This unique museum is an amalgamation of Cappadocia's topology and culture. Tickets are required to visit it. Tickets can be purchased online as well at the spot. The museum has churches, residences etc carved out in the hills. A guide is recommended to understand the history and significance of different structures and paintings. Do wear comfortable shoes and hats as outdoor walking and climbing stairs are required.

Walking into the Göreme Open-Air Museum felt like entering a sacred time capsule carved by faith itself. The air was dry and still, yet it carried echoes of centuries — of prayers whispered in the dark, of monks who once painted the walls with devotion and light. The first sight of those ancient cave churches, carved directly into the soft volcanic rock, took my breath away. From the outside, they looked almost humble, blending seamlessly with the landscape. But stepping inside… it was like crossing into another realm. The interiors exploded with color — vivid frescoes of deep reds, blues, and golds still shining after more than a thousand years. Scenes of Christ, angels, and saints seemed to glow in the dim light, each brushstroke a heartbeat from another era. In the Dark Church (Karanlık Kilise), the silence was profound. Only a faint scent of stone and dust filled the air. Looking up at the perfectly preserved paintings on the domed ceiling, I felt time dissolve. The artistry, the patience, the belief — everything about that moment was humbling. Outside, the valley stretched in golden tones under the Cappadocian sun, while swallows danced over the fairy chimneys. I sat for a while, just watching, trying to absorb the stillness that seemed to connect earth and eternity. Visiting Göreme wasn’t just about exploring history — it was about feeling the soul of a civilization that turned rock into faith, silence into prayer, and isolation into beauty.

Busy due to kids fall break, but manageable. Came as part of small tour group. Guide not allowed to talk inside the ancient churches, so he gave us an overview, then set us loose. We were told, and signage outside churches said no photo/video, but Turkish Tourism only says no flash photography? Anyway, I found photos on internet search to fill gaps (better quality than I could have made anyway). The Dark/Black church was impressive (€6 extra, but is covered by the 3 day pass, as well as entry to the site.

This was the most expensive single ticket we had… and we really wished we had bought the 3 day pass. Do this if you are seeing a lot of sites in 3 days. This site is not large and can easily be done in 1-1.5 hrs. Not much to see inside the cave dwellings. A plus of this site over others is that there are signs describing the rooms. There is not much for why this place had such a strong church relationship. It is not a place where lots of people lived. Good if you are only near goreme for ballooning.

Must see in Cappadoccia, and Turkey in general. This is an incredible monastry complex, with some part quite old. The Dark Church is impressive and completely worth the extra 6€. It is also walkable distance from Goreme itself. Aim to go there early before groups arrive. It feels a lot more mystical when you’re the only one there :)

The Göreme Open Air Museum is a beautiful and historically captivating site. The landscape is breathtaking, and the ancient cave churches offer a unique glimpse into early Christian history in the region. However, I was disappointed that photography isn’t allowed inside the churches — especially after paying an entrance fee. One particular church even required an additional €6, and photos were still not permitted, which felt unreasonable. I’ve visited many historical churches across Turkey that allow photos, so I found this rule a bit frustrating. Still, it’s a remarkable site and definitely worth visiting.

Worth visiting! The cave churches with old paintings and frescos are magnificent. I would recommend to come around 9 am when there are no too many tourist groups.

It was my last day in Goreme and I decided to go on a ATV Tour. This tour generally costs 20 Euros for 2 hours and they cover three valleys - Love Valley, Rose/Red Valley, Sword Valley. I found this tour totally worth it. If you have more time in hand, you can go for a trekking along these valleys as well which can take 6-8 hours. All these valleys are pretty nice and beautiful. On top of that riding ATV through these valleys was a pretty unique and interesting experience. Love valley has unique formations which looks like male reproductive part and hence the name as love valley. Couples do tie up clay pots here as a belief that will make their love stay forever.

Impressive walking trail through Love Valley in the area between Uchisar and Goreme. We combined with the trail through Pigeon Valley along with a visit to Uchisar Castle for a long 11.5km loop trail starting and ending at Goreme. Great day out!

Amazing spot to see the balloons show. Tip: Get there around 6 am or even early. depending on how the weather is. It's not allowed to fly drones when the balloons are in the air, but it's a great spot for it. Around 7:30, almost all the balloons will be landed or about to land.

