Goreme in Cappadocia

Goreme was our next stop when we left Kayseri. We arrived at the  bus station and asked at the accommodation office for directions to the hotel.  The member of staff got on the phone and within three minutes, car service had arrived from the hotel to pick us up.

A good first impression!

After checking in, the bags were dumped in our room and we headed straight out to explore. Goreme is not a big resort  within Cappadocia and in an afternoon, you can find out where all the restaurants, shops and bars are. At the moment it is very quiet but I can imagine in the height of summer season in Turkey that it is bustling.

It also seems that the town  has travelers from all over the world landing to experience what it has to offer.  I have seen Japanese, American and Spanish travelers. Some of the other languages are hard to recognize but it is nice to holiday in a resort that is not predominately visited by the Brits.

What makes Goreme different?

Everywhere you go are caves, caves and more caves.  Some of the caves are still lived in by the locals. Have a look at the photos I have posted  and spot the doors, windows and satellite dishes.

Hotels in Goreme

There is a wide choice of cave hotels that are dotted around the resort. They are old caves that have been converted into rooms, of which some have luxury facilities and others are a basic room.  If you want a typical hotel then look at a hotel like the  Tourist Resort Hotel and Spa. There are also three camping sites  for those that travel with a tent.

The town is not for everyone though.  If you hamper after an active night-life with nightclubs open till 5am in the morning, you would be wise to head to one of the other seaside resorts in Turkey. People travelling with children will also find a lack of activities to keep kids entertained.

What To Do in Goreme

Backpackers, hikers, couples and those who love to see the sights of Turkey will have a field day. For three days solid, I have been out and about exploring Cappadocia and everything was  within an hour’s drive.

Goreme is a good base to explore other towns and places such as Urgup, the  open air museum and the underground caves. You can join tours that are sold in resort, or hire a car if you want to be independent. Driving in these areas is really easy.

Don’t forget, Cappadocia is also famous for its hot air balloon trips. Anyone seeking an adrenalin rush will find it here.

Restaurants in Goreme

From what I have seen of Goreme so far, I would give it nine out of ten as a destination to visit. The one feature that the resort is lacking is a variety of  restaurants. All the restaurants seem to have the same traditional Turkish theme and the same menu. Anyone who is eating out every night may get bored with the choice.

Speaking to the locals of Cappadocia, we found out that alternative restaurants do not seem to work. They have tried fish, Chinese, Indian and Mexican restaurants but none of them could make a successful business.

This town of  Turkey has so far exceeded my expectations in all ways. I was previously a  fan of Istanbul and would tell everyone, it was the number one destination.. Now I can say that Goreme and the surrounding towns of Cappadocia is the destination of Turkey that should be the top of your list.