2 Best Sights in Cappadocia and Central Turkey, Turkey

Ortahisar’s 282-foot “castle” is Cappadocia’s tallest fairy chimney, though it appears lower than Uçhisar’s because it is located in a slight depression rather than atop a hill. As in Uçhisar, the castle has been carved out into a honeycomb of rooms and tunnels. Formerly used both as a fortress and for dwellings, it has splendid views of the surrounding area. Getting to the top requires climbing up some extremely steep metal staircases and ladders.

The region’s only ethnographic museum showcases the traditional lifestyle and culture of Cappadocian villages. A dozen rooms house dioramas depicting local customs and scenes from daily life, such as a bride’s henna party. Although small and funded privately, it has informative, well-written English texts plus an on-site restaurant.