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Goreme Open-Air Museum

  • Goreme, Central Anatolia, Turkey

Last updated: 05 April, 2024

Cappadocia’s most visited site, just outside the village of Goreme, is a monastic complex consisting of dozens of chapels and cells set side-by-side, all carved into a natural amphitheatre of rock that has been preserved today as a UNESCO-listed open-air museum.

The complex contains more than 30 churches and chapels, some decorated with exceptional Byzantine frescoes dating from the 10th century to the 12th century.

Don’t miss

Don’t miss the museum’s Dark Church (Karanlik Kilise; extra charge); the frescoes are exceptional. Another exceptional church is the Buckle Church (Tokali Kilise), which is just outside the main entrance (retain your ticket).

Logistics

Price from: £10
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Duration: 2 hours

Getting there & doing it

The entrance is half a mile outside Goreme on the Urgup road, a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride from the town. The site is well signposted, with useful information boards.

The compact site is easily negotiated by independent visitors, who are free to wander around at will, avoiding the bottlenecks caused by tour groups. For a more in-depth history of the site, audio guides can be hired at the ticket office.

As Cappadocia’s top site, it’s one of those places you just have to go to, but beware the crowds. It’s often swamped by coach tours, especially in the busier months.

The narrow entrances and tunnels are not designed for tour group visits, and are one in, one out, which can frustrate. Some of the steps and climbs may be arduous for elderly visitors.

There’s a fancy and ultra-modern café within the premises, otherwise Göreme has plenty of cafés for a snack lunch.

When to do it

Open all year round, seven days a week. Avoid the queues by arriving early or late in the afternoon.

Who to go with: organised tours

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

  • Goreme

The itinerary of Red tour covers the main attractions of the North Cappadocia. That’s why it is also known as North Cappadocia tour. You will explore the most famous valleys (Devrent and Pasabag), visit Zelve open-air museum, Çavuşin village, Uçhisar castle and the pottery town of Avanos.

Price €42

Min age 0

Rating 4.89 / 5 [908 ratings]

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  • Goreme

Book with your Flight Number, Drop off hotel hassle free, Easy to meet our driver in Airport with your name in placard. Transfer directly to your hotel. Drive may take 45 to 90 minutes. Depends where your hotel located. Max 19 people of group transfer direct to Cappadocia hotels in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Çavuşin, Avanos. Ürgüp. Air-conditioned of vans, mini bus. English speaking drivers. Drop directly to your hotel not to any common points.

Price €15

Min age 0

Rating 4.75 / 5 [60 ratings]

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  • Urgup

Wonder at the natural and man-made treasures of Cappadocia on this full-day tour! Mother Nature has turned the region’s volcanic hills into crowds of bizarrely shaped cones and pinnacles that almost defy belief. Traveling by air-conditioned vehicle, head into the extra ordinary landscapes to ogle the weird formations of the Devrent Valley and Pasabag. After time at a pottery workshop in Avanos, visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum to see its fresco-coated, rock-cut chapels. Enjoy personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour.

Price $105

Min age 0

Rating 4.75 / 5 [8 ratings]

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