Things to Do in Cappadocia After Your Balloon Ride
The best things to do in Cappadocia after your balloon ride are the Göreme Open-Air Museum and its rock-cut churches, an underground city such as Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı, a hike through the Rose, Red, Love or Pigeon valleys, a pottery workshop in Avanos, the Ihlara Valley walk, an ATV or horse ride through the valleys, and a sunset viewpoint like Uçhisar Castle. Your balloon flight ends in the early morning, so after breakfast and a short rest you still have a full day. Two to three days are enough to combine the flight with the main sights; you can book your balloon flight for your first morning and plan the rest around it.
We're a local agency in Avanos, and the question we hear most after the landing toast is: "So what should we do today?" This guide answers it. It lists the best things to do in Cappadocia, how long each takes, where it is and when it fits best after an early balloon flight, so you can make the most of your days here.
What to Do Right After Your Balloon Landing
Balloon flights land in the early morning, and after the landing celebration you're usually back at your hotel by mid-morning, depending on the season. See what a balloon morning looks like hour by hour. Here's how we suggest spending the rest of the morning:
- Have a proper breakfast. The launch-field breakfast is light, so a full Turkish breakfast at your hotel is the best way to recover.
- Rest for an hour or two. You've been up since before dawn; a short nap makes the afternoon far more enjoyable.
- Start sightseeing late morning. Museums and valleys are open all day, and the softer afternoon light is better for photos.
- Keep the next morning free. If your flight was cancelled for weather, you'll want to try again; see our guide to balloon cancellations.
The Best Things to Do in Cappadocia at a Glance
ActivityWhereTime neededBest timeGood forGöreme Open-Air Museum | Göreme | 1.5–2 hours | Late morning | History, rock-cut churches |
Underground city | Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı | 1–1.5 hours | Midday (cool inside) | History, families |
Valley hike | Rose, Red, Love, Pigeon valleys | 1.5–3 hours | Afternoon | Walkers, photographers |
Ihlara Valley walk | Ihlara, south Cappadocia | Half day with travel | Full-day tour | Nature, churches in a canyon |
Pottery workshop | Avanos | 1 hour | Any time | Families, couples |
Paşabağ and Zelve | Between Göreme and Avanos | 1–2 hours | Afternoon | Fairy chimneys up close |
Uçhisar Castle | Uçhisar | 45 minutes | Late afternoon | Panoramic views |
ATV, horse or jeep tour | Göreme valleys | 2 hours | Sunset | Adventure, groups |
Sunset viewpoint | Red Valley, Uçhisar, Göreme | 1 hour | Evening | Couples, photographers |
For a day-by-day plan that combines these with your flight, see our Cappadocia itinerary.
Göreme Open-Air Museum and the Rock-Cut Churches
The Göreme Open-Air Museum is the most visited sight in Cappadocia and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a group of churches, chapels and monastic rooms carved into the rock, many with painted frescoes. It's only a few minutes from Göreme town, so it's an easy first stop after your flight.
Zelve and Paşabağ
Zelve is a former cave village spread over three valleys, quieter than Göreme. Nearby Paşabağ, also called Monks Valley, has some of the most photographed fairy chimneys, with several stone caps on a single column. Both are on the road between Göreme and Avanos.
Interested in the history behind these places? Browse our Cappadocia history and culture guides, or read why Cappadocia is so special for balloons.
Explore an Underground City
Cappadocia has many underground cities dug into the soft volcanic rock, where people once hid with their animals and food. Derinkuyu goes deepest and Kaymaklı has the widest network of rooms. You walk through narrow tunnels, past stables, kitchens, wineries and huge round stone doors that could be rolled shut. Both are about 30–45 minutes' drive south of Göreme.
Good to know: some passages are low and narrow, so they may not suit people who are uncomfortable in tight spaces. It stays cool inside even in summer, which makes it a good midday visit.
Hike the Valleys of Cappadocia
Walking is the best way to see Cappadocia up close, and many trails start right in Göreme:
Rose Valley and Red Valley
Pink and red rock walls, hidden cave churches and a famous sunset at the end. Easy to moderate, about 2–3 hours.
Love Valley
Tall, smooth rock pillars rising from a green valley floor. You flew over it this morning; now walk among the pillars.
Pigeon Valley
A gentle walk between Göreme and Uçhisar, with old pigeon houses carved into the rock.
Ihlara Valley
A deep green canyon in southern Cappadocia, with a river path and rock-cut churches in the cliffs. It's a longer trip from Göreme, usually combined with an underground city on a full-day tour. If you love this area, you can also fly over it: see the Ihlara Valley balloon flight and our comparison of Göreme, Ihlara and Soğanlı.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; our guide to what to wear in Cappadocia covers every season.
