The Goreme Open-Air Museum, a complex of churches and chapels carved into the rocks between 900 and 1200 A.D., is a star attraction. The nearby village of Goreme, located among a series of fairy chimneys, is also a must-see. "Some places are magical--and Goreme is one of them," according to Lonely Planet.
Urgup is another traditional Cappadocia town where visitors can enjoy panoramic views from Temenni Wishing Hill, tour the Turasan Winery and relax at the Tarihi Sehir Hamamı traditional Turkish bath. The village of Avanos is a pottery center, thanks to the red clay found in the nearby Red River.
The underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli are also popular stops on the Cappadocia tourist trail.
According to Frommer's, the best walks in Capadocia are from Cavusin to Ortahisar in the Red Valley; between Uchisar and Goreme in Pigeon Valley; and from the village of Uludere to Ayvali in the Uludere Valley.
Another great way to see the region is by taking a balloon ride from operators such as Kapadokya Balloons (kapadokyaballoons.com) and Goreme Balloons (goremeballoons.com). The Akhal-Tele Horse Riding Center (akhal-tekehorsecenter.com) offers horseback tours.
Nevsehir is the largest town in Cappadocia and an important transport hub, but Rough Guides calls it "dull." The more scenic towns of Urgup and Goreme, both with well-developed service infrastructures, are better bets as base camps.
In Goreme, Fodor's recommends the high-end Cappadocia Cave Suites (cappadociacavesuites.com), with rooms set inside a cluster of fairy chimneys. Lonely Planet raves abut the boutique Esbelli Evi Pansiyon in Urgup (esbelli.com), saying: "It's not often that we give hotels a 10 out of 10 score, but that's what the Esbelli Evi deserves." The Razziya Mansion (razziyaevi.com) is a good midrange option in Urgup.
The airport at Kayseri, about 40 miles east of Nevsehir, has regular connections to the international airports at Istanbul and Ankara. Tour operators such as Argeus, Cappadocia Tours and Peerless Travel Service can arrange shuttle service to your hotel, as well as guide you around the area during your stay.
The bus station in Nevsehir is served by regular connections from Istanbul and Ankara. Local bus and minibus service connect the towns within Cappadocia.
Summer in Cappadocia is warm and dry, with high temperatures reaching the low 80s. Winters can be cold, with highs reaching only the 30s and 40s from December through March.
For practical purposes, Lonely Planet notes that bus and minibus services are frequent in summer, but not so much in winter.
