Cappadocia isn’t a single “city” – it’s a region with several towns and countless natural and historical sites.
Entering the region feels like stepping into another world – a landscape of fairy chimneys, ancient cave dwellings, and valleys that look straight out of a dream.
To make the most of your visit, it’s a great idea to book the Green, Red, and Blue tours – in that order. While Green and Red tours are mandatory to understand and explore Cappadocia, the Blue tour is a bonus.
These tours cover the must-see spots and let you experience Cappadocia’s highlights without the stress of planning every detail. Let’s dive into the top places you shouldn’t miss!
Göreme Open-Air Museum
The rock-cut churches and monasteries feature beautiful frescoes from the 10th to 12th centuries. They’re only 5 minutes from Göreme center and are an essential Cappadocia visit.
Go early to beat tour groups, and don’t skip the Dark Church for the best-preserved paintings (small extra fee of $6.58 for entrance).
Uçhisar Castle
It is the highest point in Cappadocia – a natural rock fortress used for centuries. You can climb to the top for panoramic views.
Around the base, explore the cute village of Uçhisar, which has little shops. It is a great photo spot with fluttering pigeons and the castle towering above.
Pigeon Valley
Pigeon valley is a scenic valley connecting Uçhisar and Göreme. Named for the hundreds of pigeon houses carved into the rock faces (people used to keep pigeons for fertilizer and communication).
There’s a famous Pigeon valley viewpoint near Uçhisar, with a tree decorated with evil eye beads—it’s super picturesque.
You can also hike the 4km trail through the Pigeon Valley floor, ending in Göreme.
Pasabağ (Monks Valley)
Home to some of the most striking fairy chimneys with mushroom tops. Wander among these naturally formed towers.
Legend says hermit monks once lived here in solitude – one chimney still has a small chapel carved in.
It’s on the road to Zelve and is easy to visit.
Check out Guide to Paşabağ’s Iconic Fairy Chimneys.
Devrent Valley
It is also called Imagination Valley. It has no churches or caves – it’s all about the whimsical rock shapes.
Look for the famous camel-shaped rock (it’s right by the road and looks just like a camel lying down!). Use your imagination, and you’ll spot many creatures on the rocks.
It’s a quick but fun stop, especially for photos pretending to “ride” the camel rock.
Zelve Open-Air Museum
It is an expansive valley that was an inhabited village until the 1950s. You can roam through troglodyte dwellings, tunnels, and churches.
It’s like a bigger, less frequented Göreme museum. Tunnels connect three valleys, and it’s so cool to walk through them.
Zelve also has a set of fairy chimneys. It’s less crowded, making it very enjoyable to explore freely.
Çavuşin Village & Church
Çavuşin is a small village where you’ll find a huge rock edifice with a scattering of caves – this was an old Greek village.
Above it sits the Church of St. John the Baptist (Çavuşin Church), one of the oldest in Cappadocia (5th century). You can climb up into the big cave church and ruins – the view from up there over the village and fields is great.
The town has some nice little cafes now.
Avanos Town
The town is known for its pottery and the Red River (Turkey’s longest river, called Kızılırmak). Stroll along the river, perhaps cross the suspension bridge on foot (it’s bouncy fun).
Pop into a pottery workshop or the Güray Ceramic Museum.
Avanos is a nice place to buy souvenirs. Check out the pottery and local carpets.
Ürgüp Three Graces (Üç Güzeller)
Just outside Ürgüp town is a postcard-famous trio of fairy chimneys with conical caps called the Three Graces.
They stand together and are very photogenic, with Mount Erciyes (a distant volcano) visible on clear days.
Legend says they represent a mythical family of father, mother and child, turned to stone—an easy, quick stop off the main road.
Ortahisar Castle
Similar to Uçhisar, but in Ortahisar town, a big rock spire is used as a fortress/storage. You can climb this one, too (recently restored for visitors).
The town of Ortahisar is charming and less touristy—wander its narrow streets to experience local life.
The castle view is impressive, and the Hallac Hospital Monastery (an old cave monastery site) is nearby. You can visit Ortahisar Castle in this underground cities tour.
Ihlara Valley & Selime Monastery
These are a bit farther (about 1.5 hours from Göreme) but part of the popular Green Tour.
Ihlara Valley is a 14-km gorge with a river running through it. It is lined with poplar trees and cave churches in the canyon walls. You can hike a section of it (a common route ~4km from Ihlara village to Belisırma village) and enjoy lunch by the river. It’s a refreshing green oasis contrasting Cappadocia’s dry terrain.
Selime Monastery is at the end of the valley. It is an enormous multi-story rock-cut monastery with chapels, kitchens, and even a cathedral-like church inside the cliffs. Climb up and explore its nooks —it was possibly an inspiration for the cave dwellings in Star Wars (locals certainly claim so, and it does feel like a movie set!). Selime offers awesome views of the Ihlara area from its perch.
Soğanlı Valley
It is a more remote valley (part of some Blue Tour itineraries) known for many tiny cave churches and the local village tradition of making Soğanlı dolls (handmade dolls in regional costume, sold as souvenirs).
If you venture here, you’ll have a quiet hike visiting small churches like Kubbeli Church and enjoying a rustic village atmosphere. It’s like Cappadocia off the beaten path which can be seen during the balloon flight over Soğanlı Valley.
Mustafapaşa (Sinasos)
It is a historic Greek town (old name Sinasos) near Ürgüp.
It’s noted for its beautiful Greek Orthodox churches and stone mansions with ornate carvings. After the population exchange of 1923, Turkish families moved in, but the town retains its Greek architecture charm. Mustafapaşa is often included in tours as a cultural stop – don’t miss the lovely Church of St. Nicholas (now a museum) and a walk in the tranquil streets.
It’s also home to a small university, giving it a youthful vibe.
Those are the major highlights across Cappadocia. Check out this Cappadocia Tour to see all the must-visit attractions in Cappadocia.
You could see most in three days; with less time, prioritize Göreme Open-Air Museum, one underground city (Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı), and a valley hike + viewpoint.
With more time, you can explore the farther sites like Ihlara and Soğanlı for a deeper view of Cappadocia.
