Cappadocia · Things to do

A monastic complex of rock-cut chapels with 10th to 12th-century frescoes, ticketed by the Ministry of Culture and covered by the MüzeKart. It is about a 15-minute walk uphill from Göreme village, and the Dark Church (Karanlık Kilise) is a separate extra ticket but has the best-preserved painting.

Roughly an hour in the air after a pre-dawn meeting point, run by licensed operators under Turkish civil aviation rules. Flights are cancelled outright in wind, which happens often, so book your first morning and keep a spare day rather than treating it as a fixed plan.

Multiple levels cut down into the rock about 30 km south of Göreme, with ventilation shafts, stables, storage rooms and a church. The connecting passages are low and narrow, so skip it if enclosed spaces bother you, and arrive at opening because coach groups land mid-morning.

A 14 km gorge with a stream running through it and Byzantine rock churches cut into the sides, about 90 minutes southwest of Göreme. Most people walk the 3 to 4 km stretch between the main Ihlara entrance and Belisırma; the main entrance starts with a long staircase down into the canyon.

Free, unticketed paths linking Göreme, Çavuşin and Uçhisar through the rock formations, with Red and Rose valleys running roughly 4 to 5 km end to end. Trails fork constantly and are unmarked in places, so carry water, a map and enough daylight.