GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM Price & Hours → 2025

The Goreme Open Air Museum is one of the most extraordinary sites in Cappadocia, a place where history, faith, and natural beauty meet in the heart of Turkey’s unique landscape. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, this remarkable site features rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries carved directly into soft volcanic stone, each adorned with centuries-old frescoes.

Walking through the narrow valleys of Goreme feels like stepping back into the early days of Christianity. The cave churches, once sanctuaries for monks and nuns, still preserve vibrant murals that tell the stories of the Bible. The museum not only showcases Cappadocia’s geological wonders but also offers an unparalleled insight into the region’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

As of August 2025, a ticket is required to enter the Goreme Open Air Museum, and the Museum Pass Turkey is valid here. In the rest of this article, you will find updated ticket prices, opening hours, and insider tips from a professional local guide to help you make the most of your visit.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Goreme Open Air Museum 2025 Visitor Summary

Below you can find the Goreme Open Air Museum visitor summary updated for 2025, including entrance fees, opening hours, and guided tours.

• Ticket Price: 20 Euros (Standard admission)
• Dark Church: Separate ticket required (6 Euros)
• Opening Hours: 08:00 – 20:00 (Open every day)
• Museum Pass: Valid (Museum Pass Turkey accepted)
• Guided Tours: Highly recommended Book a full-day guided Cappadocia tour here.
• Location: Cappadocia, Turkey
• Last Updated: August 2025

History of Goreme Open Air Museum

The history of Goreme Valley goes back to the Hittites. However, most of the buildings that we can see today are from Roman and Byzantine periods. It is possible to see the traces of early Christian history starting from the period when Christianity spread in Rome.

Although some archaeological finds in the region show that life dates back to ancient times, the Roman Empire‘s prohibition of Christianity made the region even more attractive to people. The Christians fleeing the persecution of the Romans began to settle in rock caverns and tunnels. The first religious structures in the region emerged in this way.

Goreme maintained its religious function throughout the Middle Ages as well. Indeed, we know that most of the religious structures in the region were built between the 11th and 13th centuries. This is because the monk’s life became popular during the Byzantine Empire. Many people who wanted to live an ascetic life by devoting themselves to Christianity have migrated here and joined the monasteries.

Make the most of your trip to Goreme!

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Cappadocia by joining a full-day guided tour that covers the highlights of the region, including the Goreme Open Air Museum.

Book your guided Cappadocia tour here

Another unforgettable experience is a sunrise hot air balloon tour over the fairy chimneys of Goreme.

Reserve your spot on a Goreme balloon tour here

Famous Saints of Ancient Anatolia

Many famous saints who lived in the early period of Christianity were born and raised in ancient Anatolia. Therefore, some cities located in Turkey are on the Christian pilgrimage route. The most important of these are Ephesus, Demre, Cappadocia and Antakya.

For example, St. Nicholas, commonly known as “Santa Claus” in the world, lived in Demre (Antalya). St. George, one of the most important saints of Christianity, was born in Cappadocia. The cave church founded by St. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, can still be seen in Antioch (Antakya).

In addition to these, there was St. Simeon, whose name is identified with both Antioch and Cappadocia. Saint Simeon was a monk who spent his life on a column in Syria (near Aleppo).

Simeon, who devoted his existence to Jesus, introduced a new definition of the concept of monkhood. There are churches in both Cappadocia and Antakya dedicated to the saint known as Simeon Stylites.

However, the most important church leader who marked the history of Cappadocia was a famous cleric named St. Basil the Great. Saint Basil, who lived in the same period as the other saints listed above, was born in 330 in Caesarea (Kayseri).

Basil, who gave a new shape to the early monastery life, gathered the churches in Goreme under a new discipline. These rules, which reorganize the monastery life in early Christianity, are called The Rule of Saint Basil.

Rock Churches of the Goreme Open Air Museum

There are beautiful rock churches to visit in Goreme Open Air Museum. You can find some of these churches listed below, which offer us important clues about the medieval monastic life.

1. Saint Barbara Church

Saint Barbara Church is dedicated to a faithful woman who was persecuted by her father in early Christianity. Despite the tortures she suffered, the woman who remained faithful to the Christian faith became one of the early Christian martyrs.

The Christ Pantocrator fresco draws attention in the cross-planned church. Saint Barbara’s Church is a mysterious church with frescoes featuring animal figures like grasshoppers, dragons and snakes.

2. Elmali (Apple) Church

Elmali (Apple) Church is one of the rock churches dating back to the 12th century. Religious stories such as the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus’ last supper, Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, and Jesus’ descent to hell were depicted on the ceiling of the church.

The Elmali Church is a cross-planned building with 9 domes supported by four columns. Considering its age, this church is still in good condition today.

3. Yilanli (Snake) Church

Yilanli (Snake) Church was built in 11th century and takes its name from the painting of St. George. This is known as the Snake Church because the green dragon that St. George fought was thought to be a serpent.

There are frescos on the walls and ceiling of the church, depicting scenes from the Bible. Although the frescoes of the church are not of the best quality, they reflect the spiritual atmosphere of the period.

4. Tokali (Buckle) Church

Tokali (Buckle) Church is the largest cave church in Goreme. It consists of four separate sections. Among these sections the most impressive frescoes can be seen in the Old Church and the New Church.

The frescoes depicting the most important events in the Bible are still alive. The most distinctive feature that distinguishes the frescoes in Tokali Church is the use of a very vivid shade of blue.

5. Karanlik (Dark) Church in Goreme

The Karanlik (Dark) Church, which has the best preserved Christian frescoes in Cappadocia, will be the most important part of your visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum. A separate ticket is required for entrance to the Dark Church.

The most important feature of the Dark Church is that it has one of the most beautiful depictions of Christ Pantocrator in Anatolia. You can see this magnificent fresco in many books promoting Cappadocia.

Goreme Open Air Museum Entrance Fee 2025

The entrance fee for the Goreme Open Air Museum in 2025 is 20 Euros per person. This ticket includes access to the national park and rock-cut churches within the museum area. Information about ticket prices was last updated on August 8, 2025.

Please note that visiting the Dark Church (Karanlık Kilise) inside the Goreme Open Air Museum requires an additional ticket costing 6 Euros. This remarkable chapel, famous for its beautifully preserved Byzantine frescoes, is not included in the standard museum admission.

Goreme Open Air Museum Opening Hours 2025

The Goreme Open Air Museum is open daily from 08:00 AM to 08:00 PM in 2025. The site remains open every day of the week. Information about visiting hours was last updated on August 8, 2025.

Visiting hours at the museums in Turkey may change each season. For this reason, you can visit the official website of the Goreme Museum and check the latest status. Although this article is updated every month, sometimes the hours may change suddenly.

Would you like to explore more museums and historical sites in Turkey?

If you are interested in discovering museums and ancient sites outside of Istanbul, you can visit our Museums of Turkey category, where we have shared detailed information about many famous locations such as Ephesus, Mount Nemrut, Gobeklitepe and Sumela Monastery.

Here you will find many fascinating places that you probably did not even know existed!

Conclusion

Goreme Open Air Museum has a unique heritage and therefore it is among the must-see places in Cappadocia. Goreme offers very important clues about the history of Christianity.

You can find many other informative articles about Cappadocia on this site. For example, the article about 20 things to do in Cappadocia can give you general information.

In addition, you can review the popular accommodation options in the region from the best cave hotels in Cappadocia article. Hotels carved into the rocks provide you with a unique experience.

Written by Serhat Engul