We would like to introduce you to a very unique holiday destination in Turkey: Cappadocia. Located on the central Anatolia plateau inside a volcanic environment sculpted by erosion into a sequence of mountain ridges, valleys, and pinnacles known as “fairy chimneys” or hoodoos, Göreme National Park and the Cappadocia Rock Sites are a UNESCO World Heritage site. It encompasses the area between Nevşehir, Ürgüp, and Avanos, as well as the sites of Karain, Karlk, Yeşilöz, and Soanl, as well as the underground city of Kaymakl and Derinkuyu.
While geological occurrences create fairy chimneys, people have carried the evidence of thousand-year-old civilizations across history by carving homes and churches into these dirt pillars and adorning them with frisks.
Göreme was inhabited as early as the Hittite era, around 1800–1200 B.C., and subsequently stood uncomfortably on the border between competing empires; first the Greeks and Persians, and then the Byzantine Greeks and a host of competitors. Residents need hiding spots as a result of their vulnerable political position—which they discovered by digging into the rock itself.
During the early years of Christianity, the place became a sacred haven. By the fourth century, Christians fleeing Rome’s persecution had founded monastic communities in this region. Beginning in the seventh century, monks dug vast homes and monasteries and created Byzantine frescoed murals in cave chapels, which have survived in well-preserved isolation until the present day.
Traditional Cappadocian homes and carved-stone dovecotes demonstrate the region’s distinctiveness. These dwellings are built on the mountain’s base using boulders or cut stones. Due to the region’s structure, rock, which is the region’s only construction material, is extremely soft after quarrying. However, when exposed to air, it hardens and becomes a highly strong construction material. Due to the material’s abundance and ease of processing, regionally distinct brickwork is produced and transformed into an architectural heritage. Neither the courtyard nor the house doors are made of wood. The upper portions of arched doorways are embellished with stylized ivy or rosette patterns.
Hotels in Cappadocia
We strongly advise you to stay in one of the region’s cave hotels. Additionally, there are several lodging alternatives in the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, Üçhisar, and Avanos for travelers of all budgets.
Cappadocia & viniculture
Since time immemorial, wine has played a significant role in Turkey, and Cappadocia was one of the first wine-producing regions. The white Narince and Emir grapes, as well as the red Bogazkere, küzgözü, and Kalecik Karas grapes, are the best varieties grown here. These Turkish wines continue to garner accolades and garner increasing global recognition. Consider Cappadocia’s cuisine and wine sampling trips.
Tours
Due to the extremely low population density, limited public transit, and dispersed character of the attractions, you may want to consider renting a car or booking a tour package.
How to Arrive
By air
The airway is the quickest and most convenient route to access Cappadocia. Cappadocia is accessible by two major airports. One of them is Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), which is located in Kayseri and is about a one-hour drive from the Cappadocia region’s core. Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Onur Air all provide nonstop flights from Istanbul’s international airports to Kayseri Erkilet Airport. Daily flights from Izmir to Kayseri through Istanbul are also available. It’s simple to arrange for a transport or shuttle bus to Cappadocia from Kayseri Airport.
The second is Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), which is located in the Nevşehir Province town of Gülşehir. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines offer nonstop flights between Istanbul and Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport.
Using the bus
Most of the bus companies have bus services to Nevsehir and Göreme. By bus:
- Istanbul – 12 hours
- Ankara – 5 hours
- Bursa – 11 hours
- Izmir – 12 hours
- Konya – 4 hours
- Antalya – 9 hours
- Çanakkale – 17 hours
Using the train
Kayseri is located on a well-used railway line. Trains to Kayseri are available from virtually all of Turkey’s train stations. You may take a bus to Göreme from Kayseri.