Rocks shaped like giant mushrooms, churches hidden in cliff faces and tunnels you have to crawl through on hands and knees. Cappadocia is basically one enormous adventure playground! We spent just over a week here in our campervan with our kids, aged 3 and 5. And we quickly found out that the best adventures aren’t always at the famous sights.
In this guide, we share what we did in Cappadocia with our kids, what they loved and which tourist hotspots let us down. From exploring an ancient cave monastery by torchlight to scrambling up ladders in a stunning valley: these are our 12 favourite things to do in Cappadocia with kids. You’ll also find practical tips on walking with little ones, safety and where to stay.
What is Cappadocia known for?
Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey, and its landscape looks like nothing you’ve seen before. Millions of years ago, volcanoes buried the area under a thick layer of ash, which hardened into soft volcanic rock called tuff. Wind and rain then got to work, carving it into pointed towers, rock pillars topped with stone caps and valleys lined with jagged cliffs. Those famous pillars are known as fairy chimneys.
Because the stone is so soft, people have carved homes, dovecotes, monasteries and churches into it for centuries. Some churches still have colourful wall paintings inside. Dig deeper and you’ll even find entire underground cities that once sheltered thousands of people. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
And then there are the hot air balloons. On a good day, dozens of balloons (sometimes around 150) rise above the valleys at sunrise. It might just be Turkey’s most famous sight.
All of this makes Cappadocia a brilliant destination for kids. Forget reading about history in a museum: here they can crawl through tunnels, discover churches inside rocks and spot animal shapes in the landscape. Our two were happiest on the adventurous walks, with tunnels, ladders and secret rooms around every corner.
→ Discover the 17 best things to do in Cappadocia
Practical tips for Cappadocia with kids
How many days do you need in Cappadocia?
Most guidebooks and travel blogs recommend two to three days in Cappadocia, with two as the bare minimum. Planning a hot air balloon ride? Book it for your first morning if you can. If the wind keeps the balloons grounded, you’ll still have a few mornings left to try again. We stayed just over a week, which turned out to be a relaxed pace with kids. One or two outings a day, with plenty of time left for playing, picnics and stroking cats. Even after a week, our list still wasn’t finished. So if you have the time, stay longer.
What age is Cappadocia suitable for?
Our kids were 3 and 5, and there was more than enough to keep them happy. The trick is to pick routes with things to discover along the way, like tunnels, cave churches and dovecotes, and to keep the distances short. Older kids can handle longer walks, and some companies let them join a balloon flight. Many operators have a minimum age, though, so check before you book.
Can you use a pushchair in Cappadocia?
In short: no. The valleys have dirt paths, sand and rocks, and you’ll be climbing ladders and crawling through tunnels. Leave the pushchair in the car and bring a child carrier for when your youngest runs out of steam. Shoes with a good grip are a must too, as some paths are steep and sandy.
Is Cappadocia safe with kids?
Cappadocia might be one big playground, but don’t count on railings. Lots of places have steep edges and sheer drops, including around Meskendir Church. Hold little hands tight and don’t let kids run ahead. A torch comes in handy in tunnels and caves. And download an offline walking map before you set off, such as Mapy.com. Phone signal is patchy in the valleys, and the paths aren’t always well marked.
Do you need a car in Cappadocia?
We explored Cappadocia in our campervan, and having your own wheels makes life a lot easier. Places such as Aynalı Kilise, Zelve, Devrent Valley and the underground cities are spread across the region. With a car, you can easily squeeze in a short outing between naps or picnics. You can also book organised day tours, but with young kids it’s much easier to set your own pace.
Is Cappadocia expensive with kids?
It doesn’t have to be. Some of the best things to do cost nothing at all. Watching the balloons from the edge of Love Valley or walking through Rose Valley, Meskendir, Red Valley and Pigeon Valley? All free. The big sights do charge admission, and places like Göreme Open Air Museum add up quickly for a whole family. Fancy a balloon flight? Then you’ll need to dig deep.
When is the best time to visit Cappadocia?
We visited in October. The balloons fly all year round, but wind, fog or snow cancel flights most often in winter and early spring. You can be unlucky in other months too, though. During our October visit, they flew on our first day and then stayed grounded for the rest of the week. Yet another reason not to plan too short a stay! Mornings can be chilly even when the days are warm, so pack a warm jumper for balloon watching.
Why are there cats everywhere in Turkey?
A café terrace without a cat? Good luck finding one in Turkey! Street cats are simply part of daily life here. Turks generally see them as animals the whole community looks after, not as dirty pests. You’ll spot bowls of water and dry food everywhere, sometimes even little cat houses. We usually carried a few pouches of cat food, so the kids could feed the cats they met along the way.
