Attractions

With an easy blend of tradition and convenience, Ürgüp makes the perfect base for day excursions to the open-air museums of Göreme and Zelve, the nearby valleys, and neighboring villages.

The village is also a peaceful retreat for some quiet time, where you can walk around the old deserted section of town or enjoy the view from the lookout point atop windy Temmeni Hill, known as The Hill of Wishes 30YKr (20¢). A mysterious tunnel (closed; don't bother with those pestering kids) almost .8km ( 1/2 mile) long leads from around the 13th-century Kebir Camii to the Selçuk tomb of Nükrettin at the top of the hill; to this day, no one knows who built it or why. The tomb was dedicated to the Selçuk leader Kiliçarslan IV, or the Sworded Lion, and a hilltop cafe allows you to relax and take it all in.