Province · Capadócia

Niğde

Niğde has the Aladağlar mountains, with peaks above 3,700 meters, the rock-cut monastery of Gümüşler and the Ihlara mummies in the capital’s museum, in the southern Cappadocia.

In the photo: Demirkazık peak, Aladağlar mountains (Çamardı)

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Niğde

Niğde lies in southern Cappadocia, between the valley region and the Taurus Mountains. The capital has a Seljuk castle, the Alaeddin Camii from 1223, and the Sungur Bey mosque. The Niğde Museum displays Hittite pieces and items from Tiana and the mummified bodies found in the Ihlara valley.

Near the capital, the Gümüşler monastery is one of the best-preserved rock-cut complexes in Cappadocia, with an excavated courtyard, chambers and Byzantine frescoes. In Kemerhisar are the arches of the Roman aqueduct of Tiana, an ancient city associated with the philosopher Apollonius of Tiana.

To the southeast, Aladağlar National Park brings together some of the highest peaks of the Taurus Mountains, such as Demirkazık at 3,756 meters. It is a destination for mountaineering, climbing and multi-day hikes, with the Yedigöller (Seven Lakes) plateau among the peaks and support villages like Çukurbağ and Demirkazık in the Çamardı district.

The province is a large producer of apples and potatoes, stored in rock-cut cellars. Ulukışla, on the road to Adana, has an Ottoman stone caravanserai, that of Öküz Mehmet Paşa.

When to go

For Aladağlar, hikes usually take place from June to September, when the snow clears the high trails. April to June and September to October are good for the capital and Gümüşler. Winters tend to be cold, with heavy snow at higher elevations.

Getting there

Niğde has no airport. The nearest are Nevşehir-Kapadokya (NAV), Kayseri (ASR) and Çukurova (COV), near Adana. The highway between Ankara and Adana passes through the province, with buses to Nevşehir, Kayseri, Konya and Adana. For Aladağlar, arrange transfers from Niğde or from Kayseri.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Niğde

Is Aladağlar only for experienced mountaineers?

The high peaks and crossings require experience and, preferably, a local guide. There are shorter hikes from the villages of Çamardı, such as the Emli and Karayalak valley walks, for fit hikers.

Is the Gümüşler monastery worth the detour?

It’s worth it for those who have already seen Göreme and want to visit a rock-cut complex with fewer people. The visit takes about an hour.

Does Niğde go with Cappadocia?

Yes. The capital is about an hour and a half by car from Göreme, and Gümüşler can be included on a tour of the southern region, with Derinkuyu on the way.

Where to stay to explore Aladağlar?

The villages of Çukurbağ and Demirkazık in Çamardı have guesthouses and family-run accommodations that cater to mountaineers and organize transfers and guides.