Göreme Guide for Budget Travelers
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The Cappadocia region of Turkey has some the most majestic views in the entire country. With fairy chimney rocks, hidden caves, underground cities and hot air ballooning in the numerous valleys; Göreme, Turkey has it all. With incredible views and plenty of activities, this small town does attract many older tourists, however. This town is meant for tourists with money.
A budget backpacker will have a tough time with the prices of some activities. Hot air ballooning will cost at least $110USD (100€) for a 30-mintue ride, mopeds costs $17USD (15€) for 8 hours and ATVs cost $28USD (25€) for a 2-hour tour. Göreme may be expensive, but there are plenty of free things to do. Take a look at the best ways to save money below. |
Price of Services in Göreme
Hostels - Hostels in Göreme can be expensive. The starting price is 15 TRY ($5USD or 4€) on the weekday in the non-peak season at one specific hostel (Göreme Country House, check below for more details). You'll get a 6 dorm room at this price. Other hostels starting prices are around 32 TRY (10€ or $11USD) for a 10 dorm room. Anything under 10 beds will usually cost more. Expect to pay 45 TRY ($15USD or 13€) or more for an 4 person dorm room during the non-peak season during the week. Private dorm rooms will start around 45 TRY ($15USD or 13€). During the peak season, prices will increase because of demand. Weekend prices will always increase because of availability and demand.
Food Costs - Food in Göreme is affordable in the right places. Expect to pay 10 TRY ($3.50USD or 3€) for a budget breakfast, 15 TRY ($5USD or 4€) for a budget lunch and 17 TL ($6USD or 5€) for a budget dinner. Upper scale restaurants will a bit more. Expect to pay 30 TRY ($10USD or 9€). Beer (.5L) at a restaurant will cost 10 TRY ($3.25USD or 2.75€). A beer at a grocery store or market will cost 6 TRY ($2.50USD or 2€).
Transportation - Transportation in Göreme is pretty expensive. A taxi from the main airport to the city center will cost around 80 TRY ($28USD or 25€). A taxi will charge 6 TRY ($2USD or 1.50€) per 1km of travel. A public bus from the airport to the city center is the best option at 25 TRY ($10USD or 8€). Buses are also a good option for city travel at 2 TRY ($.75USD or .60€) to get to near by towns. Hitchhiking in this area is reletivaley easy. Use my hitchhiking guide for further details.
Activities - Hot Air Ballooning, the most popular activity in Göreme, will cost at least 320 TRY ($110USD or 100€). The underground city without the tour will cost 30 TRY ($12USD or 10€). The green tour (underground city tour) includes transportation, food and a guide will cost 110 TRY ($37.50USD or 34€). The Red Tour includes sites such as the Göreme Open Air Museum, Cavusin Old Cave Village, & Pasabag. This will cost 110 TRY ($37.50USD or 34€) and includes transportation, food and a guided tour. Moped rentals will cost 40 TRY ($14USD or 12€) for 4-hours or 50 TRY ($17USD or 15€) for 8 hours. ATV rentals will cost 80 TRY ($27.50USD or 24€) for a 2-hour guided tour of the valleys. The traditional Turkish Dinner Night with twirling dervishes, unlimited alcohol and dinner will cost 90 TRY ($30USD or 27€). There are plenty of free activities in Göreme. Wander around the town, take a hike to see the fairy chimneys and countless caves and enjoy the sunset at Sunset Peak.
Food Costs - Food in Göreme is affordable in the right places. Expect to pay 10 TRY ($3.50USD or 3€) for a budget breakfast, 15 TRY ($5USD or 4€) for a budget lunch and 17 TL ($6USD or 5€) for a budget dinner. Upper scale restaurants will a bit more. Expect to pay 30 TRY ($10USD or 9€). Beer (.5L) at a restaurant will cost 10 TRY ($3.25USD or 2.75€). A beer at a grocery store or market will cost 6 TRY ($2.50USD or 2€).
Transportation - Transportation in Göreme is pretty expensive. A taxi from the main airport to the city center will cost around 80 TRY ($28USD or 25€). A taxi will charge 6 TRY ($2USD or 1.50€) per 1km of travel. A public bus from the airport to the city center is the best option at 25 TRY ($10USD or 8€). Buses are also a good option for city travel at 2 TRY ($.75USD or .60€) to get to near by towns. Hitchhiking in this area is reletivaley easy. Use my hitchhiking guide for further details.
Activities - Hot Air Ballooning, the most popular activity in Göreme, will cost at least 320 TRY ($110USD or 100€). The underground city without the tour will cost 30 TRY ($12USD or 10€). The green tour (underground city tour) includes transportation, food and a guide will cost 110 TRY ($37.50USD or 34€). The Red Tour includes sites such as the Göreme Open Air Museum, Cavusin Old Cave Village, & Pasabag. This will cost 110 TRY ($37.50USD or 34€) and includes transportation, food and a guided tour. Moped rentals will cost 40 TRY ($14USD or 12€) for 4-hours or 50 TRY ($17USD or 15€) for 8 hours. ATV rentals will cost 80 TRY ($27.50USD or 24€) for a 2-hour guided tour of the valleys. The traditional Turkish Dinner Night with twirling dervishes, unlimited alcohol and dinner will cost 90 TRY ($30USD or 27€). There are plenty of free activities in Göreme. Wander around the town, take a hike to see the fairy chimneys and countless caves and enjoy the sunset at Sunset Peak.
Best Ways to Save Money
Book in Advance - To save some added dough, always book your transportation, hostels and tours in advance. Doing this can save upward of 40-50%. Be sure to go through a reliable company for the tours and hot air balloons. Dream Buffe, a travel agency in town, has a special offer of 368 TRY ($127USD or 115€) for a 16-person hot air balloon ride and a 1 hour ATV ride. Make sure to get a 16-person basket. The 32-person baskets are really small and uncomfortable. This is the best offer I could find in town during the non-peak season.
