Things to Do in Göreme, Cappadocia

Cappadocia's fairy chimneys—towering rock formations around Goreme—were carved by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago, creating the otherworldly landscape today.

Early Christians built underground cities beneath Cappadocia, with Derinkuyu reaching depths of 85 metres and housing up to 20,000 people fleeing persecution.

Goreme's cave dwellings have been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years, from Byzantine monks through Ottoman times to modern villagers.

Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia began in the 1980s and is now one of Turkey's most iconic experiences, with Goreme as the main launch hub.

The distinctive cone-shaped rock formations called 'peri bacası' (fairy chimneys) are protected by UNESCO within the Cappadocia cultural landscape.

Goreme's Open-Air Museum contains Byzantine rock-cut churches with frescoes dating back to the 10th–13th centuries, painted directly onto cave walls.