5 Stunning Sunset Spots in Cappadocia, Turkey

Welcome to Cappadocia, Turkey, a destination renowned for its enchanting landscapes and unforgettable hot air balloon rides at sunrise. But let me share a little secret with you: the magic doesn’t end when the balloons touch down. Cappadocia is also home to some of the most spectacular sunset views in the world.

During our four-day exploration, we ventured far and wide to discover the absolute best sunset spots in this captivating region. And now, I’m thrilled to share them with you. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll unveil my top five favorite sunset locations in Cappadocia, complete with a handy map and GPS coordinates. So get ready to immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of colors as the sun sets over the fairy chimneys and ancient valleys of Cappadocia. Let’s embark on a journey to witness the breathtaking beauty of Cappadocia’s sunsets together!

This guide to the best sunset spots in Cappadocia will give you my five favorite sunset locations, a map, as well as links to GPS coordinates so that you can plan out all of your sunsets in Cappadocia.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Map: Sunset Spots in Cappadocia

Here is your cheat sheet for a list of the best sunset spots in Cappadocia. I’ve included a map, as well, and you can find all of the details in the post!

1. Red Valley
2. Red Valley Overlook
3. Uchisar Castle Overlook
4. Cave Hotel Rooftop
5. Pigeon Valley

Best Sunset Spots in Cappadocia

1. Red Valley

Google Maps Location here

Red Valley is one of the most iconic sunset spots in Cappadocia, Turkey and for a great reason! I loved watching the sun set over the rocks and slowly see the rocks turn red. The location I tagged is right by the Crazy Ali Panorama Café. We considered checking out the café, but turned back down the road when we saw how busy it was.

My recommendation: skip the cafe, bring some folding chairs, pack a picnic, and enjoy a stunning sunset over Red Valley. The locals all had delightful picnic setups, and I was incredibly jealous of all their snacks.

I’d also recommend traveling with a tripod so that you can get shots of yourself (if you travel solo) or your whole group. It’s a beautiful location to capture those memories!

2. Red Valley Overlook

Google Maps Location here

After watching the sunset at the first location, stop at the Red Valley Overlook on your way back to Göreme. We discovered this location somewhat by accident and there was absolutely nobody else there, which made it all the more special.

Fair warning: to reach this location, you’ll need to take dirt/ sand roads and there are no real signs or directions. I’d recommend downloading offline Google maps (terrain view) and then following the most direct route to make it to this sunset location in Cappadocia.

With this sunset spot, I loved the wide angle view we were able to capture of Red Valley.

3. Uchisar Castle Overlook

Google Maps Location here

This overlook turned out to be one of my favorite sunset spots in Cappadocia. Like the second location, I’d recommend using offline Google terrain maps to make your way here. To reach this spot, you’ll be driving down narrow dirt roads.

However, it is so worth it because the view is absolutely stunning when you arrive. There were no other people or cars around, and it was so peaceful to watch the sun set behind Uchisar Castle. I’d recommend bringing some folding chairs and snacks to fully enjoy the experience.

Make sure to stick around after sunset too! My absolute favorite view came once the sun had set and all of the lights were turning on around Uchisar Castle. It felt so magical with the castle and the cotton candy skies in the background.

4. Cave Hotel Rooftop

Google Maps Location here

This is probably the easiest of the sunset spots in Cappadocia to reach. After a long day of exploring, we decided to experience sunset on the roof of our cave hotel. We stayed at Koza Cave Hotel for its rooftop terrace, and I would absolutely recommend it.

Not only was it the best location to watch hot air balloons at sunrise, but it turned into a pretty enjoyable sunset location in the evening. Grab a craft cocktail from the bar, kick up your feet, and take in those stunning pink skies.

5. Pigeon Valley

Google Maps Location here

For the last of my sunset locations in Cappadocia, head to the Pigeon Valley Trailhead East at the edge of Göreme. We used our drone to capture these shots. Make sure you snap some photos with Uchisar Castle in the distance.

