Things to do in Gaziantep
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Top 10 attractions in Gaziantep
Gaziantep Castle
The exact origin of Gaziantep Castle is difficult to verify, but it is generally believed to have been built by the ancient Romans, and subsequent generations of inhabitants have rebuilt or renovated it. Since the castle sits atop a hill in the city, climbing to the top offers stunning panoramic views of the city.Gaziantep · 13m from downtown
Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia
A hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia is a must-do experience when visiting the region. Cappadocia's surreal landscape, shaped by volcanic eruptions and natural erosion, reveals a breathtaking bird's-eye view of bizarre rock formations, winding valleys, folded mountains, meandering rivers, and scattered settlements. Recognized by National Geographic as one of the world's top ten natural wonders, its moon-like terrain served as the filming location for Star Wars. In the early morning, numerous hot air balloons fill the sky, with giant balloons of various colors dancing like a scene from a fairy tale. If you don't have the chance to take a hot air balloon ride but happen to stay near the launch sites, you can wake up early to capture some photos—almost every shot could be a postcard-worthy masterpiece. Cappadocia offers excellent flying conditions, with most early mornings from April to October being suitable for flights. The moment when hot air balloons ascend is truly magical, as the rising sun gradually bathes the golden landscape in warm hues, revealing increasingly breathtaking views below. As you gain altitude, you'll witness a stunning panorama: on one side, the dazzling sunrise, mountain ranges, and morning mist, while on the other, deep valleys, cave dwellings, and a spectacular array of colorful hot air balloons. Floating high above, you'll marvel at Cappadocia's surreal moon-like terrain under the soft morning light, awestruck by nature's extraordinary craftsmanship. Since hot air balloons rely on wind for flight, the exact route cannot be guaranteed on any given day. Travelers should bring a map—otherwise, they might not recognize the terrain from above. Skilled pilots control the direction and altitude, smoothly navigating through canyons with gentle rises and dips, almost like playing hide-and-seek with rock chimneys. At times, the balloon drifts so close to cliff walls that you could nearly touch them. Other moments, it ascends high into the sky, transforming mountain ranges that seem towering from the ground into mere ripples on a pebbled path—an exhilarating sight that stirs the soul. During the flight, the pilot will continuously rotate the hot air balloon so every passenger in the basket can enjoy panoramic views. Before landing, the pilot will explain important safety precautions. As the balloon nears the ground, crew members will throw down ropes for ground staff to secure, controlling the balloon's position and altitude. Upon touchdown, the ground team swiftly anchors the basket's edges to prevent the balloon from lifting again. A retrieval vehicle then approaches, allowing the pilot to briefly reignite the burner and gently position the balloon onto the trailer for a complete landing. After landing, everyone will help fold up the hot air balloon together. A small celebration ceremony will follow, where the balloon company will serve champagne and fruits. Each participant will receive a commemorative certificate printed with their name, the pilot's name, and the flight date - a meaningful keepsake. This is also a great opportunity to take photos with the pilot.Türkiye · Goreme
Pisirici Kasteli ve Mescidi
Gaziantep · 910m from downtown
Şehreküstü Mansions
Gaziantep · 1.1 km from downtown
Demirligane Çeşmesi
Gaziantep · 900m from downtown
Kozluca Kasteli
Gaziantep · 799m from downtown
Pigeon Valley
Pigeon Valleyis located between the towns of Uçhisar and Goreme in the Cappadocia region, and is a valley named for the dovecotes that densely cover its rock walls. These holes are not natural formations but were carved by ancient inhabitants into the soft volcanic rock: they carved caves to raise pigeons, using the droppings as fertilizer for growing grapes and fruit trees, and the pigeons were also used to deliver messages, leaving behind the sight of cliff faces riddled with caves after centuries of accumulation. There is an observation deck at the valley entrance, which is the best spot to overlook the entire valley. The rock of Uçhisar Castle on the opposite side is layered with cave dwellings, a common photo angle in Cappadocia. Flocks of pigeons gather near the observation deck year-round, and vendors often sell grain that you can buy to feed them. There is also a large tree nearby decorated with traditional evil eye charms from Türkiye, which is a popular photo spot. If you want to explore further, you can follow the path from the observation deck down to the valley floor and take the hiking route that connects the two towns. Along the way, you will find Byzantine-era cave houses and passages, with ancient murals still visible on some of the cave walls. The trail is mostly sandy and rocky, with some sections having no shade.Türkiye · Uchisar
Zincirli Bedesten
Gaziantep · 396m from downtown
Kaymakli Underground City
