Cappadocia
Cappadocia – not an actual city but rather a majestic region in central Turkey. It has unique and distinctive landscape full of wonderful little (cave) towns including, marvelous valleys, cone-shaped rock formations and many caves inside beautiful mountains! This area is most famous for hot air balloon flight in the morning of a beautiful day and spooky underground cities.
If you have a chance visit Castle and ruins of whole cave town in Uchisar. For us it was something unique and never seen before. We enjoyed every minute we were able to spend there. Whole Old town is also beautiful.
Differently than today in ancient times Pigeons have been used in the Cappadocia region for food and fertilizer for the infertile soil. Locals valued birds and even carved dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) into soft volcanic tuff. Walking from Uchisar to Goreme we visited one of the valleys dedicated to them – Pigeon Valley. A truly inimitable place!
When we arrived Goreme seemed like a heart of the region with so many tourists and grand hotels around that you can even forget where you are. Nevertheless, this city is close to everything including Goreme Open Air Museum, with cave churches and frescoes from the 10th to 12th centuries, handful of marvelous valleys and other tourist attractions. Here you will be able to book a hotel from which you can see the famous hot air balloon flight in the morning or spend a night in an actual cave room which was carved into a rock.
Not far from here is Sword Valley, which is one of the smaller ones in Cappadocia, but has the longest tunnel instead. After we crossed it, we went to explore the colors of Red Valley, climbed a mountain and had a chance to witness most stunning sunset in our whole trip so far.
Keep in mind that colors in Cappadocia are at their best in evening and early in the morning while sun is still not direct. We believe that is one of the reasons why they are flying hot air balloons so early in the morning!
Helpful tips
Restaurants. “Firin Express” – a lovely local restaurant in Goreme town. We had an amazing lunch with a dish prepared in a clay pot which was opened (broken) on our table with a sword. If that is not special, then we do not know what is! That was local Cappadocian dish of vegetables and meet, tasty and unique!
Markets. In every city in Cappadocia region as in every other location on the world enjoyed by tourists you will have a chance to buy overpriced souvenirs. Here prices in shops and markets are similar and you should use more convenient one for you.
In central of Turkey, you should not drink tap water as locals suggest against it. However, in case you are not sure, just double check this with locals when you are there. We did try mountain spring water, and everything went well.
Transportation. To get to Cappadocia you can use car, bus, train, plane which ever you think is more convenient for you. This region is highly visited by tourists where to get around best is on foot exploring wild nature! Other best option is 4-wheeler or personal car. Sometimes taxi might be a quick option as well. However, if you live in either city in the region of Cappadocia we highly recommend walking around! Lovely walks through the area will reveal true beauty of this marvelous region!
Best of luck planning your holidays in Cappadocia!
Is there anything else you would like to visit while in Turkey?
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