Where Is Göreme National Park?

Cappadocia — a name derived from the Persian “Kappa Tuchia”, meaning “land of beautiful horses” — captivates visitors with both its historical texture and its natural setting. Its valleys, fairy chimneys, panoramas, open-air museums, churches, chapels and monasteries make it a place you can never quite finish exploring. Among all these treasures, the single most important site to see is Göreme National Park. So where is Göreme National Park, and what makes it so special? Let’s find out together.

Göreme National Park

Göreme National Park is the oldest settlement area of Cappadocia. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 as “Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia”, and was officially declared a national park by a cabinet decision in 1986. Located in Central Anatolia, within the volcanic region of Mount Erciyes and Mount Hasan, the area is a natural wonder surrounded by valleys and fairy chimneys. Between the 7th and 13th centuries, Christians escaping persecution adopted this landscape as their refuge and settlement.

Where Is Göreme National Park? How to Get There

When you travel to Cappadocia, Göreme National Park deserves the very first place on your itinerary. The park lies within the province of Nevşehir — the heart of the Cappadocia region — and begins at the town of Göreme, roughly 10 kilometers from Nevşehir city center.

By car, you can reach the area in about 20 minutes via the Nevşehir–Uçhisar road. Local minibuses (dolmuş) also run to Göreme National Park from everywhere in Cappadocia.

How Göreme National Park Was Formed

Göreme National Park sits in the volcanic region of Mount Hasan and Mount Erciyes, a landscape of high hills, plateaus, plains, streams and steep eroded valleys.

The formation of the area goes back about 60 million years. When the region’s volcanoes were active, the lava they ejected created the floor of the Göreme Valley. Over time, floods, winds and rains slowly sculpted the terrain, and the extraordinary landscape of Göreme National Park emerged.

History of Göreme National Park

Settlement in the Cappadocia region generally began in the 4th century. Until around the 13th century, the first Christians who settled here carved the fairy chimneys into shelters, along with churches, chapels and monasteries as places of worship. Monastic life began here in the early 4th century and spread rapidly.

Thanks to its distance from main roads and its rugged terrain, Göreme was an ideal location for those seeking religious seclusion — or simply a place to hide.

Göreme Open Air Museum

The museum, also known as the Göreme Ruins, was regarded as a center of learning until the 13th century. This tradition began when Saint Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, came to the region in the 4th century AD, taught his followers here and started monastic life in the valley. Göreme is a rock settlement containing churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters. The sections you can visit in the Göreme Open Air Museum include the Chapel of Saint Basil, the Chapel of Saint Barbara, the Monastery of Monks and Nuns, the Dark Church, the Tokalı Church, the Çarıklı Church, the Elmalı Church and the Snake Church. For a detailed guide, see our post on the Göreme Open Air Museum.

Chapel of Saint Basil

Among the many chapels around Göreme, the Chapel of Saint Basil is one of the finest. Located at the entrance of the museum, it dates from the 11th century. Inside you will find a portrait of Christ, depictions of the Virgin Mary and the childhood of Jesus, as well as images of Saint George, Saint Demetrius and Saint Theodore.

Chapel of Saint Barbara

The chapel sits behind the rock block that also houses the Elmalı Church. Its motifs are painted in red; the dome and walls are decorated with rich geometric patterns, along with military symbols and mythological animals. You can also see Saint George and Saint Theodore fighting a dragon on horseback, and a depiction of Saint Barbara.

Monastery of Nuns and Monks

Commonly known as the Nunnery, the monastery has a kitchen, a refectory and rooms on its first floor, and a chapel on the second — partly collapsed, yet still well worth seeing. The three floors are connected by tunnels, with rolling stone doors that could seal the passages in times of danger. In the Monks’ Monastery to the right, erosion has unfortunately closed the passages between floors, so only a few rooms on the ground floor can be visited.

