Walks around Göreme

Walks around Göreme

Göreme village is surrounded by the magnificent Göreme National Park. A handful of valley are easily explored on foot; each needs about one to three hours. Most are interconnected, so you could easily combine several in a day, especially with the help of the area's many dolmuşes (minibuses).

For example, you can walk to the Göreme Open-Air Museum and have a look around, then catch a Belediye Bus Corp otobus to Ürgüp, which stop outside the museum at 10 minutes past every even hour, to Zelve (TL2). Ask the driver to stop there or he may head straight to Avanos on the main road.


It may be possible to get off further on at Aktepe (for Devrent valley). Walk back to Göreme from Zelve via Paşabağı, Çavuşin and Meskendir valley. Rose valley and Red valley. Don't forget a bottle of water and sunscreen!

Some of the most interesting and accessible valleys:

Bağlıdere (White valley) from Uçhisar to Çavuşin.

Güllüdere (Rose valley) Connecting Çavuşin and Kızılçukur viewpoint.

Güvercinlik (Pigeon Valley) Connecting Göreme and Uçhisar; colorful dovecotes.

İçeridere (Long Valley) Running south from Rock Valley Pension.

Kılıçlar Vadisi (Swords Valley) Running off the Göreme Open-Air Museum road

Kızılçukur vadisi (Red Valley) Superb dovecotes and  churches with frescotes.

Meskendir Valley Trail head next to Kaya Camping: tunnels an dovecotes

Zemi Vadisi (Love Valley) West of the Göreme Open-Air Museum, with some particulary spectacular rock formations.

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Bandırma

Bandırma

An undistinguished 20th-century betonville (concrete city), the port town of Bandırma marks the junction between ferries across the Sea of Marmara from İstanbul and İzmir-bound trains.

Taking a ferry from central İstanbul to Bandırma is a quick and pleasant way to get to Anatolia, or to the Gallipoli Peninsula via Çanakkale.

Gökçeada

Gökçeada

Just north of the entrance to the Dardanelles, rugged, sparsely populated Gökçeada (Heavenly Island) is one of only two inhabited Aegean islands belonging to Turkey.

Measuring 13km from north to south and just under 30km from east to west, it is by far the nation’s largest island. Gökçeada is a fascinating place, with some dramatic scenery packed into a small area, and a Greek feel to it throughout. It’s a great place to escape to after visiting Gallipoli.

Gökçeada - Sleeping & Eating

Gökçeada - Sleeping & Eating

The old fashioned ev pansiyonu (home pension), which has virtually died out elsewhere, is still alive and kicking on Gökçeada. 

It's not unusual for locals to approach and offer you a spare room in their house, for considerably less than the prices charged by pensions and hotels.

Gökçeada town

Restaurants are clustered around the main square.

Otel Taşkın (HOTEL)

(Phone: 887 3266, www.taskinotel.com, in Turkish; Zeytinli Caddesi 3; s/d TL30/60)

In the quiet backstreets southwest of the main square. Hotel Flood has a brown-tiled exterior (including a mosaic of a gület - a wooden yatch) and spacious, good-value rooms with TV, balcony and lots of light. Breakfast takes place in the front courtyard.


Gül Hanım Mantı evi  (Restaurant)

(Phone: 887 3773, Atatürk Caddesi 23; mains TL6)
The mantı steals the show, but moussaka and chicken and spinach are also recommended at this simple home-cooking eatery.


Asmalı konak birahanesi (Cafe-bar)

(Phone:887 2469; mains TL7)

At this femaile-friendly side-street bar, the menu includes calamari, köfte, meze and fish netted by the proprietor.

Meydani Cafe  (Patisserie)

(Phone:887 4420; Atatürk caddesi 35)

For excellent snacks and shop-made desserts, this big, airy cafe attracts a young crowd.


Kaleköy

Club Masi Hotel (Boutique Hotel)

(Phone: 887 4619; www.hotelmasi.com; Eski bademli; TL125/175)
Located above the Gökçeada-Kaleköy road, the country cousin of İstanbul's Hotel Masi has stylish,modern rooms with some of island's best views.

The terrace with its outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sun loungers and bar, gazes at kaleköy castle and the Agean.

