Aksaray's Ihlara Valley is one of Turkey's most underrated experiences — a 14-kilometre canyon carved by the Melendiz River through volcanic rock, its walls honeycombed with more than 100 Byzantine cave churches frescoed with Early Christian art. It is less crowded than the Cappadocia valleys 60 km east, and its walking path (with steps down from the rim) is one of the finest gorge hikes in Anatolia.
At the valley's north end, the monumental Selime Monastery — carved entirely from rock — is one of the largest cave complexes in Cappadocia. The nearby volcanic district and Güzelyurt (Gelveri) add further depth.
Known for: Ihlara Valley · Selime Monastery · Ağzıkarahan Caravanserai · Güzelyurt (Gelveri) · Hasandağı volcano
- Region
- Central Anatolia
- Famous for
- Ihlara Valley gorge churches
- Best seasons
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Near
- Cappadocia (Nevşehir)
Aksaray on the live map
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What Aksaray is known for
The Ihlara Valley walk passes dozens of rock-carved churches; the most important — Ağaçaltı, Kokar, Yılanlı and Pürenli — have well-preserved Byzantine frescoes. The Selime Monastery at the north end is cathedral-scaled. Ağzıkarahan, between Aksaray and Nevşehir, is one of the best-preserved Seljuk caravanserais in Anatolia.
- Ihlara Valley — 14 km gorge hike, Byzantine cave churches.
- Selime Monastery — monumental rock-carved cathedral complex.
- Ağzıkarahan Caravanserai — finest Seljuk roadside inn.
- Güzelyurt (Gelveri) — rock-cut village with underground city.
Getting around
Aksaray city is 2.5 hours from Ankara and 1 hour from Nevşehir (Cappadocia). Ihlara is 45 km south; a car or tour from Cappadocia is the easiest option.
On the platform
Aksaray is joining Türkiye Gez as we expand into a Turkey-wide city intelligence platform. This guide is the launch foundation — live transport data, an interactive map and deeper neighborhood content roll out city by city, on the same architecture that powers Istanbul today.
Frequently asked questions
About Aksaray
2The Ihlara Valley — a volcanic gorge with 100+ Byzantine cave churches — and the Selime rock monastery, both within easy reach of Cappadocia.
Different — Ihlara is less crowded, focused on a single dramatic gorge hike with frescoed cave churches; Cappadocia is broader with balloon flights, underground cities and more tourism infrastructure.