Things to do in Cappadocia: Top 3 must-sees to visit2026 ranking

Waking up at 4 a.m. stings a bit, but it is manageable since they pick you up at the hotel and you can just go with the flow of an operation that is well oiled. Once in the air, it is just magical. The landscapes around Göreme are incredible, like something from another planet, and you really need to get some altitude to appreciate it. The colors magnified by the sunrise are splendid, and all those multicolored balloons in the sky just add to the poetry.

The Göreme Open-Air Museum is the highlight of any trip to Cappadocia. It is an outdoor park with a huge variety of geological formations. You can see cave dwellings and all sorts of rocks like fairy chimneys. You can scramble around as much as you want in this lunar landscape and take photos. There is even a church with cave paintings that are extremely well preserved. A real treat!

Dozens of chapels were patiently built centuries ago by monks in this remote region. The site is worth the trip. The inside of the churches is too. You will be able to see some interesting frescoes, sometimes painted right onto the stone. A small downside, it is crowded and you sometimes end up waiting in line to see paintings. I also found the admission a bit expensive, and you have to pay extra to see the Dark Church. Also, expect to be swarmed by guides who want to sell you their services. It is a shame, all of that ruins the magic of the place a little bit.

If you wanted to film a movie about troglodytes living on another planet, you would only need to come to Goreme for the set. The rocks eroded into chimneys, the caves carved high up in improbable and inaccessible places. Truly surprising to see.