Uçhisar Castle is the tallest rock in Cappadocia: a crag of volcanic tuff some sixty metres high, riddled with hundreds of caves, dovecotes and tunnels, towering over the village of the same name. From the top you can see the whole region, from Göreme to Mount Erciyes, with its valleys, its fairy chimneys and, at sunrise, its balloons.
It's a short, inexpensive visit that puts everything else into perspective: once you've been up here, every valley you see afterwards will have its place on the map. If I can, I do it on the first day.
A little history
The rock was hollowed out from Byzantine times onwards as a fortress and refuge: when raiders came, the villagers climbed up with their provisions and sealed the entrances. Over the following centuries it became a vertical village, with homes, storerooms and dovecotes carved one above the other, until rockfalls forced its evacuation in the 20th century. The name Uçhisar means "fortress at the edge", and it describes the setting well: on the rim of the plateau, keeping watch over the valleys that run down towards Göreme. The present-day village grew up at its foot, and in recent decades many of its cave houses have been turned into places to stay, which I cover in where to stay in Cappadocia.
What to see at Uçhisar Castle
The climb
From the ticket office, steps cut into the rock and passages between the caves lead up to the summit: about ten minutes, with stops. On the way you pass rooms, tombs and the millstone doors that once sealed off the passages, just like the ones in the underground cities.
The summit
A platform with 360-degree views: Göreme and its valleys, with Pigeon Valley winding down towards it, and, on the horizon, Mount Erciyes, snow-capped for most of the year: a volcano some 3,900 metres high whose ash, together with that of its neighbours, created this whole landscape. It's the perfect spot to explain how the fairy chimneys were formed.
The dovecotes
In the face of the rock and in the valleys around it you'll see hundreds of holes with their edges painted white: dovecotes, carved over the centuries to collect the pigeon droppings that fertilised the vineyards. Uçhisar is the best place to see them up close.
The village
Steep lanes of stone houses, cafés with terraces overlooking the valley, and carpet shops. The free viewpoint on the village square still gives you a very good view if you'd rather not climb. And on summer evenings, the terraces on the hillside are the best place in Cappadocia to watch the sun go down without paying for a ticket, with Pigeon Valley at your feet.
Tips for your visit
Allow half an hour for the castle, or an hour with the village. The climb is on steps that have no handrail in places.
- Wear closed shoes and, in summer, bring water and a hat: there's no shade at the top.
- At sunrise, with the balloons drifting past level with the summit, it's one of the best photos you'll take in Türkiye; you'll need to get up early and buy your ticket as soon as the castle opens.
- In strong wind the platform is closed for safety.
- Not suitable for anyone with vertigo or limited mobility; for them, the viewpoint on the village square is the better choice.
Tickets and prices
The village and its viewpoints are free. Going up to the castle costs a small entrance fee, paid at the foot of the rock; I check the current amount whenever I prepare a trip. On my tours, the guide takes care of it.
How to get there
Uçhisar is four kilometres from Göreme, on the road to Nevşehir, and a short drive from Ürgüp. You can also walk up from Göreme through Pigeon Valley in a little over an hour, uphill all the way.
How we visit it on my tours
It's one of the first stops of the morning on the Essential Cappadocia day tour, and it features on almost every tour that passes through the region, such as Türkiye by Air. To see how it fits into the bigger picture, read my complete Cappadocia travel guide.
If you'd like your days in Cappadocia well organised, message me through plan your tailor-made trip.