Cappadocia is one of the most popular destinations not just in Turkey but in the world. There is no doubt that there is extra magic in the air of Cappadocia, which attracts tourists from all corners of the planet. Cappadocia is a small region in central Turkey which is a collection of villages featuring peculiar rock formations and stunning natural wonders. It won’t be a shock to people when such an intriguing place is not full of enigmatic sites and exciting activities. There is a never-ending list of fun things to do in Cappadocia, where the views will be jaw-dropping and tourists will be awestruck.
Things to Do in Cappadocia: Learn About the Ancient Civilizations
Sustaining the rich historical and cultural heritage for centuries, Cappadocia earned the region's UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985. Open-air museums showcasing creative fresco paintings on the walls; several underground cities, thrilling valleys with picturesque views, and the flavorsome food available at every corner are more than enough reasons to visit this place in Turkey. There is such an enchanting charm in this delightful region that no tourist would ever be disappointed after indulging in the numerous exciting things to do in Cappadocia. Not to be missed are the hot air balloons available to take tourists on a journey of their life.
- Hike to the Beautiful Rose Valley and Red Valley
- Ride an ATV or Quad Bike in Sword Valley
- Explore the Charming Frescos in Goreme Open-air Museum
- Enjoy the Aerial View of the Hot Air Balloon at Sunrise
- Experience the Charms of Ihlara Valley
- Visit the Twin Fairy Chimneys
- Witness the Beauty of Lake Tuz, the Pink Salt Lake
- Take a Tour of Kaymakli Underground City
- Stay in the Real-Life Cave Hotel
- Enjoy a Fun Turkish Night
1. Hike to the Beautiful Rose Valley and Red Valley
The region has several intertwining valleys and hiking through them is one of the most fun things to do in Cappadocia. The trail in the Red Valley is an absolute delight to hike, surrounded with lush greenery and displaying beautiful views of natural rock formations. To their astonishment, hikers can also encounter hidden churches and hermits' hideouts on their way. There are many lush green orchards and vegetable plots in between the cliffs that are still tended by local farmers. While hiking through the Rose Valley, look for three significant churches: Kolonlu (Column) Church, Haçl (Cross) Church, and Üç Haçl (Three Cross).
Top Attractions: Rock formations, ancient churches, and beautiful views
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2. Ride an ATV or Quad Bike in Sword Valley
Cappadocia is known for many things, but very few tourists are aware that they can take a quad bike safari tour in the region. Quad biking is one of the most thrilling things to do in Cappadocia when you get to drive through the slanting terrain of the valleys. Some of the most popular safaris take place during sunrise and sunset. The adventure vibe during Qaud biking comes when the roads are narrow and filled with mud and water. It is recommended to carry an extra pair of clothes as you tend to get mud and dirt all over your body.
Top Attractions: Beautiful views, muddy pathways, and ATV bikes
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3. Explore the Charming Frescos in Goreme Open-Air Museum
If your Cappadocia itinerary doesn’t include visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site, then you better add it yourself. Visiting this stunning cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry with its rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries is one of the essential things to do in Cappadocia. The region itself is a geographical wonder which came into existence due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Erciyes many million years ago. With beautifully sculpted several-story churches and monasteries, one can only assume the skill and talent of the people who called this place their home. Do not miss the beautiful fresco paintings covering all the walls and ceilings of the chapels with their vibrant colours that are still fresh.
Top Attractions: Churches, monasteries, and fresco
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4. Enjoy the Aerial View of the Hot Air Balloon at Sunrise
There are not many places that offer tourists the privileged view of a unique landscape from the air while gliding over the popular landmarks like fairy chimneys and rock-cut houses in Cappadocia. One of the things not to miss in Cappadocia is taking on as many hot air balloon rides as possible. It is recommended to choose the one with the sunrise, especially if you are celebrating your honeymoon in Turkey. The beginning of the day in front of your eyes and the way the shades of orange, yellow, and red spread through the sky is a view one mustn't miss at any cost.
Top Attractions: scenic view, hot air balloon, and sunrise
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5. Experience the Charms of Ihlara Valley
A beautiful canyon which was formed after a volcanic eruption from Mount Hasan and erosion of the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. This lush green valley must be on your list of things to do in Cappadocia. The way to explore the valley is to take the famous green tour and cherish the beauty and tranquilly of the place. Other than being one of nature’s wonders, the valley was also home to a widely spread monastery in the 4th to 13th centuries B.C. The hike will eventually take the tourists to a set of beautiful villages like the famous Belisirma village, situated along a river where people still reside, and Yaprakhisar village, where tourists get a chance to enjoy the splendid view of the conical fairy chimneys.
Top Attractions: Stunning views, conical fairy chimneys, and ancient monasteries
6. Visit the Twin Fairy Chimneys
One of the unique things to do in Turkey is visit the marvellous wonder of twin fairy chimneys. With a kind of a cap on their heads, these chimneys took not more than a few thousand years to form and astonished humankind with their appearance. There are several fairy chimneys in the region, but these ones are quite popular among tourists. The area around the chimneys is an amazing spot to rest and take a breath for hikers who are out there exploring the region. Tourists can also stop by the site for some time on their way to explore other beautiful landmarks.
