Travelling to Cappadocia and still deciding how to spend your time there? Here’s the best things to do in Cappadocia for every budget to help you plan!
There are so many incredible things to do in Cappadocia! Whether you are on a low or high budget there are so many ways to explore this magical Turkish landscape! When we were travelling Turkey and Cappadocia, we were on a medium budget. This meant we were saving money where we could but also splurging on those higher budget activities like the hot air balloon ride over the valleys!
Cappadocia is a place known for its amazing landscape, history and beauty! Here you can discover the culture of the city at the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO world heritage site, or ride a camel over the hills and discover the landscape. Below I have highlighted the best activities in every price range!
This guide of things to do in Cappadocia includes:
For the best photography locations in Cappadocia make sure to check out this post!
Things to do in Cappadocia on a low budget
Hike Love Valley
Love Valley is a beautiful hike that takes you through the rocky landscape. It is easy to reach with the local bus at a low cost and the hike itself is free!
Have an ice cream from a street vendor
Turkish ice cream is amazing both in taste and experience! The streets of Göreme are lined with ice cream vendors selling the gooey soft Turkish ice cream. When you purchase on, they will always give you a show pretending to steal the scoop and turnning the cone upside down! It can be a lot of fun!
Walk to Sunset Point
This was my favourite view on our trip! It is so beautiful at night with all the lights sparkling! It is just a short walk from the city centre and I would suggest going up around 1 hour before the sunset so you can get the best experience! We took a bottle of wine and dinner up and had a picnic while watching the sun set over the city! You have to pay 10₺ for entry on the way up.
Stroll the markets
The main markets in the town are filled with different souvenirs! It is a lot of fun to look around and enjoy the different colourful and unique products.
Walk Red Valley
Red Valley is a stunning hike through the red valley of Cappadocia. It runs through the landscape, past rocky pinnacles and red toned cliff faces. It can easily be accessed with a bus and is free
Panoramic View Point
This is a view point that can be accessed by a medium length hike from the centre of Göreme. It can get quite busy at sunset, and a lot of tour groups visit here too. But the view point itself is free and it is a great way to see a panoramic view of the landscape.
Pigeon Valley View Point
Pigeon Valley is a good stop if you are planning to visit Uchisar as it is only a few more minutes further on the bus. It is a view point where you can see hundreds of point rocks in the landscape. It is free to visit and the bus ticket is cheap.
Things to do in Cappadocia on a medium budget
Göreme Open Air Museum
Göreme Open Air Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely one of the top things to do in Cappadocia! Here you can discover the history and culture of the original inhabitants of these ancient cave structures! The area is made up of the caves that were once used as churches and holy sights, as the houses of the people who once lived there. Some caves even have the remnants of the original paintings.
Visit Uchisar Castle
Uchisar Castle is old “castle” around 10 minutes on the bus from Göreme. The castle is inside a very tall rocky pinnacle filled with doors and windows of different sizes! You can walk inside and around to the top where you get a great view of the surrounding valley!
Things to do in Cappadocia on a higher budget
Hot Air Balloon Ride
This is definitely the best thing to do in Cappadocia! It was an incredible experience like no other! We booked our trip through Butterfly Balloons and it cost 180 euro in cash or 190 if you pay by card. It was absolutely magical to see the rocky landscape from the air while the sun was rising. The hot air balloons all take off at the same time so you are constantly surrounded by others floating up and down along the skyline. Included in our tour was breakfast and champagne after the trip!
Green/Red/Blue Tours
We didn’t do these as they were quite expensive but they are good for families or people wanting to see everything in a short periods. Each tour takes you to different historical spots, walking sights and views. There is some good information for these here.
Camel Ride (SAVRAN Camel Safari)
Camel safari allows you to get up close and personal with a camel and ride it around the landscape. These run at sunrise, during the day, and at sunset so there are a variety of times and places you can go!