Avanos: Pottery by the Red River
Avanos, where our office is, has been a pottery town for centuries, using red clay from the Kızılırmak, the Red River that runs through the town. Many workshops let you sit at a kick wheel and try shaping a pot yourself, with a local potter guiding your hands. Afterwards, walk along the river, cross the pedestrian bridge and have tea in the old town.
ATV, Horse Riding and Jeep Safari
For something more active, take an ATV (quad), horse ride or jeep safari through the valleys. Most tours run at sunset, which fits well after a balloon morning and a rest. You'll ride along dusty tracks between fairy chimneys and stop at viewpoints. Choose a tour that includes helmets and a guide.
The Best Sunset Viewpoints in Cappadocia
Balloons fly at sunrise, but sunsets in Cappadocia are just as beautiful. The most popular spots are:
- Uçhisar Castle: the highest rock castle in the region, with views over the whole area.
- Red Valley and Rose Valley viewpoints: the rock glows pink and red in the evening light.
- Göreme hills above the town: an easy walk from most hotels.
Many of the same places are great for watching the balloons on another morning; see the best places to watch the balloons and our viewpoint guides. For photo tips, read our balloon photography guide.
Food and Drink to Try in Cappadocia
- Testi kebab: meat and vegetables slow-cooked in a sealed clay pot, which is cracked open at the table.
- Turkish breakfast: cheeses, olives, tomatoes, eggs, honey and fresh bread, best on a terrace.
- Mantı: small dumplings with yogurt and spiced butter.
- Local wine: Cappadocia has a long wine-making tradition; Ürgüp has several wineries and tasting rooms.
- Dried fruit and pekmez: grape molasses, a local speciality sold in markets.
Red Tour or Green Tour?
Many visitors join a day tour after their flight. The two classic options are:
- Red Tour (north Cappadocia): Göreme Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ, Avanos, Uçhisar and viewpoints. Ideal for the afternoon after your balloon ride.
- Green Tour (south Cappadocia): an underground city, the Ihlara Valley walk and the Selime cave monastery. A full day, better on a day without a flight.
How Many Days Do You Need in Cappadocia?
Two full days are enough for the balloon flight and the main sights; three days let you add the Green Tour and a backup morning for the flight. In winter, plan three days, because weather cancellations are more common. Read our Cappadocia itinerary for 2- and 3-day plans, how to get to Cappadocia, and the best time to visit. More planning ideas are in our trip planning guides.
From our Avanos office
Our favourite advice for guests is simple: fly on your first morning, have a long breakfast, rest, then spend the afternoon in the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Love Valley, and finish at a sunset viewpoint. On your second day, take the Green Tour or come to Avanos for pottery by the river. If your flight was cancelled, you still have a morning left to fly. Message us on WhatsApp if you'd like help planning your days around the flight.
Start your Cappadocia days in the sky
Book your balloon flight for your first morning and plan everything else around it: standard, comfort, deluxe, valley and private flights, with hotel pickup, breakfast, landing celebration, flight certificate and passenger insurance included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Cappadocia besides the balloon ride?
Visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, an underground city, the Rose, Red, Love and Pigeon valleys, Uçhisar Castle, Paşabağ and Zelve, a pottery workshop in Avanos and the Ihlara Valley, or take an ATV, horse or jeep tour at sunset.
What should I do after my balloon ride in Cappadocia?
Have breakfast, rest for an hour or two, then visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum or walk a valley in the afternoon and finish at a sunset viewpoint.
How many days do I need in Cappadocia?
Two full days cover the balloon flight and the main sights. Three days are better if you want the Green Tour and a backup morning for your flight.
Is the Red Tour or the Green Tour better?
The Red Tour covers north Cappadocia and fits the afternoon after your flight. The Green Tour covers the south, including an underground city and the Ihlara Valley, and takes a full day.
Can I visit an underground city on the same day as my balloon ride?
Yes. Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı are about 30–45 minutes from Göreme, and a visit takes 1–1.5 hours, so it fits easily in the afternoon.
What is the best sunset spot in Cappadocia?
Uçhisar Castle and the Red and Rose Valley viewpoints are the most popular. The hills above Göreme are the easiest to reach from most hotels.
Who wrote this guide
EMK Travel is a TÜRSAB A-Group licensed travel agency (Licence No. 18349) based in Avanos, in the heart of Cappadocia. We've been arranging balloon flights, tours and transfers in the region since 2018, and we handle every booking ourselves, with no call centres and no middlemen. Learn more about our company.
Plan Your Cappadocia Days Around the Balloon
Fly on your first morning, then explore the valleys, churches and underground cities at your own pace.
Want help planning? Tap the WhatsApp button on this page or message us on WhatsApp at +90 554 204 50 01, and our Avanos team will suggest the best order for your days.
Prefer to browse first? See all Göreme flights, our Ihlara and Soğanlı valley flights or today's balloon prices.
