Cappadocia

Cappadocia, in central Anatolia, was shaped by the eruptions of ancient volcanoes whose ash hardened into soft tuff. Over millennia, wind and water carved it into cone-shaped rocks known as fairy chimneys, and people hollowed them out into homes, dovecotes and churches.

Highlights

• Göreme Open-Air Museum – a complex of rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Underground cities such as Derinkuyu, descending several levels below ground.
• Uçhisar Castle – a rock citadel with views over the whole region.
• Pigeon Valley, Rose Valley and Devrent – perfect for walks and photography.
• A hot-air balloon flight at sunrise, one of Turkey’s most famous experiences.

When to go

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) bring pleasant days and the most stable conditions for balloon flights. Summer days are hot and nights cool; in winter, snow turns the landscape into a fairy tale, though flights are cancelled more often due to weather.