Walk from Üçhisar — the view and walking path are amazing. You’ll hardly see any other tourists there, since most of them enter Love Valley from the other side, which is closer and easier. After about a two-hour walk, you’ll reach Love Valley.

Amazing rock formations and wonderful views. We hiked through the valley. Good footwear is a must as some parts are uneven. Please take your rubbish home and keep this beautiful area clean for all to enjoy.

It takes around 30 minutes at a slow pace to reach the middle of these 'love' rocks 🫶 The hike is easy as it is mainly flat. This location is at the main entry of the path. Come to it where you see a stone with some writing in Turkish and you're at the right place. You can park for free anywhere around the entry.

Very beautiful! Try to go at 6 in the morning that air balloons fly :)

Starting point to walk through Pigeon Valley. Easy walkable, partly need hands to step over some bigger rocks. Awesome place to discover nature apart from the main tourism spots. We met maybe 5 people on the whole track. You can walk back the same way or discover Uchisar, and it's castle on the end of the path. Highly recommended

Hiked this alone today and it was completely safe. Met a few hikers going the opposite direction too so the trail gets some decent traffic. Some parts are slippery with loose sand/stones so wear good shoes and carry some plasters or a first aid kit in case you have an accident. The stray dogs are still in a cave at the midway point but they are nothing to worry about from my observations. On my way out they were sleeping in the cave and didn't even flinch with me walking past. On my way back it was nearing sunset and they were out scavenging for things to eat but even then they minded their own business and did not bark or approach me. You will be fine as long as you leave them be and don't provoke them. They did not seem aggressive at all.

This review is from "Goreme to Pigeon Valley Walk" location and relevant to this place as well as it connects. I can read the previous reviews in this location and people have had similar experience. Becareful!!! There is a group of stray dogs living at a viewpoint. 15-20 minutes from the start point of the walk towards the right. A small black pet dog followed us to the walk from the start. We thought it was ok, but don't let him follow you. He kept peeing at different points to mark his territory. Soon after, the stray dogs came and became aggressive because of the small black dog. They barked at us (8-9 dogs). I thought we could move forward, and it'll be alright, but one of them bit my friend in the leg. We were lucky to be in a group of 6, so we carefully returned while protecting ourselves from the stray dogs. There should be a sign to be aware of stray dogs, and representatives should make sure to protect tourists from this. Also, note that if it wasn't for the small black dog following us and marking territory. The stray dogs would not have come.

This charming trail is easy-medium. It is best to start with if you are in Goreme to get used to the surroundings. You can go all the way to Uchisal Caste if you feel up for it.

If you got some time after watching the balloons and before breakfast, then go for a short hike. One way takes about 30 minutes and offers a nice scenery ready to make a picture from. And, if you are lucky, you will find a friendly dog as companion.

Great trail. Did it in the late morning and there were no crowds. If coming by car, you can try to drive all the way to the end of the road. There is a very tiny parking lot at the end which can fit maybe 5 cars. If there’s no space there is plenty of space along the side of the road leading up to it. No entrance fee. We hiked from Goreme to Uchisar, which took about an hour with some photo stops along the way.

It is normally a short trek (less than 1 hour 1 way) from Goreme to Uchisar (near the castle). But in late Feb the trek was muddy, icy, slippery, so quite challenging for amateur trekker like myself. Also there were not many clear directions (arrows, signs; unlike in Red Valley) in the Pigeon Valley when trekked it in late winter. Signs were clear only at beginning and end of route. The view was superb.

There are still people living in the rock caves, you can meet them. It's perfect for hiking between Goreme and Uchisar. The entire hiking trail extends to the south of Uchisar, so it says it takes 3.5 hours, but if you go to Uchisar Castle, it takes about 1 hour. Goreme is lower, so it's easier to go from Uchisar to Goreme. If you're taking a bus on either the way there or back, I recommend taking the bus from Goreme to Uchisar. The hiking trail is full of spectacular views, so you can enjoy the scenery without being rushed around by a tour.

Lucky for us to visit in snow fall, what a wonder full of the valley in this condition. We came from small access that does not require ticket.

Loved this hike. It was a little hard to initially find the trail from the Uchisar castle. There is a faded sign in Turkish but once you start the hike, it is awesome. Great views and the hike is pretty easy to navigate. 4kms or so and mostly flat. Recommend wearing sneakers or something with grip as the small gravel makes walking slippery.

We had a beautiful walk through the valley.

