Göreme National Park
A landscape of soft volcanic rock carved into cones, ridges and valleys, dotted with cave homes and chapels. It is the heart of Cappadocia, and balloons often fill the sky at dawn.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia's fame rests on hot-air balloon flights at sunrise above its fairy chimneys, plus cave hotels and ancient underground cities.
Attractive locations
Churches of Göreme
A group of rock-cut chapels and monasteries decorated with early Christian frescoes. Many are cut into cliff faces, with painted ceilings that survive from the Byzantine era.
Zelve
A deserted village carved into three valleys of soft rock, with homes, chapels and pigeon houses. People lived here until the mid-20th century, and the ruins are explored on foot.
Pigeon Valley
A valley between Uçhisar and Göreme, with rock cliffs punched with small pigeon houses. A pleasant walking route, passing orchards, with plenty of photo spots.
Derinkuyu Underground City
A multi-level underground city dug into soft volcanic rock, with narrow tunnels, storage rooms, wells and rolling stone doors. Visitors walk down through several floors.
Uçhisar Castle
A huge rock outcrop pierced with rooms and tunnels, the highest point in the area. A climb to the top gives wide views over the valleys and fairy chimneys.
Ihlara Valley
A deep green gorge with a stream running through it, lined with rock-cut Byzantine churches. A walking path follows the valley floor for several kilometres.
Airports
Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport NAV
It is about 29 km in a straight line from Cappadocia.
Kayseri Erkilet International Airport ASR
It is about 58 km in a straight line from Cappadocia.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Turkey (Türkiye) page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-1.2 °C43 mm
- Feb0.7 °C35 mm
- Mar4.6 °C43 mm
- Apr9.2 °C39 mm
- May14.2 °C45 mm
- Jun18.7 °C31 mm
- Jul22.0 °C9 mm
- Aug22.4 °C7 mm
- Sep18.3 °C15 mm
- Oct12.4 °C27 mm
- Nov5.5 °C34 mm
- Dec0.7 °C40 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Mar, May.
Costs
Prices here are about 41% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112 for police, ambulance and fire (one unified number).
ngo
Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay)
Helps with: Türkiye's national Red Crescent society. Its website lists disaster response, blood donation campaigns and volunteering. Its 168 line is a donation call centre, not a visitor help line.
Who qualifies: People in Türkiye who need its disaster relief or blood services, or want to volunteer.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Türkiye
Helps with: The UN migration agency's main office in Ankara. Contact it about migration matters in Türkiye.
Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +90 (312) 454 30 00
Email: [email protected]
Address: İlkbahar Mahallesi Konrad Adenauer Caddesi No:61-63 Çankaya/Ankara
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Türkiye (official diplomatic portal)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. The Turkish foreign ministry's Diplomatic Portal lists diplomatic missions, accredited missions and international organisations.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
Emergency number 112 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112