Ihlara, Derinkuyu and Avanos Day Trips
These places are easy to reach from Göreme, and most are combined into half-day or full-day outings. Distances below are approximate.
Underground cities
Derinkuyu is roughly 30 to 40 km south of Göreme. Its known depth is about 85 m, but visitors see only the top section, about 55 m down. Kaymaklı is about 30 km from Göreme and about 19 km from Nevşehir town, with 4 of its 8 levels open. Both cities have low, narrow passages. If you are claustrophobic, have a heart or breathing condition, or struggle with knees and back, choose another outing. Entry is roughly EUR 13 or about 250 TL for foreigners according to guides, and hours run from about 08:00 to 17:00 with the last ticket at about 16:15. Check before you go. Wikipedia has background on Kaymaklı.
Ihlara Valley and Selime
Ihlara is a gorge with a river path and rock-cut churches. Guides describe it as about 14 km long, reached by roughly 380 steps, with about 4 km walked on a typical visit. Selime Monastery is a rock-cut complex close by. Together with an underground city they make a full day.
Avanos
Avanos is a pottery town on the Kızılırmak river, and press reports describe gondola rides on the river. Ask locally whether they are running. The Zelve Open-Air Museum, with its abandoned cave village, is in the same area.
Soğanlı
Soğanlı Valley, with its rock churches, is about 60 km south of Göreme. It is the furthest of the regular outings, so it suits a car or driver.
Ways to combine them
A southern day usually pairs an underground city with the Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery, which is the pattern of the Green Tour. A northern day pairs Avanos with Zelve and the Devrent Valley, which is close to the Red Tour pattern. Soğanlı is best on its own or added to a day with a driver who can stop where you like. Start early so that you have daylight for the walking parts, and leave slack in case a stop takes longer than planned.
What is not a day trip
Salda Lake lies in Burdur Province far to the west, and Çolaklı and the Antalya coast are roughly 450 km away. Neither is realistic as a day out from Göreme.
Practical notes
Many visitors join a tour, while others hire a car or driver. Bring water, sun protection and shoes with grip, because the rock is soft and trails can be loose. For travel advice, see the UK guidance for Turkey . Compare tours on GetYourGuide .
Read more: Multi-day trips and Attraction tours .