Village centre
First-timersAround the bus station.
Göreme city guide
Things To Do In Göreme
A village in the middle of Cappadocia's rock valleys, with cave rooms, fairy chimneys, painted rock churches and a hundred hot-air balloons at sunrise.
13
Hostels in the city
9.2
Average, from 6,591 reviews
1985
UNESCO World Heritage Site
€150–300
A balloon flight
8
Levels underground at Derinkuyu
The fairy chimneys
Cappadocia's landscape was formed by volcanic ash that hardened into soft rock and eroded into cones, pillars and valleys, the fairy chimneys. For centuries, people carved homes, churches and whole underground cities into it. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Göreme is the village at its centre, full of cave hotels and the base for the famous sunrise balloon flights.
The balloons are the image, but the valleys are free to walk, and the painted churches and underground cities are extraordinary. Three days is right.
Where to stay
Göreme village is small. Stay in the village, or in Uçhisar for views.
Uçhisar
ViewsAround the castle.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Göreme
Take a sunrise balloon flight, the most famous thing to do in Cappadocia; flights cost €150 to €300 or more, and are often cancelled for wind, so allow spare mornings. Watching from the ground, from a viewpoint above the village, is free and nearly as good.
The Göreme Open-Air Museum holds rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes. Walk the Rose, Red and Love valleys, especially at sunset.
Climb Uçhisar Castle, a rock pinnacle riddled with rooms, for the view.
The underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu go down eight levels. Ihlara Valley, a canyon with churches, is the usual Green Tour.
Free things
Free things to do in Göreme
The valleys are free to walk, and watching the balloons at sunrise is free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Göreme
Testi kebab, meat cooked in a sealed clay pot that is broken at the table, is the Cappadocian speciality. Gözleme, stuffed flatbreads, and local wine from the region's vineyards are the others.
A meal is €6 to €12.
Nightlife
Going out in Göreme
Göreme is quiet at night; the balloons start before dawn. Rooftop terraces and a few bars serve drinks.
A beer is €4 to €6.
Getting around
Getting around Göreme
Göreme is walkable. Kayseri and Nevşehir airports are about an hour away, with shuttle buses. Overnight buses reach Istanbul in about eleven hours.
For the valleys, hire a scooter, quad or bike, or join a tour.
Costs
What Göreme costs
Göreme is mid-priced for Turkey, but the balloon flight is the big cost. Dorms start around €12. A careful day is €35 to €50 without the balloon.
The currency is the Turkish lira, and prices change quickly with inflation; these are euro equivalents. Cards work widely, bank ATMs are best, and always pay in lira rather than accepting a conversion.
Safety
Staying safe in Göreme
Göreme is very safe.
Book balloon flights with licensed operators only. Valleys are easy to get lost in; download an offline map. Winters are cold and snowy.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Göreme
Underground cities and canyons.
Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu
Underground cities eight levels deep.
Ihlara Valley
A canyon with rock churches.
Avanos
A pottery town on the Red River.
Uçhisar
The rock castle.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The balloons fly all year when the weather allows.
16–18 October
Salomon Cappadocia Ultra-Trail
Running through Cappadocia means weaving past fairy chimneys, ancient valleys, and rock formations found nowhere else on Earth. The flagship 119-kilometer course climbs more…
10 October
An Extraordinary Night
An Extraordinary Night brings live theatre to the heart of Cappadocia, where dramatic landscapes meet dramatic storytelling. The Cappadocia Culture and Art Center serves…
14 October
Theatre Play: Pushing & Shoving
Tuğçe Karabayır and Erkan Karadeniz bring their two-person interactive comedy show to the stage, drawing on 17 years of touring stories and real-life moments…
Hostels
Where to stay in Göreme
The top-rated places to stay in Göreme right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
April to June and September to October are best. Winters are snowy and cold.
Jan
Snow
Feb
Snow
Mar
Spring
Apr
Good
May
Excellent
Jun
Busy
Jul
Hot days
Aug
Hot days
Sep
Grape harvest
Oct
Good
Nov
Cold
Dec
Snow
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Nights are cold even in summer.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are euro equivalents and move quickly with lira inflation. Excludes the balloon flight.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Göreme travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How much is a balloon flight?
€150 to €300 or more, and flights are often cancelled for wind.
Can I watch the balloons for free?
Yes, from viewpoints above the village at sunrise.
How do I get to Göreme?
Fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir and take a shuttle, or take an overnight bus.
What are the underground cities?
Cities carved eight levels deep at Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu.
How many days do you need?
Three, with spare mornings for balloon cancellations.
Is it cold?
Winters are snowy, and nights are cold all year.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October.
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