CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY | 9 Best Things To Do In Magical Cappadocia

Summary

Join Zac and Ine, full-time digital nomads from the US and Belgium, as they explore the magical region of Cappadocia, Turkey. In this video, they share their 14-day adventure, featuring the best things to do, from hiking in scenic valleys to soaring in hot air balloons at sunrise. Highlights include visiting Lake Tuz, Uchisar Castle, and the Göreme Open-Air Museum, plus discovering ancient underground cities. Whether you're a nature lover, history buff, or thrill-seeker, Cappadocia offers something for everyone, making it a must-visit destination for your next adventure.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zac and Ine are a full-time digital nomad couple from the U.S. and Belgium, sharing their travel experiences.
• 😀 Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, is a region famous for its unique landscapes, including rock formations and valleys.
• 😀 The top things to do in Cappadocia include hiking, hot air balloon rides, exploring underground cities, and visiting historical sites.
• 😀 Lake Tuz is the largest salt lake in Turkey and offers a surreal photography experience, although its pink color was less vibrant during their visit due to climate change.
• 😀 Uchisar Castle is the highest point in Cappadocia and provides panoramic views, especially during sunset. It also has rooms carved into rock from the Roman and Byzantine periods.
• 😀 Camel and horseback rides offer unique ways to explore Cappadocia's valleys, with sunrise camel rides being a popular activity, though horseback riding is recommended for more adventurous explorers.
• 😀 The Göreme Open-Air Museum features ancient monasteries, churches, and chapels carved into the rock, dating back to the 4th century, and is a must-visit historical site.
• 😀 Watching the hot air balloons at sunrise in Cappadocia is a magical experience, with several great viewpoints around Göreme for fantastic photo opportunities.
• 😀 The Ihlara Valley is a great hiking spot with cave churches and frescoes, and the area was once a settlement and religious center.
• 😀 Cappadocia has approximately 200 underground cities, some of which were only rediscovered in the 20th century, offering a unique glimpse into ancient defensive architecture.
• 😀 Cappadocia is a hiker's paradise with valleys like Rose Valley, Love Valley, and Devrent Valley, offering easy trails and stunning rock formations.

Q & A

What is the main reason Cappadocia is a popular destination?

Cappadocia is famous for its unique landscapes, ancient cave dwellings, and the opportunity to experience hot air balloon rides over surreal rock formations. The region also offers a rich historical backdrop, including underground cities and rock-hewn churches.

How long are Zac and Ine staying in Cappadocia?

Zac and Ine are staying in Cappadocia for 14 days, during which they plan to explore various activities including hiking and taking hot air balloon rides.

What is the significance of Uchisar Castle in Cappadocia?

Uchisar Castle is the highest point in Cappadocia and offers panoramic views of the region. It is also an ancient fortress with rooms carved into the rock, used historically by the Roman and Byzantine armies.

What is the main attraction of Lake Tuz?

Lake Tuz is the largest salt lake in Turkey and one of the largest in the world. It is known for its vibrant pink color, although during Zac and Ine’s visit in November, the lake was mostly dry with areas that reflected the sky beautifully.

What is the Göreme Open-Air Museum, and why is it important?

The Göreme Open-Air Museum is an outdoor museum featuring churches, monasteries, and chapels carved from rock. It is significant because it houses frescoes that date back to the 4th century, offering insights into early Christian history in the region.

What are the advantages of taking a camel ride in Cappadocia?

Camel rides in Cappadocia provide a unique and memorable way to experience the region’s landscapes. They are especially popular at sunrise, as visitors can enjoy watching the hot air balloons while riding camels, although it's not the most adventurous way to explore the valleys.

How is the Ihlara Valley suited for hiking?

Ihlara Valley is a 10-kilometer-long gorge with a depth of 100 meters, making it a perfect hiking destination. Along the way, hikers can explore cave churches with frescoes and enjoy a scenic walk through nature, with the option to stop for lunch at Belisirma.

What is the historical importance of Cappadocia's underground cities?

Cappadocia’s underground cities were built to protect inhabitants from invaders. These multi-level cities, some of which were only rediscovered in the 1960s, contained living quarters, storage rooms, and churches. They were used for hiding and survival, with some of them having been occupied until as recently as 1923.

Why is watching the hot air balloons at sunrise so special in Cappadocia?

Watching the hot air balloons at sunrise in Cappadocia is a magical experience because of the colorful sky and the hundreds of balloons floating over the unique rock formations. It's a photographer’s dream and one of the most iconic activities in the region.

What makes Devrent Valley unique compared to other valleys in Cappadocia?

Devrent Valley, also known as the Imaginary Valley, is unique due to its unusual rock formations that resemble animals, faces, and other shapes. It’s a fun, imaginative experience where visitors can explore and interpret the natural landscape in their own way.