Cappadocia
★ 4.9🇹🇷 CappadociaSuggested visit 2-3 daysBest season April to June and September to October, the best conditions for balloon flights
Volcanic landscapeHot-air balloonsWorld HeritageCave hotels
Fairy chimneys and cave dwellings form a surreal dreamscape, with balloons drifting through pink dawn over breathtaking terrain.
Overview
Cappadocia is famed for its extraordinary rock formations and hot-air balloon flights. Rising at dawn above this remarkable landscape is an unforgettable experience.
History
Cappadocia's volcanic tuff landscape was created by eruptions about 30 million years ago, sculpted by millions of years of erosion into today's fairy chimneys. The Hittite empire ruled here from around 2000 BC, followed by Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine powers; early Christians carved underground cities and rock churches to escape persecution. Göreme National Park and the rock sites were listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Highlights
- •Hundreds of balloons rising together at dawn
- •Well-preserved Byzantine frescoes in rock-cut churches
- •Derinkuyu, an underground city eight levels deep
- •Horse riding through the Rose Valley
- •A night in a cave hotel carved into the rock
Practical tips
- •Book balloon flights in advance; poor weather can cause cancellations
- •Stay in a cave hotel for the full experience
Practical information
- Best time
- April to June, September to November
- Tickets
- Balloon flights about EUR 150 to 200 per person; Göreme Open Air Museum about TRY 380
- Opening hours
- Balloons launch at sunrise; museums 8:00 to 17:00
- Local food
- Clay-pot kebab, Turkish flatbread and baklava
- Getting around
- Balloon flights leave at dawn, and the spread-out sights are best covered on a red or green tour
- Visa
- An e-visa is required and can be applied for online. Holders of a valid Schengen or US visa face simpler requirements.
Traveller reviews
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