Soğanlı Valley
Soğanlı Vadisi
A secluded twin valley in southern Cappadocia. Dozens of rock-cut churches with murals and cone-shaped rock houses are hidden here, and handmade cloth dolls made by villagers are a local specialty.
Soğanlı Valley lies about 40 km south of Ürgüp and consists of an upper and a lower valley. It was an important monastic area in the Byzantine period and preserves dozens of rock-cut churches, including the Snake Church (Yılanlı Kilise), the Dome Church (Kubbeli Kilise, a rare rock-cut dome) and the Black Church, some with well-preserved murals. Far from the main tourist routes, the valley is quiet and unspoiled. You can hike the paths between the two valleys for 2-3 hours. At the village entrance, older women sell traditional handmade cloth dolls. Admission is small (priced in lira; the museum pass is valid), and it is open about 08:00-17:00. You need a car or a hired vehicle. It is often combined with Mustafapaşa and Kaymaklı into a southern-route day trip.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Derinkuyu Underground City
- Kaymaklı Underground City
- Mustafapaşa (Sinasos)
- Ürgüp
- Ortahisar Castle
- Üç Güzeller (Three Beauties)
- Göreme Open-Air Museum
- Pigeon Valley