Cappadocia in the Winter - Where Fairytale Meets Winter Wonderland
Love Valley Viewpoint at Sunrise
Table of Contents
If you're wondering if visiting Cappadocia in the winter is a good idea, the answer is yes! When the snow falls and dusts the ground in a coat of white it creates the most picturesque landscape, especially as the sun shines bright and makes the whole scene glow. Cappadocia is known for its mountains, valleys and extremely unique rock formations. Seeing the famous fairy chimneys covered in shimmering snow, or watching the hot air balloons fly over vast white valleys, should definitely be on your bucket list. It truly makes the views even more beautiful as it adds an extra layer to Cappadocia's fairytale-like essence. Walking around the various towns in this ancient city is so magical in the winter, particularly in December when the holiday spirit is at an all-time high. Who wouldn't want to see trees and terraces full of string lights, marvel at the Christmas decorations, sip hot wine next to a fire and eat Turkish meals inside warm cave restaurants?!
Volcano Views seen from the Red Valley Summit
Do the Hot Air Balloons Fly in the Winter in Cappadocia?
The hot air balloons fly all year round but are subject to weather conditions that may lead to cancellations. Though cancellations can and do occur throughout the entire year, with winter comes snow storms and more occasional heavy winds so the chances of cancellations increase. On average the balloons fly 250 days a year. I visited in December where the cancellation rate is around 55%. I was there for three nights and each morning I got to see the balloons and the sun was shining in the sky. You just have to make sure you check the weather predictions when planning a visit and be sure it's supposed to be sunny or partly cloudy.
Due to the unique topography of Cappadocia, the most common factor for cancellations is wind speed and direction since they can change rapidly. If the balloon operators feel it is unsafe to fly, they will reschedule your flight for the following day. If you plan to take a hot air balloon ride, the benefit of visiting in the winter is that it can be up to 50% cheaper than other times of year!
The best way to check if the balloons are scheduled to fly are to use 'balloonscanner' which has the predicted weather forecast with probabilities of cancellations. You can also just use your best judgement based on current weather conditions.
How Many Days is Enough in Cappadocia?
I recommend staying in Cappadocia for 3-4 nights to see and do as much as possible. In order to have higher chances of seeing the balloons fly in the winter, be sure to stay for at least two nights - the more nights you stay the more likely you are to see them at least once. If you visit (at any time of year) and the balloons get cancelled, do not let it ruin your trip! Cappadocia's wonders do not stop with the balloons. There is a multitude of beautiful hikes, castles, caves, museums, tours and day trips.
What Town to Stay in Cappadocia?
The towns I recommend staying in are either Göreme, Uçhisar or Ortahisar. They are all about a 10 minute drive/bus ride or just over an hour walk from one another. The towns are actually connected by some hiking trails so it's rather easy to get between them. These are the main towns for sightseeing and activities, and any other town would be considered more remote. You'll want to stay either in a cave hotel, a hotel with rooftop terraces, or a hotel with both features. Cappadocia offers a pretty diverse range of pricing from luxury to budget, with each town leaning heavier towards one or the other.
(R) Göreme Town Seen From the Göreme Observation Deck Viewpoint
Göreme is the best town to stay in as it's seen as the 'hub' of Cappadocia and is very walkable to most viewpoints, hiking trails and the balloon take-off fields which means you'll see them flying from much closer in Göreme than other towns. Most travel and tour companies are based in Göreme which makes it more convenient for booking and last-minute adventures. The town itself is gorgeous as it's located among the ancient fairy chimneys and is the most lively of the the towns with many bars/nightlife, shops and activities.
You can find the cheapest accommodation in Göreme. Being a budget traveler, I stayed in a hotel in the center of Göreme called Karadut Cave Hotels for €40 euros per night - it had breakfast included, rooms that were very nice and spacious for the price, and 3 terraces with beautiful views. The host was so welcoming and there are adorable and friendly cats on the property so I highly recommend this place.
Uçhisar is the second most popular town to stay in. This town has the most luxurious hotel options with better views as the town itself is higher up and houses the tallest fairy chimney castle in Cappadocia. It's also is less touristy than Göreme so you'll have less crowds, though this does not matter in the winter months as nothing is crowded then. You can still see the balloons fly over the beautiful landscape, they will just be further away since the wind does not tend to bring them that close to Uçhisar.
Ortahisar is very similar to Uçhisar in distance from the balloons and the fact that it has it's own castle, however the experience in Ortahisar feels a lot more local. It has it's own unique charm as one of the oldest and largest towns in Cappadocia. It's the lesser-traveled town of the three and is quite beautiful.
How to Get Around in Cappadocia
It's very easy to get around in Cappadocia - there are taxis, tours/transfers, car rentals, a bus system and hitchhiking. To and from the airport, you can either take a taxi upon arrival or book transport in advance. Transport can be booked through your hotel or on a website such as Get Your Guide. I had my hotel book me transfer upon arrival for €15 per person, and for departure I booked a transfer on Get Your Guide for just €10. I suspect these options are cheaper than a taxi upon arrival.
