This time I want to introduce you to an incredible place, full of magic, with the most fabulous natural rock formations and dream tourist attraction that you can enjoy from the bird´s view. Meet me in Cappadocia, Turkey!
You know how much I love to travel, to discover new destinations and to introduce them. Now I am fascinated with this city, Cappadocia, located in the central part of Turkey. You can imagine a place surrounded by caves that came to be the living places for people over 4 thousand years ago. You may find cities well preserved underground. That sounds magical, doesn't it? Well, all that and a lot more you can find in Cappadocia.
My trip to Cappadocia started in Istanbul where I took a direct flight by Pegassus Airlines. It was a pleasant flight that took about 1 hour and 20 minutes and I was able to see the central part of Turkey from the airplane. If you want to fly to Cappadocia, I highly recommend this airline, with excellent service and low prices. But if you prefer to enjoy the
roads, or you get sick during the flights, you can easily manage to rent a car and become a road warrior for 10 hours.
Everything has been planned by Aygul and her agency Enka Travel Turkey, they have closed packages with everything included and they have the best tour guides too. It has been a fantastic experience, a very friendly and at the same time very professional treatment.
I stayed at a wonderful hotel in the city of Urgup, the Carna Cave Hotel. An unique experience, with rooms that simulate incredible caves, very in tune with the rest of the city and its attractions.
The hotel is very well located, with incredible places to visit around it.The hotel has a great location, with incredible places to visit around it.
The attention and kindness of its staff is one of their strengths, you will feel at home, they will make you have an unforgettable experience. I recommend that you make reservations in advance and request a package with all services included, you will not regret it because the hotel is beautiful and has impressive views the beautiful and charm Urgup.
Ortahisar is famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named. This 90-meter high natural fortress, a prominent landmark in the region – honeycombed with caves and tunnels, camouflaged by nature without the slightest indication of human presence inside – has partly crumbled away revealing some of its interior. Today it has been restored and the peak is accessible by a staircase. The Ortahisar Castle offers a magnificent panorama over the fairy chimneys of Hallacdere and the snowy peak of Mt. Erciyes.
If you follow the street close to the main fortress, you can visit Ali Reis Church with Christ on the main dome. If you keep on the main street down south you can see the Balkan Deresi up to the Balkan Churches. Some churches in the vicinity of Ortahisar have been opened recently. Keep right for 2 km when leaving Urgup towards Mustafapasa (Sinasos), after 1 km you will see the yellow signs for the Sarica Church and the Kepez Church. Another kilometer will take you to Pancarlik Church in Pancarlik Valley, which has very fine frescoes on its ceiling.
Cappadocia: Cappadocia is a beautiful region in central Turkey famous for its fairytale scenery, cave dwellings, remarkable rock formations, and of course the hundreds of hot air balloons that soar into the sky at sunrise every morning.
If you are a traveler like me, who is looking for impressive places to visit, Cappadocia is the ideal destination. Known as the region of the balloons for its famous hot air balloons.
Do not forget to charge your cell phone battery so that you can capture the most impressive images of this magical city from above. And if you have a guide like mine, don't forget to bring at least 2 camersas, in addition to a great guide, he has been a great photographer and knows exactly where to take the best photos.
Many influencers travel to Cappadocia just for the experience of taking pictures of the entire region from balloons or hotel shots. But you must take the forecasts regarding the weather. Turkey is a country of seasons and therefore the climate varies. The best time to visit the city of balls is in September or at the beginning of October, you will enjoy all the splendor of the landscapes with a perfect climate, neither too cold nor too hot.
One of the main questions is if to visit this place in summer or in winter. Any season is good to visit Cappadocia
But, there is much more to see and visit in Cappadocia. In each season of the year you will find attractions, if you like heat, visit the city in summer, but if you prefer snowfall, it is advisable to book for the winter season.
Cappadocia is surrounded by many towns, one with an excellent location is Göreme, an exquisite tourist destination from where you can easily move to the rest of the towns. Of course the most agglomerated also, but if you are looking for a less touristy and more regional town Urgup where I stay is a very good option.
If you like tours, there are at least three recommended routes, but the options are more varied in Cappadocia. You can get to know the city on foot, an ideal alternative for tourists like you and me! You can travel it on horseback, which is a wonderful option, in a Jeep or on a Scooter for the more adventurous.
If you want to know this magical place and not to miss the experience of flying in a balloon, I recommend you be patient and travel during low season so you will save some money. The month of July and August belong to high season and a trip to Cappadocia could cost you up to 400 euros, but if you wait a bit for the low season to arrive, your cost will go down easily as much as 100 euros.
There are so many fascinating things to see in Cappadocia that you could spend a lifetime here and still discover new places. The main 'must-see' attractions are the two large open-air museums and the best of the underground cities. However, there are also many small, all-but-forgotten rock-cut churches and monasteries, splendid hiking trails, several spectacular caravanserais and many dramatic rock formations well worth going out of your way to visit.
It will undoubtedly be one of the best experiences of your life, you will not regret visiting this magical place in Turkey. Cappadocia is the destination that I recommend.
PLACES TO VISIT IN CAPPADOCIA
Goreme Open Air Museum: cave churches with frescoes
Zelve Open Air Museum: an empty cave town with churches
Kaymakli Underground City: the largest underground city
Derinkuyu Underground City: the deepest underground city
Ihlara Valley: the deepest gorge of Anatolia
Uchisar: Roman rock-cut castle
Ortahisar: Roman rock-cut castle
Avanos: center of pottery since the Hittites
Pasabag: mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys, monks valley
Devrent: animal-shaped fairy chimneys, imagination valley
Hacibektas: center of Bektasi sect of Islam
Gulsehir: first settlements in Cappadocia
Forgotten Cave Churches: churches located in the valleys
Caravanserais: 13th century hotels on the silk road