Season 5 · Episode 2
Cappadocia
Fairy chimneys, cave churches and a sky full of balloons.
By Sorin Mihailovici · Travel by Dart · Last updated July 2026
Some places look invented, and Cappadocia is one of them. Millions of years of volcanic ash, hardened and then eroded, left a valley of stone cones and towers that people have been carving into homes, churches and hidden underground cities for thousands of years. At sunrise the whole thing disappears under a canopy of balloons.
This is my short first take while I write the full, fact-checked guide. Press play above to watch the episode, and check back soon for the complete story of Cappadocia — the geology, the cave churches, the underground cities and the balloons. For the wider country, see my Turkey episode.
Cappadocia: traveler questions
Where is Cappadocia?＋
Cappadocia is a historic region in central Anatolia, Turkey, centred on the town of Göreme in Nevşehir province. It's a standalone Travel by Dart episode, separate from the main Turkey episode — the two cross-reference each other.
Why is Cappadocia famous for hot-air balloons?＋
Its surreal valleys of 'fairy chimney' rock spires, stable morning air and wide-open skies have made Cappadocia one of the best hot-air-ballooning destinations on Earth, with hundreds of balloons rising at dawn. The full story is coming in my complete guide.
What are Cappadocia's underground cities?＋
Cappadocia's soft volcanic rock was carved over centuries into cave homes, rock-cut churches and vast multi-level underground cities like Derinkuyu, once used as refuges. I'll cover their history in depth in the full article.