What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “let’s plan a trip to Cappadocia”? For us, it is hot air balloons!
But is that all Cappadocia is about? While a hot air balloon ride is a non-negotiable experience for anyone visiting Cappadocia, there’s a lot more to the city!
Do you want to try something beyond the “Top 10 things-to-do in Cappadocia”? Do you get excited about the idea of experiencing a city like a local?
Cappadocia offers unique experiences (less known to the world), that locals vouch for. We’ve curated a list of 5 cool things that you can not miss on your trip to Cappadocia!
5 Cool Things To Do In Cappadocia
1. Hike
You can choose a hike from 1 km to 11kms in Cappadocia. There are many hikes you can choose from but locals’ pick is a combination of Goreme Open Museum, Red and Rose Valley. Start with Goreme Open Musuem leading to Red Valley, and then explore Rose valley depending on your time availability.
You’ll experience different red hues on rocks based on the time you plan to visit. If you are in a hurry, choose the direct route. You’ll still pass beautiful rock churches and vineyards on your way! When you get to Rose Valley, the highlight of your hike will be the sunset point right where the trail ends.
Local’s Advice: The signage on the hike routes can be a bit misleading. Plan and download a map before you start your hike. Also, plan it such that you complete the Rose Valley hike right before the sunset.
2. Sunset
Other than the Rose Valley sunset, locals’ recommend enjoying sunset from one of the south facing hotels or one of the streets leading to the Sunset point. Yes, you read that right. You don’t need to make it all the way to the Sunset point.
If you want to enjoy the sunset all by yourself, just follow the streets towards Sunset point and pick a cozy corner! And if you are not in the mood to walk at all, just enjoy it from the terrace of one of the Cave hotels.
Local’s Advice: Don’t forget to carry a light jacket or scarf, the weather tends to be unpredictable and might get chilly in the evening!
3. Hot Air Balloon Ride
We cannot stress enough, but you HAVE to experience a hot air balloon ride! If you are traveling on a budget, we’d recommend saving some for a hot air balloon ride, especially around sunrise. The entire city looks magical – like straight out of the movies. We also suggest booking this for some special occasion.
Most of our clients take a balloon ride for their anniversaries or birthdays! But well, you can also just celebrate yourself! And we’d love to organise a balloon ride for you.
Local’s Advice: If you are scared of heights and can’t take the ride for some reason, you can visit one of the balloon take-off sites to enjoy the process of firing up the balloon to sailing in the air! The view is spectacular! The best time to visit would be around sunrise or just before sunset.
4. Cafe
There are many hidden cafes in the city – you’ll also find some on your hiking path! The locals’ favourite is Omurca Art Cave – a cute cafe by the corner. Enjoy their traditional turkish coffee, tea and wine! However, if you are allergic to pets (especially cats), then this might not be the right place for you.
In that case, our second favourite is King’s coffee shop. It is a cozy cafe that offers creamy turkish coffee!
Local’s Advice: Visit Omurca around sunset and King’s coffee shop for brunch. If you are feeling chilly, ask for a blanket. There’s a high chance the cafe owners will have one for you!
5. Hidden Gems
Two of the hidden gems highly recommended by the locals are Ilhara village and Mustafapasa. While Ilhara is more well-known amongst tourists and will be an adventurous outing, Mustafapasa is more raw with a charming village center.
Ilhara – expect multiple man-made caves and tunnels leading to valleys. This site is mostly popular with people traveling with kids!
Mustafapasa – expect a charming village with a Church and a monastery. This is still untouched by tourists and is worth a visit if you like visiting non-touristy places.
Local’s Advice: Carry a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes for both these sites. If you can’t figure out the routes, just try and reach the town center. You’ll find detailed instructions there.
How Can Hot Air Ballooning Turkey Help You?
We have an experience of 15+ years and will make your that you have a memorable experience in Cappadocia. We go the extra mile to understand your interests and plan your trip accordingly. While we include all the tourist attractions that are worth visiting, we also cover attractions recommended by locals. So it will be full of surprises!
You can book your entire trip to Turkey with Hot Air Ballooning Turkey.
Booking with us is easy. You can book directly on our website, call us at +90 5327730916 or write to us at info@hotairballooningturkey.com.