Cappadocia

Cappadocia is one of the world's most otherworldly destinations — a high plateau in central Turkey sculpted by millions of years of volcanic eruption and erosion into a landscape of towering fairy chimneys, canyon valleys, and soft tuff rock carved with cave dwellings, churches, and entire underground cities. Most visitors base themselves in Göreme, a small town at the heart of the region, where cave hotels are literally carved into the hillside and hot air balloons drift overhead at dawn every morning the weather allows.

The area rewards both sightseers and active travelers. Hikers can explore a network of named valleys — Red, Rose, Meskendir, Love, Pigeon, Sword, and Zemi — each with its own character, rock formations, and hidden cave churches dating back to the Byzantine era. Non-hikers have plenty to fill the days: the Göreme Open Air Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with frescoed rock-cut churches, Uçhisar Castle offers the best panoramic views in the region, and Zelve Open Air Museum is a multi-valley cave settlement that feels like a lost city. Throw in traditional pottery workshops in nearby Avanos and ATV tours through the valleys, and three to four days moves fast.