Paşabağ (Monks Valley), Cappadocia

Paşabağ entrance fee and opening hours

Foreign visitors pay €12; children under 8 go free. The ticket covers two sites — Paşabağ and the Zelve Open-Air Museum about 2 km up the road — so keep it. The ministry prices the site in euros; you pay in lira at the day’s rate at the gate.

Paşabağ is open every day. In winter (October to March) it runs 8:00–17:00 with last tickets at 16:15; in summer 8:00–19:00, last tickets 18:15. One ministry page gives 8:00–18:00 instead, so allow some slack.

Planning the Göreme Open-Air Museum, Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı too? The Museum Pass Cappadocia costs €65 for three days and pays off after three or four sites.

What is Monks Valley?

Paşabağ is a small valley by the village of Çavuşin with the densest cluster of multi-headed fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. Most chimneys elsewhere are single columns with one dark cap. Here two or three stems grow from one base, each with its own cap — hence the “mushrooms”.

The columns are soft volcanic tuff; the caps are harder rock that shields them from erosion. For centuries people carved homes, chapels and storerooms into the tuff. The Turkish ministry records the old name as the Valley of the Priests, which is where “Monks Valley” comes from.

There are no frescoes like at Göreme and no long trail like Love Valley. What you get is the chance to walk right up to the chimneys and peer into hermits’ cells.

What to see in Paşabağ

• The three-capped chimney with St Simeon’s chapel and cell — the star of the valley, with crosses carved at the entrance. Simeon Stylites himself lived on a pillar near Aleppo in the 5th century; the cell is only dedicated to him.
• Double- and triple-capped “mushrooms” along the cobbled path — shoot them from below against the sky.
• Cave rooms with carved steps and small windows — some open, many fenced off because of erosion.
• The upper viewpoint at the side of the valley — easy to miss, and the only place to see every chimney at once.
• Souvenir stalls at the gate — pottery from nearby Avanos, rugs and dried fruit.

Is Paşabağ worth visiting?

Yes, on a first visit to Cappadocia: it is the closest you will get to the postcard fairy chimneys, and it sits on the way to Avanos. If you have already walked through Love Valley and resent paying for 40 minutes, skip it — or go for Zelve as well, and the ticket earns its keep.

It works well with children: the path is short and under-8s are free. But the steps up to the cells are steep, worn tuff with few railings, so keep kids close.

Paşabağ and Zelve: how to combine them

Zelve is a separate open-air museum about 2 km from Paşabağ, and the same ticket gets you in. It spreads across three valleys with rock-cut churches, a mill and a mosque — a cave village that was lived in until 1952.

Do Paşabağ first for photos in the soft morning or late-afternoon light, then give Zelve 1–1.5 hours. Together with the trip from Göreme, that is half a day. Arrive at 8:00 to beat the Red Tour minibuses, which fill the path from mid-morning.

Paşabağ vs Love Valley vs Göreme Open-Air Museum

One day only? Göreme Open-Air Museum in the morning, Paşabağ and Zelve after lunch. Love Valley is for when you want to walk.

Cappadocia viewpoints compared

Every valley and viewpoint in Cappadocia rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

How to do it right

• Get there at opening time — before the Red Tours, the path is nearly empty.
• Don’t miss the side viewpoint: from above you see every chimney at once.
• Pair Paşabağ with Zelve and Avanos — they are all on one road.
• Keep a hand on the wall on the steps to the cells: the tuff is worn smooth.
• Doing three or four museums in Cappadocia? The Museum Pass Cappadocia will come out cheaper.

Questions