Uçhisar

Uçhisar is a small town in Cappadocia where pinnacles of soft tuff have been hollowed out into bastions and dwellings. Uç hisar means "outermost fort", the fortified main pinnacle. If you mistook Uç for Üç meaning "three" you'd still be on the money, as there are two other less prominent pinnacles within town.

Uçhisar in 2022 had a population of 3555. It's only 4 km from better-known Göreme and a scenic canyon stretches between.

Get in

Long-distance travel is via Nevşehir, which has flights from Istanbul and buses from all directions. A swarm of dolmuşes buzzes between Nevşehir and the smaller towns of Cappadocia: Uçhisar is off D302 on the route to Göreme. There isn't a bus station, the dolmuşes make multiple stops through town.

Get around

The sights are all within walking distance.

See

• 1 Uçhisar Castle. Daily 07:00-20:00. A 60 m pinnacle of tuff carved into a rabbit warren of tunnels and chambers, though most of these are closed off. Great views from the top if you make it up the 275 steep stairs. Adult 250 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Tiraz Castle is a similar carved-out pinnacle east across the valley. There's a good walking trail around it, but the paths up its heights are in poor condition above the break-neck cliffs. Free to access, far fewer tourists, and you get the view of Uçhisar Castle.
• 3 Kekliğin Castle is another carved-out pinnacle, which you may have to yourself.
• 4 Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi) can be viewed and entered from the coach parking lot at the south edge of town. It's a canyon riddled with caves and hidey-holes: many of these were pigeon lofts, as the bird droppings were used as fertiliser and as house paint.

Do

• Hike down Pigeon Valley to Göreme, 4 km. It's easier in that direction as it's downhill, you go with the flow of other hikers, and the side-canyons are joining not diverging so you're unlikely to get lost up a dead end.
• Hamam: Milagro is a modern free-standing spa at Adnan Menderes Cd, 1 km south of village centre. For old-style public Turkish baths head into Göreme.

Buy

Approach to the castle

• Chez Kamal in town centre is the main store, open daily 08:00-00:00.

Eat

• Town centre near the castle entrance has several small cafes, not too touristy.
• Bindalli has a good view of Pigeon Valley but the buffet food is only so-so. It's on Adnan Menderes Cd 200 m north of the valley lookout and trailhead.
• Yemeni Restaurant, Adnan Menderes Cd (100 m south of Pigeon Valley lookout), ☏ +90 384 219 3080. Daily 08:00-23:00. A compulsory stop for tour coaches, work around them and come early if all you want is a meal. Evenings the belly dancers strut their stuff, expect tips, and won't take yok for an answer. (updated Jul 2024)

Drink

• Cafes serve alcohol, there isn't a free-standing bar.
• Kocabağ Winery, Adnan Menderes Cd 40 (200 m north of Pigeon Valley lookout), ☏ +90 384 219 2979. Daily 09:00-19:30. Winehouse where you can sample their produce free; obviously they'd prefer it if you buy some. (updated Jul 2024)

Sleep

• Kale Konak, Kale Sk 9 (at castle entrance), ☏ +90 384 219 2828, info@kalekonak.com. Atmospheric cave hotel with its own hammam. High standard of comfort and service, though the basement rooms can feel a bit dingy. B&B double 3500 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
• 1 La Maison du Rêve, Göreme Cd 81, ☏ +90 384 219 2199. Charming friendly pansiyon in a cave house. B&B double 1500 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
• Cappadocia Cave Resort, Divanlı Sk 83 (50 m north of Maison du Rêve), ☏ +90 384 219 3194. Cave hotel and spa carved into the hillside. Relentlessly tatty decor, poor service, and no way worth the premium price. B&B double 8000 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Museum Hotel, Göreme Cd 1, ☏ +90 384 219 2220. Sumptuous mansion and cave hotel, part of Relais & Châteaux group. B&B double 12,000 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
• 3 Maisons de Cappadoce, Çeşme Sk 1, ☏ +90 384 219 2813, info@cappadoce.com. Seventeen stylishly restored cave houses for self-catering or B&B. B&B double from 5000 TL. (updated Jul 2024)
• 4 Erciyes Pension (Phoenix Inn), Adnan Menderes Cd 8, ☏ +90 384 219 2090. Simple friendly hotel. B&B double 1500 TL. (updated Jul 2024)

Connect

A summer night in Uçhisar

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

Go next

• Nearby Göreme has an extensive landscape of "fairy chimneys" carved into dwellings.
• Nevşehir the transport hub has an "underground city" around its castle. Two better-preserved underground cities lie south at Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu on the road to Niğde.

Routes through Uçhisar

END ← Nevşehir ←

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