Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace on Sarayburnu: courtyards, the Imperial Council, the treasury and the terraces over the water. Dated entry, sold online on its own site.
Aksaray Monastery Valley
A four-to-five kilometre valley near Güzelyurt with 28 rock-cut churches and underground cities, often called a small Ihlara.
About the museum
The Monastery Valley lies about fifty kilometres east of Aksaray, within the boundaries of the scenic town of Güzelyurt. The valley runs for four to five kilometres and has so many rock-cut churches and underground cities that it is often described as a small Ihlara.
Twenty-eight rock-cut churches here reflect the character of their period. Among the many places along the valley you will hear about are the Sivişli Church, the Büyük Kilise Camii, the Papaz Evi, the Kalburlu Church and the Kömürlü Church, along with underground cities that form part of the area's cultural and natural heritage. It is a landscape to walk slowly and to enjoy for its quiet.
Tips
- Wear sturdy shoes: the terrain is natural and can be uneven.
- Ihlara Valley and the underground cities of Aksaray are nearby, so it fits into a longer regional trip.
Questions
When is Aksaray Monastery Valley open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 09:30 and closes at 18:00 (last entry 17:45). Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Aksaray Monastery Valley on this site?
No. This site sells no tickets. Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace are sold on our sister sites; for Aksaray Monastery Valley, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Aksaray Monastery Valley?
Aksaray Monastery Valley is in Aksaray, Türkiye — Yeni Mahallesi, Cevizli Sokak, 68500.
Nearby
Aksaray
Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City
A Byzantine-era underground settlement near Aksaray with stables, kitchens, wells and sliding stone doors, at the gateway to Cappadocia.
Aksaray
Aksaray Museum
An octagonal three-storey museum displaying more than 15,000 works in chronological order, from the aceramic Neolithic to the late 19th century.
Aksaray
St. Mercurius Underground City
A seven-level underground refuge in Saratlı, Aksaray, with a cave church and a Seljuk-era caravanserai entrance; three levels are open to visitors.
Aksaray
Ihlara Valley
A 14-kilometre canyon in Aksaray, up to 120 metres deep, with a stream at its bottom and dozens of rock-cut churches painted with frescoes.
Aksaray
Aşıklı Höyük
A Neolithic mound near Aksaray where reconstructed houses of the 9th and 8th millennia BC let you walk through an early farming village.
Istanbul tickets online
Four Istanbul landmarks, each sold on its own site by the agency behind this guide — dated entry and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Basilica Cistern
Justinian’s great underground reservoir: 336 columns in still water and the two Medusa heads. Fast-track entry with a digital audio guide.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s cathedral, the sultans’ mosque and a working mosque again today. The ticket admits you to the upper visitor gallery.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A nineteenth-century palace on the water’s edge: the Selamlık, the Ceremonial Hall under its chandelier, the crystal staircase and the Harem.