So far, as many as 36 dungeons have been discovered in Cappadocia, of which the Kaymakli underground city is relatively large, and the landforms here are all kinds of strange. The origin of the underground city Due to three large-scale volcanic eruptions, this area has formed a unique landform, and also brought a strange rock layer, which looks soft and can be digged with a shovel, but after digging and drying, it is Stronger than rock. This 40-meter-deep, eight-story underground city originated from the Hittites, and later increased in size. There are 8 floors in total, but only 5 floors are currently open. It is said that it could accommodate 10,000 people at that time. Squatting into the narrow-street underground city maintains a constant temperature of 13-16 degrees Celsius all year round, and you can bring a thin jacket when visiting. The entrance to the dungeon is very hidden. After entering the circling stone stairs, you enter a narrow passage that can only be passed by one person. The passage is wide and narrow, and most of the time, you can only move forward by bending over or squatting. A labyrinth of rooms connected to each other, spreading all the way to the depths of the earth. Traces of cave life Walking into the underground city is like entering a complex porous giant swiss cheese, with holes everywhere, many "windows" between rooms, and paths that go around and go up and down with several floors. . The dungeon is well-equipped, with traces of people's cave life everywhere, jars for oil, wine and water, sinks for squeezing grapes, communal kitchens blackened by soot, cowsheds, horse stables and deep incredible wells, except for the bedrooms. There are even schools and churches. Although there are several floors underground, the air is not as bad as expected. The ventilation designed by the underground city is still very good. The vertical ventilation holes are 70-80 meters deep. However, it is generally recommended for tourists to go down to the fourth floor and take pictures.Türkiye · Kaymakli
Uchisar Castle
Uchisar Castle is not a traditional castle built of brick and stone, but a natural volcanic rock formation standing approx. 60m high above the old village of Uchisar in Cappadocia, which has been carved into a cave fortress by generations of people. Its name means "outer fortress" in Turkish, highlighting its position guarding the entrance to the valley. When the weather is clear, this prominent giant rock can be seen from many places in central Cappadocia. Generations of residents continuously hollowed out the rock, carving out layers of rooms, passages, storage rooms, and shelters. It is said that at its peak, nearly a thousand people made it their home. Visitors can walk up the continuous steps along the rock face to see the old rooms and narrow entrances at different heights up close. Its commanding position made it easy to observe the roads and valleys, and was also conducive to storing food and taking refuge. Historically, when foreign enemies attacked, residents would retreat deep into the rock, relying on stored food and water to hold out for a long time. There are also tunnels carved under the old village leading to the outside, which are speculated to have served both communication and water supply purposes. At the foot of the castle, old stone houses with beautifully carved facades are preserved. The rock walls of the surrounding valleys are dotted with numerous dovecotes. Locals have a tradition of collecting pigeon droppings to fertilize vineyards, and many nest entrances are painted with white or colorful patterns, which are said to be more attractive to pigeons for nesting. Climbing to the top for a panoramic view is the highlight of the visit: standing on the rock top and looking around, the villages, gullies, fairy chimneys in the direction of Goreme, and the distant volcanoes are all in view. Sunset is a major attraction here, and there are particularly many tourists climbing to the top in the evening. The setting sun dyes the undulating land a warm red. When the weather permits in the early morning, you can also see flocks of hot air balloons rising from the valleys.Türkiye · Uchisar
Free things to do in Gaziantep
Gaziantep Castle
Gaziantep · 13m from downtownHot Air Balloon Cappadocia
Türkiye · GoremeBook now for tomorrowPisirici Kasteli ve Mescidi
Gaziantep · 910m from downtownŞehreküstü Mansions
Gaziantep · 1.1 km from downtownDemirligane Çeşmesi
Gaziantep · 900m from downtownKozluca Kasteli
Gaziantep · 799m from downtownPigeon Valley
Türkiye · UchisarZincirli Bedesten
Gaziantep · 396m from downtownKaymakli Underground City
Türkiye · KaymakliUchisar Castle
Türkiye · Uchisar
More ways to travel from Gaziantep
What travellers say about Gaziantep
Anonymous userOctober 15, 2026
5.0
We stayed in Ugupta, and they arranged for hotel pick-up. The service stopped at two locations: the first stop to watch the hot air balloons launch, and the second stop to see the sky filled with hot air balloons and the sunrise – well worth it! They even provided some simple snacks so everyone wouldn't go hungry in the morning.
Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia
Nara Travel NotesJuly 15, 2026
5.0
Pigeon Valley is worth visiting for both the viewpoint and the history behind the rock-cut dovecotes. The small openings in the cliffs were used for pigeons, whose droppings helped fertilise local vineyards and orchards.I visited from the Uçhisar side. The viewpoint works well as a short stop, while the full trail to Göreme is about 4.1 km. According to the official sign, the average walking time is around 3.5 hours. The path is narrow and uneven, with steep sections and some risk of falling rocks, so proper walking shoes, water and sun protection are important.A very interesting place once you know what the holes in the cliffs were actually used for.
Pigeon Valley
LikeGorDecember 24, 2019
5.0
There are two underground cities in Cappadocia. Kaymakli Underground City is the larger one and is a must-see attraction when traveling to Cappadocia. It gives people a mysterious feeling and makes people linger.
Kaymakli Underground City
ORIENT HOLIDAY DEALS LLCAugust 7, 2022
5.0
Cappadocia is well known for its unique desert landscape and cave dwellings, known as fairy chimneys, which used to be homes many centuries ago.The finest example of a historic cave home is the Uchisar Castle. This beautiful and historic castle is located in the town of Uchisar, in the Goreme Area of Cappadocia, Turkey.The castle is built on a hilltop overlooking the town and the surrounding desert landscape and is the highest point in Cappadocia. Many people visit the castle not just for its history but for its panoramic views of the region, which on a clear day, shows Mount Erciyes in the distance. Must Visit when you are Visiting Cappadoccia. This is very Beautiful
Uchisar Castle