So many pigeons and sparrows😹 quite stunning but not very special, worth a go but not a must~

Very scenic walk but it is not as easy as many say or is stated on the info boards. You have to be prepared to do some scrambling . Parts of trail are well signposted, the area nearest Göreme not so much.

this part of Pigeon valley was better. Impressive cave structures. Nice little restaurant / tea room.

Food was good, very tasty. Had a selection of plates. They didn't have the lamb shank as it was soldout however the dips, lamb with rice and beef with rice were also very homemade type food. Better to sit outside in the fresh air without sitting next to other people with their shoes off. Reservation is needed. Service charge is automatically added to the bill.

Amazing!!!! Best place in Goreme. Incredible food, service and atmosphere. This place is small, so must make a reservation. They speak beautiful English so call them to make a booking. Loved every minute.

Delightful find. Get there early. Lamb shank was rich and fell off the bone. Beef strips (stew) was savory and moorish. Chicken was delightfully spiced. Mezes were all very good. The cookie cacao complimentary cake to finish was a nice touch.

A cosy cute restaurant who were gracious enough to seat us without a reservation! We got the lamb borek for starters which was tasty! For mains we had the beef strips and lamb. Beef was very tasty but we thought the lamb was a bit too fatty/rich and struggled to finish it. For desserts the baked quince with clotted cream was delicious - highly recommend! Baklava with ice cream was also very tasty. Staff were lovely and super friendly!

One of the best meals we’ve had on our entire trip to Türkiye. The ambiance of being a cave of a family owned house was matched by the excellent cuisine — particularly the mezze plate, which was delicious. Though we came earlier than our reservation time we were promptly seated at one of their lovely Turkish floor seating tables, and were never rushed through our meal even as business picked up by 8:30 pm onwards. Would love to go back!

We had 2 dinners in a row and both times are very good. Our favourite are the lamb main course and lamb pastry. Other dishes and salads are also delicious. I would recommend it for sure and we will come back one day.

Excellent food with top-notch service to match :) Prices vary depending on the dishes ordered - the lamb was excellent! We were lucky to not have to wait; there’s usually a wait according to the server!

We went there on Thursday around 8:30pm (walk-in) in late June. What we ordered: - Beef main course (set menu, came with salad, soup and desert) - Chicken main course - Ayran (yogurt drink) - peach juice I could tell that their chef is paying so much attention to every single dish. Food was so good, texture was great, so flavorful, from complementary bread to side vegetables. We got so full after meal but enjoyed desert baklavas (that was the best baklava in this trip). People were friendly and professional. The price was inexpensive compared to other restaurants in town but quality was great. I will definitely come back.

Great restaurant. Very tasty signature kebab. One waitress is nice and good, but the other waitress is not very good. We came to open at 17:30, but it turns out that they don't work until 18:15. We wanted to have a good dinner before our flight, but we ended up leaving hungry.

Amazing experience at Pumkin Göreme! The pot kebap is a must-try — the chef puts on a great show, cracking open the flaming pot right at your table. Delicious food, warm atmosphere, and friendly staff. A highlight of our trip to Cappadocia!

My wife and I absolutely loved this restaurant—we ended up dining here every night during our four-night stay in Göreme because it was just that good. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the owner’s friendliness really added to the inviting, relaxed atmosphere. While the prices may be a bit on the higher side, the meals offer great value. The quality of the food speaks for itself—you can truly tell the chef is passionate about their craft. We tried the lamb chops, köfte, manti, stuffed squash, and the testi kebab, all as set meals. For us, one set was often enough to share, as they come with soup, salad, çiğ köfte, dessert, and tea. Our favorite dish was hands down the testi kebab—the meat was incredibly tender and flavorful. If you plan to try the chicken testi kebab in particular, it’s a good idea to make a reservation and pre-order it, as it seemed to require some advance notice. Don’t miss out on this gem when you’re in Göreme! We’re already looking forward to coming back on our next visit.

One of the best restaurants in Cappadocia! The chef is so lovely and the food is amazing. We had the beef and lamb pottery kebab, organic chicken, salad and baklava which were all a 10/10. You can tell everything is fresh and made with so much care.

