Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey: The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey

Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia, also known as Guvercinlik Valley, takes its name from the multitude of small pigeon homes carved in the valley’s rock face. While taking a casual Cappadocia hike through the valley, you will witness pigeon caves, arid landscapes, and other abandoned rock dwellings and churches. 

Because Pigeon Valley Turkey enjoys a convenient location between the main tourist towns of Goreme and Uchisar, it is frequently ventured on foot. But if hiking isn’t for you, the valley comes with a couple of great panoramas for photography, too.

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Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey

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Cappadocia Quick Guide

Planning a last-minute trip to Cappadocia? Here are the best resources for Cappadocia. Turkey, plus top Cappadocia tours and the best places to stay in Cappadocia.

A Bit About Pigeon Valley

Pigeons were a bit part of life since the Bronze Age for people residing in the Cappadocia region. 

Used for producing food and fertilizer for the arid landscape around Goreme and Uchisar, the pigeons were given homes in the Pigeon Valley rock face to keep them close. While the pigeon rock caves can be found all over the region, they are particularly plentiful here, giving Pigeon Valley its name.

In modern times, the pigeons are no longer used for food and fertilizer production, but the people of the region still like to maintain the homes and the valley as a whole, for tourism. 

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey

Where is Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia

Pigeon Valley in Turkey spreads from the town of Goreme to the town of Uchisar making it convenient for tourists to visit. However, the main entrance is located in the town of Uchisar.

Click on the Pigeon Valley Cappadocia map below to interact with Google Maps and find the main entrance for Cappadocia Pigeon Valley.

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia

Best Time to Visit Pigeon Valley

Like most of the region, Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia is best visited in the shoulder months of April-May and September-November.

I visited Pigeon Valley in November and it was bright, sunny and warm during the day. Perfect conditions for meandering through Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey.

I have also heard that winter in Cappadocia can be really nice, too. So don’t cross a visit to Cappadocia Pigeon Valley off your list if you happen to land in the months of December-March. Just bring warm clothes.

Planning a Trip to Turkey? Read this Ultimate 10 Day Turkey Itinerary

Pigeon Valley Entrance Fee

This beautiful Cappadocia valley is free to enter! In fact, most valleys in Cappadocia are free to enjoy. 

Whether you enter through the main entrance in Uchisar or wander in from Goreme town, you don’t need to pay. I’d still bring a few Turkish Lira with you though since there are a couple of small local restaurants and souvenir shops available to you (if that’s of interest).

How to Get To Pigeon Valley

There are two entrances to Pigeon Valley, one from Goreme (the main tourist town) and one from Uchisar. I recommend taking a private organized day tour or renting a car in Cappadocia from the Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport or Erkilet International Airport upon arriving in Cappadocia. These are the best ways to see the region.

Uchisar Entrance to Pigeon Valley

You can easily reach the Uchisar Pigeon Valley entrance by car or organized day tour. It takes approximately 10 minutes to reach the entrance from your Cappadocia view hotel or the centre of Goreme town. There is a large dirt parking lot available to you if you decide to rent a car and park for the day. 

Detailed Guide on Renting a Car in Turkey

This is also where the main panoramic viewpoint of Pigeon Valley is and there are a couple of souvenir shops on-site, too. 

If you decide to take a taxi to the Uchisar entrance you can start the Pigeon Valley trail from here and walk back to Goreme (about 4KM) to arrive back at your hotel.

WHERE | Pigeon Valley Uchisar Entrance

Goreme Entrance to Pigeon Valley

The Pigeon Valley Goreme entrance is the less frequented entrance to Pigeon Valley, but you can definitely explore everything this Cappadocia valley has to offer from here, especially if you don’t have a car or organized day tour lined up. From the centre of Goreme, follow Uzun Dere Cd. street into the valley.  

If you follow the trail, you should end your trip at the main entrance in Uchisar where you can find a taxi on-site to take you back to your Goreme hotel. 

WHERE | Pigeon Valley Goreme Entrance

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey

Best Tours to Pigeon Valley

I first saw the valley from my sunrise hot air balloon ride, which I highly recommend. I then took a private organized day tour to see all of the best of Cappadocia highlights which included Cappadocia valleys like Pigeon Valley. 

