Uçhisar, Cappadocia

Uçhisar is the highest point in Cappadocia, crowned by a towering rock citadel honeycombed with rooms and tunnels. It's a quieter, more upmarket base than Göreme, with some of the region's best boutique cave hotels and views straight down Pigeon Valley.

What to do in Uçhisar

• Climb Uçhisar Castle — the 360° panorama from the top is the best in the region.
• Walk Pigeon Valley down to Göreme past the carved dovecotes.
• Watch the dawn balloons from a hotel terrace or the castle.
• Stay in a boutique cave hotel — Uçhisar has several of the finest.

How to get there

Uçhisar is about 5 km from Göreme (a short taxi or dolmuş) and roughly 35 minutes from Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV). Hotels arrange transfers.

Where to stay

Uçhisar is cave-hotel country — rooms carved into the soft rock, from family pensions to luxury suites. See our guide to cave hotels, or message a local host.

Nearby: walk the valleys, take a balloon flight, or see all the Cappadocia towns.