Any visit to Turkey will be incomplete without a visit to the magical land Cappadocia. When you visit Cappadocia, you’ll be in for a truly unforgettable experience. Find out the best places to visit, must do things & some helpful tips for your 3 day Cappadocia itinerary here.

Cappadocia is a historic region in Turkey’s heartland, east central Anatolia, located on a rocky plateau north of the Taurus Mountains. The region’s borders have shifted numerous times over the course of history. In Cappadocia, soft volcanic rock is eroded into towers, cones, valleys, and caverns, creating an awe-inspiring environment. Numerous Byzantine and Islamic rock-cut churches and tunnel systems may be found all over the area.

Cappadocia is like another planet, with its strange rock formations and underground cities. With so many incredible places to visit around, arranging a Cappadocia vacation might be intimidating to begin with. We recommend at least three days in Cappadocia, even if you can fit everything in two days, because you’ll be able to enjoy a more leisurely pace. In addition, Cappadocia is all about the sunrises, and the more nights you spend there, the better the sunrises will be.

 

3 days Cappadocia itinerary : Day 1

We stayed for the first 2 nights in Taru Cave Hotel, Urgup. The Tara Cave Suites experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The cave rooms were excellent, the view was breathtaking, and the breakfast was simply delicious. We highly recommend this hotel for your stay in Cappadocia.

 

Our first stop in Capadoccia was the most famous Love Valley.

Love valley, Cappadocia

Love Valley is one of Cappadocia’s most beautiful valleys. The Valley of the Fairy Chimneys, located between Avanos and Goreme, is a famous location for marriage proposals because of its fascinating fairy chimney structures. Love Valley is considered one of Cappadocia’s top hiking trails because of its distinctive rock formations, rocky mountain ranges, and green, open valley. The valley is a great place to go hiking, ATV quad safari, or 4×4 off-road safari, and photograph the beautiful scenery. It’s around 5 kilometres of hiking trails in Love Valley.

Because of the huge mushroom shaped structures and sparse flora, the scenery of Love Valley in Cappadocia gives the impression that you’re strolling on the moon. White and Pigeon Valleys are within a short distance and can be reached from Love Valley. It is possible to see the valley from above, or you may take a walk to the base of the enormous constructions in Love Valley.

Love Valley is just a short drive from Goreme. Rental scooters and ATVs are also available to explore the area. On foot, the journey from Goreme to Love Valley and back takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours.

When you search for Love valley in GPS, it takes only to the panorama point. If we want to hike & be right in the middle of those gigantic rock formations, do this:

After following the GPS, head along Bilal Eroglu Avenue. Even though it follows a road, the right side of the trail offers stunning views of the Rose Valley. Fork in the road: Keep following the GPS and take the left fork after around 30 minutes / 2.5 kilometers. Three minutes down the dirt road, on the left, is a huge sign reading “Baglidere Vidisi” and providing directions and a map of the surrounding area. At this point, you’ll leave the GPS path and head left into the valley, following the direction on the sign.

Goreme open air museum, Cappadocia

Known as Cappadocia’s ‘knowledge and thinking center ‘, Goreme Open Air Museum has a monastery that has lasted for centuries. During the early Christian eras of the 4th century AD, the tale of the valley began. It was at the time when Kayseri Bishop of St. Basil was stationed in the valley to preach his teachings and train disciples that the valley was given its monastic name. It was here, in the Goreme Ruins region, where education and training were centralized until the 13th century. Some of Cappadocia’s finest churches and monastery complexes may be found in this compact region.

The Göreme Open Air Museum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 for its role in preserving and showcasing Cappadocia’s finest cave churches. It’s fascinating to see the churches carved out of the rock, but I really recommend paying a visit to Dark Church (which required an additional admission price) to see the incredible frescoes. Discovering Cappadocia begins with a visit to the Open-Air Museum.

You may stroll from Goreme to the city center in around 2 or 3 kilometers.

In 2022, tickets cost 125 lira, but if you want to view the Dark Church, you’ll have to pay an additional 40 lira. Please don’t skip the dark church as the inside is adorned with symbols and paintings. This church was the main church of the monastery complex. The monastery was created with extravagant grandeur in a prominent site in order to awe and dazzle visitors.

Visit Uchisar castle for sunset

This castle stands out from the rest of Turkey’s castles because of how bizarre & unusually shaped it is. This odd shaped castle caught our attention at the first instance itself when we saw in a souvenir shop on the way to our hotel in Gerome and we ended up by adding it to our first day itinerary in Cappadocia. But don’t judge the castle by its looks. You are in for surprise for sure when you visit it!

