6 best day trips from Cappadocia

Day trips compared

The day trips

90 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

1.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. At its northern end, Selime Monastery is a huge complex carved into a cliff.

Getting there

Car or Green Tour

Best for

Quiet stays, Culture, Families

60 km · About 1 hour by car

2.Soğanlı Valley

Two quiet valleys south of Mustafapaşa with Byzantine rock churches, including the Church of St Barbara and the domed Kubbeli Church, plus a small village known for handmade dolls. It sees far fewer visitors than Göreme.

Getting there

Car or private tour

Best for

Quiet stays, Culture

30 km · About 35 minutes by car

3.Gülşehir

A town north of Nevşehir with the Open Palace (Açıksaray), a complex of rock-cut halls and façades, and the two-storey Church of St John, whose 13th-century frescoes are well preserved.

Getting there

Car or bus via Nevşehir

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car or bus

4.Kayseri

A large city at the foot of Mount Erciyes with Seljuk mosques, tombs and medreses, a covered bazaar and a reputation for food, especially pastırma and mantı.

Getting there

Car or intercity bus

Best for

Food lovers, Culture, Shopping

95 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

5.Mount Erciyes

The extinct volcano that dominates the horizon is home to a modern ski resort with lifts and pistes, usually from December to March or April. In summer, its slopes are used for hiking.

Getting there

Car or tour

Best for

Families

230 km · About 3 hours by car

6.Konya

The city of Rumi, with the Mevlana Museum, home to the tomb of the poet and founder of the whirling dervishes. On the way, the Sultanhanı Caravanserai is one of the largest Seljuk caravanserais.

Getting there

Car or intercity bus

Best for

Culture

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Municipal buses and minibuses connect Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos, Ürgüp and Nevşehir during the day, and buses run to the underground cities from Nevşehir. Frequencies vary by season.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask