians used this place in various periods of history.

Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley)

The most popular regions of Cappadocia are undoubtedly valleys. The valleys in the region are full of aesthetic fairy chimneys and rock fragments. Therefore, the valleys create quite impressive landscapes. One of the most impressive valleys in Cappadocia is the Devrent Valley. This valley has two other names: Imagination Valley and Pink Valley. These two names, the names of the valley due to the place names.

There are quite impressive fairy chimneys in Devrent Valley. The shapes of these fairy chimneys are likened to various animal figures. That’s why it’s called Imagination Valley. These place shapes, which will enliven your imagination, can also be perfect objects for photographs.

The vast majority of rocks in the valley have changed color as a result of some natural processes. Therefore, there is a pinkish appearance in the colors of these rocks. That is why the Devrent Valley is sometimes called the Pink Valley.

The structure of the Devrent Valley looks like a U-shape. Part of the wide valley extends towards the Red Valley. Paşabağı region is located in the middle of the valley.

There are small boutiques in the entrance area of ​​Devrent Valley where you can buy souvenirs. If you wish, you will be able to buy ethnic stuffs.

Paşabağ Valley (Monks Valley)

If you are interested in the formation of the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, and therefore if you want to visit especially the areas where you can explore the fairy chimneys, Paşabağ Valley is the right option for you. The fairy chimneys here are known to be the first examples of fairy chimney formations. Therefore, the structures here are extremely robust. The fairy chimneys here will surprise you, especially in terms of their size. These enormous fairy chimneys are four or five times bigger than the size of the human. Inside the fairy chimneys, Christians built churches in the past. The churches here were completely carved into the stones. When you visit Paşabağ Valley, you will have the chance to climb into the fairy chimneys. In this way, you will be very close to the fairy chimneys.

This valley is also called the Valley of the Monks. The reason for this is a very important legend about the valley. According to legend, in the past, a priest began to live in this valley in order to get away from city life and to retreat. The priest who lived in this valley built a church here. The priest rarely goes into the city at regular intervals just for his vital needs. This is why this name is given here.

Gomeda Valley

In the past, various structures were built by carving stones in a perfect way. Especially in the vast majority of popular valleys in Cappadocia, there are important examples of these structures. The Gomeda Valley is one of the most important examples of craftsmanship in Cappadocia. You will see that a huge rock has been carved from start to finish and turned into a city. This valley spans about 6 kilometers. Although the valley is not as popular as the other valleys, it is particularly popular because it has an apartment-like structure.

600 houses were built in this apartment-like structure. Each house is separated from the other. Therefore, it is possible to say that there is a personalized family life here. A total of 2 churches, each of which can be used by each individual in these 600 houses, are located in an apartment-like structure. In addition, there are 2 necropolis in the structure. Finally, it is known that 1 underground city is located in the valley.

Avanos

Cappadocia consists of many small regions. Avanos is one of these regions. Many people coming to the region apply to various tour agencies and start to visit the region from Avanos. You can also make an enjoyable tour of the region by contacting Toursce. When experienced tour guides accompany your trip, you will feel you are experiencing a more effective holiday. Therefore, we recommend that you continue your tour with the tour agency.

Avanos is one of the most popular spots in Cappadocia and is especially famous for its bazaar. You’ve probably heard a lot about pottery making in Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a very popular place in terms of pottery making. Therefore, visiting the pottery bazaar will be a very local experience for you.

You can buy pots made of clay in the Avanos Pottery Bazaar. What’s more, you have the opportunity to directly observe the manufacturing process of these products. If you wish, you can also make your own pot after watching. In this way, you will have the chance to take a highly valuable object to your home.

Red Valley

One of the popular valleys in Cappadocia is the Red Valley. It is possible to say that the valley has a perfect view during sunset and sunrise hours. Because the location of the valley provides a perfect reflection of the sun’s rays. During the sunrise and sunset, the entire valley turns red. Therefore, this valley is called Red Valley.

Red Valley is one of the most romantic destinations in Cappadocia. Therefore, it is possible to have a pleasant time with your partner here. It can be a great idea to watch the sunset here with a glass of wine.

There is a restaurant at the entrance to the Red Valley. If you want to eat or drink while watching the perfect view, you can also spend time here. Moreover, the prices of this restaurant are extremely reasonable. We recommend you to taste local dishes in the restaurant. It is known that especially the dishes cooked using pottery are very tasty due to the special cooking method.

There are several churches built in the past by Christians in the valley which has a very wide path. The Crusader Church and the Üzümlü Church are the must-see churches in the valley.

Red Valley has a slightly more recessed structure compared to other valleys in Cappadocia. Therefore, you may have some difficulty visiting this place. In order not to get lost in the valley, we recommend you to visit the valley within a certain route. The cliffs in this valley are smaller and more numerous than the other places. As a result of various natural processes that have occurred in the past, a cut structure of the rocks has been formed.

When To Visit Cappadocia?

Those who want to visit Cappadocia should wait for the best time to visit. It is really important to come here at the right time, to participate in all the activities and to explore everywhere in detail. We recommend you to come to Cappadocia in spring and summer. Because the region has a continental climate, a very cold weather prevails in winters. In summer, the region is becoming a tourist area. You should visit Cappadocia during this period.

Where To Stay in Cappadocia?

If you visit the region with tour agencies like Toursce, the tour company will find the best quality and thematic hotel for you. But still, let us give you an overview. There are many houses built in the region by carving rocks. Similar to these houses, some hotels were built by carving rocks. You can choose one of these cave hotels Cappadocia alternatives for accommodation in order to feel the exotic ambinance of the region. There are many hotels in Cappadocia. For an unforgettable holiday experience, we recommend you to stay in thematic hotels.

Where To Eat in Cappadocia?

Cappadocia offers numerous affordable alternatives in terms of food and beverage. When dining in the area, make sure you have a good view of the café or restaurant to go to. Because it’s possible to go on a really memorable dinner date here. Enjoying local cuisine and drinking wine in a place overlooking the fairy chimneys will make your Cappadocia experience perfect. In addition, many restaurants also serve as full – bars.

Hot Air Baloon Tours in Cappadocia

Don’t forget to take your chance on hot air baloon tour in Cappadocia! Are you ready for a unique travel experience? Hot air balloon tours, which you can join in various valleys of Cappadocia, will enable you to watch the unique view of Cappadocia from a high point. Cappadocia hot air balloon tours take approximately 1 hour. The tours last for one hour and are organized in groups of approximately 15 people. You can also request special hot air balloon tours for your romantic plans. For these tours that only take place in safe weather conditions, please contact a tour company.