Can’t get enough of cats? Street cats even take the number one spot in our guide to Istanbul with kids.
Where to stay in Cappadocia with kids
For us, Göreme is the most convenient base for Cappadocia with kids. The village sits right among the rocks, with houses, restaurants and hotels built against the cliffs or carved straight into them. Several of the best valleys, including Pigeon Valley, Rose Valley and Love Valley, are practically on your doorstep, which saves you a lot of driving.
Göreme is also the tourist hub of the region, packed with restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops. Some restaurants, such as Topdeck Cave Restaurant, Pumpkin Göreme and Cratus Premium Restaurant & Lounge, are so popular you’ll need to book a table: worth knowing when you’ve got hungry kids in tow. Fancy something simple? Head to the little co-operative café next to the bus station. They make fresh gözleme, thin Turkish flatbreads filled with things like cheese, spinach or potato. Casual, cheap and perfect with little ones.
Sleeping in a cave hotel is an adventure in itself for kids. How cool is it to spend the night in a room carved out of rock? Some cave hotels even have a swimming pool, great for cooling off after a day of walking. Prefer somewhere quieter? Then take a look at nearby Uçhisar, the village built around the rock castle.
We slept in our campervan, but we’ve picked out three family-friendly cave hotels in Göreme for you. All three are small, full of character and very well reviewed.
#1 Kelebek Special Cave Hotel & Spa: this hotel sits in the old part of Göreme, partly built into the fairy chimneys themselves. After a long day on your feet, the kids can splash around in the outdoor pool (open roughly from May to October), while you take in the views of Uçhisar and Çavuşin from the terrace. There are family rooms, a restaurant and a hammam. Driving? Free parking is a handy bonus.
#2 Local Cave House Hotel: this cave hotel is right in the centre of Göreme, surrounded by seven fairy chimneys. The big draw for families is the outdoor pool, with views over the village and the rocks. Travelling with kids? Check out the two-bedroom cave family suite, so everyone gets their own space. Restaurants and shops are just a few minutes’ walk away.
#3 Aydinli Cave Hotel: looking for something small and personal? This family-run hotel has around fourteen rooms. The cave rooms are simply furnished but full of character, often with a seating area and a fireplace, and there are family rooms too. From the terraces you look out over Göreme: perfect for watching the balloons with a cup of tea. Guests especially rave about the breakfast.
12 things to do in Cappadocia with kids
#1 Watch hot air balloons at sunrise
Getting up at the crack of dawn with kids? Usually a recipe for disaster. But Cappadocia’s hot air balloons are worth setting the alarm for! As the first balloons rise, the sky above the valleys slowly fills with colour. They pop up everywhere: some high above you, others skimming just over the rocks. A sight that leaves kids and parents equally speechless.
We watched from the edge of Love Valley, and it’s a fantastic spot. You stand above a valley full of strange rock pillars, with balloons appearing all around you. Some even drift low through the valley itself. Best of all? It’s completely free. Another popular viewpoint is Sunset Point above Göreme. We didn’t watch the balloons from there ourselves, but it’s said to have wide views over the village and the surrounding valleys.
Tip: drive a little past the end of the tarmac. The coaches and minibuses full of tour groups all stop along the paved stretch. Further along, it’s much quieter, although we still spotted a few photo shoots and several marriage proposals.
Check the evening before whether the balloons are allowed to fly. The Kapadokya SHM website shows the daily flight status. Strong wind or fog keeps them on the ground, and you don’t want to be standing in the dark with sleepy kids for nothing. Plan your balloon watching early in your trip, so you’ve got a second chance if needed. And get to your spot well before sunrise: the first balloons take off before the sun peeks over the horizon.
Want to go up yourselves? A balloon ride with kids is an unforgettable experience, but it doesn’t come cheap. Many operators also have a minimum age of six. Which makes sense: smaller kids wouldn’t even be able to see over the edge of the basket. With little ones, watching from the ground is a great alternative.
#2 Love Valley: wander among the rock pillars
Love Valley is full of enormous rock pillars with a… let’s say rather suggestive shape. Adults snigger, kids just see giant stone towers. Everybody wins! Some pillars rise dozens of metres above the landscape and are probably the most photographed rocks in Cappadocia.
Most visitors only look at Love Valley from the rim, and the panorama from up there is impressive. But you can also head down and walk between the pillars. Only then do you realise how huge they are. It’s a whole different experience from peering down into the valley. Entry is free, and you can wander around at your own pace.
