Ürgüp

district of Turkey

Ürgüp is a town in Cappadocia in central Turkey, in a landscape of soft volcanic tuff that has eroded into hoodoos or "fairy chimneys", and that has been excavated into cave dwellings. In 2022 the population was 24,600.

Understand

Ürgüp has been settled since ancient times, but there are scant remains until the 11th century AD, when the Selçuks established it as a trading centre. By the 1880s its population numbered much the same as today; some 15% were Greek Orthodox, who called the town Prokopi, built fine mansions and adorned their churches until they were deported in 1923.

Western and domestic tourism discovered the area in the 1980s, and flocked to its landscape of "fairy chimneys" and cave dwellings, many nowadays converted into hotels.

There isn't a "Tourist Information Centre" - places so named are simply selling tours, which may be what you want.

Get in

By road from Ankara follow O-21 (toll) then D300 east into Nevşehir, then D302.

Inter-city public transport is usually to Nevşehir, which has buses from Istanbul, Ankara and elsewhere, then you change to a local dolmuş: a swarm of these connect all the small towns of Cappadocia. However Metroturizm have two direct buses a day from Ankara, taking almost four hours via Nevşehir, Göreme and Avanos.

🌍 Ürgüp bus station is central in town.

Get around

Sights are spread over a broad area, but most are near main roads with frequent dolmuşes.

See

  • 🌍 Temenni Hill is the knoll in town centre, riddled with cave dwellings.
  • Cumhuriyet Meydanı is the main town square just south of the knoll. Its drab architecture may have you wondering how much we've advanced from cave-dwelling days.
  • Dutlu Mosque west side of the square is a 250-year old mansion, with a minaret added after the Greeks were deported in 1923.
  • Büyükakten Cave House, Kılıçarslan Sk 22 (on Temenni Hill), ☏ +90 545 342 2851. Daily 11:00-17:00. Restored Ottoman mansion-cum-cave house, now a museum showing how it was occupied in the 1920s. Adult 75 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
  • 🌍 Musalla Mosque on 5th Sk is the largest in town, built in traditional Ottoman style in 2012.
  • 🌍 Three Beauties (Üç Güzeller) are rock formations 2 km west of town along D302 to Nevşehir, looking like outcasts from a TV dating show for giant petrified mushrooms.
  • 🌍 Devrent Valley is 2 km north of Ürgüp along the road to Avanos. This has "fairy chimney" rock formations, with one shaped like a camel. These haven't been carved out into dwellings.
  • 🌍 Pancarlık Valley is a spectacular landscape of rock-carved dwellings, entered via a turnoff for Ortahisar, 2 km south of Ürgüp on the road towards Mustafapaşa. The highlight is the richly-frescoed 11th century Pancarlık Church, 20 TL to enter.
  • 🌍 Coffee Museum, Ürgüp Cd 13, Mustafapaşa, ☏ +90 384 352 1225. Daily 09:30-22:30. The story of coffee, but it's more about the artwork of coffee jars and crockery, with many items for sale. (updated Jul 2024)
  • 🌍 Gomeda Valley is reached by a hiking trail southwest of Mustafapaşa. It's a higgledy-piggledy jumble of outcrops carved into dwellings; Alakara Church is the first you reach.
  • 🌍 Sobesos. Ruins of a Roman city from 4th century AD, with mosaic floors, two chapels and a few other buildings. It was only discovered in 2002 near the village of Şahinefendi and excavations continue. Free. (updated Jul 2024)

Do

Üçgüzeller by night
  • Hamam, İstiklal Cd 18 (just south of Temenni Hill), ☏ +90 545 419 1970. Daily 10:00-23:30. Traditional Turkish baths. (updated Jul 2024)
  • Ballooning: every travel agent in town will try to sell you a balloon ride. These are for 60-90 min early morning or towards sunset when the winds are lightest and shadows cast the rock formations into contrast: see Cappadocia#Do.
  • Hiking tours are likewise touted by every travel agent: look in on a few, and trust your instincts. These might be a good choice for outlying valleys where it's better to let the tour jeep suffer the rough track than your rental car, and the guide knows the easiest trails. His attention to your safety is sharpened by his urge to deliver the group into his uncle's kilim shop as quickly as possible.

Buy

  • Stores are clustered south of Castle Hill: Bim, Şok and A101 are the main chains.
  • Carpet and kilim stores along the main street are reasonably priced.
  • Saturday market is on Ahmet Asım Yolaç Cd, 500 m south of town centre.

Eat

Frescoes in Pancarlık Church
Beware stews cooked in a wood-fire in pottery - these may be prepared days in advance then left to fester.
  • Cheap eats and patisseries are along Atatürk Blv near the bus station.
  • Ürgüp Pide (at bus station), ☏ +90 384 341 8218. Daily 10:00-21:30. Reliable central place for pide, kebabs and all the Turkish standards. (updated Jul 2024)
  • Sofra Restaurant, Atatürk Blv 25 (by main square), ☏ +90 384 341 4333. M-Sa 08:00-23:30, Su 10:00-23:00. Good cuisine at reasonable prices. The street is busy with traffic so don't take an outside table. (updated Jul 2024)
  • Ziggy Cafe, Ahmet Refik Cd, ☏ +90 384 341 7107. Daily 12:00-23:30. A varied menu and a lovely setting. (updated Jul 2024)
  • Prokopi (formerly Dimrit), Tevfik Fikret Cd 40 (byTurasan winery), ☏ +90 384 341 5258. Daily 12:00-00:00. Old house converted into a smart restaurant, with good ambiance and a panoramic terrace. (updated Jul 2024)

Drink

  • Angel Cafe Bar, Cumhuriyet Meydanı, ☏ +90 507 359 0909. Daily 09:00-03:00. Pleasant place for a drink on the main square, but more expensive than other cafes. (updated Jul 2024)
  • Wine: Turasan Vineyard has a shop at Tevfik Fikret Cd 6, west side of town, with paid-for tastings; the reds slide down nicely. It's open daily 09:00-19:00.

Sleep

Sacred House Hotel
For an unforgettable stay pick one of the cave hotels, mostly located northwest in Esbelli district. Some are mansions extended into the hillside, with a mix of masonry and cave rooms. East side of town are conventional modern hotels.
Gomeda Valley

Connect

Ürgüp and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of July 2024, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

  • Göreme is a lively tourist centre, with cave dwellings and "fairy chimneys".
  • Avanos and Ortahisar are less-visited nearby towns.
  • Uçhisar Castle is a pinnacle riddled by caves.
  • Remarkable underground cities were built by 1st-8th century Christians - 40 are known, many more remain to be unearthed. The two best are Kaymakli and Derinkuyu on the highway south from Nevşehir.


Routes through Ürgüp
Nevşehir ← Uçhisar ←  W  E  → END at (W / E)



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