Goreme Open Air Museum

The Goreme Open Air Museum, located in the Goreme Valley, is a collection of painted cave-churches dating back to the Byzantine era. It is a vast monastic complex housing eleven refectory monasteries, placed side-by-side. Each monastery has its own rock-cut church, which is characteristic of beautiful frescoes.

Of all the churches and chapels in the Goreme Open Air Museum, the most important ones are Nunnery, St. Barbara Church, Apple (Elmali) Church and Snake (Yilanli) Church. Others like Dark Church (Karanlik Kilise), Carikli (Sandals) Church and Buckle (Tokali) Church are also popular.

Representing the rock hewn architecture and fresco technique, this open air museum is one of the first two sites in Turkey to earn a place in the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 1984.

Located in the centre of the region, Goreme Open Air Museum has easy accessibility from all directions. Located 1.5 km away from Goreme, the museum is at a walking distance of 15 minutes from the town.

It can also be reached from Urgup, which is 6.5 km away from the site. If driving, tourists are required to pay additional 58.84 INR as parking fee, apart from entrance charges.

Timing: 8 am – 5 pm (Summer)
             8 am – 4:30 pm (Winter)
Admission fees:     441 INR
                               Additional 235.20 INR for visiting Dark Church