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.
Sobessos Archaeological Site
A little-known Byzantine town in the Cappadocian countryside near Ürgüp, with a villa, churches and streets uncovered since its discovery in 2002.
About the museum
Sobessos lies about 25 km from Ürgüp, within the boundaries of Şahinefendi village in Nevşehir province. It was discovered only in 2002, in a landscape of small hills near the streams that feed the Damsa river. The remains show that the settlement began in the fourth century AD as a small rural town, grew as Christianity took hold in the region, and by the time of Emperor Leo VI, in the late ninth and early tenth centuries, was named as the seat of a bishop.
What makes Sobessos unusual is its style. Compared with the rock-cut settlements Cappadocia is famous for, this is a built town, with a distinctly local and rather rustic character. Excavations have brought to light churches and other religious buildings, public spaces, streets and examples of civil architecture, including a villa that began as the home of a local elite.
It is a quiet site that suits visitors who like to see archaeology still being uncovered, away from the busier Cappadocia sights.
Tips
- Sobessos is off the main tourist routes, so plan how you will reach it from Ürgüp.
- Check the official page for opening arrangements before making the trip.
Questions
When is Sobessos Archaeological Site open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00 (last entry 16:15). Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Sobessos Archaeological Site 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 Sobessos Archaeological Site, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Sobessos Archaeological Site?
Sobessos Archaeological Site is in Nevşehir, Türkiye — Şahinefendi Mah., Ürgüp, Nevşehir.
Nearby
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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.