Güzelyurt


 * ''This page describes a village in Cappadocia. For the district in Northern Cyprus, see Güzelyurt (Northern Cyprus)

Güzelyurt is a village in Central Anatolia, on the west edge of Cappadocia 48 km southeast of Aksaray. Its population is falling and in 2021 was 2,570.

Understand
Güzel yurt means "beautiful homeland" or simply "nice place", and there are a dozen or so villages of that name in Turkey, plus one in the north of Cyprus. The one described on this page is surely the nicest of the nice places, and very much on the tourist circuit. Its deep valleys are crowded with ancient Greek churches and dwellings carved into the bedrock, which is soft volcanic tufa. The Greeks, who called the place Gelviri, were deported after Turkish independence in 1923, so their settlements lie deserted. Here and there the tufa has eroded into "fairy chimneys" or hoodoos, though the best of that classic Cappadocia landscape lies further east.

By bus
There are no long-distance coaches to Güzelyurt, but local buses from Aksaray:
 * Güzelyurt — Every two hours, takes about 45 min.
 * Ihlara — Hourly for about €0.70

By road
By road follow O-21 south from Ankara to the Gülağaç-Derinkuyu road then head west.

Get around
There are three main sites: each is explored on foot, but you need a vehicle to move between them.

Hiking down Ilhara canyon is fine, but you don't want to trudge back up to retrieve your car, arrange a second vehicle or taxi at the foot, or just hitchhike.

See and do

 * Necdet Sağlam Cd — It is the main street through the straggling village. It's lined with old buildings but not particularly scenic, as it's a busy thoroughfare with modern accretions. The best is around the main hotels (see Sleep), which are old mansion houses, and in the cobbled alleys such as Hengameci Sk leading off.
 * Yeraltı Şehri — It means "underground city" but in Güzelyurt it's a misnomer. It means the churches and other buildings etched into the hillside as you enter Cevizli Sk towards St Gregory's. These are simple caverns and don't descend through multiple layers as they do elsewhere.
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg
 * Kızıl Kilise.jpg

Sofular valley

 * 's cave dwellings are permanently closed.
 * is an ancient village carved into the side of a valley, with hundreds of dwellings, churches and other buildings. It was abandoned in 1973 because of landslide risk, with a new village built on a grid pattern lower down the valley; best leave your vehicle there and hike. The lane over the ridge brings you to Narlıgöl.
 * is a crater lake. Around it are geothermal springs, but take a look at those sinister sulphurous waters before you sign up for any holistic "treatments" or beautifying slatherings of mud.

Ihlara valley
The valley is a canyon 14 km long and 100 m deep, where the Melendiz stream has cut through the soft tufa. There are dozens of old churches and other structures. It draws many hundreds or even thousand of visitors a day. At €5 entrance, they canyon is a little overpriced for just being a canyon.

Hiking is the only way to see most churches on the trail down Ihlara valley. The keen hiker will be rewarded by hiking in for free at the in Belisırma–north of which you will also find sufficiently many sites to camp or can just stay in the cave churches there. The recommended direction for the hike is Yaprakhisar to Ihlara, which takes half a day.


 * (Peribacası) are the weird pinnacles that define Cappadocia. They form when a very soft rock such as volcanic tufa is eroded, but a harder capstone protects the top.
 * at the canyon trailhead has cafes.
 * has 10th-12th century frescoes of biblical scenes.
 * Belisırma is a village midway down the canyon with road access and eating places. Ala cave church is just north.
 * was a 12th-13th century linseed oil factory; the oil was burned in lamps.
 * is the largest of the churches carved out of the bedrock. The canyon here broadens to a valley.
 * was a village occupied between 8200 and 7400 BC. It's been excavated and some dwellings reconstructed.

Buy

 * A101 is a small supermarket in Güzelyurt open daily 09:00-21:00.

Eat

 * Small eating places in Güzelyurt are Aliem, Güzelyurt Pide Salonu, Ata Restoran and Kalvari Döner.

Drink

 * Underground City Cafe Bar in village centre is open daily 08:00-22:00.
 * Gelveri Manufactur make wine.

Sleep
The three selling points of the village are Cappadocia, Ihlara and caves, so many places use that combination in their name, be careful which one you're booking. This may be one reason why travellers have arrived to find bookings denied.


 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.
 * Cappadocia Mayaoglu Hotel is next to Cappadocia Antique Gelveri Cave Hotel, similar price and quality.

Connect
As of Dec 2022, Güzelyurt has only a basic mobile signal from Turkcell Mobile. Coverage is better on the approach roads, with 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not yet rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Aksaray — A laid-back city and great hub for the surrounding attractions near Güzelyurt, or like Tuz Gölü ("Salt Lake"), the second largest lake in Turkey is becoming a popular day trip from the Cappadocian towns, to wade across it shallow waters and to take a few pictures of its vivid, dreamlike views. It also has two 13th-14th century mosques, but its distinctive features are the stout caravanserai on its approach roads.
 * Göreme — The main base for exploring Cappadocia to the east.