Top Attractions: Fairy chimneys, scenic views, and nature’s wonders.
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7. Witness the Beauty of Lake Tuz, the Pink Salt Lake
If you want to be in awe when you stumble across a landmark in a region, then put visiting Lake Tuz on your list of places to visit in Cappadocia. This large and beautiful pink lake is a hidden gem among the valleys and canyons of the region. Lying over a huge bed of white salt, the view of the lake is breathtaking and worth the effort of visiting. A lot of water evaporates during summer, so it is recommended to plan a visit to the lake in winter or other seasons of the year to get the sight of that dark pink water all over the area.
Top Attractions: Pink colored lake and scenic view
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8. Take a Tour of Kaymakli Underground City
The region of Cappadocia is not only known for its fairy chimneys and rock formations; it has also become widely famous all over the world for the underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. One of the unique things to do in Cappadocia is to spend a day exploring this fascinating settlement below the ground, surviving in the best possible condition. It is believed that it was the Phrygians who carved their living spaces into the region’s soft volcanic rock. The reason behind an underground city is to survive foreign invasions, which were quite regular during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE. As one explores the city, everything carved starts to make sense, which shows the intelligence and skills of the people.
Top Attractions: Beautiful views and history
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9. Stay in the Real-Life Cave Hotel
Imagine living for some days in a cave room! Doesn’t it give you goosebumps just thinking about the fact that these cave rooms were once actually home to some people who used to live differently and think differently? One of the exciting things to do in Cappadocia is stay in a real-life cave hotel or in a real cave room. Although tourists don’t exactly live like the ancient people, devoid of all the facilities and amenities, these hotels are some of the most opulent ones in the region, and they are there to offer an experience to the tourists who have been exploring the region or have just arrived to do the same. Some of the authentic things that tourists experience in the cave rooms are the rock-cut arches, walls patterned with volcanic colour, and panoramic terraces with views of the valley.
Top Attractions: Rock-cut arches, walls patterned with volcanic colour and panoramic terraces
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10. Enjoy a Fun Turkish Night
One of the best things to do in Cappadocia at night is to witness a beautiful performance by the Turkish artists and dancers. The restaurant that hosts one of the oldest performances is Yaşar Baba in Üçhisar. It was the first to introduce an authentic Turkish Night in Cappadocia and has had the longest running show since then. It is one of the marvellous restaurants in Turkey that not only serves some of the delicious and authentic Turkish dishes but also introduces tourists from all over the world to the tradition and artistic part of Turkish culture.
Top Attractions: Turkish night, authentic food, and amazing performance
Cappadocia is one of those outstanding regions not just in Turkey but also in the world that will leave you awe-struck when your holiday comes to an end. There is a long list of amazing things to do in Cappadocia that makes all those crazy wanderlust imaginations of travellers come true. From exploring the dramatic open-air museums, visiting the enigmatic underground cities, hiking through lush green valleys, getting astonished by the still well-preserved colours on the fresco paintings, and enjoying a fun-filled Turkish night, Cappadocia is nothing less than a dream vacation. It is recommended to not wait any further and pick from the best Turkey holiday packages to take your family and friends on an unforgettable vacation of a lifetime.
Things to Do in Cappadocia - FAQs
Yes, Cappadocia is a centrally located region in Turkey which is a natural wonder as it was formed after a volcanic eruption. There are several open-air museums that once used to be monasteries, chapels, and churches with beautiful frescos painted on the walls and ceilings. There are lush green valleys and many fairy chimneys that take tourists’ breath away.
There are a wide variety of activities that one can indulge in while holidaying in Cappadocia.
- Visit the Twin Fairy Chimneys
- Take a Tour of Kaymakli Underground City
- Ride an ATV or Quad Bike in Sword Valley
- Witness the Beauty of Lake Tuz, the Pink Salt Lake
- Explore the Charming Frescos in Goreme Open-air Museum
The months of July and August are the best for planning a holiday in Cappadocia. The weather during these months is moderate and pleasant enough for tourists to visit all the significant landmarks and delve into all the exciting activities available in the region.
The Ihlara Valley is a canyon which was formed after the volcanic eruption of Mount Hasan and the erosion of the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. The valley also used to be home to a large monastery in the 4th to 13th centuries B.C. There are some villages near the valley that are centuries old, and people still live there to preserve their heritage and history.
There are several mind-blowingly beautiful places to visit in Cappadocia.
- Devrent Valley
- Çavusin
- Derinkuyu Underground City
- Town Of Avanos
- Uchisar Castle
Here are some important tips to keep in mind while exploring Turkey.
- Always keep your passport with you
- Carry some local currency in case of an emergency
- Bring sunglasses and sunscreen
- Learn some of the important words in the local language
- Don’t forget to take back the charming souvenirs
Kayseri Erkilet Airport is the main airport in Cappadocia. The terminal at this airport has been updated with modern technology and design, which makes it the heart of transportation for the Cappadocia region.
3–4 days are more than enough to explore all the significant landmarks and landscapes in the beautiful region of Cappadocia. One will be able to indulge in all the exciting and thrilling activities and delve into all the culinary goodness available these days.
