Places to stay in Cappadocia

Goreme
Goreme (Greek: Κόραμα ("Korama")), located among the "fairy chimneys" rock formations, is the most famous town in the Cappadocia region. It is in the Nevsehir Province in Central Anatolia. The Göreme National Park (Goreme Milli Parklar in Turkish) was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
The first period of settlement within the region reaches to Roman period of Christianity era. Among historical sites are Ortahane, Durmus Kadir, Yusuf Koc and Bezirhane churches in Goreme, including Tokali Kilise, the Apple Church, houses and shafts engraved from rocks.
Most people visiting Cappadocia choose to stay in this beautiful and very charming town which also has all of its hotels and hostels carved into the rocks like the rest of the regions’ landscape.

Goreme open air museum
The open air museum is about 2km from the town of Goreme itself and you can therefore easily walk there. Walking in Cappadocia never gets boring. As you approach the museum you will pass several souvenir shops and the buckle church which has one of the finest examples of frescoes in the area, which is absolutely worth visiting. The entrance to this church included when you buy your ticket at the main gate. It would be silly to give details of all the churches and rooms in the valley here as you could easily spend half a day wondering about and looking at them all. Basically what you will find is the remains of a monastic community who made their home in this valley. Most people are struck by the frescoes, and keep an eye out for the strange symbolic decorations in some of the smaller churches and chapels. Bear in mind when buying your ticket that the Karanli church (recently restored and with the freshest frescoes) is not included in the price and will cost you extra.
Over the last 2 years or so an extensive protection program has been put into place, so you will see that many of the churches are slowly being covered with a resilient artificial surface designed to halt their gradual destruction.

Zelve
The Zelve Oren Place formed from three valleys has the most intensive chimney rocks formed in the volcanic remnants. The chimneys rocks from the valley have large trunks and sharpened ends. You will also see the remnants many settlements used as hiding spots by the first Christians escaping the Roman soldiers. Many abbeys and churches are found in these settlements. The church named Direkli Church from the outskirts of the valley belongs to zelve’s first years of abbey life. The most important churches of the valley are Balikli, Uzumlu and Geyikli Churches dated before this period.
Other than churches you will also find accommodations, tunnels opening to both the valleys, mills and mosques.

Avanos
Avanos is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak, the Red River, which gets its name from the clay that it deposits. This clay has provided Avanos with pottery for centuries and the town is still dominated by this industry despite the increasing tourism of this area. The main street has numerous shops and workshops selling plain as well as decorated pots and plates. You can watch the potters at work using their kick wheels, and many will encourage you to have a go yourself.
Avanos is a possible base for exploring Cappadocia with accommodation and services available at reasonable rates. The town has retained some of its charm and is a pleasant place to spend half a day or to stop for lunch.