Cappadocia in winter – what to do besides hot air balloons: trekking routes in the valleys, unusual museums, delicious Cappadocian cuisine.
To Cappadocia in winter? Yes, it is quite possible and normal to go to this incredible area even in January or February. Because balloons fly here all year round, and the weather in winter can be as warm as in spring. And those who come to ski at the nearby Erciyes ski resort will be able to spend a few days in the Martian valleys of Cappadocia.
Cappadocia is actually the historical name of a region located in central Anatolia and consisting of five provinces: Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nowhere, Kayseri, and Kirshehir. You will probably stay in Goreme or in the village of Uchisar, which are the center of tourism in Cappadocia, which is known all over the world for its incredible views and hot air ballooning.
Recommendation: Cappadocia – how to fly in a hot air balloon
Weather in Cappadocia in winter
In winter in Cappadocia you will see everything: snow, sun and fog. So if you plan to come here in the cold part of the year just for the balloons, you should think about it, because it’s not a given that they will fly on the days you get there. Balloon flights depend on wind and precipitation – you may be unlucky. Therefore, I advise you to plan other activities such as trekking, excursions to cave monasteries and cave cities, hammam and many other interesting things in this incredibly beautiful area.
When we arrived in Cappadocia, there was snow on its slopes and it was quite cool. But the next day the sun came out and we were able to walk for several days, enjoying the scenery. So, we even managed to fly in a hot air balloon – there was neither wind nor rain.
Seeing stone phalluses – trekking and walking in Martian valleys
There are many hiking trails in Cappadocia that run among the picturesque valleys with space rocks. A good example is the Valley of Love, which is located near Göreme. This valley is home to phallic pillars, which are a natural creation. Although there are those who consider them man-made monuments (a bit ridiculous, but not). This is a natural phenomenon and the real culprits behind this work are millions of years of wind, water and volcanic activity.
The observation deck above the valley is fortunately free of crowds of tourists. People who love nature more prefer to hike to the foot of these huge structures. An independent hike to the Valley of Love and back to Goreme usually takes less than three hours.
If you wish, you can book a jeep or ATV safari to visit several valleys at once. Off-roading in Cappadocia is a separate adventure that also leaves a great impression.
What are the most popular valleys in Cappadocia?
- Aşk vadisi – Valley of Love, the route starts from Goreme, it is the most popular valley for tourists who stay in hotels in the central village of Cappadocia.
- Güvercinlik vadisi – Pigeon Valley, located near the town of Uchisar
- Kızılçukur vadisi is the Red Valley, located not far from Goreme, but it is better to come here in the evening to see the pink rocks in the rays of the setting sun.
- Paşabağ Ören Yeri – The Valley of the Monks, located near Çavushın, on the way to the Zelve Museum. Some rocks with huge hats look like monks’ hats.
It was these valleys that we managed to walk through in the two days we had planned for trekking in Cappadocia.
I advise you to start on the first day in the Valley of Love and end it in the village of Uchisar, where you can eat in one of the restaurants. And in the afternoon, five in the opposite direction through the Pigeon Valley, which ends in Gerem.
On the second day, leave the Valley of the Monks, along with the Zelve Museum, and on the way back watch the sunset in the Red Valley.
Avanos museums – where to see ceramics and hair of women from all over the world
Pay attention to the small neighboring town of Avanos. It is a city of potters, as it is also called because it is located on the aptly named Red River, where the red clay deposits lying on its banks have been used to make household items since the Hittite period.
Today, Avanos is a cozy town where pottery workshops are held in pottery workshops and pottery shops. It’s really worth it to see the pottery on the narrow streets of Avanos. And there is also a very unusual museum in this city – the Museum of Women’s Hair, which is really not for the squeamish.
The Museum of Hair in Avanos is located in the Chez Galip art gallery, owned by ceramic artist Galip Koryukçu. The museum was founded by accident: his girlfriend cut off a lock of hair to leave it for the artist as a souvenir when she was about to leave Avanos in 1979. Other female customers followed suit, and now the hair of approximately five million women from around the world adorns every inch of the artist’s small basement shop. It is forbidden to take pictures of the museum, as each “exhibit” has a corresponding address and a handwritten note from each woman who left her hair for this museum.