I also loved the views of the sun going down behind the hills in Pigeon Valley. You cannot beat these breathtaking views in Cappadocia!

Sunset Tours

One of the coolest ways to experience unique sunset spots in Cappadocia is by taking an unforgettable ATV sunset tour. This is one of the easiest ways to experience multiple sunset locations in one evening. On a typical night, you may see Red Valley, Rose Valley, Kiliclar Vadisi, and Love Valley, depending on the route.

I’d like to pass along a few recommendations when booking your tour. Book a smaller group tour (link below). It matters a lot because ATVs kick up a ton of dust and if you end up at the back of the 40-person tour group, you won’t be seeing much of anything. However, no matter the group size, I’d recommend bringing along a bandana or something you can use to cover your nose and mouth. It gets incredibly dusty!

What time is sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey?

Make sure you check out what time the sun will set when you’re in Cappadocia. I use this site to plan out my timing. Make sure you get to your locations well before sunset – many of them are on unpaved, bumpy roads so it may take longer than you’d expect to get to your destination.

Where to Stay in Cappadocia

You have plenty of options when choosing where to stay in Cappadocia, but I would definitely recommend staying in a cave hotel. The vibes are amazing and it is an unforgettable experience.

Koza Cave Hotel: We opted to stay at Koza Cave Hotel for its rooftop terrace, and it was absolutely the right decision. The family that owns and operates the hotel is so warm and friendly. Huge Bonus: the Turkish breakfast served each morning is absolutely out of this world. I would highly recommend this hotel for its location, reasonable price, fantastic room, and amazing atmosphere.

Mithra Cave Hotel: Like Koza, Mithra is another option with an Instagram-worthy terrace setup. Similar to Koza, it was never packed like some of the other rooftops. It was also up at the top of the hill in Göreme, meaning it got some of the best views of the hot air balloons at sunrise.

Local Cave House Hotel: If you don’t absolutely have to have a hotel with a rooftop terrace at the top of the hill in Göreme, I’d recommend checking out the Local Cave House Hotel. This is one of the only cave hotels with a pool. The temps in Cappadocia can get really hot in the afternoon, so it would have been nice to be able to jump in and cool off.

Getting Around Cappadocia

You have a few options when choosing to explore Cappadocia. You can rent a car, set up transportation with a guide, or join group tours.

1. Renting a car will  give you the most flexibility of the options, and is often the most budget-friendly when traveling with a group. To find your best deal on rentals in Cappadocia, check out Expedia. The site will filter through all the larger rental companies in the area so you can get your best deal. One thing to note here – there are certainly some cheaper deals, but oftentimes, they are with less reputable companies. I’d recommend either sticking with a global company you know (e.g. Alamo, Budget, Hertz, etc.) or thoroughly reading the reviews of the smaller companies. This option will give you the highest chance of visiting all of the best sunset spots in Cappadocia.

2. If you don’t want to drive but still want to make your own itinerary, I’d recommend doing a full-day car + guide package. This package gives you the freedom to design your own itinerary. Plus, the price is per group and can accommodate up to 15 people, so it is a cost-friendly alternative to tours if you are traveling with a group of family or friends.

3. If you don’t want to drive or are traveling solo, joining tours is a great option to see the sights in and around Cappadocia. You won’t have much flexibility in your itinerary, but you also won’t have to worry about creating an itinerary – you’ll be along for the ride! You’ll typically be choosing from the Red Tour (North), Green Tour (South), and Blue Tour (most off the beaten path), or a combination of the three, depending on how many days you have in Cappadocia. This option won’t give you many options to take advantage of sunset locations, except what is reachable on foot from Göreme.

I hope this guide to the best sunset spots in Cappadocia has been helpful! If you have any favorite sunset locations in Cappadocia, feel free to drop them in the comments!

Read More:

Turkey: 5 Best Sunrise Spots in Cappadocia to Watch Hot Air Balloons
Middle East: 10 Top Tourist Attractions in Jordan
Bucket List: 30 Dream Travel Destinations Around the World

Pin for Later:

You May Also Enjoy: