This small Turkish town, carved into volcanic rocks, has ancient cave houses and Byzantine churches. Local wine cellars store vintages made from regional grapes.
In Ürgüp, you can sleep in a 200-year-old cave room, taste local wines in volcanic rock cellars, and watch hot air balloons float over fairy chimneys at sunrise. This small town in central Turkey's Cappadocia region serves as a gateway to ancient rock-cut churches and underground cities. Walk up to Temenni Hill for views across the town's stone houses and distinctive Three Beauties rock formations.
Getting Around Ürgüp
Regular buses connect Ürgüp to Göreme (20 minutes), Avanos (30 minutes), and Nevşehir (25 minutes). From your base in Ürgüp, you can reach the region's underground cities within 20 kilometers. Book an airport transfer from Kayseri or Nevşehir airports (both 45 minutes away) through local travel agencies, or rent a car to explore the valleys and villages independently.
Cave Hotels and Traditional Houses
Walk through Ürgüp's center to find 19th-century stone houses with thick walls and arched doorways. Many function as hotels, with rooms either in the original stone buildings or carved into the rock face. The natural insulation of cave rooms keeps temperatures at around 18°C year-round - cool during hot summers and warm in winter.
Wine Production
Walk uphill to Turasan Winery, which produces 60% of Cappadocia's wines. Step into the volcanic rock cellar to see how wines age in the natural cool environment. Take a guided tour through the facility and sample wines made from local grapes in the stone-walled tasting room. The mineral-rich volcanic soil around Ürgüp particularly suits red grape varieties like Kalecik Karası and Öküzgözü.
Local Landmarks
Walk to the Three Beauties on the town's outskirts - three 15-meter-high rock formations shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Climb Temenni Hill in the town center to find a small tomb and viewing spots overlooking the surrounding valleys. Visit the town museum to see pottery and tools excavated from nearby underground cities.
Hot Air Balloon Flights
Join a sunrise balloon flight to see Cappadocia from up to 300 meters high. The one-hour flights give you aerial views of rock formations, cave houses, and valleys. Companies pick you up from your hotel around 5:00 AM and serve breakfast before takeoff. Flight paths change with wind conditions but typically cover the main valleys and fairy chimney areas.
Historical Background
During the Ottoman period in the late 1800s, Ürgüp had 23,030 residents, including 19,880 Muslims and 3,134 Greeks. The Greek community built many of the stone houses in the town center and maintained the Church of St John the Russian until 1924, when they left during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. The town museum displays photographs documenting this period.
