Nevşehir Province: what to see and do
In central Turkey, Nevşehir Province has eight districts spread across about 5,500 square kilometres. Its population in 2024 was 317,952. Göreme belongs to the province’s Nevşehir District, in Central Anatolia.
Cappadocia tours
A private guided trekking and hiking tour in Cappadocia lasts two days. It includes a certified local guide, hikes through Red, Rose, Sword, Zemi, Pancarlık, Gomeda and Üzengi Valleys, breakfast in Çavuşin Old Village, lunch at a local restaurant, and route planning and navigation support.
The Cappadocia Green Tour for a small group lasts 8 hours and 30 minutes. Included are a licensed professional guide, lunch at a riverside restaurant in Belisırma and transport with air conditioning.
A guided ATV quad bike safari in Cappadocia lasts two hours. It includes the quad bike, a helmet, basic safety equipment, a professional guide and a safety briefing.
Göreme and its churches
Göreme was a centre of monastic life from the early Christian centuries, and most of its churches and chapels cut into the rock, about 30 in the open air museum complex, date from the 9th to the 11th centuries. UNESCO inscribed Göreme National Park on its World Heritage List in 1985.
A private Cappadocia tour takes seven hours. It includes a private van and licensed local guide, visits to Göreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, Paşabağ and Zelve Open Air Museum, a pottery workshop stop in Avanos, underground city admission, and stops at Uçhisar Castle and Pigeon Valley.
Cappadocia in Turkey
Cappadocia occupies central Anatolia, within present day Turkey. Volcanic peaks rise through its plateau, which stands above 1,000 metres. Fairy chimneys, also known as hoodoos, are slender rock spires shaped by erosion. In Cappadocia, houses have been hollowed out of these formations.
Layers of harder volcanic rock make up the formations at Ortahisar and Uçhisar. Uçhisar is dominated by a rock formation about 60 metres high above its base, known as the castle. The castle admits visitors, with views available from the top.
Underground cities
Near the town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir Province, the underground city reaches about 85 metres below ground, by most estimates; it is thought to have sheltered up to 20,000 people. Its spaces include cellars, a dining hall and a church. Large stone doors could be rolled into place to seal the city from within. The complex also contains numerous vertical shafts for ventilation.
Kaymaklı’s underground city sits in Nevşehir Province. Tourists began visiting in 1964, and four floors are accessible to them. The city reaches eight floors underground, although only four have lighting.
Avanos and local crafts
Clay pottery is a craft associated with the Cappadocian town of Avanos. Silk and wool carpets made by hand are also part of Cappadocia’s crafts.
A private tour of Turkey highlights from Istanbul lasts six days. It includes domestic flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia and from Izmir to Istanbul, a private professional guide on sightseeing days, a pottery demonstration in Avanos and a visit to an onyx workshop.
The seasons
Cappadocia’s continental climate brings dry summer heat and cold winters with snow.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nevşehir Province?
Nevşehir Province is in central Turkey and is divided into eight districts.
What is there at Göreme?
Göreme was a centre of monastic life from the early Christian centuries, and most of its churches and chapels cut into the rock, about 30 in the open air museum complex, date from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
What are fairy chimneys?
Fairy chimneys are slender spires of rock created by erosion, also called hoodoos.
How deep is Derinkuyu underground city?
Derinkuyu reaches about 85 metres below ground, by most estimates; it is thought to have sheltered up to 20,000 people.
What craft is Avanos known for?
Avanos is associated with making pottery from clay.
