Things to do in Goreme

All about Goreme

When to visit

July and August are the most popular months to visit Göreme, but with huge crowds and temperatures climbing over 85°F (30°C), it’s not the ideal time for sightseeing. Instead, plan your trip for April through June, when the surrounding mountains are speckled with wildflowers, and the cooler weather is perfect for hiking and outdoor activities. Or visit in September when the town hosts its annual food festival and the grape harvest is underway.

Getting around

Göreme is one of Cappadocia’s main hubs, and you’ll find no shortage of buses, dolmuş (minibuses), and taxis to whisk you between the region’s towns, fairy chimney valleys, and attractions. The village is set on steep slopes with rough, unpaved roads, so bring sturdy walking shoes to get around or hop on the back of an ATV or moto-taxi to reach the hillside hotels and restaurants. To explore further, rent a bike, scooter, or ATV, or tackle the scenic 2-hour hike through the valley to Uçhisar village.

Traveler tips

In Göreme, Wednesday is market day, when you can join the locals to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and local specialties such as grape molasses (pekmez) and Cappadocian wines

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Göreme known for?

Göreme is the main town in the Cappadocia region. It’s best known for the Göreme Open Air Museum, which contains some of the region’s best-preserved cave churches and frescoes, and for its distinct “fairy chimney” structures of tufted volcanic rock. Most visitors to Cappadocia will pass through Göreme at some point.

Are Göreme and Cappadocia the same place?

Göreme is a town within Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a large region in central Anatolia whose informal name comes from its ancient Christian history. Göreme is the region’s main tourism hub; most bus lines converge on the town and most tour agencies operate out of its small town center.

How long should you spend in Göreme?

Göreme is an ideal place to spend a long weekend, or an excellent base for traveling more extensively around the Cappadocia region, too. The town has shops, restaurants, taxi stands, and all the other amenities that make it a comfortable jumping-off point.

How do you explore Goreme?

Public transportation is limited around Göreme and Cappadocia. Public buses leave from the center of town on a set schedule. Taxis are plentiful, and renting a car or hiring a driver makes it easy to see the wider region. If you’re staying in or around Göreme, walking, hiking, and biking are all easy and accessible options.

What is there to do in Göreme in the evening?

As the main tourism hub in Cappadocia, Göreme has many restaurants, bars, and wine houses. Göreme also has the most vibrant nightlife of the towns in Cappadocia. There are frequent opportunities to hear live music, and you can drink local wine from nearby vineyards.

Is it better to go to Göreme or Urgup?

Göreme and Urgup offer different experiences of Capadoccia. Göreme is livelier and louder, with more activity happening day and night. Urgup is quieter, with historic stone houses and boutique hotels. Göreme is more central for accessing Cappadocia’s broader public transportation network.

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