Uchisar Castle, which is actually two adjoining “fairy chimneys,” has been in use as a watchtower

and a military fortress for more than 2,000 years. The Romans even erected massive trebuchet slingshots to help protect the fortification. Around 3,000 people resided there by the 16th century, and it was still occupied until the 1960s.

On the Nevsehir-Goreme road, Uchisar Castle is located at the highest point in Cappadocia and is only 5 kilometers from Goreme. The view from atop Uchisar Castle, with Mount Erciyes in the distance, is simply stunning. Stairs, tunnels, and passages connect the several rooms carved out of the rock. It may be a bit of a challenge to go to the top of the castle, but the view from the top is worth it because you can overlook Cappadocia from there.

Be cautious of the slick stair surfaces if you choose to walk up. Millstone doors, like the ones seen in the underground towns, are utilized to control entry to these rooms at their entrances. Unfortunately, it is not possible to access all of the rooms in this multi-level castle due to erosion. Most of the rooms on the castle’s northern side are still in use as pigeon homes (dove cuts). A valuable organic fertilizer, pigeon droppings were collected by farmers in these underground pigeon houses and applied to the land.

Top tip : Don’t forget to climb upto the top of Uchisar castle to catch amazing sunset view and also to find the scenic panorama view of the village below

3 days Cappadocia itinerary : Day 2

After a relaxing day 1, we planned for a hectic day 2. First we started off by visiting kaymakli, the underground city and then we headed far.

Kaymakli  underground city

Cappadocia is home to 36 cave cities, the two most visited of which are Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. An easy 30-minute drive outside of Goreme lies the Kaymakli Underground City.

We chose Kaymakli over Derinkuyu because we were suggested that the former was much more accessible with kids. But if you are not claustrophobic and want to be more adventurous, then visit Derinkuyu, which is the the deepest, largest and best underground city located in Derinkuyu district.

This underground city has served as a refuge from religious persecution, particularly for Christians during the Byzantine era, when the city was largely employed as a defence against invading Arabs. Estimates put the population at between 3,500 and 4,000 during its peak time.

The Citadel of Kaymakli, located under the Kaymakli underground city, was first accessible to the public in 1964. People in the village of Kaymakli built their homes around more than a hundred tunnels that go to the city underneath them. Even now, locals still make use of the tunnels’ best-suited spaces as cellars, storage facilities, and stables, all of which may be accessed via their own courtyards.

Only four of the eight floors of the subterranean city are now accessible to the public, and the areas are arranged around ventilation shafts.

 

 

*A bit of warning: You’ll have to bend down but never crawl; the lighting is decent; if you are claustrophobic, you’ll be uncomfortable; watch your head as the low rocky roofs can be painful.

Top Tip : You may easily get lost in the city’s numerous tunnels, corridors, and staircases. Therefore, we highly recommend hiring a guide to explore this underground city. But if you decide to go without one, throughout the caverns, you’ll see red and blue arrows. The red arrows guide you down and into the caverns, while the blue arrows bring you back to the exit.

That’s our daughter trying to crawl her way through the city. You can now imagine how difficult it would be for adults to pass through.

Ihlara valley

Our next stop for the day after visiting the underground city was the famous Ihlara valley. The valley is 90 kilometres away from Kaymakli and can be reached in about 1.75 hours. To go to Goreme, which is 120 kilometres away, you’ll need around 2.5 hours. Located near two of Cappadocia’s three volcanoes, Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz, the Ihlara Valley is a canyon with a depth of roughly 100 meters and was constructed thousands of years ago by the Melendiz River, which flowed through it. On its 14-kilometer journey from Ihlara to Selime, the route takes 26 turns around Selime Monastery and back to Ihlara, where it all began.

More than 4,000 homes and a hundred frescoed cave churches are said to have existed in the valley. Ihlara Valley was previously home to an estimated 80,000 people. Ihlara valley has four entrances. Located in Ihlara Village, the first one may be found at its beginning in the valley. Second, the valley’s fourth-kilometer entrance, which has more than 300 stairs leading down to the valley, is the most popular. And that was the one which we took. There is just 1 restaurant near the parking lot before we descend to the valley. So either pack your food or wait until you reach the picnic spot roughly 10km later walking down the valley. The picnic spot is very scenic and has awesome food, beverages and neat washrooms too.

