Cappadocia for architecture enthusiasts

Took my parents and little brother. We all loved it! My mom was super into the cave churches (she took like 100 pics, no joke). My brother kept climbing onto random rocks, which is probably not allowed but no one stopped him. The staff at the entrance were friendly and pointed us to a map. Paths are sometimes steep but manageable. Not a lot of shade, so sunscreen is your friend. We spent about 2 hours just wandering. Zelve is sooo peaceful compared to Goreme.

The best part was just how quiet it felt – almost like the place was sleeping. I went solo and just wandered for hours. The caves are crazy – some you can climb into, others blocked off. The valley views stretch for miles. I did get lost once (lol) but found my way back. Take snacks, and don’t expect any fancy shops nearby.

Went with friends from uni. Zelve is less touristy than some other places, which we appreciated. Some steep sections, so wear good shoes. We laughed a lot trying to pronounce the names of the churches. Would’ve liked more info panels—felt like we missed out on stories.

Visited with my husband and 8yo daughter. We loved the open spaces and the sense of history everywhere. She pretended to be a cave explorer and we all had a blast. The views at the top are STUNNING, especially near sunset. Parking was easy (big plus!). Just wish there were more benches to sit and chill.

Absolutely beautiful! Took my teenage kids and even THEY liked it (shock). We spent a couple hours wandering, climbing, and taking silly photos. Staff at the gate were nice and helped us with directions. The bathrooms are ehh, but what do you expect in a cave? Going early meant we dodged most crowds too. Highly recommend for families.

Went with friends, and it’s bigger than I expected! Zelve kind of feels like a movie set. The history is wild, and it’s like the rocks are telling stories if you listen close enough. A little bummed there’s not much info unless you scan the QR codes, but that’s life now, I guess. Also, the place is clean-ish but saw some trash in corners. Crowds weren’t bad, maybe because it was cloudy and kinda chilly. Bring a jacket!

Went during peak summer – so hot I thought I’d melt. There’s not much shade, so bring water and a hat or ur doomed. The place itself is super interesting, especially the old churches. We did get a bit lost since there’s barely any signs, but exploring is half the fun. Found a hidden room with crazy carvings. Worth the sweat tbh.

Super interesting, but watch your head! My husband hit his head twice. Gets packed with tour groups, so try to go early.