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Best Things to Do
Top 20 Best Things to Do in Goreme [2025]
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Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia
4.7
/5
461 reviews
8.6
From JPY 12923
57m from downtown
Phone +905318168087
Address: Cappadocia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Top 10 views from a hot air balloon
A Hot Air Balloon Hide-and-Seek Tour in the Canyons
Saved by 598 users277 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This was the best experience of our whole holiday. If you go to visit Turkey it is a must to do a hot air balloon ride. Just to see the balloons getting inflated and rise up is amazing as well as the number of balloons at the location. A really beautiful experience. The only disappointment is that the wait in the morning was too long and unnecessary as we waited in the bus for a long time after pick up. It is not necessary to have such an early pickup from the hotel. Plus we never received any snacks. You can also book the balloon ride directly in cappadocia for cheaper as well.
If you come to Turkey and don't check in for the hot air balloon experience, you really haven't been here. Fortunately, the weather was just right. I rushed to the starting point of the hot air balloon early in the morning and really took off into the sky. Secretly, there were hot air balloons all around. Looking up from the bottom, it was really beautiful.
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Cappadocia
4.8
/5
384 reviews
7.5
2.6 km from downtown
Address: Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 days
Highlights:
Explore unique "Fairy Chimneys" formations
Balloon ride over lunar landscapes
Saved by 324 users115 positive reviews
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The open-air museum is similar to the Dunhuang Grottoes, complete with murals.
The hot air balloon ride is fantastic!
In the ceramic town, you can try the local specialty—clay pot beef.
In Pigeon Valley and Rose Valley, you can admire volcanic concretions.
Cappadocia's surreal landscapes meet captivating belly dance, creating a mesmerizing blend of culture and natural beauty.
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Göreme Open Air Museum
4.8
/5
365 reviews
7.4
From JPY 4329
Based on 7,111 reviews
1.2 km from downtown
Phone +903842712167
Address: İsali - Gaferli - Avcılar, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Explore cave churches' mural art
Hot air balloon over fairy chimneys
Saved by 101 users164 positive reviews
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Turkey is now a country where 80 to 90 percent of the population believes in Islam, but its unique geographical location makes it a region where religious exchanges converge, with many religious relics, one of which is the Grammy Open Air Museum. Now it seems to be surrounded by mountains and has unique scenery, but in the past it was a place where people could practice piety while avoiding religious persecution!
Continue the trip to Turkey.
After a long journey, we finally arrived in Cappadocia from Ankara. Cappadocia is one of the most playable places in Turkey, and I will write several reviews later.
When we arrived in Cappadocia, the first stop was the landmark attraction, the Goreme Open Air Museum. This museum features special architecture and is interspersed with humanities, history and cultural exhibitions. The tour guide told some stories about religious struggles that took place in this museum, but it was a bit messy and I only heard a rough idea. They are all small stone houses, and I can't understand the contents inside. There are several paid areas, but according to the group members who went in to visit, it is similar to the outside and I can't understand it. The scenery of this museum is nice.
No.
4
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Goreme Historical National Park
4.9
/5
141 reviews
6.3
Based on 4,217 reviews
3 km from downtown
Phone +905517058880
Address: Yukarı, Kızılçukur Vadisi, 50500 Ortahisar/Ürgüp/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Unique stone forest from lava
Unique volcanic rocks & cave churches
40% positive reviews
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Goreme National Park is famous for its fantastic volcanic rock landforms and is known as the "Moon's surface". It has conical rock columns, cave churches and underground city ruins. The "Fairy Chimneys" (fairy chimneys) near Urgup are a group of pointed stone columns formed by erosion. They look like mushrooms and castles, combining natural wonders with the heritage of Byzantine murals. It is particularly stunning to overlook them by hot air balloon.
Göreme National Park: Göreme Milli Parklar was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Göreme is located in an area that has been settled since Roman times and was used by early Christians as a refuge from persecution and murder before Christianity was declared the religion of the empire. This can be seen from the many Christian sanctuaries located in this area. When we went there at the beginning of winter, it was snowing, so we got to see a beautiful snowy atmosphere.
No.
5
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Love Valley
4.9
/5
61 reviews
6.0
Based on 596 reviews
2.1 km from downtown
Phone +90533 120 92 54
Address: Çavuşin, 50180 Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Highlights:
Explore early Christian refuge sites
Unique spotted rocks & stalagmites
56% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Absolutely excellent landscape, these stone pillars are very huge and complete, and are arranged in an orderly manner. Everything is the best arrangement of nature. Standing on the uphill slope and looking here, there are some artificial decorations for taking pictures.
Such a unique beauty and hiking experience. Exploring this area of Cappadocia offers fantastic perspectives, the chance to see flora and fauna up close, and feel the history beneath your feet. Well worth a look!
No.
6
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Rose Valley
4.7
/5
98 reviews
5.7
Based on 1,571 reviews
2 km from downtown
Phone +903843813194
Address: 2. Küme, Gül vadisi, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Colorful rock photography paradise
Ride a horse to the summit to admire the unique lunar landscape
40% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The huge rock cliffs are very spectacular and appear rose-red, especially at sunset in the evening. Standing across the valley, you can see the entire view. There are trails in the canyon that lead to the campsite.