After three weeks of traveling across Turkey and being spoiled with incredible hospitality everywhere we went, this place was… a bit of a surprise. And not the good kind. The manti itself was tasty — credit where it’s due — but the prices felt like we accidentally wandered into a luxury rooftop restaurant in Istanbul. For a spot with rather average ambiance and very small portions, the bill definitely had main-character energy. The service, unfortunately, didn’t match the warmth we’ve experienced throughout the rest of the country. Let’s just say it was far from friendly enough to make up for the high prices or the portion sizes. What stood out the most, though, was how the management seems to handle negative reviews. If you can’t deliver a flawless experience (and honestly, few places can), the least you can do is acknowledge areas that need improvement with a bit of grace. Denying obvious weaknesses doesn’t make them disappear — it just makes them more noticeable. If you want a genuinely warm Turkish dining experience in Göreme, you’re better off asking your hotel or host for local recommendations. Everywhere else we tried in Turkey, we were welcomed far more warmly — and fed far more generously.

I’ll be honest: this place has me confused. It has amazing reviews so we were super excited but unfortunately it turned out to be the most touristy and commercialised spot we’ve been to in Cappadocia. The food is average, nothing noteworthy. The staff is decently nice but they’re not particularly attentive or friendly like some we’ve met elsewhere. Wouldn’t come back and wouldn’t recommend, sadly 🥲

Went to this restaurant for the Clay Pot (which you have to book on reservation). Very cosy place in an ancient building that used to be a stables. You sit on very comfortable floor cushions. Food was good and efficient service.

Absolutely obsessed with this place! 🇹🇷✨ The food tastes like true homemade Turkish cooking—fresh, authentic, and full of flavor. From the warm bread and meze to the perfectly grilled meats, every dish was a delight. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the hospitality made me feel right at home. A real gem for anyone who loves traditional Turkish food!

We stayed in Gerome for 3 days and choose to come here for dinner twice as the food tasted better than the other restaurants in the town. we came during low season (end October and wasn’t crowded) and didn’t need to make reservation. Although I think it is recommended esp if you want to eat the pottery kebab The food is great (worthwhile mention: pastrami humus, pottery kebab and rice that came with it). service is great. It is pricey but inline with all other restaurants we had in Gerome.

We had a lovely meal at this Turkish restaurant. The food was excellent, full of flavour and beautifully presented. There was a great range of dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. The staff gave us a warm and friendly welcome, which made us feel very comfortable. The service was a little slower than expected, but the atmosphere was relaxed so it wasn’t a major issue. Overall, a really enjoyable experience and definitely worth a visit for anyone who enjoys authentic Turkish cuisine.

We ate the meat and chicken pottery kebabs, and they were tasty, good sized portions. We also got bread with pickled sides. The dessert was yummy too. Great atmosphere and experience.

The restaurant was recommended by our hotel as being the only one in town where they actually cook the pottery kebab in the clay pot rather than pre-cooking it in a different dish and simply serving it in the clay pot. While I haven't seen them cook the kebab, the fact that you have to pre-order the day before for a specific time makes me trust that claim (in other restaurants the pottery kebab was served 10 minutes after ordering). We really enjoyed the taste of both the vegetarian and the beef kebab and it was definitely better than in some other places. We also got complementary salad, pickled veg, and red cabbage, making the slightly high price more reasonable. I also liked the cave interior with cushions to sit on the floor. I can also recommend the house wine from Cappadocia.

The food was fabulous. Love the Testi Kebab (pottery) The beef was amazing. The service was great. Definitely recommend.

Everything is amazing! Staffs there were so friendly. Especially Emir, a young service staff was incredibly kind and friendly. He explained the dishes, taught us Turkish language and asked us whether we liked the meal or not every time. We spent the memorable dinner at this restaurant :)

Had a lovely dinner meal here, the food was perfect & freshly cooked, full of taste. Service was really friendly & attentive. I really enjoyed the Pottery (Testi) beef kebab. Prices were slightly higher than some other places in the centre but I would say it is worth it. Would highly recommend!

This restaurant is amazing! Everything was perfect! Found via Happy Cow for vegan selections. We had a spicy dip, a salad, and a vegetable clay pot. Also, a very tasty Baklava for dessert! As great as the atmosphere and food were, service either makes, or breaks a meal for me. In this case, the staff were outstanding! It is rare that I shake my waiter's hand after a meal, but this young man deserves all the praise that I can bestow. We have been in around 15 countries in the past 6 months, and this restaurant will be remembered for a long time as a quality experience!

Our second meal in Cappadocia was here. Emir was the person who served us, he was pretty friendly and patient with us! And the food here were all delicious, especially for the pot experience was the most impressive part. Thank u for the service!