A trip to the Ikhlara Canyon and the underground city of Kaymakali
This magnificent canyon is worth the 95 km drive from Goreme. The canyon has been known since the 17th century, when a settlement of Byzantine monks was formed on its territory. The monks hollowed out houses and churches in tuff rocks. Today, about 100 shrines have been preserved, of which about 20 are open to tourists. Most of them feature beautiful ancient frescoes in Armenian, Syrian, and Coptic styles.
What do you see in Ikhlara Valley
The Ikhlara Valley stretches for 14 km. To enter it, you will have to pay 10 lira. The most interesting section, 3.5 km long, is well landscaped and equipped for tourists. The canyon is very picturesque – the shallow Melendiz River flows through its bottom. There is even a small rural settlement of Belisyrma.
There are 4 entrances to the valley at once. The first is located in the village of Ikhlara, the second in the village of Belisyrma, the third in the village of Selimi, and the fourth (main) one is 3.5 km away from Ikhlara. It will not be possible to go through the last gate as a hare. The Tourist Service Center is located here. The infrastructure is very developed, with a parking lot, recreation areas, and good security.
You can visit the canyon every day. From mid-spring to mid-autumn, the attraction is open from 8 am to 7 pm, and in winter – from 8 am to 5 pm. New visitors are no longer allowed 30 minutes before closing time.
If you’re going to the valley, it’s a good idea to combine a tour with a trip to the underground cities of Kaymakly and Derinkuyu. The ideal option is to rent a car to do everything in one day. We visited the cave city of Kaymakly, but it is very similar to Derinkuyu. Choose the one you like from the descriptions and on the way.
During the tour of the underground city, you will see the caves where people lived in the early Christian period, hiding from the persecution of the Romans.
Immerse yourself in the home cooking of Cappadocia
The food of Cappadocia is another important reason to visit this area in winter. Because when it’s cold outside, it’s a great opportunity to visit a restaurant to taste something hearty and delicious. For example, a famous Turkish dish called testi kebab, which is cooked in pots made in neighboring Avanos. Meat and vegetables are put into a clay pot, sealed with dough, and put into a wood-fired oven. The meat stews on the fire and becomes very tender and juicy – it just melts in your mouth. It can be ordered at any restaurant.
If you want to try the home cooking of Cappadocia, then you need to visit the village of Uchisar, where the Kadıneli restaurant is located. Its name translates to “woman’s hand,” and it is run by a women’s cooperative based in a home kitchen and is staffed only by women. For us, this is not surprising, but in Turkey, women are more likely to stay at home while their husbands work. Here it’s the other way around – from the cooks to the waitresses, all of them are women.
Here you can taste such Turkish dishes as gözleme (flatbreads stuffed with cheese or potatoes), yapraksarma (stuffed grape leaves) and menemen (scrambled eggs with tomatoes and peppers). Be sure to order the homemade mantiz of minced lamb or beef, carefully folded into small pieces of dough, which are then boiled and seasoned with garlic yogurt.
Getting to Cappadocia
It’s very simple – Cappadocia has two full-fledged airports, where Turkish Airlines and the Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus fly. These are Kayseri and Nevsehir airports.
The nearest airport is Nevsehir Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (40 km from Goreme). A little further away is Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) , 75 km from Göreme. There are direct flights from Istanbul and Ankara at noon. Most international travelers will fly to Kayseri via the new Istanbul International Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
From the airport, the best way to get to Goreme (and get around the fascinating region) is to rent a car. Check out the best deals from various Turkish or European car rental companies on the aggregator Rentalcars.com.
I recommend reading: Rent a Car in Turkey
If you don’t plan to rent a car, write to the hotel of your choice to arrange a transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Where to stay in Cappadocia
I wrote a separate article about this Hotels in Cappadocia – with the best views of hot air balloons .
So I won’t repeat myself – you can find everything at the link provided.
We stayed in a very nice cave hotel Sakli Konak Cappadocia located in the village of Uchisar. It’s not far from the fortress of the same name. I can safely recommend this place to base yourself while exploring Cappadocia. Wonderful hosts with whom you can talk about over a glass of tea, a very intimate and cozy hotel, and a small but stunning restaurant on the terrace, where guests from other hotels prefer to have lunch and dinner.
Useful articles and links:
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Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