The tour guide told us all about the history of the valley and gave us time to explore the valley as a whole. A great way to see Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia, in my opinion.

There are two main Cappadocia tours that include Pigeon Valley as a stop. These group tours include up to 15 people, have a knowledgeable guide, a comfortable van with a driver and include lunch. 

Blue Tour Cappadocia 

The Cappadocia blue tour explores central and southern parts of the region and includes highlights like the underground city (a must-see!) and a casual hike along the Red and Rose Valleys.

Attractions in Cappadocia visited on the Blue Tour:

  • Cavusin Cave Village
  • Underground City
  • Pigeon Valley
  • Cappadocia Hikes along the Red and Rose Valley
  • Greek houses of Uchisar
  • Ortahisar Castle

BOOK | Cappadocia Blue Group Tour

Green Tour Cappadocia

The Cappadocia green tour is the most active day tour and includes hiking through valleys and up to panoramic views. Expect to hike over 4km in the day (likely more). The green tour is fittingly named since it explores the surprisingly lush areas that Cappadocia offers. 

Activities in Cappadocia included on the Green Tour:

  • Goreme Panorama
  • Kaymaklı Underground City
  • Nar Lake
  • Ihlara Canyon (3.8 km hike)
  • Yaprakhisar Panorama (Star Wars filming set)
  • Selime Monastery
  • Pigeon Valley

The Cappadocia green tour will end the day at Pigeon Valley’s panoramic viewpoint to enjoy the sunset.

BOOK | Cappadocia Green Group Tour

What to Expect at Pigeon Valley

I’d recommend starting your walk in Pigeon Valley at the main entrance in Uchisar

Here you can expect to see a couple of souvenir shops and stalls and a small cafe for light refreshments and snacks. This entrance also has a large dirt parking lot to accommodate rental cars and tour vans. 

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey
Souvenir Shop at Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley Panoramic Viewpoints

Make sure you walk to the edge of the parking lot to see a great panoramic of Pigeon Valley. To your left, you will also see the famous evil eye tree, with its bare branches and hundreds of electric blue evil eye ornaments. Not too sure if this is very healthy for the tree, but it’s there if you like that type of thing. 

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey
Evil Eye Tree at Pigeon Valley
Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey
First Panorama Viewpoint at Pigeon Valley entrance

This area also has a heart-shaped seat overlooking the valley, but I always opt-out of these (they make me cringe, frankly), as they are very far removed from being authentic. 

Just past the tree and the souvenir shop to your left you can descend the stairs to the next panoramic viewpoint. Here you can get a bit closer look at the pigeon caves across the valley. When I was there, there were dozens of pigeons flying around the valley, so the caves are definitely in good use, even today. 

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey
The second Panoramic Viewpoint at Pigeon Valley

Starting the Pigeon Valley Hike

From here you can make your way down the sloping dirt path towards the Pigeon Valley hike, one of the great activities Cappadocia offers. You will also see an incredible view of Uchisar Castle in the distance which I couldn’t help but get photo-happy with. 

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey
View of Uchisar Castle from Pigeon Valley
Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey
Dirt Path to get to the Pigeon Valley hike

What You Will See in Pigeon Valley

The hike takes part along dry dirt paths and is a very easy ‘hike’ to complete (I would call it a walk). Halfway through you will come across a  little Turkish cafe that offers simple refreshments and local meals, a great intermission to the Pigeon Valley hike.

You will see a few abandoned cave dwellings along the way, but when you reach closer to Goreme, you will start to notice more rock pillars and fairy chimneys that were once residences and churches. Follow the Uzun Dere Cd. road back into Goreme town. 

Pigeon Valley Cappadocia Turkey

Starting the Pigeon Valley Hike in Goreme

If you decide to visit Pigeon Valley from Goreme, follow the Uzun Dere Cd. road out of town and pick up the trail from there. Once you reach the Uchisar entrance, you can grab a taxi to take you back to your Goreme hotel.

