5 days in Cappadocia

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hot-air balloon flight and Göreme Open-Air Museum

   Hot-air balloon flight, Göreme Open-Air Museum and Love Valley, then Sarıhan Caravanserai in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hot-air balloon flight

      Book your flight for your first morning so that, if it is cancelled, you can rebook on a later day of your stay. (3–4 hours including pickup, expensive).

   2. Late morning

      Göreme Open-Air Museum

      Arrive at opening time before tour buses, and don't miss the Tokalı Church below the entrance, which many visitors skip. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pottery kebab

      Restaurants in Göreme, Ürgüp and Avanos; some need ordering a few hours ahead.

   4. Afternoon

      Love Valley

      Watch the balloons from the rim above the valley at sunrise; it is a short drive or a 30-minute walk from Göreme. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Sarıhan Caravanserai

      Attend the sema in silence and avoid applause and flash photography during the ceremony.

2. Day 2: Derinkuyu Underground City and Uçhisar Castle

   Derinkuyu Underground City, Uçhisar Castle and Paşabağ (Monks Valley), then Sunrise balloon flight in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Derinkuyu Underground City

      Avoid it if you are claustrophobic or have back problems; some passages require crouching. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Uçhisar Castle

      Go late in the afternoon for the warm light, then eat on a terrace in Uçhisar village at sunset. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kayseri mantı

      Traditional restaurants in Ürgüp and Göreme, and specialist mantı houses in Kayseri.

   4. Afternoon

      Paşabağ (Monks Valley)

      Combine it with Zelve and Devrent Valley on the same half-day loop. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Sunrise balloon flight

      Float over the valleys at dawn, often with a celebratory drink on landing.

3. Day 3: Kaymaklı Underground City and Rose and Red valleys

   Kaymaklı Underground City, Rose and Red valleys and Pigeon Valley, then Cave suite with a terrace in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kaymaklı Underground City

      If you can only see one underground city, Kaymaklı is a little easier going for children and older visitors. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Rose and Red valleys

      Hike in the afternoon from Göreme towards Çavuşin and finish at the sunset viewpoint; use a mapping app, as trails branch often. (2–4 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pastırma

      Delicatessens in Ürgüp and Kayseri, and breakfast spreads in cave hotels.

   4. Afternoon

      Pigeon Valley

      Walk it downhill from Uçhisar to Göreme, ending with lunch in Göreme. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Cave suite with a terrace

      Book a rock-cut suite in Uçhisar or Göreme with a private terrace to watch the balloons from bed.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery

   About 1 hour 30 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car or Green Tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery

      About 1 hour 30 minutes by car (Car or Green Tour); about 90 km.

   2. Day

      Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery

      A canyon around 14 km long carved by the Melendiz River, with rock-cut churches in its walls and a shady riverside path; the popular section runs from Ihlara village to Belisırma. Best for quiet stays, culture and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cappadocia

      Dinner: try Gözleme.

5. Day 5: Zelve Open-Air Museum and Avanos pottery workshops

   Zelve Open-Air Museum, Avanos pottery workshops and Devrent Valley, then Sunset over Rose Valley in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Zelve Open-Air Museum

      Bring a torch and sturdy shoes if you want to explore the tunnels connecting some of the dwellings. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Avanos pottery workshops

      Visit independently rather than on a tour stop to avoid pressure to buy, and haggle in the showrooms. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gözleme

      Village cafés along the valley trails and roadside restaurants between the towns.

   4. Afternoon

      Devrent Valley

      Stop briefly on a drive between Avanos and Ürgüp; it needs no more than 20 minutes. (20–30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Sunset over Rose Valley

      Walk the valley in the afternoon and finish at the ridge viewpoint as the rock turns pink and red.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Hot-air balloon flight and Sarıhan Caravanserai before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Göreme keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Uçhisar ($$$$) suits couples, luxury and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–22 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.5 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cappadocia
• 2 days in Cappadocia
• 3 days in Cappadocia

Questions travellers ask