Cappadocia, Turkey is a magical place. Modern Empty Nesters seeking adventure should visit this region on an upcoming trip Turkey. Located in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region, Cappadocia is only a short 1.5 hour plane ride from Istanbul with flight prices quite reasonable. You can spend as little as two nights there or you can linger longer in this historical region. Regardless of your timeframe, be sure to do these Top 10 Activities to Do in Cappadocia, Turkey to make sure you have covered the highlights of what this unique region has to offer!
The List: Top 10 Activities to Do in Cappadocia
There are several reasons Cappadocia is a must-see location. Here is my top 10 Activities to Do while visiting Cappadocia. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, you can accomplish these activities! You can book many of these activities in advance or you can ask your hotel to arrange them for you!
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: You may have seen pictures of hot air balloon rides over beautiful Cappadocia on Instagram. And you may have heard you have to wake up at 4am for these sunrise ballon rides. Sounds like a crazy activity to plan during your vacation, right? But rest assured it is well worth it! It is a stunning experience, providing a sky high view of the region’s unique topography. Scared of heights? So am I! But the slow and steady pace of the hot air balloon makes you forget you are airborne and the breathtaking views are all the distraction you need! Trust me, you have to do this. We used Voyager Balloons and they were wonderful. This is definitely #1 of the Top 10 Activities to Do in Cappadocia. This is one ride you will remember forever!
- ATV Tour: Go four wheelin’ on an ATV and see Cappadocia! Your guide will take you to places you can’t easily reach by car. This is a fun and adventurous way to see areas like Rose, Sword, and Love Valleys. Book the sunset tour for beautiful sunset views towards the end of your ride! It is very safe and the group tour makes it a tamer ATV experience. Highly recommend this activity!
- Sleep in a Cave: Ever wonder what it would be like to sleep in a cave or fairy chimney? You can do that at Anatolian Houses Hotel! Rooms and suites are built into the rock for a most unique experience. In fact, it is the only hotel built inside 8 fairy chimneys! The pool and spa are a nice respite after your morning balloon ride. Breakfast will be waiting for you!
- Explore Derenku Underground City: Derenku is an ancient underground city that you access via car, private driver or tour. It consists of multiple underground levels and is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey. Used for protection from wars, it dates as far back as the 7th century A.D. You are free to explore multiple floors of the underground city. Professional guides are a plus, who share ancient history, lifestyle and anecdotes about this mysterious city. Afterwards, you can peruse the small souvenir shops or grab a drink from the local cafe.
Modern Empty Nester Tip: This is a popular tourist attraction. Depending on the season, it can get quite crowded inside with tight crawl spaces to maneuver. If you are claustrophobic, have trouble breathing, or have a bad back, it is best to sit this activity out.
- Explore Pasabag (Monks) Valley for Fairy Chimneys: Situated between Avos and Goreme, this beautiful valley allows you to see fairy chimneys up close. Learn how the monks used to live in these fairy chimneys for solitude. Crawl inside a fairy chimneys and take photos. After you explore, you can come back to more souvenir shops or grab a drink. You must have a car, driver or tour to get to Pasabage Monks Valley.
- Love Valley: This is a unique valley with interesting (ummmm) rock formations that attracts many couples. Many even leave with marriage proposals! You might catch sight of a bridal party taking photos — we sure did! Love Valley is accessible via ATV tour, hike or drive. We stopped here as part of our ATV tour. There are several photo spots, as well as a snack bar to grab a quick bite.
- Eat Pottery Kabob at Dibek Cafe & Restaurant: Enjoy an authentic dining experience at Dibek Cafe & Restaurant in Goreme. They serve the best traditional pottery kabob in the area. It’s cool to see how they cook the kabob inside pottery and break it open to serve. Dine siting on traditional cushions around a table and feel like a local. So delicious!
- Buy local ceramics: Local artisans have shops all over for you to find the perfect ceramics to take home as a souvenir. You can also tour artisan workshops in Avanos to watch them make pottery on the wheel by hand. Rev up your inner artist and consider taking a class to create your own!
- Take a picture with the evil eye tree at Esentepe Viewpoint: Gain evil eye protection while seeing sweeping views of the valley from Esentepe Panoramic Viewpoint. This is an easy quick stop that is accessible by car. Many tours stop here for a short pitstop and photo opportunity.
- Hike in Paradise Valley: Enjoy panoramic views of the region at this valley located in Uchisar. See ancient pigeon houses along the way. Hiking is a very popular activity for any of these sites. If you are an avid hiker, you will be in heaven!
Local Guides are a Plus
In order to make the most of your trip, I highly recommend getting a local guide to take you around. You can sign up for group tours that take you on the “Red” or “Green” tours with set stops. However, we opted for our own private guide, recommended by our hotel, who tailored activities based on our interest. We enjoyed the flexibility of a private tour, which allowed us to move at our own pace. Our most amazing guide, Tarik, shared so much with us about the history and culture of the region. In fact, we learned that local guides study the history of the region for years to qualify for these jobs. He knew an immense amount of information about each site we visited, was enthusiastic and so kind. Contact me if you would like his contact information!
Exploring in Cappadocia, Turkey
You can explore to your heart’s content in Cappadocia, Turkey. There are so many interesting locations in the region to experience with so much history. When planning your next visit to Cappadocia, Turkey, plan these Top 10 Activities to Do in Cappadocia, Turkey for an unforgettable trip! Have fun!
Leave a Reply