Cappadocia

The experience of a lifetime and the icon of Cappadocia — floating aloft at dawn in a hot-air balloon as hundreds of others rise around you, drifting silently over the fairy chimneys, honeycombed valleys and cave dwellings as the sun paints the surreal landscape gold. It's magical, serene and utterly unforgettable, and the single reason many people come. Book ahead, allow spare days (flights cancel in wind), and splurge — it's worth every penny. The definitive Cappadocia experience; simply breathtaking. Do not miss it.

The spiritual heart of Cappadocia — the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open-Air Museum, a cluster of rock-cut Byzantine cave churches and monasteries carved into the cliffs, many adorned with astonishingly preserved medieval frescoes glowing on the cave walls. Wander from church to church exploring the painted chapels and monastic cells, a window into a thousand years of early Christian life in the rock. A fascinating, beautiful and essential highlight; don't miss the frescoed Dark Church (extra ticket). An unmissable, atmospheric plunge into Cappadocia's history.

Descend into one of Cappadocia's astonishing underground cities — vast multi-level warrens like Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, carved deep into the soft rock, where thousands of early Christians once sheltered from invaders, complete with ventilation shafts, wells, stables, churches, kitchens and huge rolling stone doors. Explore the eerie, narrow tunnels and chambers plunging many storeys down (not for the claustrophobic). A remarkable, humbling feat of ancient engineering and survival; a fascinating half-day highlight. Unlike anything else; wear sturdy shoes.

Cappadocia is made for golden-hour views — climb to the Sunset Point above Göreme, the Red and Rose Valley overlooks, or the Uçhisar castle rock, to watch the sun set the fairy chimneys and rippling valleys aglow in pink and gold. Grab a Turkish tea at a viewpoint café, watch the light change over the surreal landscape, and (in season) the last balloons drifting down. A magical, free way to drink in the region's otherworldly beauty. Every viewpoint delivers a jaw-dropping panorama; unmissable at sunrise or sunset.

The best way to experience Cappadocia up close is on foot — hiking the glorious Red and Rose Valleys, whose rippling, blush-pink rock formations, hidden cave churches and orchards are especially beautiful in the late-afternoon light. Trails wind among the fairy chimneys and honeycombed cliffs, with a magical sunset viewpoint at the end. Wear good shoes, take water, and lose yourself in the surreal, glowing scenery. A wonderful, active highlight and the best way to feel the landscape's magic. Gorgeous, especially towards sunset.

In Cappadocia, the accommodation is part of the adventure — sleeping in a cave hotel, in rooms carved into the soft volcanic rock, ranging from cosy backpacker caves to sumptuous boutique suites with private terraces and balloon views at dawn. Waking in a cave room and stepping onto a terrace to watch the balloons rise over the valleys is pure magic. A unique, atmospheric and quintessential Cappadocian experience; book a terrace room with a valley view for the full effect. An unmissable part of the region's charm. Wonderful.

The highest point in Cappadocia — Uçhisar Castle, a giant rock outcrop honeycombed with tunnels and rooms, rising above its village. Climb to the top for a breathtaking 360° panorama over the entire region: the fairy chimneys, the valleys, snow-capped Mount Erciyes on the horizon, and the balloons at dawn. The village around it is full of pretty cave houses and boutique hotels. A spectacular, must-do viewpoint and the best single vista in Cappadocia; go at sunset or sunrise. Unforgettable, and worth the climb.

A beautiful valley connecting Göreme and Uçhisar — Pigeon Valley, named for the countless pigeon houses carved into its soft cliffs (their droppings once prized as fertiliser), with a scenic walking trail winding beneath towering rock formations and a famous viewpoint hung with blue-glass evil-eye charms on a wishing tree. Hike the gentle valley trail or admire it from the overlook; it's classic, photogenic Cappadocia. A lovely, easy walk and viewpoint linking two of the region's loveliest towns. Gorgeous and gentle.

The most whimsical of Cappadocia's valleys — Devrent, or 'Imagination Valley', a lunar landscape with no cave dwellings or churches, just a fantastical array of rock formations that look uncannily like animals and shapes: a camel, a seal, a snake, whatever your imagination conjures. Wander among the surreal sculpted rocks (don't miss the famous camel), and enjoy the playful, otherworldly scenery. A short, fun and photogenic stop, usually combined with the nearby Paşabağ 'monks valley' with its multi-capped fairy chimneys. A delightful, quirky highlight.

Cappadocia has been making wine for thousands of years, its volcanic soils producing distinctive local vintages from indigenous grapes — and Ürgüp is the heart of the region's wineries. Visit a cave winery for a tasting, sampling the local reds and whites in an atmospheric rock-cut cellar, and learn about one of the world's oldest wine traditions. A relaxed, delicious and lesser-known Cappadocian pleasure, and a lovely break from sightseeing. A tasty highlight for wine lovers; the cave cellars are wonderfully atmospheric. Salut.

The pottery town on the banks of the Kızılırmak (Red River), Turkey's longest — Avanos, famous for its ceramics tradition stretching back to the Hittites, with riverside cafés, craft shops and old streets. Wander the town, watch (or try) a potter throwing clay on a kick-wheel, and stroll along the river; the reddish clay from its banks has been shaping pots here for millennia. A charming, hands-on and creative stop away from the main valleys, and a lovely riverside break. A pleasant, characterful few hours.

In Avanos, get hands-on with Cappadocia's ancient craft — sit at a traditional kick-wheel in a pottery workshop and learn to throw a pot from the reddish river clay, guided by a local master, in a tradition passed down for thousands of years. Messy, fun and surprisingly meditative, it's a wonderful, memorable activity for all ages and a real connection to the region's heritage. Some famous workshops (like the extraordinary Chez Galip 'hair museum') are experiences in themselves. A delightful, only-in-Avanos highlight. Great fun.

The region's largest town, Ürgüp, is worth exploring — a historic wine centre with a lively bazaar, old cave houses climbing the Temenni hill, good restaurants and a smart, characterful feel. Just outside stand the famous 'Three Beauties' (Üç Güzeller), a trio of perfect cone-shaped fairy chimneys capped with rock, one of Cappadocia's most photographed formations. Wander the town, browse the bazaar, and snap the iconic chimneys nearby. A pleasant, characterful base and stop, combining town life with classic Cappadocian scenery. Enjoyable and photogenic.

A greener, deeper Cappadocia — the Ihlara Valley, a dramatic 100-metre-deep gorge cut by a river, lined with poplar trees and dotted with dozens of rock-cut Byzantine churches painted with frescoes, on the region's western edge. Hike the shaded riverside trail through the canyon, exploring the frescoed cave churches along the way; it's a lush, cool and beautiful contrast to the arid valleys. Usually combined with an underground city and a caravanserai on a 'Green Tour'. A gorgeous, tranquil hiking highlight; a lovely full day out. Beautiful and refreshing.

A charming, authentic village around its own towering castle-rock — Ortahisar, whose great honeycombed rock citadel rises above old cave houses and cobbled lanes, far quieter than Göreme. Climb the castle for lovely valley views, wander the unspoilt village and its little museum of Anatolian life, and enjoy a taste of everyday Cappadocia away from the crowds. A peaceful, genuine and photogenic stop, easily combined with the nearby valleys. A lovely, low-key highlight for those seeking the region's authentic side. Quiet and atmospheric.