I'll be honest ~ there wasn't much planned for this trip.
Life had been a bit rushed before I left. This was a trip my sister and I had booked months ago, all I wanted - to hit pause, take a breather and be somewhere different for a while. You know that feeling when things get overwhelmed and you just want to drop everything and run? Yes - that was me 🫣😅🏃♀️💨
With no research, my only 'plan' was to find a beautiful place to stay - something cosy, comfy and with a view worth waking up for. Cause I always felt that when you leave space for an open plan, that's when the best kind of moments show up.
Getting There
We flew into Istanbul on a long haul flight - around 11 hours from Singapore - landed around 8am local time. To save some time and $$, instead of staying overnight, we caught a domestic flight to Cappadocia on the same day, which was at 1.30pm. We arrived around 3pm. By then, we were honestly zombies. No proper sleep for more than 35 hours.
The Moment Sank In
We'd pre-booked a hotel shuttle (EUR 10 per person) and the moment we got into the van and began the drive into Goreme, I was suddenly wide awake - filled with excitement. The landscape was surreal - dry, dusty and still, with towering stone formations that looked like they belonged in a movie set. It was quietly breathtaking.
Our Stay at Henna Hotel Goreme
We checked into Henna Hotel, a lovely boutique cave hotel right in the heart of Goreme. The room was warm in earthy tones - super cosy with much character. And the rooftop view overlooking the town was amazing.
It was also super convenient, just a short 2-minute walk to town centre, close to restaurants, shops, and everything we needed. EUR460 for 3 nights felt abit pricey at first, but once we got there, we knew we made the right choice. We decided to skip the hotair balloon ride (EUR200 was abit much for us) and went for a nicer hotel instead. Honestly? No regrets. We still got to watch the balloons float by in the morning from the rooftop (and even from our room terrace itself), tea in hand, wrapped up in hoodie and my Solea Sandal. It was kind of perfect.
Vespa of the hotel owner in my favourite colour
Waking Up to Magic
The next morning, we woke up wondering if we'd get to see the balloons - and we were lucky. We made it up to the rooftop just after 6am, and the sunrise balloons had already started drifting. They were abit further away because of the wind, but it was still incredible.
I know it sounds cheesy, but I felt this warm, fuzzy feeling inside - just pure gratitude for being here. We stayed on the rooftop for a while, soaking it all in over breakfast - a spread of local food, varieties of bread, fruits, Turkish tea....and that view. Somehow, everything tasted better there.
And another favourite part? The little furry residents roaming around 'begging' for food - they were way tooo cute! The morning felt perfect - slow, easy, like we had all the time in the world. And with such a view, for sure I have to sneak in a photo shoot for our Solea Sandal as they totally matched the vibe ; easy, casual, full of character and texture.
A Slow Wander Kind of Day
After breakfast, we wandered around the town. Right next to the hotel was a small, ceramic shop I absolutely adored - Gaia Cappadocia - filled with the most beautiful handmade pieces in soft, natural colours. Honestly, I just wanted to buy everything!
Gaia Cappadocia
We took a slow stroll to Buckle Church (Tokali Kilise), at the Goreme Open Air Museum. Entry was EUR20. To be honest, the church felt very small for the price, but I convinced myself it was more of a donation toward restoration efforts - at least that made me feel abit better. The views around the area were lovely. We picked up a few small souvenirs from the museum shop, but decided to skip the open-air museum itself. I figured the whole region is full of amazing rock formations and I wasn't gonna pay extra for the same kind.
On the way back, we passed by souvenir stalls, horses, camels and ATVs ride (we skipped all of them), and stumbled upon a charming little pottery shop. we chatted with the owner, Mr Salif - I'm always open to exploring handmade piece from around the world, and hey, no harm in seeing what opportunities are out there, his glow-in-the-dark ceramics were pretty cool, and some of wall lamps were really unique too.
Tea, Baklavaa & Warm chats
While walking back into town, the wind suddenly picked up....so strong we actually got a little panicked. We've never experienced that kind of wind back in Malaysia. Sand was literally flying all over! Later we stopped by a cosy little cafe called Coffee Art Cafe. Super chill vibes - we had a berry juice and 2 pastries / baklava, which cost a total of 530 Lira, it was pretty good. Got into a light -hearted chat with a local guy too - he kept trying to guess our age, which is always entertaining when you're Asian abroad (they can never get it right 😂)
An Unexpected Sunset
We walked past a few restaurants and spotted one that was packed - Sedef Steak and Kebap. It looked promising, so we decided to try it. We ordered their local specialty, claypot kebab (chicken) and grilled vegetable plate. It was just soo good! Even the complimentary bread was delicious. Total bill came to 1340 lira which was reasonable for the portion.
After dinner, we stumbled upon a place called Sunset Point. We hadn't planned to go, but the path leading up was charming - lined with small restaurants and cool little hotels. Entry was 30 lira and honestly, the view was absolutely worth it. The sun dipped slowly behind the valleys. The sky was a little gloomy that day, but catching Goreme slowly light up as evening settle in was magical. The breeze got stronger but it was one of those quiet, unforgetable moments. We stood there a while then slowly made our way back to the hotel - feeling tired but happy ;)
Tips : What To Pack For Cappadocia in May (Spring Edition)
The forecast showed sunnie skies and temps above 10°C but don't be fooled - it felt way colder especially when the wind kicked in. I did not pack any proper winter clothings and really felt it. Here are some tips on what you'll wanna pack:
🧥 Fleece or thermal jacket - A must! Locals mentioned the cold was lingering longer this year.
🧢 Hat or beanie - For warmth and to keep the wind and sand out of your hair.
👟 Sturdy walking shoes or sandals - Lots of slopes and uneven ground. Thankful our Solea Macrame Sandals did a pretty good job (though not built for the outdoor cold).
🕶️ Sunglasses - The light reflects off pale stone, and the sand gets in your eyes with the wind. The region is dusty in general.
🔌 European plug adapter - A must if you are coming from Asia.
💶 Turkish Lira - Most restaurant / cafes accept card or Euros, but you'll save more with lira.
🍶Small thermal flask - For warm drinks on-the-go. We brought Milo from home and it is always our favourite comfort thing to do.
🧣Light scarf - Great for layering, dust protection or a pop of colour and style in your outfit.
☀️Sunscreen and hand cream - Don't skip this just because it's cold. The sun still burns and the area's pretty exposed with little shades. Also, SPF lip balm is a must!
Final Thoughts
Our first full day in Cappadocia was slow, spontaneous and filled with little warm moments. Tons of handmade crafts, lovely people (though not many speak good english, but most still greet you with a smile :) , and views that linger in your memory. It's been a great day.
Part 2 coming soon - with more valleys, more food and little surprises. Will the balloons rise again?