5 epic things to do in Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia really is a wonder of the world. The rugged landscape, along with its incredible views of hot air balloons floating across the horizon is what makes it such a magical place. But it's not only famous for its hot air balloons, the region is also filled with crumbling ruins, museums, famous landmarks, and has a wealth of history and culture. Chances are, Cappadocia is a place you’ve been dreaming of travelling to. We’ve summed up the top 5 things to do in Cappadocia.

1. Hop on one of Cappadocia’s hot air balloons

Of course, first thing on the list is to experience a Cappadocia hot air balloon ride. Its what most people travel to the region for. Imagine hundreds of hot air balloons in the sky, flying over and through fairytale-like canyons. Most of the rides either take off before sunrise, or just after sunrise, in order for tourists to get some great snaps of the valleys and other balloons in the air. It’s a once in a lifetime experience, so there is a bit of a price tag that comes with it. Standard balloon flights can be around 140 euros.

2. View the balloons taking off

If you’d rather spend your money elsewhere, a free option is to see the balloons take off. It’s still an incredible experience, seeing hundreds of balloons take off at the same time makes for epic views. Only thing is, you’ll need to head out at 5am. To find one of the best places to view the take off, search for ‘The Dalton Brothers’ on your GPS, and follow the road that runs at the foot of the valley for about 5 minutes. Once you start seeing the balloons, set up on one of the mountains and experience balloons flying all around you.

3. Take a sunset horse ride in Rose Valley

If you love hiking, you’ll love Rose Valley. Actually, all valleys in Cappadocia are great spots to hike through. With paths from 2-10km, and an eyeful of natural landscapes, you definitely won’t get bored as a hiker. Another awesome way to explore the valley is by horse. You can do a ride and hike up with the horses to a viewpoint to get amazing views of the sunset - trust us, you’ll love it.

4. Stay in a Cappadocia Cave Hotel

Ever stayed in a cave before? We bet you haven’t. Experience it at its best in one of Cappadocia’s many cave hotels. These caves were cut out hundreds of years ago and used as houses and churches. Nowadays, many hotels have taken over and maintain those caves.

5. Visit the Open Air Museum

The Cappadocia Open Air Museum is one of Turkey’s Unesco World Heritage sites. It’s located in the Goreme Valley, which holds the regions best collection of painted cave churches. Medieval orthodox Christian monks from about 1000-1200 AD carved the caves from the soft volcanic stone and decorated them with elaborate Byzantine frescoes. It’s the most famous sight in the region, so you won’t want to miss it.

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