We thought Love Valley was much more fun than Paşabağ, the famous fairy chimney valley also known as Monks Valley. There, you pay an entrance fee, and posts and fences spoil much of the landscape. If Love Valley is already on your list, you can easily skip Paşabağ. Still want to go? Look for the spot where you can climb inside some of the rock formations. It’s tucked slightly out of sight, but it’s the best bit for kids.
#3 Rose Valley: search for secluded cave churches
Walking with kids is so much easier when there’s something to discover along the way. And Rose Valley has plenty of that! The valley gets its name from the pink and soft red tones of its rocks, which really glow in the evening light. Between those rock faces are ancient churches carved straight into the stone.
Sometimes all you see from the outside is a dark hole. Step inside, though, and you’ll find columns, vaulted ceilings, little rooms and the odd old wall painting. Our route took us past Three Crosses Church, Cross Church and Joachim & Anna Church. Some are small and simple, others have several rooms. Every new opening feels like a small discovery.
There are a few steep climbs in this valley, including one section where you haul yourself up on a rope. Sounds scary, but we did it with our kids, aged 3 and 5. With good shoes and a helping hand, it’s absolutely doable. Along the way, you’ll also pass small cafés serving tea, coffee and fresh juice. They’re a little pricier than elsewhere, but make a great pit stop in a pretty unusual setting.
Turn the walk into a game: who spots the next church first? Use an offline walking map, as the paths aren’t clearly marked everywhere and signal is patchy. And bring plenty of water and snacks.
#4 Meskendir and Red Valley: through tunnels and over ladders
This was our most adventurous walk in Cappadocia. And maybe the most beautiful too! Where many valleys are mostly about the views, Meskendir and Red Valley turn a walk into a proper expedition. Think narrow tunnels, ladders, towering rock faces and more fascinating cave churches along the way. Our kids absolutely loved it.
We started at the top of Meskendir Valley and walked down to Meskendir Church. After the junction where Meskendir, Rose and Red Valley meet, we followed Red Valley through tunnels and up ladders to Üzümlü Church at the far end, then made our way back to the campervan. An unforgettable route, with new passages to explore and great views the whole way. Bonus: Meskendir is much quieter than the well-known valleys around Göreme.
Take care: there are steep drops around Meskendir Church, so don’t let young kids wander off here. The ladders and some of the tunnels involve a bit of scrambling too, so keep one hand free to help your youngest. The route isn’t clearly marked everywhere, which makes an offline walking map extra useful.
#5 Pigeon Valley: walk among the dovecotes
Why is it called Pigeon Valley? Take a closer look at the rock faces. All those little square holes are centuries-old dovecotes carved into the stone. Thousands of pigeons once nested here, and their droppings were collected to fertilise fields and vineyards. Once you know what to look for, you’ll see them everywhere. Make it a game: who can count the most dovecotes?
We parked our campervan in Uçhisar and walked from the viewpoint through the whole valley to Göreme. That’s the smart direction, as it’s mostly downhill. We had lunch in Göreme and then took a taxi back to the campervan. Halfway, there’s a tougher section with some climbing up and down, so it’s not a stroll all the way.
With our kids, aged 3 and 5, it was perfectly doable, although our youngest is also quite happy to spend plenty of time in the carrier. Along the way, you get great views of the rock formations and Uçhisar Castle, towering above the valley. Near Göreme, a dead-end side path leads past rock formations that look a lot like the ones in Love Valley. Well worth a quick detour.
Tip: staying in Göreme? Walk into the first part of the valley straight from the village and come back the same way. You’ll see a scenic stretch of Pigeon Valley without having to sort out transport.
#6 Aynalı Kilise: explore by torchlight
If we could give you just one tip for Cappadocia with kids, it would be this one! From the outside, Aynalı Kilise (also called Mirror Church) looks like just another rock face. But behind it hides a little maze of rooms, passages and tunnels, once carved out as a monastery and hiding place.
At the entrance, you’re handed a torch and then you’re on your own. You wander through rooms and tunnels, past old paintings, a dovecote and even round stone doors. These huge stone wheels could be rolled across the passages to keep intruders out. The most exciting part is a long, low tunnel winding through the rock. A real treasure hunt for kids. And for parents too.
Aynalı Kilise is easy to reach by car. We paid 100 TL (Turkish lira) per person to get in. Wear clothes that can get dirty, because you’ll be crouching low in parts of the tunnels.