[Guide] Star and Moon Tour·Turkey Travel Guide ⑫——Göreme Rose Valley
Name of attraction: Rose Valley
Address: Goreme Yolu Uzeri 1.Km, Goreme, Turkey
Transportation: There are minibuses from downtown Goreme
Expense: Free
Visit time: At least two hours
Recommendation reason:
There is the beautiful Goreme National Park around Goreme. The canyons here can be easily explored on foot, and it takes only one or two hours to two or three hours to walk through these canyons. Moreover, many canyons are connected, so if your physical strength allows, you can walk through several canyons in a day.
Rose Valley is the most popular hiking route among these canyons. Along the way, you can see fairy chimneys, cliffs full of pigeon nests, hidden churches and beautiful scenery.
❤Rose Valley in my eyes❤
Among the many hiking routes in Kapa, Rose Valley is the most mature one, with obvious road signs and English signs. Moreover, you can see beautiful fairy chimneys and other unique landforms of Kapa along the way. The vegetation here has obviously adapted to such a hot and dry climate. Although there are not many trees, the trees are extremely tall and straight, giving people a sense of prosperity.
Like other places, the landforms in the Rose Valley are very similar to the moon in our minds - continuous hills and mountains, continuous beautiful folds, and continuous beauty... For tourists, the Rose Valley in our eyes is a curious existence, just to satisfy curiosity. However, in terms of survival, such an environment is single, barren and even harsh. However, even a few centuries ago, devout monks still built many cave churches and underground residences here.
The most beautiful time in the Rose Valley is at sunset. It is said that in the sunset, the entire valley will present a beautiful rose color.
Practical tips
1. The Rose Valley is relatively dry, pay attention to sun protection, remember to bring sunglasses and drinking water.
2. Plan your time and watch the sunset in the Rose Valley.
No.
7
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Sunset/Sunrise/Balloons Highest View point in Göreme
4.3
/5
21 reviews
5.6
272m from downtown
Phone +90532 460 78 20
Address: İsali - Gaferli - Avcılar, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.1 of Night Attractions in Goreme
Highlights:
360-degree elevated rock formation views
Sunrise View of Hundreds of Hot Air Balloons Taking Off
Verified user reviews
From here you can see the entire town of Goreme, which is magical and spectacular. In the morning, you can even pass by hot air balloons. It is dreamy and romantic. Everything is so shocking and beautiful.
It was free before, but now it costs two yuan, and many foreigners are unwilling to pay. This is a hilltop, very good, with a particularly good view, shocking enough, and you can enjoy the sun shining directly on the town.
No.
8
Goreme Roma Kalesi
4.4
/5
26 reviews
5.1
173m from downtown
Address: İsali - Gaferli - Avcılar, Müze Cd. No:2, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Highlights:
Unique landscape of volcanic rocks
Roman-style castle in Goreme
Verified user reviews
You can travel here by taking the green line, which is a very convenient journey. This is a very typical karst landform, and the small stone mountains look like small mushrooms, which are very beautiful.
The Roman Castle is a historical building. The building area in this area is quite large. It is also one of the most interesting cities. The whole environment is very beautiful, and there are many features to appreciate.
[Cost-effectiveness] Very high
[Scenery] The scenery is also worth appreciating
[Fun] Quite fun
No.
9
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Dark Church
4.4
/5
36 reviews
4.8
1.5 km from downtown
Address: İsali - Gaferli - Avcılar, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Highlights:
Unique church carved into rock
Byzantine frescoes: mysterious & enchanting
25% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Dark Church is located in the Goreme Open Air Museum. You need to buy a separate ticket, which costs 18 liras.
Like the open air museum, taking photos inside the church is prohibited. The Dark Church is relatively well preserved, and the murals inside depict the two church donors and the Last Supper, the birth of Jesus and other biblical stories.
The museum's guide is also applicable to the Dark Church. The church is not large, but the murals are still quite exquisite.
This is also a unique attraction on this trip, called the Dark Church. The church here is built with stone mountains and has a very long history. Due to historical damage, some murals on the stone walls can no longer be seen in their original appearance.
No.
10
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Zelve Open Air Museum
4.6
/5
26 reviews
4.7
Based on 654 reviews
4 km from downtown
Phone +903842713535
Address: Aydınlı Mahallesi, Yavuz Sk. No:1 No:1, 50180 Aktepe/Avanos/Nevşehir, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Verified user reviews
I personally feel that this is the best attraction in the whole of Turkey. I went there early in the morning the next day after arriving in Goreme. I was the first one to enter the park. There were not many people there the whole time. It felt like I was on an archaeological expedition. The scenery was shocking and the caves were amazing.
After I came back, I was a little confused about the photos I took in several museums, because the basic landforms of the open-air museums in Cappadocia are still the same. It is a very unique place that cannot be seen in other places.
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