Cappadocia Urgup Guide

Located approximately 20 kilometers from the center of Nevşehir, Ürgüp is a captivating town renowned for its natural beauty, as well as its rich cultural and historical heritage. It’s one of the most iconic destinations that comes to mind when people around the world think of Turkey. Ürgüp is truly one of nature’s finest gifts to humankind, offering a mystical atmosphere and otherworldly landscapes that enchant every visitor. Once seen, it leaves an unforgettable impression people fall in love and find it hard to leave.

Ürgüp experiences a continental climate, with hot summers and cold, snowy winters. Geologically, it is built upon a volcanic foundation. The region’s rocks are composed of tuff, a soft volcanic stone that has been shaped over thousands of years by rain, snow, and wind. These natural forces have sculpted the extraordinary landforms we see today, including the famous fairy chimneys (known locally as peri bacaları), which are a product of erosion.

The history of human settlement in Ürgüp goes back to ancient times. The area known today as the Cappadocia region is considered one of the earliest inhabited areas of Anatolia. The first known settlement near Ürgüp was at the foot of Mount Avla, east of the Damsa River, in a place once known by its ancient name, Tomissos. Rock tombs from the Roman period also hold great historical significance here. During the Byzantine era, Ürgüp served as an important religious center and was the seat of a bishopric, surrounded by rock-hewn churches and monasteries hidden within its valleys and neighboring villages.

In 2002, a new archaeological site was discovered in the town of Şahinefendi, a village within the Ürgüp district. Excavations revealed the remains of a bathhouse and a church with intricate floor mosaics. Among the finds were tombs containing mummified human remains an incredibly rare and fascinating discovery in Anatolia.

In the 11th century, Ürgüp became a key fortress city along the Seljuk routes to major centers like Konya and Niğde. Two notable architectural structures from this period still stand today: the Altıkapılı Tomb and the tombs atop Temenni Hill. The Altıkapılı (meaning “Six-Gated”) Tomb, believed to belong to a mother and daughter, features six arched windows and an open roof. Temenni Hill hosts two tombs of unknown origin and offers a panoramic view over the town.

Ürgüp continued to play a significant role during the Ottoman era. In his encyclopedic work Kamus-ül Alam, written between 1888 and 1900, Şemsettin Sami noted that Ürgüp had 70 mosques, 5 churches, and 11 libraries. However, when Ürgüp was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1515, it began to lose its political prominence after Grand Vizier Damat İbrahim Pasha transferred the judicial center from Ürgüp to his hometown, Muşkara (now Nevşehir), in the 18th century. To appease the people of Ürgüp, he had a water supply system built for the town using terracotta pipes (künks), a gesture still remembered today.

Cappadocia and Ürgüp in particular is also believed to be one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world. Today, it remains one of Turkey’s top destinations for wine tourism. With its unique terrain and microclimate, the area produces high-quality wines that attract connoisseurs from around the globe.

Thanks to its stunning landscapes, deep history, and cultural richness, Ürgüp is one of Turkey’s top tourism destinations. No matter the season, visitors from all over the world flock to this magical region.

For accommodation recommendations, you can check out our Ürgüp Hotels page.