To get between towns, there is a public bus that goes between Avanos, Cavusin, Göreme, Uçhisar and Nevsehir. The bus between Göreme and Uçhisar runs every 30 minutes for just 35 lira (about €1), taking around 10 minutes to drive between them. The bus stations are located here in Göreme and here in Uçhisar. You just pay with cash when you get onto the bus.
Hitchhiking is very common in Cappadocia. If you are walking along a main road and look like you could use a ride, someone is sure to stop for you and ask. Always be careful, but Cappadocia is very safe where even pickpocketing is rare.
What to do in Cappadocia in the Winter
Go Hiking in a True Winter Wonderland
Even with snow on the ground and cold weather, hiking in Cappadocia is a dream. You won't be sweating or hot while trekking up mountains as the winter chill works to keep you cool. Dress warm but wear layers since you may want to take them off as you go. There aren't any crowds and you sometimes feel like the only one in the world! On each hike I only passed around 3-5 people. The trails take you through the bottom of the valleys past the unique rock formations, through caves and tunnels and then up the mountains to a few viewpoints. The landscape in Cappadocia is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen, and to fully immerse yourself in it on these hikes is one of the top things to do on your trip.
Rose Valley and Red Valley hikes were my favorite. They are easily combined into one 2.5-3 hour hike, or 4.5-5 hours if you decide to combine the two of them with the Meskendir Valley trail. The three valleys all connect to make one large hike if you wanted - I did this and it was perfect so I'd highly recommend it. There are incredible views and I found this trail to be relatively easy, with the hardest part being the climb to the Red Valley summit.
These trails were the most straightforward to follow of all the hikes, though they can generally be pretty confusing. It helps being there in the winter because all you have to do is follow the shoe prints in the snow to know you're going the right way (or at least a way that won't get you totally lost)! As a tip don't listen to any spray-painted signs, especially those in red that say "end". It is, indeed, not the end.
Love Valley is the perfect hike to complete after seeing the hot air balloons fly at sunrise. Once the balloons are finished and land, begin this hike - it will take about 1.5-2 hours and connects Göreme to Uçhisar. Pigeon Valley is another trail that connects the two towns and is on the opposite side of the main road as the Love Valley trail is. It is known for it's hundreds of pigeon houses that were carved into the rocks by the ancient residents of Cappadocia.
It can be a bit icy on the hikes in the winter, so don't ever stand close to the cliffside and go slow. I only slipped a few times (okay, like ten but whose counting) and had a wonderful experience!
Explore the Historical Sights
Tours and tickets tend to be cheaper in the winter than other seasons, which is a huge benefit to visiting during this time. Not only that, but the historical sights are much less crowded making for a more pleasant experience. Cappadocia has so much history as the cities landscape was created 60 million years ago by the erosion of volcanic lava with wind and rain. Human settlement in the region dates back to the Paleolithic Era around 2.5 million years ago!
Göreme Open Air Museum
Göreme was a very important center for Christianity in the 7th-13th centuries. The Open Air Museum is a large complex of historical monasteries and churches dating back to the middle ages. Set inside fairy chimneys and other volcanic rocks, most of these cave rooms are decorated with ancient Byzantine frescoes. A fresco is a method of mural painting with water-based pigments on top of freshly applied lime plaster, so that way the paint becomes an integral part of the plaster. These murals are so beautiful and well-preserved. Walking around the complex feels like taking a step into history.
Entry Fee
As of December 2024 the entry ticket price is 730 liras (~20 euros)
How to Get There
The Open Air Museum is around 1km from the center of Göreme and is reachable by just over a 20 minute walk a bit uphill.
Uçhisar Castle
The Uçhisar castle is an ancient citadel perched on the edge of the town and is the highest point in all of Cappadocia, creating a landmark thats visible from miles around. Because of this vantage point it was naturally used as a fortress and lookout point for any incoming attacks during the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. You can explore around it, go in and out of the tunnels and cave rooms, and climb all the way to the top for the best 360 panoramic views of Cappadocia.
Entry Fee
As of December 2024 the entrance fee was 250 liras (~7.00 euros)
How to Get There
Walk just a few (~7) minutes up the hill from downtown Uçhisar.
Visit a Viewpoint (Daytime & Sunset)
There are a lot of beautiful viewpoints perfect for watching the sunset, all of which just require a short walk to get there from downtown Göreme. You don't want to be trekking through the mountains in the dark especially in the snow, so these are my favorite safest and easiest-to-access lookout locations for those traveling on foot. I am including a google maps link and the coordinates as there are sometimes either multiple names for the same viewpoint or there is no recognizable name for the spot.
