Goreme or Urgup?
 

Hi there,

I'm just now starting to plan a three week trip to Turkey, which will include 5 or 6 days in Cappadocia. The dilemma being, do I stay in Goreme or Urgup? My Lonely Planet Guide claims that Goreme is far more authentic, charming and aethetically pleasing than Urgup, whereas Frommers states the exactly the reverse. And in checking this forum, it seems as though posters post equally in favour of both sites.

If anyone here has been to both, can you tell me which of the two would be the more agreeable for a six night stay?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Tania

Well, we stayed in Urgup at Esbelli Evi and we loved the town (but mainly for that great place to stay). We went to Goreme one day and although looking at the main "mound" of cave dwellings is indeed dramatic, we thought the rows of restaurants and shops were much more touristy. We felt Urgup was much more of a town where more people lived. Just our impression.

As I posted it occurred to me that yes, Lonely Planet would say that. Goreme seemed like a Lonely Planet type of place -- more backpackers, cheap restaurants for tourists, and hostels. Urgup is also more "upscale".
Lonely Planet would also consider Goreme more "fun".

Definitely Urgup. When Patrick says "more upscale" don't think Paris! It's a very rural region, and even though Urgup is the largest town in the region, it's small and has a lot of character. I definitely agree with Patrick in describing Urgup a real place where people lived -and worked and shopped. If you're there on a Saturday, it has a wonderful market. I don't remember much about the town of Goreme except for tourist shops; but definitely go to the Goreme Open Air Museum. It is a world site of Byzantine cave churches, and definitely worth a stop.

Hi Tania,

If I were you I would stay in BOTH places, because they have OWN BEAUTIFUL PLACES. You will enjoy.

Sinan

I would stay 3 nights instead of 6 or 5.
Because 3 nights and 4 days is enough to see CAPPADOCIA (Of course if you know where you go and how)

Sinan

I live in Urgup and work in Goreme. Posters are right with thoughts, Urgup is more town like and more venues to offer to some degree. Goreme is charming with a lot of cave dwellings and lots of valleys to walk just close by. History of Goreme Open Air Museum date even goes beyon Byzantine era though just to correct one of the posters. There are also upscale hotels in Goreme now; Cave Suites even.

I aggree with Sinan, one can stay at both places, its only 8 kms. distance. But one can stay longer than 3 days if you like outdoors. Moonlight walk is gorgeous in the valleys too.

At the end of the day if you have a car does not really matter where you stay Urgup or Goreme. Its all Cappadocia.

Hope you will like and enjoy fully.

Cheers
Murat

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate your input. Urgup it is.

Though I'm wondering why you say that 5 or 6 days is too long, as from what I've read, it seems that there are countless interesting day trip possibilities for hiking, exploring small villages, etc that are in close range by bus to Urgup.

Glad to hear Patrick's endorsement of Esbelli Evi, as that was the hotel I was looking at in the event that I stay in Urgup!

Not only did I find the wonderful Esbelli Evi here, but one evening over cocktails we started talking about various travel issues and one girl all of a sudden said "Oh my go, you're THAT Patrick". Seems we had "talked" before on Fodors. Great place.
I don't thing that's too many days. If you can spare them, do it!

You can easly amuse yourself for a week in Cappadocia !

No contest. We landed in Istanbul with intentions of heading (later) to Goreme. In Sultanahmet we befriended some locals who took us under their wing. They asked "You want to be a loopy (tourist), or you want to see and meet real Turkish people?" We gave the obvious answer. "Then forget Goreme. Go Urgup." We did, and we loved it. A real living village where locals were great to us. And the Urgup hill passages are fascinating. We visited Goreme on a day trip, and were eternally grateful that our base was Urgup and not there. One of our most cherished memories is of sitting on the verandah of our Urgup B&B drinking local wine with our host and his neighbours. Couldn't speak a word od one another's language, but the conversation flowed nevertheless with the help of some hand-signals and charades-playing which got easier as the wine consumption rose!

On the subject of time. We had 3 days and could have handled more. We packed a lot in each day: Goreme, Utchisar, Zelve, Avanos, a red-wine sunset trip to the desert one day; the underground cities of Deryinkuyu and Kamakli the next day; wandering Urgup another day. Gazi Tours did the honours.

We had three days at the Esbelli Evi and used a private guide, we covered everything that I wanted to see plus a few extras with no feeling of rushing around. Dinner at Somine in Urgup was a highlight, as was lunch at Mustafa Pasa.

Hi,
I'm only reading about recommends for Urgup and Goreme.As a foreigner who lives much more time in Cappadocia then in Germany,I also have something to say about this region.
I wonder why nobody tells anything about Uchisar or Avanos???If you are interested to stay in a very nice place like a house and also be neighbour to the red river,or if you want a place to stay where you can stay next to the Uchisar castle and watch the castle even from your bath room,let me know.

Another vote for Uchisar!