A really nice and cozy restaurant with the best food we had in Cappadocia. Very authentic! Our waitress, Emir, was extremely friendly and kind. Highly recommended!

Totally loved the place..! Great service and amazing food..! We were welcomed warmly and Emer helped us select some really nice options from the menu also happily accommodated our request..! Definitely a must try if you want some cozy nice ambience and lovely food..!!❤️ One of the best meals we had in Turkey.. very welcoming..! Do try the tea as well..!

Delicious food, beautifully presented, and top-notch service! Emir was amazing – super kind and professional, and he explained every dish to us with great passion. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a great kebab experience in the area!

It was a very nice restaurant with views towards the city with the mountains in background. Looked amazing during sunset time. The terrace they have 270 deg view. In the evening it looks even better with lights of the city in the background. Food was great, specially the lamb, beef. Dessert was outstanding.

This restaurant is located on a hill with a beautiful view over Cappadocia, making it a very scenic spot to enjoy a meal. I ordered the pottery kebab, which was presented nicely, but at 1200 lira I found it a bit overprice. While the food itself was decent, I had expected a little more in terms of service — at least warmer or friendlier hospitality. That wasn’t really the case during my visit. Perhaps this is just the general local style, but compared to other places I’ve tried, the service felt less welcoming. Overall, it’s a good restaurant with a great location and nice atmosphere, but there’s definitely room for improvement, especially considering the price point.

This is a popular rooftop restaurant at Sultan Cave suites in Goreme. They have a large open seating bar and couple of levels of outdoor terrace seating with lovely views of Goreme and the valleys in the distance. Opening hours are 12pm to 10.30pm daily. Menu is a nice range of local and Turkish national dishes. We dined here during our recent stay in Goreme. Views were great. Our meal was just ok. On the occasion we had the mezze plater along with the Mutoncana, a stewed lamb with apricot, plum, raisins and sumac. The mezze was just fine, the lamb should have been better. It was prepared too quickly, leaving the lamb chewy and bland. The sweet ingredients salvaged the dish which on the whole, wasn't very good compared to lamb testi and other servings enjoyed elsewhere in Goreme. Service on the evening was very spotty, uneven and rushed. Our starter and main were served within 2 minutes of each other for example. Interestingly, prices were the same as what we found at Setten's sister restaurant Happena just next door at the Kelebek Cave Hotel. This is a reservation required restaurant with much nicer food and better managed all around service. Sort of gave us the feeling that Seten was designed for mass tourism by comparison. Mind you, the views at Seten are very, very good.

The only positive thing about this restaurant is the stunning view over Göreme. We waited around 40 minutes to be seated, but we already knew about the waiting time in advance, so that’s not the reason for the low rating. The hostess who showed us to our table was kind and welcoming. Unfortunately, that was the only pleasant interaction we had with the staff. Once seated, the service was far from what we’ve experienced elsewhere in Turkey. Our waiter was impolite, and it took almost an hour for the food to arrive. The food itself was just okay, nothing special or worth the social media hype. The lamb was decent, but the beef was tough and chewy. By the end of the meal, even though not all tables were occupied, the waiter never brought our dessert or came to clear the table. When we finally asked for the check, it became clear that our dessert was simply forgotten. Overall, it felt like the waiter just wanted us to leave as soon as possible. Another thing we didn’t appreciate was the automatic service charge included in the bill. We usually leave a tip everywhere we go, but in this case, we definitely wouldn’t have, given the disappointing service. Sadly, we wouldn’t return. The view alone doesn’t make up for the poor experience.

We visited this restaurant twice when we were in Cappadocia. The first time there was a one-hour wait, so we decided to skip it. The second time there was a 20-minute wait, so we were willing to wait. I had lamb shank and my wife had a pottery kebab; we also had a chicken salad on the side. But the main event was the dessert, a tahini soufflé, out of this world, unforgettable, indulgent, all of the adjectives. It was the best dessert I had over the seven days we were in Turkey.

Seten is set among a sea of fairy chimneys and served the best food we had in our entire Turkey vacation. If you only eat out once, make it here. No reservations are taken so get there early.

A beautiful Restaurant with very good food. The terrace had a nice view as well. We got the traditional pottery kebab (~25€), which was great, and an also very good pumpkin based desert (~7€). Definitely worth the money for us.