On my first visit to Goreme in Cappadocia, Turkey in November 2009, I was all over it like a hot rash. The summer had officially finished yet it was still thriving with backpackers arriving from Istanbul on the overnight bus. There seemed to be travelers from all over the world heading there with eager anticipation to see for themselves the lunar like landscape, cave hotels, ancient churches and an amazing sunrise view of twenty or more hot air balloons in the sky.
I was constantly in awe at the strange rock formations that I first spotted while driving into the region. Staying in a cave hotel was also a quirky novelty and since the town was relatively small and I walked most of it in just an afternoon, it had a canny knack of feeling comfortable.
I visited again in 2012 and in 2015 and even though, the vibes of my first visit had worn off, it still felt welcoming and an ideal place for a solo female traveller to feel safe. Unsure whether the amount of genuine cave hotels had dwindled, or the resort was bigger, it seemed more uniformed and not so rustic but I was in the right place at the right time, with a fuzzy feeling that Goreme was my 2nd home.
Is Goreme a Good Place for Hotel Accommodation?
Since it is the tourism capital of Cappadocia, any potential visitor has a wide choice of hotels to choose from, including authentic cave hotels or manmade buildings, with luxury or budget facilities. At the height of summer though, definitely pre-book your accommodation because Goreme gets extremely busy.
If you are reliant on public transport, have a cheap budget and don’t seem to mind the touristic vibe, then yes, it is a good place to stay overnight but I prefer the traditional town of Ortahisar and specifically the Castle Inn. It is one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in.
Restaurants and Nightlife in Goreme
Truthfully, I think most restaurants in Goreme are unhygienic or just unprofessional. One restaurant, situated on a veranda overlooking the road to the open air museum was dirty and I constantly interrupted the staff from their gossiping just to get served.
Another restaurant pushed me out of the door as soon as I walked in because apparently the chef and owner had a massive argument and both had walked out. The quality of food in others was just horrendous.
It seems that the restaurants that know what they are doing and not winging it, are in the Urgup region. Also don’t expect nightclubs that are open until 5am. Goreme is all about sit down dining or cheap food to go.
If you hamper after an active night-life with nightclubs open till 5am in the morning, head to Bodrum, Istanbul, Antalya or other seaside places instead. People travelling with children will also find a lack of activities to keep kids entertained.
Things to Do in Goreme
While the centre of Goreme does not have any attractions itself, the surrounding areas are pretty awesome and things to do include…
- Fly high in a hot air balloon trip
- Visit the cave churches at the Goreme open air museum
- For hiking fans, nearby Pigeon and Love Valleys are ideal
- 3 to 4 hour horse riding treks are popular in the evenings
- Head to Panoramic Viewpoint for an amazing view over the town of Goreme
- Visit the town of Avanos to take part in pottery demonstrations
Green / Red / Blue Tours
Three tours are sold by local agents. Green and red tours are ideal for first-time visitors taking you to underground cities and valleys like Ihlara. Aside from that, take lots of photos because describing the landscape of Goreme and Cappadocia to your friends back home is extremely hard to do. They need to see the photographs to believe you.
Goreme and Cappadocia always exceed my expectations on every return visit and I’ve never met anyone who didn’t enjoy it. Be sure to put it on your bucket list.
Nat says
atHiking is fab there Michael – you would enjoy it so much
Michael Schuermann says
atIf we can visit only one place in Turkey, it has to be Cappadocia. We’ve heard so much about it from friends and how we really have to go there for a hike!
Nat says
atYes, but make sure you book a hotel with heating. Also if there is snow, it looks very pretty but can hamper walking routes
Eleonora says
atWhat about it in wintertime? Is it possible to enjoy it in spite of the freezing January temperatures?
Natalie says
atHi Farah, which picture are you talking about? If it is number four that was taken from panoramic view point
farah says
atHi, your picture on the top of “Restuarant”, with a stunning view over the town, is amazing. Where about you take this picture? Goreme? At a hotel in Goreme? please recommend.
Natalie says
atHi Sheila, Glad you could stop by and glad you like the pictures. Hopefully look forward to catching up with you this summer.
Sheila Bolton says
atHi Natalie,
Only just discovered your travelblog courtesy of Phil and Di. These photos are stunning and Goreme is absolutely beautiful. I am going to enjoy reading the rest of your reports. You should get a job as a newspaper columnist.
Take care. xo
Natalie says
atThanks Greg, I just took a look at your blog and you have some impressive pictures there as well.
greg urbano says
atby far the coolest photos and place i have seen in a while, thanks for introducing me to this place through your blog!!
Sarah Wu says
atI know, You wish they can roll up and squeeze in to our tiny suitcase haha
Natalie says
atHi Sarah, It is a fabulous place to visit. The carpet shop was great as well, but there was no room to put one in my suitcase!
Sarah Wu says
atGoreme looks so interesting, I never even knew about this place until I read your post. This is why I like to your blog because you always find something interesting to share on your trip. The first picture with the textile hanging off the shop is a interesting photo.
Natalie says
atHi Brenda, I took you up on your suggestion and visited Urgup for the day and night. Will write about it in another post but I think you are right when you say the restaurants are better.
Brenda Farrell says
atGoreme is wonderful for many reasons. I also love Urgup as it has more of a village feel and more variety when it comes to eating local food. I also love many of the cave hotels in Urgup as well as a couple in Goreme. Glad you’re having fun!
Natalie says
atHi Phil and Di, You too would have a field day here. There is so much to do. I can imagine you two whizzing around on a scooter.
phil + Di marina gateway says
atfantastic Nat this is on our todo list you make it sound incredible cant wait for the next update