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Ortahisar Castle Viewpoint in Cappadocia: Complete Guide

Ortahisar Castle Viewpoint in Cappadocia: Complete Guide

Ortahisar Castle is one of the best viewpoints in Cappadocia with great views stretching all the way to Uchisar and Goreme! This maginificent rock castle of Cappadocia is one of the most magnificent structures to visit while exploring the region.

ORTAHISAR ROCK CASTLE IN CAPPADOCIA

In this blog post, I will share everything you need to know about visiting Ortahisar Castle in Cappadocia, Turkey.

HOW TO GET TO ORTAHISAR CASTLE

The most popular region for tourists to stay while exploring Cappadocia is a town called Goreme. Uchisar and Ortahisar are the other nearby towns, which are also an option for accommodation but Goreme is the popular choice by far. Goreme is packed with hotels, restaurants, and cafes, while Uchisar and Ortahisar are a little quieter. You’ve probably heard of the Uchisar Castle but make sure to venture to Ortahisar for the lesser-known counterpart.

Ortahisar is just a 10-minute drive from Goreme and about the same time to Uchisar by car. It is probably just a little too far to walk but hitchhiking could be a good option too. You can also stay in Ortahisar with a number of nice accommodations available in the small town as well a number of cafes and restaurants. 

On the map below you can see the pinned location of Ortahisar Castle.

BEST RENTAL CAR COMPANY IN TURKEY

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When you book your Turkey Rental Car online, I personally recommend and always use Discover Cars. They search for both local and international companies, so you get the best deal!

TOURS THAT TAKE YOU TO ORTAHISAR CASTLE

The Green Tour in Cappadocia is a pretty awesome day out and includes a short trek in Ihlara Valley as well as a visit to Ortahisar Castle among many other sights. *The itineraries can change so be sure to check what sights are included.

  • Visit the Derinkuyu Underground City, the largest underground city in Turkey and the deepest in Cappadocia
  • Explore Ihlara Valley, a picturesque destination that begins in Ihlara Village and ends in the Selime Monastery
  • Witness hundreds of churches carved into the walls of the gorge, which date from the 7th to 11th centuries
  • Drive to Pigeon Valley, filled with pigeon houses and dovecotes, and enjoy great panoramic views of the city

Click Here to see the rates and availability of this tour on the booking website.

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Green Tour with Ihlara Valley

  • Bit cheaper
  • Amazing landscapes
  • Luxury van

MY EXPERIENCE AT ORTAHISAR CASTLE

When you are in Ortahisar, visiting the castle will, of course, be at the top of your list. Although the top of the castle has been closed now for several years, you can still enjoy the view from the plateau, which is mid-way up the castle. 

At the base of the castle, you will first walk through a series of cobblestone alleys and paths, possibly getting distracted by a cafe, wine cellar, or both.

You will then reach the ticket office where we paid about $2 USD for the entrance fee to the Ortahisar Castle. The climb up only takes about 5 minutes as you aren’t going all the way to the top just to the middle of the castle. The way leads you through the inner caves, ladders, and exterior stairs of the castle.

THE 3 MOST POPULAR CAPPADOCIA TOURS

Unfortunately, the castle closes at 6 pm and when we were visiting in the summer this was several hours before the sun actually set. Therefore we couldn’t watch the sunset from the top. In Uchisar, the other town nearby, you can watch the sunset there at Uchisar Castle.

However, even at 6 pm, the golden light is beginning to look great on the castle and we could enjoy the views in all directions with the platform having a lookout spanning 3 different angles. We did step over a bit of old railing into a cool little cave that was the perfect chill spot for us!

 

WHERE TO STAY IN GOREME, CAPPADOCIA

Where I stayed: Design Cave Suites Cappadocia – I was lucky enough to stay at the Design Cave Suites in Goreme. The location was great and I walked to all attractions. The rooftop garden was awesome for sunrise balloon watching. The buffet breakfast spread was amazing as were the cave-style room designs.

Best Cave Hotel with Pool: Local Cave House Hotel– This cave hotel rose to fame because of its incredible pool. Make sure you click the link and check out how epic the pool backdrop is, with those classic Cappadocia rock formations in the background and traditional cave rooms it is a top pick.

Cave Hotel with Best Roof View (and dogs): Sultan Cave SuitesThis cave hotel became famous because of its epic rooftop area for sunrise viewing. Guests can lay out on traditional pillows and carpets while watching the hot-air balloons flying above. The hotel dog might also join you for a photoshoot on the roof!

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE REST OF MY CAPPADOCIA BLOG POSTS?

Click on one of the articles below to check out all of the places you should visit while in Cappadocia!

The big guide! This post has all of my favorite activities, which I personally did while in Cappadocia for ten days: 24 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN CAPPADOCIA

The hiking guide! Find out about all of the best hikes in Cappadocia with details, directions and lots of photos: 8 AWESOME HIKES IN CAPPADOCIA

Thinking about flying in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia? Read this first: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOONS: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FLY

Have you heard about the castles in Cappadocia? Check these out:

THE UCHISAR CASTLE VIEWPOINT

ORTAHISAR CASTLE VIEWPOINT

CAVUSIN CHURCH, VALLEY & CASTLE

Not sure where is the best region to stay? Wondering which hotel provides the best value? Check out this guide that will help you decide: WHERE TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA: THE BEST HOTELS & HOSTELS

OR… I write a post about the 12 BEST CAVE HOTELS IN CAPPADOCIA that you might find interesting.

I’ve written a blog post for almost all of the places I’ve visited while in Cappadocia. You can find every single one of these articles right here: CAPPADOCIA ARCHIVES

tina chen

Thursday 21st of July 2022

Wonderful blog! Thank you for sharing your adventure!

Michael Dixon

Wednesday 2nd of September 2020

Stayed in Ortahisar in 1984. There was just a Drover's hostel then and we had to beg to be allowed to stay there. No tourists stayed there but we were given a room. Great place: down in the deserted valley. Went back four years later and the Drover's hostel had been upgraded to a swank hotel, complete wirh disco and supermarket attached. Since, by looking at the available hotels, tourism has taken off.