Take the public bus to the Underground City and other towns - Taxis are expensive. These buses will save you a ton of money compared to the preset tours. The tour are 70% more expensive than buying a bus ticket and an entry fee into most exhibits and museums.
Buy 6 TL Kebabs - If money is tight, eat at Silk Road Kebab House. They serve a wide range of local dishes for a decent price. Their cheapest dish is a delicious kebab for 6TRY ($2USD or 1.50€).
Take the public bus to the Underground City and other towns - Taxis are expensive. These buses will save you a ton of money compared to the preset tours. The tour are 70% more expensive than buying a bus ticket and an entry fee into most exhibits and museums.
Buy 6 TL Kebabs - If money is tight, eat at Silk Road Kebab House. They serve a wide range of local dishes for a decent price. Their cheapest dish is a delicious kebab for 6TRY ($2USD or 1.50€).
Best Hostels
Göreme Country House - Göreme Country House is the cheapest hostel at $5USD (4€) a night. There are draw backs to the place, however. In the Turkish culture, men don't like women traveling alone or without a man in their presence. The owner of the hostel is a bit extreme about this. I would take his comments with a grain of salt. Be sure to read the reviews of this place before booking it.
Hidden Gems
Hidden Caves - There are hundreds of caves within walking distance of town. Take time to explore the scenery as you discover the region.
Pottery Kebab - This is one of my favorite dishes in Turkey. The kebab is cooked in a clay cylinder with rice, salad and soup. The waiter will allow you to break open the clay pot as the chicken and potatoes ooze out. It's a great dish for 20 TRY ($7USD or 6€) at Silk Road Kebab House.
Sunset Peak - This is the best spot to watch the skies turn red at the end of the day. Make sure to get there early. Tourists swarm the area to try and capture the perfect picture. It may be a touristy area, but the views of the sunset are the best in town. The largest hill to the east in town is Sunset Peak.
Love Valley - If you like cool scenery, take a free hike to Love Valley where hundreds of Fairy Chimneys line the valley. It's a great place to capture these unique structures. Use this map as a reference.
Uchisar Castle - Take a 2 TRY ($.75USD or .60USD) bus toward this beautiful structure in the nearby town of Uchisar. The castle has been dug out of a massive rock on the top of the largest hill in the area. You won't miss it as you watch the sunset from Sunset Peak. The price to get to the top is 6 TRY ($2USD or 1.50€). This is another great spot for a sunset.
Pottery Kebab - This is one of my favorite dishes in Turkey. The kebab is cooked in a clay cylinder with rice, salad and soup. The waiter will allow you to break open the clay pot as the chicken and potatoes ooze out. It's a great dish for 20 TRY ($7USD or 6€) at Silk Road Kebab House.
Sunset Peak - This is the best spot to watch the skies turn red at the end of the day. Make sure to get there early. Tourists swarm the area to try and capture the perfect picture. It may be a touristy area, but the views of the sunset are the best in town. The largest hill to the east in town is Sunset Peak.
Love Valley - If you like cool scenery, take a free hike to Love Valley where hundreds of Fairy Chimneys line the valley. It's a great place to capture these unique structures. Use this map as a reference.
Uchisar Castle - Take a 2 TRY ($.75USD or .60USD) bus toward this beautiful structure in the nearby town of Uchisar. The castle has been dug out of a massive rock on the top of the largest hill in the area. You won't miss it as you watch the sunset from Sunset Peak. The price to get to the top is 6 TRY ($2USD or 1.50€). This is another great spot for a sunset.
Top 9 Things To Do in Göreme While on a Budget
#9 Walk Around TownTake the time to walk around the small town of Göreme. There are numerous shops and restaurants that give this town impeccable character. As you walk along the road, you'll notice fairy chimneys in the heart of the town center.
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#8 Open Air MuseumLess than a kilometer from Göreme, this beautiful site has stone carved churches and houses lining the walls of the mountain. It is one of the main attraction around Göreme. It is the most touristy thing to do in town. Beware of crowdedness and pesky camera clicks.
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#7 Camp in a Fairy ChimneyDuring the summer months, make sure to camp in a carved out fairy chimney. This is absolutely free of charge and a great way to save money. This will also give you a sense of how people lived thousands of years ago.
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#6 Uchisar CastleUchsiar Castle is a vocal point in this region. This amazing structure has been around for thousands of years. Homes are dug out on every part of this massive rock. Take a cheap bus to watch the sunset from the top.
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#5 Göreme National ParkTake a walk though this incredible national park as the sun rises. As you walk along the dozen or so hiking trails, you will notice numerous ancient stone carved houses, fairy chimneys and beautiful wildlife. Be sure to wake up early to avoid tourists and crowds.
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#4 Hot Air BallooningThe only reason this activity isn't #1 is the price. Hot air ballooning is the main attraction. Take to 2,000 feet as you explore the skies of Göreme and the Cappadocia region.
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#3 Love ValleyTake a leisurely hike to Love Valley where the impressive Fairy Chimneys reside. This incredible phenomenon is a must see.
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#2 Rose ValleyRose Valley can either be enjoyed from an aerial view via hot air balloon or by hiking 2km from town. As the sun sets, the mountain above this valley turns bright red. One of the best parts about this area of Cappadocia is the local villagers that live within the carved out stone houses.
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#1 Sunset PeakThis one of the best parts about Göreme. The way the sun sets in the clear night sky is almost magical. Take a few cheap beers from the local market and sit with a buddy as you both witness an amazing experience.
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