3 Days in Cappadocia. Travel Guide & Top Things To Do

Turkey is a dazzling destination that connects Asia and Europe. Cappadocia is one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the world. It seems that Cappadocia was on everyone’s Instagram feed this year. Looking for great things to do in magical Cappadocia but don’t know where to start? So let’s reveal this cave city.

Cappadocia was on our bucket list this year, so on our second visit to Turkey we finally crossed it off. This small region in Central Anatolia will seduce you with its preserved nature, culture and diversity of natural landmarks. Göreme is the perfect place to spend your summer weekend. Lunar landscapes and a fairy-tale atmosphere have made this place a must-visit. Don’t worry if you only have a short time to explore — here are the highlights to make for an epic three days in Cappadocia.

Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride

So you’re traveling to Cappadocia and you have no idea where to begin. Cappadocia is the number one place in the world in terms of the number of hot air balloon flights per day. This is one of the world’s top destinations to take a hot air balloon ride, which gives an unbeatable bird’s-eye view of the incredible rock formations, known locally as “fairy chimneys”.

A hot air balloon flight over the stunning landscape early in the morning is the highlight of Cappadocia. As you float to an altitude of 6,000 feet, you can see entire landscapes. Take a balloon ride and watch the sunrise while floating through the region’s rugged valleys. This is, without any doubt, one of the most thrilling experiences of your life! Don’t forget your camera!

Stay in a Cave Suite

There are plenty of gorgeous hotels in Cappadocia. We don’t recommend you stay in an ordinary hotel. But where to stay? A cave hotel, of course. There’s no better way to have a completely unique experience in Cappadocia than staying at the magnificent cave suites. Imagine a modern boutique hotel transplanted to a cave in the Cappadocia hills. We stayed at Sultan Cave Suites for 4 nights and the place is simply fantastic! Remember to book as soon as possible because popular hotels are often booked out quickly. Best rooftop views in Göreme and tasty breakfast make the terrace a wonderful place to stay.

Take a photo with the coolest Car of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a goldmine for content creators and photographers. Love Valley Viewpoint is one of Cappadocia’s best sunrise spots. It’s also a good place to photograph the growing number of hot air balloons floating in the skies. This is a 1971 Volkswagen Deluxe Bus which has been lovingly restored by its current owner, İlker Katik. That experience is truly magical with plenty of nostalgic charm. You can easily book your photo session by simply contacting İlker (@ilkerkatik) via Instagram.

Love Valley

When you first visit this place, it’s not hard to spot the reason for the name ‘Love Valley’. There are hundreds of these rocks, created from wind erosion over hundreds, thousands, or even millions of years. As the sun rises over Love Valley, hundreds of colorful hot air balloons fill the sky. It was absolutely amazing.

Pasabag Monastery

There are so many exciting things to do in Cappadocia that you could spend a lifetime here and still discover new places. Pasabag is located just a few kilometers away from Göreme. Pasabag Valley (also known as the Monks Valley) is a wonderland of mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. In nature, these pillars take thousands of years to form. A great place to enjoy and take photos of more rock formations.

Pigeon Valley

Cappadocia’s lunar landscape was formed around 60 or 70 million years ago by a massive volcanic eruption. When you come to Cappadocia you must take at least one of your days, pick a valley, and spend some time exploring. Pigeon Valley got its name because of all the pigeon houses carved into the rocks. It’s the perfect place for a hiking adventure. The trail through Pigeon Valley is about 4 km long between Göreme and Uçhisar. The best way to see Pigeon Valley is from above via a hot air balloon flight.

Ortahisar

Ortahisar is a quiet, charming small town with ancient cobbled streets and a nice castle in the heart of Cappadocia. The fortress, towering above the ruins of stone houses, is one of Cappadocia’s most famous landmarks. Travelers who make the effort of climbing to the summit will be amply rewarded with outstanding views. You might want to consider this as an alternative to nearby crowded Göreme.

Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu is 40 km or about a 1-hour drive from Göreme. It is one of the largest underground cities in the world — one of over 200 underground cities discovered in the region. Part of what makes it so impressive is the city’s depth of over 200 feet. It has 11 levels, according to National Geographic, with an area of a little over 10.4 square kilometers — enough to shelter 20,000 people. People who are claustrophobic should be aware that some of the tunnels are exceedingly narrow.

Balloon Launch Site

Visiting a hot air balloon launching area is one of the things to do in Cappadocia. And most importantly, it’s completely free. Waking up between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. isn’t easy, but it’s worth it for views of the magical balloons floating above the fairy chimneys. The town of Göreme is closest to the hot air balloon launch sites. Balloons take off before sunrise — about 5:00–5:30am — because the air temperature and wind conditions are best shortly after. We advise renting a car or scooter the day before and taking the route to Çavuşin.

Catch the Sunset

Every time you think of Cappadocia, you are probably thinking of a sky full of hot air balloons. But what about a stunning sunset? While many people visit Sunset Point due to its close proximity to Göreme, we chose a more deserted place — Red Valley. The quiet atmosphere and beautiful views from the Panoramic Viewpoint make it a great spot for couples to enjoy a romantic moment together. Pure heaven, and one of the best places to watch the sunset or sunrise in Cappadocia.