For 7 years we have asked the guests who come to Cappadocia the same question: "How many days do you have?" There is so much to do here that the right plan lets you make the most of even a short holiday. In this article we share the activities we recommend most and how to fit them into one, two or three days.
Hot air balloons: fly or watch
Balloons are the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Cappadocia, and they are our first recommendation too. They take off at sunrise, the flight lasts about an hour, and you see the fairy chimneys from above as you drift over the valleys.
- Book in advance: in summer and during holidays, balloons are fully booked days ahead.
- Keep a spare morning: flights depend on wind and weather, and cancellations are common, especially in winter. If you book your balloon for your first morning, you can try again the next day if it is cancelled.
- You can enjoy it without flying: watching the balloons is just as impressive as flying, and it is free. Aydınkırağı Viewpoint (known locally as Lovers' Hill), the Göreme panorama and the Kızılçukur viewpoint are the favourite spots to watch hundreds of balloons at dawn. Many hotel terraces also overlook the balloons.
ATV tour
An ATV (quad) is the most exciting way to get inside the valleys. With our guide you reach places cars cannot, such as Love Valley, Güllüdere and Red Valley, and stop for photos on panoramic hills. Our guests' favourite is the sunset ATV tour: it ends at a viewpoint just as Red Valley turns red. For those short on time there are 30-minute and 1-hour tours, and for those who want to avoid the crowds there is a private tour on a route you choose. Find out which tour suits you in our ATV tour guide and see current prices on our prices page.
Day tours: the Red tour and the Green tour
Day tours are the easiest way to see Cappadocia's historic sites outside the valleys in a single day. You are picked up from your hotel, and lunch and museum entry are usually included.
- Red tour (north route): Göreme Open Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle, Paşabağları, Devrent Valley, Çavuşin and a pottery workshop in Avanos. The stops are close together and there is little walking.
- Green tour (south route): Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı underground city, a walk of about 3–4 km in Ihlara Valley and the rock-cut Selime Monastery. It covers the far corners of the region and is a little more tiring.
Both take a full day, so they do not fit into the same day. If you can only choose one: take the green tour if you like walking and want to see the distant sites, and the red tour if you want to see the Göreme area at an easy pace. We tell the story of these places in our article on places to visit in Cappadocia.
Electric trike (retro vehicle) tour
A tour that has become increasingly popular in Göreme in recent years. Some operators call it an amigo tour, others a trike tour, a vintage family car tour or a Lampago tour. The idea is the same: a relaxed guided ride along the valley roads in small, two-seater, retro-looking electric vehicles. Routes usually follow Love Valley, Çavuşin and Paşabağları, and the tour is most popular at sunset. It is slower and calmer than an ATV, suited to those who want views and photos rather than thrills.
Classic car tour
A tour of the valleys and viewpoints in colourful American classic cars with a driver. Because the car carries several people together, it is especially popular with groups of friends and families who want to ride together. Photos with a classic car in front of the fairy chimneys are the highlight. The best time is sunset, when Cappadocia's colours warm up.
Horse riding and jeep safari
- Horse riding: a ride on horseback through Güllüdere and Red Valley, especially at sunset. One of the best ways to feel the silence of the valleys.
- Jeep safari: a seated tour along the valley rims and up to the viewpoints. Suitable for families with children and anyone who would rather not drive.
Hiking
The trails between Güllüdere and Red Valley, Love Valley and Kızılçukur are Cappadocia's most beautiful walking routes. We recommend walking in the cool of the morning or in the late afternoon, with water and comfortable shoes.
Wine tasting
Cappadocia's volcanic soil has been known for its vineyards for centuries. The region's two best-known producers:
- Turasan (Ürgüp): founded in 1943, the region's first private winery. The wines rest in cellars carved into the rock.
- Kocabağ (Uçhisar): a family winery founded in 1972, known for its cellars carved into the volcanic tuff.
At these producers you can taste wines made from local grapes: whites such as Emir and Narince, and reds such as Öküzgözü, Boğazkere and Kalecik Karası. We recommend asking the producer about tasting times and prices before you go.
Evening: Turkish night or Göreme's terraces
- Turkish night: folk dances and shows over dinner; a fun way to end the day with a local touch.
- An evening in Göreme: if you would rather skip the Turkish night, join Göreme's evening life or sit on one of the many terrace cafés and enjoy a chat while looking out over Cappadocia lit up at night.
Cappadocia day by day
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Balloon (or watching) | Red tour, then the sunset ATV tour* | Turkish night or a terrace café |
| Day 2 | Green tour | Green tour | Dinner in Göreme |
| Day 3 | Hiking (Güllüdere, Love Valley) | Classic car, trike or horse ride; wine tasting | Night view from a terrace café |
* Fitting the red tour and the sunset ATV tour into the same day is easy on long summer days. When the days get shorter in autumn and winter, the sunset tour starts earlier and the two may not fit into one day. In those seasons, move the sunset tour to another day or choose one of our daytime ATV tours on the day before or after your day tour.
A tip from our guide
For guests who want a full day, we suggest: the red tour in the morning, the sunset ATV tour when it ends, and a Turkish night in the evening. It is the most enjoyable way to experience Cappadocia's history, valleys and culture in a single day. It fits easily on long summer days; when the days get shorter, we recommend moving the ATV tour to another day.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I stay in Cappadocia?
We recommend at least two nights. Balloon flights can be cancelled because of the weather, so the second morning works as a backup.
What can I do if I can't fly in a balloon?
If you couldn't get a place or would rather not fly, watching the balloons is just as impressive. At sunrise you can watch hundreds of balloons take off for free from Aydınkırağı (Lovers' Hill), the Göreme panorama or the Kızılçukur viewpoint. If you want to watch them from inside the valleys, right next to the launch sites, our sunrise ATV tour takes you among the balloons.
What happens if balloon flights are cancelled?
On days when flights are not permitted because of wind or weather, no balloons take off at all. If you have a spare morning, you can try again the next day. On those days guests who could not fly turn to other activities, so tours such as ATV tours get busier; we recommend booking early.
Can I do a day tour and an ATV tour on the same day?
On long summer days, yes: you can make the sunset ATV tour after the day tour ends. In autumn and winter the days are shorter and the two may not fit into one day; in those seasons we recommend planning the ATV tour for another day.
Which activities are suitable for children?
Jeep safaris, classic car and trike tours and the short ATV tours are the most popular with families. The minimum age for our ATV tours is 10.
To see Cappadocia from inside the valleys, browse our ATV tours and check current prices on our prices page.