Göreme Panorama View
Coordinates: (38.6451423, 34.8208813) - Google Maps Link here
This viewpoint is around a 20 minute uphill walk from downtown Göreme. The views are breathtaking and on a clear day you can see one of the volcanos that created the Cappadocia landscape. The sunset here occurs behind the viewpoint over the Uçhisar Castle and casts a gorgeous pink and orange glow over the distant mountains in front of you.
Göreme Observation Deck
Coordinates: (38.6413271, 34.8320896) - Google Maps Link here
This viewpoint costs 20 liras (€0.55). There are panoramic views of Göreme, Rose Valley and the fairy chimneys. When the sun goes down you have the best views of the town all lit up at night including the Uçhisar Castle in the distance. There is a mini shop selling hot drinks at the viewpoint, perfect for warming up during a winter nights sunset.
Watch the Hot Air Balloons at Sunrise
Tip: Luckily during the winter the sun rises much later than it does during the summer, so you can get a longer sleep. However you still have to wake up early enough in order to get to the viewpoint before the sun rises! In December, the sun rises around 7:30am - a couple balloons will be in the sky by 7:15am and you want to get there earlier than that. I left every morning between 6:00am and 6:30am depending on how far my chosen viewpoint was from my hotel.
Love Valley Viewpoint
Coordinates: (38.6554290, 34.8203030) - Google Maps Link here
This viewpoint takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour to walk to from downtown Göreme.
As you go down the road to the viewpoint, you'll pass where the hot air balloons take off! It is so incredible to see them start going into the sky, one by one filling with hot air and rising. Hang around this area for a bit and enjoy the chaos until more than a few have risen, then continue walking down the road towards the viewpoint. Here you can look out into the valley at the balloons. You have to visit Love Valley on at least one morning - it's a requirement of visiting Cappadocia! I heard it gets extremely crowded during warm weather months and felt so lucky that was not the case during winter.
Viewpoint Opposite of Love Valley
Coordinates: (38.6492123, 34.8238609) - Google Maps Link here
There is a valley on each side of the trail here, so during the sunrise you can watch the balloons from both sides. Sit and watch them rise in the valley next to Göreme and then walk the trail to the other side where you'll watch them land in Love Valley. I had this spot all to myself aside from a dog who decided to watch with me, sharing my blanket and getting some pets. This spot was so serene, quiet and peaceful.
The Terraces of Your Hotel
Most hotels, especially those in Göreme, have gorgeous views of the hot air balloons that you can enjoy comfortably with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Have a Cozy Dinner and Drinks
To escape the cold winter nights, the best thing to is get some dinner and hot wine in a cozy cave restaurant or on a terrace by a fire. I recommend Afara Cave Restaurant & Cafe for dinner - the hot wine and testi kebabs (an Anatolian specialty dish cooked slowly in a clay pot) are amazing. You can eat on the terrace in a glass igloo which has a fireplace inside to keep you warm. For drinks I recommend Kiara Rooftop Bar & Restaurant - there are multiple terraces with beautiful city views and fireplaces/heaters. It is extremely lively at night with good vibes and music.
Downtown Göreme at Night
Take a Tour
Like the hot air balloons, tours of all kinds run all year round! From adventurous to leisurely, Cappadocia offers a multitude of tours. You can book them through your hotel, in advance online through a website such as Get Your Guide, or in person at one of the many tour companies located all over town. You do not have to worry about booking in advance when traveling during the winter as there are plenty of tours available and little tourists.
What is the Difference Between the Red Tour and Green Tour in Cappadocia?
The two main full day tour options that you'll see offered in Cappadocia are the Red tour or the Green tour. Whichever one you choose just depends upon what you are more interested in.
The Red tour is better for history enthusiasts and first-time visitors as it includes Cappadocia's most famous landmarks and attractions. Based in the northern part of Cappadocia, it typically covers the Göreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag/Monks Valley, the town of Avanos where you'll likely either watch or take a short pottery class, Devrent (Imagination) Valley, and Ürgüp which is known for it's wine and historical sights.
The Green tour is better for nature lovers as it's a more relaxed and outdoorsy experience. Based in the southern part of Cappadocia, this tour typically covers the Derinkuyu Underground city, Ihlara Valley (a canyon and river, perfect for hiking), Selime Monastery, Pigeon Valley and a Göreme panoramic viewpoint.
Go Horseback Riding
Horse ranches are located all over the valleys of Cappadocia. Riding a horse through a snow-covered mountainous landscape past the fairy chimneys is a wonderful experience. There are options for horse riding tours during sunrise, the daytime and sunset. Usually they take between 1-2 hours depending on which you choose, and prices range between €10 and €20.
Take a Ride in an ATV
I passed a few sunset ATV tours while on my way back to town from various hikes, and they looked like so much fun! You can go as fast or slow as you want while riding around the Cappadocia valleys. These tours take an average of 2 hours and prices range similar to horse riding at €10-€20.
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