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Where to Stay in Cappadocia
(Goreme + Uchisar)

Goreme Hotels in Cappadocia

All of the recommended Goreme hotels below come with great views of the hot air balloon at sunrise and are centrally located for visiting all of the Cappadocia highlights. For something extra special, book a stay at one of these Cappadocia luxury hotels.

Situated with a great view over Goreme town and Pigeon Valley, this luxury Cappadocia hotel features a main terrace, perfect for watching the hot air balloons fly in the morning. 

Koza Cave Hotel rooms come with traditional Turkish rugs and cozy beds with several rooms boasting living rooms with fireplaces, spa baths and private terraces. The hotel has a quality onsite restaurant.


MY TOP PICK! Situated on the top of the Goreme town valley, Sultan Cave Suites features a large panoramic terrace, great for morning photoshoots (do note, that a lot of Instagrammers stay here). Most rooms come with a modern en-suite and seating area. 

Sultan Cave Suites has a top-rated restaurant on site called Seten, a great place for date night.


Antique Terrace Suites is a mid-range accommodation that features a main sunrise terrace, a great buffet breakfast and cozy cave rooms for an economical price.


Uchisar Hotels in Cappadocia

If you decide to stay in Uchisar instead of Goreme, these wonderful Cappadocia hotels are highly recommended. Both come with views of the hot air balloons at sunrise (albeit a bit further away) and quality rooms.

The Museum Hotel is a member of Relais & Chateaux, which means you can expect a very high standard of service and accommodation here. It has a beautiful outdoor pool, a terrace with panoramic views and all the amenities you could possibly need.  

The onsite restaurant offers locally produced fruits and vegetables harvested on-site. Museum Hotel is also pet-friendly!


Rox Cappadocia is located right next to Uchisar Castle and enjoys panoramic views of Goreme and Pigeon Valley from its terraces. 

Although Rox is not a cave hotel, it comes with stone rooms (which allow for a more economical price) that mimic this feeling and is a great experience.

What to Bring to Pigeon Valley

Many of the valleys of Cappadocia feature dry dirt paths and a lot of sun exposure. It’s important to come prepared with the proper equipment.

My recommendations:

Original PRVKE Travel and DSLR Camera Backpack with Laptop/Tablet Sleeve - Rugged Photography Bag (21 L, Wasatch Green)

DAY PACK |  Since I spend my days as a full-time travel blogger, I carry my camera wherever I go. The WANDRD PRVKE 21L backpack comes with an optional camera cube, side access quick draw, and plenty of room for your sustainable water bottle, hat, shoes, sweater and anything else you may want to bring on your day trip. It also makes a great carry-on bag with its two padded technology sleeves.

Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera with 3-Inch LCD, Body Only,Base Configuration,Black

DIGITAL CAMERA | Yes, you can definitely use your camera phone on your trip to Cappadocia (the latest phones have amazing cameras by the way!), but if you want to up your photography game I’d recommend investing in a digital camera with mirrorless technology, which keeps it lightweight and less cumbersome.

I use the Sony A7III every day and I couldn’t be happier. You can also check out my guide on the best cameras for bloggers to see what best fits your needs.

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E Lens

CAMERA LENS | If you are looking for a great complimentary camera lens that can be a jack of all trades, the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 ART Lens is highly recommended. This beast of a lens is a perfect choice if you only want to carry one lens.

LARQ Bottle PureVis - Self-Cleaning and Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Award-winning Design and UV Water Sanitizer, 17oz, Obsidian Black

SELF CLEANING WATER BOTTLE | Nowadays I don’t go anywhere without a self-cleaning reusable water bottle. It’s great for eliminating plastic and also to get clean drinking water wherever I go. I particularly enjoy my LARQ water bottle because of its easy self-cleaning technology and sleek design.

Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion | Vegan and Reef Friendly (Octinoxate & Oxybenzone Free) Broad Spectrum Natural Sunscreen with UVA/UVB Protection | 3 oz

SUNSCREEN | Sunscreen is a necessity for most Cappadocia attractions since the majority of them are outdoors. I opt for the mineral based reef-safe 50 SPF Sunscreen from SunBum.


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