#7 Zelve: discover an abandoned cave village
What would it be like to live inside a rock? At Zelve Open Air Museum, it’s easy to imagine. The museum stretches across three valleys full of old cave homes, churches and other spaces carved into the rock. People lived here until the middle of the twentieth century, when the village was abandoned because of the risk of collapse.
Footpaths lead you between the rock houses, past openings, steps and little rooms dotted all over the cliffs. Kids can imagine who lived here and where the kitchen or bedroom might have been. Just keep in mind that not everything is always open. During our visit, Üzümlü (Grape) Church and Balıklı (Fish) Church were among the closed areas.
Tip: torn between Zelve and the better-known Göreme Open Air Museum? We found the latter incredibly busy, with queues outside the cave churches and a hefty entrance fee. The frescoes are impressive, but we wouldn’t recommend it with kids who hate queuing.
#8 Devrent Valley: find animals in the rocks
Can you spot the camel? In Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley, wind and rain have sculpted the rocks into all kinds of shapes. The most famous one looks exactly like a camel, but with a bit of imagination you’ll find plenty more animals and figures. A seal, a dolphin or maybe even a dragon?
Unlike many other valleys, this isn’t about cave churches or long walks. It’s mostly a place for a quick wander, guessing with your kids which shapes you can see in the rocks.
Just don’t set your expectations too high. The camel rock was busy and touristy, and after all the gorgeous valleys we’d already seen, it didn’t really wow us. Fine for a short stop if you’re nearby, but not worth a special detour.
#9 Derinkuyu: visit an underground city
A whole city underground, with multiple levels, living quarters, kitchens, stables and ventilation shafts. Dozens of these underground cities have been found in Cappadocia. The best known is Derinkuyu, which goes down around 85 metres and once sheltered thousands of people. Huge round stone doors could seal off the passages when danger loomed. Sounds like the ultimate adventure for kids, right?
Yet Derinkuyu was a real letdown for us. And it wasn’t even that busy when we visited: it got much more crowded later in the day. The problem is that the passages are so narrow and low that one big tour group in the wrong spot brings everything to a halt. Long queues form underground. We spent ages waiting bent double, with people in front of and behind us. There was hardly any chance to look around: all we could think about was getting back outside. With young kids who are tired and overwhelmed, that’s no fun at all.
Our advice? Skip Derinkuyu with young kids. Still keen to see an underground city? Go as early as possible, before the big groups arrive. Or try a lesser-known one such as Özkonak or Mazı. They’re said to be a lot quieter, although we haven’t been ourselves, and their passages are narrow and low too.
#10 Avanos: try pottery
Had your fill of valleys and cave churches? In Avanos, a town on the Kızılırmak (Turkey’s longest river), people have been making pottery for centuries. They use red clay from the river to shape pots, vases and bowls.
Several pottery workshops let you watch the potters at work and have a go on the wheel yourself. It looks a lot easier than it is! For creative kids, it’s a nice break from walking, and they get to take home a souvenir they made themselves.
We skipped Avanos ourselves, as it mostly struck us as a touristy town full of souvenir shops. Many workshops and demonstrations are clearly aimed at tourists too. But if your kids love crafts, it could be a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Worth the drive: two day trips from Göreme
#11 Ihlara Valley: walk beside the river
Fancy something completely different from the dry rock landscapes around Göreme? Then head to Ihlara Valley. This deep, green gorge is around 14 kilometres long, with a small river winding between high rock walls. You walk under trees and along the water, with dozens of ancient cave churches carved into the cliffs.
We parked our campervan at the northern end of the valley, near Selime, and walked along part of the river. A lovely walk with kids, although this stretch doesn’t pass the famous cave churches. Those are further on, in the paid section, which we didn’t visit. We did see Selime’s impressive rock-cut monastery from the road.
Keep in mind that Ihlara Valley is quite a drive: around an hour and a half from Göreme. Make a day trip of it, perhaps combined with Selime or an underground city along the way.
#12 Gümüşler: explore a rock-cut monastery
We stumbled upon this place almost by accident, and what a find it was! Gümüşler Monastery lies near the city of Niğde, south of the best-known part of Cappadocia. This huge complex is carved into one enormous block of rock, with several levels, rooms, corridors and even an underground section. Kids can explore to their heart’s content, with steps, passages and rooms to peek into everywhere.
One room holds the frescoes the monastery is famous for; elsewhere, it’s the impressive architecture that steals the show. Gümüşler is far less known than the sights around Göreme, and it’s further away too: count on just over an hour’s drive. If you’re in the area or heading further south, we can highly recommend it. You’ll find more information on the official museum website.
