Goreme

With other-worldly rock formations, hot air balloon-filled skies and captivating sunsets, Göreme is utterly enchanting. Sweeping valleys of moon-like lands surround this golden-coloured town, built into the hills. Through its winding back alleys, you’ll find painted churches carved into the rocks. This is the place to get Instagram-worthy snaps of the famous "fairy chimney" rock formations of Turkey's Cappadocia region.

A hostel in Göreme is a great starting point to explore Cappadocia and lets you experience life in its caves. Hollowed out of the rocks, they take you deep underground to atmospheric rooms. Find elegant bedrooms decorated with Turkish rugs and antique furniture, as well as beautifully rustic dorms with curved stone walls and mosaic floors. Many hostels in Göreme have terraces where you can gaze up at the stars at night or drink Turkish tea during the day. For authentic Turkish food, look out for hostels with free breakfasts and on-site restaurants. 

Thanks to its Open Air Museum, Göreme is where most travellers start to explore the Cappadocia region. This UNESCO World Heritage site is just 1km from the centre and is known for its churches and chapels carved out of the rocks. To the southwest is Uçhisar, a colourful town built on a towering volcanic rock. A 10-minute drive from Göreme’s centre is Avanos. A visit to this town takes you away from the crowds and allows you to discover some of the region’s finest pottery and riverside tea cafés. 

With all this magical scenery on your doorstep, there’s so much to do in Göreme. A good way to see the region’s rocky outcrops is to go in a hot air balloon. Trips run all year round, with sunrise and sunset being the best time to fly. A 25-minute minute walk out of town is Rose Valley. With its pink-coloured rock formations that extend as far as the eye can see, this place is truly mesmerising. Other spectacles in and around Göreme include Uchisar Castle and Derinkuyu Underground City. 

Kayseri and Nevşehir are the nearest domestic airports, 46 and 26 miles away. From these destinations you can get to Göreme by shuttle bus. You can also take the bus from other cities including Izmir, Antalya, Istanbul and Ankara. From Istanbul the journey is about 9 hours. From the town centre, a bus service can take you to other nearby villages like Ürgüp and Avanos.