 The Ihlara Valley is home to a plethora of cave churches. We went to Fragrant Church (Kokar Kilise) which is very close to Entrance 2 near the river. This church has good frescoes of New Testament scenes, including the Nativity and Crucifixion. You can either continue walking down the valley to reach Selime Monastery. Since we parked our car in entrance 2, we headed back to our car post lunch.

Top tip: Selime Cathedral’s admission cost is included in the Ihlara Valley ticket (8 TL per person).

 

Selime Monastery

Selime monastery was the last stop for the day. We were so tired after all the hiking and walking done in Ihara valley and thought of skipping this monastery. Once we reached the place, we were so glad that we did not miss it.

Head north of the Ihlara Gorge, you will find the settlement of Yaprakhisar. Cappadocia’s greatest holy cave structure, with its rich history and stunning artwork, can be found in this strange, Star Wars-like landscape. Located at the base of a mountain, the Selime Monastery is an immense monument carved into the red rock.

 

The monastery’s sheer magnitude will astound you as you make your way through the maze of tunnels and underground chambers. Rooms, kitchen, and stables for mules are all included in the monastery’s facilities. Time has dimmed the frescos yet the monks’ marks and memorabilia like carved symbols have persisted. Climb inside the red cliff’s dark crevices to explore the cathedral of the monastery. See depictions of the Ascension and the Virgin Mary in biblical stories depicted in ancient works of art. The church’s portions are separated by exquisitely carved granite columns and arches.

Although the religious frescoes were added many centuries later, the monastery is believed to date back to the eighth century. It’s one of the biggest in the area. We strongly recommend to hire a guide to learn all about the site’s history, including the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. The monastery complex served as a training ground for future monks and priests for the local religious community.

3 days Cappadocia itinerary : Day 3

We shifted from Urgup to based in Goreme for the third day. We stayed near sultan cave hotel, the highest point from where you see the full view of the Goreme village.

Avanos

8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Göreme is Avanos. As a starting point, it isn’t nearly as central as Ürgüp or Göreme, but it’s less touristic, and there are still several hotels and restaurants in the area. Located on the banks of the Kzlrmak River in, Avanos is home to 12,000 people and is well known for its ceramics. The riverside red clay is good for both traditional family pottery and industrial purposes like building blocks and roof tiles. The Hittites, who ruled this region circa 2000 BC, were the first to use pottery making techniques here. In order to support the local artisans who are still moulding and shaping the exquisite pottery with their professional hands, it is advised that you avoid the tourist stores where pottery is also sold.

Beautiful red clay may be found in many different forms here. Apart from pottery, if you have extra time, do check out the unique hair museum in Avanos. The museum has even entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1998.

Tip: Be sure to walk across the bridge and check out MADO waterfront café. You may not have heard of MADO before, yet it is one of the few Turkish Name Brands that you may have heard of.

The founder of MADO, Kahramanmaraş Dondurma, gave the organization its name…

The origins of MADO ice cream, famous for its distinctive flavor and long shelf life, dates back more than three centuries. As a result of its waterfront position and opulent architectural design, you won’t be disappointed when dining here.

Red valley Sunset view point

Since we missed catching sunrise in balloons because of sudden cancellations due to poor weather conditions, we wanted to catch the best sunset view while in Cappadocia. Red valley features one of the greatest sunset views in Cappadocia, Turkey. As the sun sets over Cappadocia, the red tint of the rock transforms into a stunning sight. Near Ortahisar, the Red Valley Panorama Lookout is a 15-minute drive from Goreme.

You’ll pass the Goreme Open Air Museum on your right when you turn left into Muze Cd from Bilal Eroglu Cd. Turn left onto Nevesehir Urgup Yolu/D302 for 650 meters (.4 miles), and then turn left on Dr. Zeliha Berksoy Blv. In the center of the road, there is a guard post.

Entering the park will set you back a few Turkish Liras(2TL). Your visit to Cappadocia’s Red Valley will be a memorable one, and there are several ways to take in the region’s famous pink sunsets. A peaceful horseback ride or an exhilarating ATV excursion may be enjoyed while watching the sun set over Cappadocia’s lunar landscapes. So, make sure you don’t miss out on the sunset magic while you’re in Goreme!

A bit of Warning : Without a vehicle, accessing the Red Valley might be challenging. If you come to see the sun go down, be aware that the trek back will be in the dark.

And that concludes our 3 day Cappodocia itineary. We tried hard for 2 days for the most famous activity in Cappadocia , hot air balloon ride, But due to inclement weather conditions, it got cancelled for the whole week.So always check before hand for the good weather conditions and plan your trip accordingly if hot-air balloon ride is in your bucket list.

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