Cappadocia Day Trip from Istanbul: Fairy Chimneys & Göreme Tour

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What’s the experience like?

The day kicked off before sunrise—still dark out when the shuttle picked us up in Istanbul. By the time we landed in Cappadocia, the air felt crisp and dry, almost dusty. Our guide, Mehmet, met us at the airport with this easy smile and a little joke about Turkish coffee being stronger than jet lag. First stop: Göreme Open Air Museum. I’d seen photos before, but nothing really prepares you for those rock-cut churches. The smell inside is kind of earthy, like old stone and candle wax. Mehmet pointed out faded frescoes—some over a thousand years old—and told us how monks once lived here in total silence.

Next up was Uchisar Castle. It’s not really a castle in the way you might expect—more like a giant rock honeycombed with tunnels and rooms. The climb to the top is a bit steep (my legs definitely noticed), but you get this wild view over all of Cappadocia’s valleys. You can spot hot air balloons drifting if you look early enough. After that, we drove to Avanos for a pottery demo. The workshop was run by a family who’s been doing this since Ottoman times—they let us try spinning clay on the wheel. My bowl came out lopsided, but it was fun getting my hands messy. Lunch was simple but good: lentil soup, grilled chicken, and fresh bread from a bakery down the street.

We wandered through Cavuşin village next—quiet streets, old stone houses with pigeons fluttering overhead. Mehmet explained how people used to live inside these caves to stay cool in summer and warm in winter. Last stop: Devrent Valley and Pasabaglari (the fairy chimneys). The shapes are just odd—some look like mushrooms, others like camels if you squint right. The wind picks up here and you get this soft whistling sound between the rocks. We wrapped up at Esentepe for one last panoramic view before heading back to catch our flight to Istanbul.