Kalimerhaba Motel (Pension)


(Phone:887 3648; erayda@msn.com; Barbaros caddesi 28; s/d TL50/70)
On Kaleköy's water-front, Kalimerhaba has some of Gökçeada's smartest, cleanest budget rooms, entered from a big, light reception and vine-covered terrace.

Kaleköy - Gökçeada

Kaleköy - Gökçeada

Although the views are dented by the presence of the military, the Gökçeada Resort Hotel and a large yatch marina, Kaleköy (formerly Kastro) exudes an infectious seaside contentment.

Above the tiny public beach and rocks are a hillside old quarter, a lovely whitewashed former Greek church and the remains of an Ottoman-era castle.

The coastline between Kaleköy and Kuzulimanı forms a Sualtı milli parkı (National marine park)

Greek villages - Gökçeada

Greek villages - Gökçeada

Heading west from Gökçeada town, you'll pass Zeytinli (Aya theodoros) after 3km, Tepeköy (Agridia), another 7km on, and Dereköy (Shinudy), another 5 km west.

All were built on hillsides overlooking the island's central valley to avoid pirate raids.

Hapimag Resort Sea Garden - Bodrum hotels

Hapimag Resort Sea Garden - Bodrum hotels

From under $80

Hotel amenities

Fitness Center
Free Parking
Kitchenette
Pets Allowed
Restaurant
Room Service
Suites
Swimming Pool

Address: P.K. 3, Yaliciftlik, Bodrum 48400, Turkey

Phone: +90.252 311 12 80

Bodrium Boutique Resort & Spa - Bodrum hotels

Bodrium Boutique Resort & Spa - Bodrum hotels

From under $130

Hotel amenities

Bar/Lounge
Business Center
Fitness Center
Free Breakfast
Free High-Speed Internet
Free Parking
Restaurant
Room Service
Shuttle Bus service
Suites
Swimming Pool
Number of rooms: 56

Address: Buyuk Iskender Cad 13,
Bodrum 48400, Turkey

Phone: +90.252.311 03 60

Hotel Karia Princess - Bodrum hotels

Hotel Karia Princess- Bodrum hotels

From under $100

Hotel amenities

Free Parking
Restaurant
Room Service
Swimming Pool

Number of rooms: 60

Address: Eskiçeşme Mahallesi, Myndos Caddesi No:8
48400 Bodrum / Turkey

Phone: +90.252.3168971

Muradiye Complex, in Bursa

Muradiye Complex, in Bursa

A dozen turbe (monumental tombs) of the Ottoman imperial family stand in a peaceful graveyard beside the Muradiye mosque.

Many of the tombs belong to the losers of various dynastic feuds --- imperial princes murdered by their sovereign brother, father or cousin --- and are exquisitely decored, as if to exorcise evil memories, Murad II himself (ruled 1431-1451) lies in a severely ascetic and roofless turbe--- perhaps a rebuke to his father's funerary extravaganza at the Green Tomb, elsewhere in the city.


Salmakis Beach Resort & Spa - Bodrum hotels

Salmakis Beach Resort & Spa - Bodrum hotels

From under $120

Hotel amenities

Bar/Lounge
Business Center
Fitness Center
Free Breakfast
Free High-Speed Internet
Free Parking
Kids Activities
Restaurant
Room Service
Suites
Swimming Pool

Number of rooms: 212

Address: Bardakci koyu, Bodrum 48400, Turkey

Phone: +90.252.316 65 06

El Vino Hotel - Bodrum hotels

El Vino Hotel - Bodrum

From under $110

Hotel amenities

Free High-Speed Internet
Free Parking
Kitchenette
Restaurant
Room Service
Suites
Swimming Pool

Address: Omurca Mah.Pamili Sok.No 14,
Bodrum 48400, Turkey

Phone: +90 2523138770

Grand Yazici Bodrum - Bodrum hotels

Grand Yazici Bodrum - Bodrum hotels

From under $120

Hotel amenities

Fitness Center
Free High-Speed Internet
Free Parking
Restaurant
Room Service
Suites
Swimming Pool



Address: Yokusbasi Mahallesi 1836 Sokak No:,
Bodrum 48400, Turkey

Phone: +90 2523138770