"off the beaten track!" Ortahisar by iaint

Ortahisar Travel Guide: 13 reviews and 25 photos

why there?

It was our base for visiting the Kapadokya area. Most people end up in the main centres like Ürgüp. Our agents sent us to a hotel in Ortahisar, so it was our base.
It was fun, because it is not touristy at all. Just a dry central Anatolian town of about 3,000 souls.
Almost all the women wear typical local dress (headscarf etc).
We were fully occupied every day, and going to bed early to cope with early morning starts. That meant the quietness of the town was not a problem for us, but in other cirumstances one of the more developed towns would have been better.

impressions

typical old style house

Traditionally houses were excavated from the soft rock - cave houses. Some are still a combination of built and excavated, like the one in the photo.
Some cave houses are still occupied.
Most of the town now seems to be in modern style homes.

the town

main street

Its famous for being a place where fruit is kept in "cold" storage in caves. Apparently, not only does this preserve it, but it also enhances the flavour. Things like lemons and oranges are brought in from the Mediterranean coast for this pupose, plus locally grown produce is given the "treatment"

Pros and Cons

Pros:good for seeing local life
Cons:not much do do if you're not on a tour
In a nutshell:interesting, relaxing

Last visit to Ortahisar: Jul 2007
Intro Updated Jul 31, 2007
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Reviews (10)

think ahead! What to Pack (1)

If you are going ballooning, take a light sweater - it can be cool at dawn even in July. In fact, there was a cool... more travel advice

pottery demonstration... Things to Do (6)

Tour took us to see how local pottery is made. Interesting, but then you get the hard sell in the showroom. I wish they... more travel advice

Göreme open air museum Things to Do (6)

Biggest concentration of rock excavated chapels, from 9th century onwards. Over 30 cut from the soft volcanic rock.... more travel advice

Göreme open air museum Things to Do (6)

Biggest concentration of rock excavated chapels, from 9th century onwards. Over 30 cut from the soft volcanic rock.... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
real Anatolian cuisine
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Comments (3)

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balhannah Dec 1, 2009 at 11:24 PM

I loved this area, wasn't it amazing! I wondered too about the women in stilletos, how they didn't twist their ankles, I don't know!
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ozalp Mar 18, 2008 at 6:18 AM

You'd bitten by a doberman?! Unbelievable!
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cachaseiro Sep 24, 2007 at 12:49 PM

so you stayed in ortahisar. i was there a few times during the past 4 weeks. very charming little vilage.