Dark Church

The Dark Church takes its name from the tiny window in its narthex, which lets in very little light. This darkness preserved the frescoes inside, keeping their colors vivid to this day. Built at the end of the 11th or the beginning of the 12th century, the church is richly decorated with scenes including the Deesis, the Annunciation, the Journey to Bethlehem, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Baptism, the Raising of Lazarus, the Transfiguration, the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the Betrayal, the Crucifixion, the Descent into Hell, the Women at the Empty Tomb, the Blessing and Commissioning of the Apostles, the Ascension, the Hospitality of Abraham and the Three Hebrew Youths in the Furnace.

Tokalı Church

Believed to have been built at the end of the 10th and beginning of the 11th century, the Tokalı Church is the oldest rock church in the area and consists of four spaces: the single-nave Old Church, the New Church, the church beneath the Old Church, and the side chapel north of the New Church. On its walls you can see scenes from the life of Saint Basil, portraits of many saints, and the miracles and life cycle of Christ.

Çarıklı Church

One of the most striking features of this church is its depiction of the Crucifixion and the Descent from the Cross. Its similarities to the Elmalı Church and the Dark Church are notable. The name “Çarıklı” (“with sandals”) comes — according to legend — from the footprints beneath the scene of the Ascension.

Elmalı Church

The church is entered through a tunnel opening from the north. It is estimated to have been built in the mid-11th or early 12th century. The crosses and motifs painted in red on its walls are a distinctive detail.

Snake Church

On the wall of this 9th-century church, you will notice paintings of four sinners attacked by snakes — which gave the church its name. The inscription of the first woman is ruined, so her sin is unknown; the second is bitten on the breast for not nursing her child, the third on the mouth for lying, and the fourth on the ears for disobedience.

Other Places to See Around Göreme

There are many more places to explore in both Cappadocia and Göreme. Below are a few valleys in Göreme that are easy to reach. For more ideas, take a look at our guide to the best places to visit in Göreme.

Pigeon Valley

Pigeon breeding began in this area in the 9th century, when locals discovered that pigeon droppings were excellent fertilizer, especially for growing grapes — and pigeons have lived in the valley ever since. The valley also hides a roughly 15-meter waterfall that most visitors never learn about. Pigeon Valley stretches about 4 kilometers from Uçhisar to Göreme.

Güllüdere (Rose) Valley

Like the other valleys of Cappadocia, Güllüdere Valley is full of monasteries, churches and dwellings. It is ideal for hiking and trekking. Along one section of the two-part trail lie rock-carved settlements where monks and priests once retreated in seclusion. The churches here include the Columned Church, the Church of the Cross (Church of Saint Agathangelus), the Church of Anna, the Ayvalı Church and the Church of the Three Crosses.

Zemi Valley

One of the longest trails in Cappadocia at about 5,600 meters, Zemi Valley takes its name from the Zemi Stream that runs through it.

As you walk the valley you will pass plum, cherry, pear, apricot, sour cherry and hazelnut trees, and encounter the Sarnıç Church, the El Nazar Church and the Karabulut Church, as well as Görkündere and the Hidden Church.

Love Valley

Long ago, the place we now call Love Valley was a village of ten families. One day a feud broke out between two of them, and the village split in two. Eventually, two villagers who had had enough of the hostility introduced a young man and woman from the opposing sides — and the two fell in love at first sight. The feuding families did everything they could to separate them, failed, and finally agreed to let them marry. Time passed and the couple had a child, yet even this could not reconcile the families. In the end the young man was killed, and his heartbroken wife took her own life. After the lovers’ death, it is said that God rained stones upon the village, striking down all who had opposed their union. Legend has it the couple’s spirits still visit the valley and talk with children.

That is the story behind the valley known as Love Valley, Lovers’ Valley or Bağlıdere. But the story is not the only impressive thing here — the valley itself, crowned with fairy chimneys, is also one of the most beautiful spots to watch the hot air balloons.

Where to Stay in Cappadocia

The one thing you should never leave to chance on your Cappadocia trip is accommodation. We would be delighted to host you at MDC Cave Hotel Cappadocia, where the spacious cave-concept rooms, immaculate housekeeping and attentive staff offer everything you look for in a hotel — and more. You can also join the activities MDC Hotel organizes to make the most of your time in Cappadocia. Book the room that best suits your needs and start planning your stay today.