Are you looking for cool things to do in Göreme and don’t know which activities are worth your time? In this article, I talk about the activities I tried and think are worth experiencing.
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If you do some research on the things to do in Cappadocia, and particularly Göreme, you’ll notice there’s an endless offering of tours and activities. The choice can feel overwhelming. What is truly worth doing, and what should you skip?
I traveled to Göreme in December 2025. Given the low season, you may think there are fewer things to do, but actually, I managed to join a few cool activities you can experience year-round. So in this article, I will focus on these specific activities and whether they are worth trying.
If you’re looking for an exhaustive list of things to do in Cappadocia, this is not it. Instead, I chose to focus only on things I experienced first-hand and share my insights and perspective. None of this was sponsored, so this is my honest opinion on activities I paid for myself. Aside from my honest impressions, I’ll share some practical tips to make sure you enjoy these activities should you choose to do them.
Before we dive in, if you’re wondering whether Cappadocia is worth visiting in the low season, I have an article that covers all the pros and cons of traveling to Cappadocia in winter.
Hot Air Balloon Ride: The Iconic Cappadocia Moment
I’ll start with the most obvious one: the hot air balloon ride over the surreal valleys of Cappadocia. There’s a reason this activity is so famous: it actually is an incredible experience. While you can definitely enjoy Cappadocia without the balloon ride, this will make your stay here 100 times more memorable.
I did something that many people discourage: I booked the hot air balloon ride several weeks in advance. This is typically not ideal in the wintertime, as you can never know whether the flights will take off. But I booked an activity with free cancellation, and if flights don’t take off, you’ll still get refunded or be able to book on a different date.
I ended up being extremely lucky with the weather. There had been no flights for four days before the date I booked. Our flight was delayed by nearly one hour, and I was almost losing hope. We finally took off and had a stunning flight with a lovely sunrise and even some blue skies. The day after, it was completely overcast, although flights did take off.
So, if you’re visiting in the winter, know that the weather is unpredictable, and flights may get cancelled due to wind, rain, or snow. On the plus side, flights can be up to 10 times cheaper than in the peak summer months. I paid around 70€ for my flight, but they were selling for 40€ for the following day. In the summer, they go up to 400€ per person.
Anyway, the hot air balloon ride was the highlight of my trip to Göreme! While there’s no way to predict whether the flight will take place, I recommend staying 2-3 days, so you have more opportunities. Also, remember to dress appropriately, as you fly up to 1000 meters of altitude!
Below is the exact activity I booked on GetYourGuide. I had an incredible experience, from transportation to the flight itself and the breakfast. Everything went smoothly, and I even got my flight certificate. There are dozens of companies, but I’m really happy with my choice and would highly recommend it!
Horseback Riding Through the Valleys
Horseback riding was one of the things I was most looking forward to after the hot air balloon ride. I hadn’t done that in over 15 years, so I was eager to experience it, and it didn’t disappoint.
This is a great activity to do even in the low season. I was lucky enough to have lovely weather with blue skies for the duration of my tour. Plus, given the low season and fewer visitors, I had a private tour! It was just me and my guide riding around the incredible valleys just outside Göreme.
You don’t need riding experience for this tour. My horse, Tokyo, was very gentle and simply followed my guide. We rode through Rose Valley and Sword Valley, stopping in a few spots along the way for pictures.
In the hot season, I would highly recommend the sunrise or sunset ride. But because it was quite cold in the mornings and evenings, I chose a tour in the middle of the day. It turned out to be the best choice! If you want to book the exact tour I did, you can find the availability below.
ATV Tour: For the Adventurous Travelers
If you want something a little more adventurous, the ATV ride is your best choice. However, this one may be a little less enjoyable on a really cold day, which was the case for me. My hands were half-frozen even with gloves on, and I could barely accelerate. It was still a really fun adventure!
Once again, because I booked a tour in the middle of the day on an early December day, I got a private tour. I followed my guide through some of the other valleys outside Göreme, mainly around White Valley and the surrounding area.
While the horse riding tour is a calm and leisurely activity, the ATV ride is faster and more adventurous, or at least as much as you want it to be. This was only my second time driving an ATV, but I do love the speed, so it was a truly fun experience.
Again, you can do this at sunset or sunrise if possible, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy spectacular landscapes. Unfortunately, it was quite overcast when I did it. But it was still an amazing experience that I highly recommend. Just bring gloves if you do it in the winter! Below is the tour I booked on GetYourGuide.
Exploring Göreme Town on Foot
Honestly, one of the best things to do in Göreme if you don’t want to join guided tours is to wander around. The town is incredibly picturesque, with hills and viewpoints offering stunning views.
The lower part of town is filled with traditional restaurants, cozy cafés, and beautiful souvenir shops selling pottery, colorful lamps, traditional carpets, magnets, and so much more! But for the best views, you need to venture to the side streets and narrow alleys winding up between stone houses.
Göreme Sunset Point is one of the best places to enjoy a sweeping view of the town and surrounding valleys. From there, you can even descend into Rocket Valley and enjoy an easy hike. But the best thing is just to follow your intuition and explore without looking at the map. Walking uphill is the way to go if you want beautiful views!
Some cafés and restaurants also offer gorgeous views. TUMA Restaurant is by far the most scenic spot I’ve tried. Not only is the food delicious and the staff really friendly, but the views are stunning! And for a coffee with a lovely view of the central area of Göreme, I recommend HMT Coffee & Breakfast. Topdeck Cave, on the other hand, may not have a view, but it’s beautifully decorated in traditional Turkish style!
