Ortahisar Castle
Ortahisar Kalesi
A rock fortress about 90 m tall in the middle of the town. From the top you can see the valleys between Göreme and Ürgüp, and the town keeps many lemon-storage caves.
Ortahisar means 'Middle Castle.' Massive rock pillars have been carved into multi-level living quarters and defenses. The fortress stands about 90 m high, making it the second-tallest castle in Cappadocia after Uchisar. It reopened in 2023 after restoration, and inside there are trails and viewing platforms with 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys and the distant Erciyes volcano. Admission is a few euros (priced in lira). The town is quieter than Göreme. Its caves still store lemons and potatoes brought from the Mediterranean coast, kept at constant temperature and humidity, and you can see their openings beside the road. The town also has the Cappadocia Folk Culture Museum and several quiet cave hotels. It is about 10 minutes by taxi from Göreme and can be linked with nearby Pigeon Valley and Uchisar.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–sunset
Nearby sights
- Göreme Open-Air Museum
- Üç Güzeller (Three Beauties)
- Rose Valley / Red Valley
- Göreme Town & Cave Hotels
- Zelve Open-Air Museum
- Mustafapaşa (Sinasos)
- Ürgüp
- Pigeon Valley