The pottery town on the Red River — Avanos, famous for its centuries-old ceramics tradition, with riverside cafés, workshops where you can throw a pot, and a laid-back, local feel north of the valleys. Relaxed, authentic and creative, a short drive from Göreme; the base for travellers who want a quieter, riverside setting and a taste of traditional Anatolian craft, away from the tourist bustle. Charming and hands-on. A characterful, local base.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€70–140
typical per night in Turkey
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Cappadocia — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Avanos and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Hiking the Red & Rose Valleys18 min taxi6.2 km
- Sunset & valley viewpoints24 min taxi7.9 km
- Göreme Open-Air Museum24 min taxi8.1 km
- A hot-air balloon flight25 min taxi8.2 km
- Stay in a cave hotel25 min taxi8.2 km
- Pigeon Valley28 min taxi9.3 km
- Uçhisar Castle30 min taxi10.1 km
- An underground city118 min taxi39.2 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 11.Avanos & the Red River — 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.
- 12.Throw a pot in Avanos — 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.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Avanos; flights via Google Flights.