Uçhisar Castle: The Best Panoramic View
Okay, so this one is not in Göreme, but it’s a short bus ride away, so it’s an easy half-day trip. Uçhisar is another town in Cappadocia; although not as picturesque as Göreme, it features an incredible hilltop cave castle.
Uçhisar Castle is the highest point in Cappadocia, standing at roughly 1350 meters above sea level. This giant fairy chimney is made of volcanic tuff sculpted by wind, rain, and erosion over hundreds of years. It’s the most impressive example of carved-rock architecture in Cappadocia.
Over the centuries, Uçhisar Castle has seen numerous civilizations pass through. The area was subjected to numerous invasions, and the castle was used for security purposes. This was also the center of social life, with the town around it developing and spreading over the years, particularly after the 11th century, when the Turkish Seljuk Dynasty took the reign from the Byzantine Empire.
The entrance fee to the castle is 320 TL (as of 2026). Once inside, you can explore the various “rooms” and enjoy sweeping views of Cappadocia’s valleys. There is even a little café inside, though it had just closed when I arrived in the late afternoon.
This is undoubtedly the best viewpoint in the region. Go there at sunrise for an even better view. Unfortunately, it was mostly overcast when I visited. While you’re around, make sure to also explore the town of Uçhisar. I recommend setting aside 2-3 hours for your visit, a little more if you plan to have a meal in town.
Activities I Didn’t Try in Cappadocia
I only spent four days in Göreme, and while it was plenty for the town itself, I found it’s nowhere near enough for Cappadocia. There are so many more things to do in the region, and I just couldn’t do it all. While I’m happy with what I managed to do, given the low season and uncertain weather, these are some activities I would love to try on my next trip to Cappadocia.
- Explore the underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu
- Join a pottery workshop
- Go on longer hikes in the valleys
- Visit the Göreme and Zelve Open Air Museums
- Relax at a hammam spa
Practical Tips for Enjoying Göreme, Cappadocia
The first thing I want to say about visiting Göreme is to allow at least one buffer day. While the town is small, there is just so much to do in the region. I recommend planning to stay at least 3-4 days, more if you want to do more hiking.
If you visit in the high season, when everything is more expensive, I recommend planning more carefully. You’ll want to book your balloon flights ahead of time, reserve your spots for any activities you want to make, and book your accommodation well in advance.
If you visit in the shoulder season, there is a bit more flexibility, but it can still be fairly busy, so some planning is required. In the winter (except for the holiday season), you’ll want to plan less and allow for more flexibility. The weather is unpredictable, balloon flights can get cancelled, and rain may prevent you from doing some activities.
On the plus side, in the winter, you can easily stay longer and still spend less money than you would on a short summer stay. Not only is accommodation much cheaper, but even the activities are more affordable, especially the balloon flights. On the downside, you’ll have to pack warm, waterproof clothes and prepare for potential rain or snow.
For the planning part, I booked all my accommodation through Booking.com and the activities through GetYourGuide. I stayed in four different hotels, from a budget hostel to a boutique hotel, because I wanted to experience their diverse offerings. I have a dedicated blog post on the four hotels I stayed in Göreme, but you can find a quick overview below.
TURAN CAPPADOCIA CAVE
A charming hotel with dorms and private rooms. Perfect if you’re on a budget. With lovely views of Göreme.
Hanzade Cappadocia
A centrally-located small hotel with spacious rooms. A perfect option if you want a nice but affordable room.
Feel Cappadocia Stone House
Another mid-range option in the lower part of Göreme. It has a great terrace to watch the balloons in the morning.
Terra Cave Hotel
A delightful boutique hotel with cozy rooms, stunning terraces with amazing views, and beautiful design.
As for reaching Göreme, I went there by bus from Ankara, but you can also fly there. The nearest airport to Göreme is Kayseri Erkilet Airport, with both national and international flights. I actually flew from there back to Istanbul. You can book transportation to the airport at the bus station in Göreme.
Travel Resources
That’s it for my favorite activities in Göreme, Cappadocia. If you end up visiting this fascinating region, I hope you’ll find this guide useful! Below is a resource table with the apps and platforms I use to plan all my trips.
| Website/App | Category | Description | Book Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | Accommodation | My favorite website for great accommodations for different budgets. | Find a Place |
| Kiwi.com | Flights | My new favorite platform for finding affordable flights. | Find Flights |
| Omio | Transportation | You can book everything from buses and trains to ferry rides. | Transportation |
| SafetyWing | Insurance | One of the best travel medical insurances for frequent travelers. | Get Insured |
| Manawa | Activities | A great platform to book activities and adventures with local hosts. | Find Activities |
| GetYourGuide | Activities | My go-to platform for tours and experiences with lots of options. | Experiences |
| Viator | Activities | A great alternative for activities all over the world. | Experiences |
| GuruWalk | Free tours | A great platform for free walking tours (tipping is recommended). | Book a tour |
| DiscoverCars | Car rental | My go-to platform for car rental anywhere in the world. | Rent a Car |
| Airalo | eSIM | My favorite app for buying digital SIM cards when traveling abroad. | Get an eSIM |
| Saily | eSIM | A great alternative to Airalo, with cheaper plans in some destinations. | Get an eSIM |
| Xe | Currency | A currency converter showing real-time rates. Website or app. | Get Xe App |
| Maps.me | Navigation | My favorite navigation app for hiking trails and remote areas. | Get Maps |
