Anatolia: Rock Landscapes, Hiking Trails and Ancient Cultures

In Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, a volcanic landscape shaped by erosion meets traces of early settlement. The area lies on the Central Anatolian Plateau. Rock-cut cells, churches, cave villages and underground cities form a significant complex of cave dwellings. Those interested in landscape and culture will find both closely connected to the rock formations here.

Hiking trails on different scales

Anatolia also offers hiking options on different scales. The Hittite Way stretches for 385 kilometres and comprises 17 hiking trails and six alternative routes, including mountain biking trails. The Phrygian Way is a long-distance hiking route through Central Anatolia, about 506 kilometres long. Comparing the lengths offers an initial guide; at the same time, the routes differ in form: one is a network of trails with alternatives, while the other is a designated long-distance hiking route. Lengths and route configurations may change. Check the latest route information before planning your trip.

Hittite and Phrygian traces

Hattusha lies in the mountainous region of north-central Anatolia. The Great Temple is located there, the best-preserved ruin of a Hittite temple from the 13th century BCE. Yazılıkaya is also near Hattusha: this open-air temple has two natural chambers cut into the rock. Reliefs on their walls depict gods, goddesses and the Great King Tuthaliya IV. The two sites offer different insights into Hittite architecture and visual art.

In Gordion, the citadel entrance itself tells a story of construction: it contains one of the best-preserved Iron Age fortification gate complexes discovered to date. It dates from the 10th to the 8th century BCE, and the stone masonry reaches heights of up to ten metres. Gordion was the political capital of the Phrygian kingdom and a strategic hub between Anatolia and the wider Middle East. In Midas Mound, also known as Tumulus MM, the burial chamber contains the oldest known surviving wooden building in the world, dating to around 740 BCE.

From Neolithic settlements to Byzantine art

Çatalhöyük offers a glimpse of an early form of settlement: 18 Neolithic settlement layers dating from 7400 to 6200 BCE have been excavated there. The houses were entered through their roofs. Göbeklitepe is about 11,500 years old and is one of the most significant known centres of the Neolithic period. The two sites represent different aspects of early societies: Çatalhöyük illustrates the development of settlement layers, while Göbeklitepe stands out for its great age and importance to the Neolithic.

Later periods can also be read in remarkable buildings. Ankara Castle survives to this day, with restorations from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Cappadocia’s Christian sanctuaries are considered an outstanding example of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. Anatolia’s cultural range thus extends from Neolithic sites to works from later periods.

Crafts and regional cuisine

In small workshops in Hamamönü, you can watch Ebru marbling, Tezhip illumination and wood carving. The opportunity to see these crafts during a visit may vary. Cappadocia’s cuisine is an example of Anatolia’s rich culinary heritage. These regional themes add craft and culinary perspectives to the archaeological sites, without requiring a trip to focus on just one interest.

You can choose a hotel based on your itinerary, while the sights and trails themselves shape the character of your trip to Anatolia.

Discover more destinations: Adiyaman, Ağri, Ankara, Bingöl, Bitlis, Çankiri, Diyarbakir, Elazığ, Erzincan, Eskişehir, Hakkari, Kars, Kırşehir, Malatya, Mardin, Muş, Nevşehir, Niğde, Siirt, Tunceli, Şanliurfa, Van, Yozgat, Aksaray, Kirikkale, Batman, Şırnak, Iğdır, Kilis

For the broader travel overview: Turkey.