2 Best Sights in Cappadocia and Central Turkey, Turkey

The highest fairy chimney in Cappadocia, Uçhisar Kalesi has the most spectacular views in the area, save those from a hot-air balloon. Called "Uçhisar Castle" in Turkish, the giant rock outcrop was used as a fortress in the late Byzantine and early Ottoman periods, and it was later inhabited by locals. The striking formation is riddled with rock-cut dwellings, giving it a Swiss-cheese look, but it was evacuated in the 1960s when erosion put everything in danger of collapse, and the structure was declared a disaster zone (residents were moved to safer homes in the surrounding area). The top of Uçhisar Kalesi—reached by a steep climb on recently installed steps with good traction—is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mt. Erciyes, 57 km (36 miles) away.

Ortahisar’s 282-foot “castle” is Cappadocia’s tallest fairy chimney, though it appears lower than Uçhisar’s because it is located in a slight depression rather than atop a hill. As in Uçhisar, the castle has been carved out into a honeycomb of rooms and tunnels. Formerly used both as a fortress and for dwellings, it has splendid views of the surrounding area. Getting to the top requires climbing up some extremely steep metal staircases and ladders.