"The magical, fantasy world of Kapadokya" Top 5 Page for this destination Goreme by Tijavi

Goreme Travel Guide: 491 reviews and 1,504 photos

Ballooning over Kapadokya's lunar landscape

Good news is, it exists!

Kapadokya's whimsical fairy chimneys and nature-scarred lunar landscape capture the essence of what 'otherworldly' represents. Whether viewed above from a hot air balloon or experienced up close, these magnificent wonders of nature create a feeling of being in another world - a magical, fantasy world that is as sublime as it is surreal. With Kapadokya, who needs to spend millions to fly to the moon or experience interplanetary tourism?

Beneath this out-of-this-world facade, Kapadokya is in reality 'earthly' at its core. The food is glorious, the wines are a revelation, and the village life that pervades (after weekend tourists have left, that is) is pleasantly rustic and friendly. Spiritually and culturally, those seeking more profound divine inspiration will rejoice in Kapadokya's Byzantine frescoes etched inside rock-cut churches.

The more I rhapsodize about Kapadokya's charms, the more I realize the three days I had there as not enough, and the more I dream of coming back. What is comforting is that unlike interplanetary tourism or utopias like the Land of Oz or Shangri-la, there is a fair chance of fulfilling my Kapadokyan dream. Yet again.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Small town appeal, spectacular attractions
Cons:Very touristy during major holidays
In a nutshell:Best travel destination in central Turkey

Last visit to Goreme: Oct 2007
Intro Updated Feb 16, 2008
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Reviews (22)

The sparkling clean marbled main hall - Goreme

A hammam experience in Goreme Things to Do (12)

Unlike the historical hamams in the other places in Turkey, the Elis Kapadokya Hamam was built with tourists in mind. It... more travel advice

From Istanbul to Goreme Transportation (1)

Given the limited time I had, there was no way I can enjoy taking the bus to Goreme. Got an Istanbul-Kayseri return... more travel advice

Colorful dovecotes are the attraction here - Goreme

Pigeon Valley Off The Beaten Path (2)

As the name implies (Guvercinlik in Turkish), this area is filled with dovecotes - colorful dovecotes. Unfortunately,... more travel advice

The Flintstones would have been comfy here - Goreme

Swords Valley: Goreme's Bedrock City Off The Beaten Path (2)

The fascinating lunar landscape around Goreme make for great hiking locations. Accessed through well-beaten tracks... more travel advice

Restaurants (3)
See All Skip this tourist trap
Nightlife (2)
See All Not as high-brow as it sounds

Travelogues (3)

1 - 3 of 3

Comments (20)

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willy_wonka Feb 2, 2011 at 9:18 PM

this is a really wonderful page TV! i am glad to have 'discovered' you via trekki's homepage. i loved your writing style, and the photos are very impressive. great!
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Arkeolog May 11, 2010 at 6:55 AM

Great page! Cappadocia is a real fantasy. I like Ihlara Valley, Buckle Church and Pigeon Valley too. Also Ballon advanture is a must see. Bora
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HORSCHECK Feb 10, 2010 at 7:07 AM

TV, fantastic page with outstanding photos and helpful descriptions. I haven't been to this part of Europe, but it is on my list.
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Trekki Oct 10, 2009 at 11:26 PM

Oh wow! You made me place a balooning trip also on my wishlist :-) The frescoes are magic and hiking in Ihlara Valley must be fantastic!
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ludogatto Oct 5, 2009 at 2:43 PM

Great pics and great opportunity to baloon flying!
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mvtouring Aug 30, 2009 at 4:56 AM

Another great page of yours. Those underground cities will soon be a reality to me. Thanks for sharing your experience with us ;-)
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dublinjoe Oct 18, 2008 at 2:08 AM

A'laturca is a jewel amongst Goreme's fairy castle. It serves elegant creative food at a fraction of what it costs in western Europe or the US. Most notable was the service. The team couldn't have been more attentive and passionate about their restaurant.
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angiebabe May 29, 2008 at 12:32 PM

Fantastic tips and pics here - fantastic photos from the balloon trip - what a must do!- and how lucky to get such good shots of the frescoes!All the best.
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cenapmaden May 13, 2008 at 6:28 AM

The Tardelli restaurant has now closed down!!!!
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deecat Jan 2, 2008 at 7:15 PM

Awesome! What a group of tips!! Outstanding introduction; incredible photographs, and your usual topnotch narrations. This are, indeed, star-worthy pages. An enjoyable, educational, and worthwhile experience to read and view.