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Food tours in Cappadocia: what to eat and which tour to book
Cappadocia is a region of small towns and villages rather than one city, so eating here means Göreme, Ürgüp, Avanos, Uçhisar and the villages between them. The food is Central Anatolian: testi kebabı (meat stew sealed and cooked in a clay pot that is cracked open at the table), tiny Kayseri-style mantı dumplings with yoghurt, pastırma and sucuk from nearby Kayseri, gözleme rolled out by hand, and long breakfasts after the morning balloon flights. The volcanic plateau is also old wine country, with the white Emir grape native to Nevşehir province and wineries around Ürgüp.
Use this page to decide what to order and where. Prices are given in Turkish lira with rough euro equivalents; lira prices change quickly with inflation, so treat them as a guide. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and pickup details on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Cappadocia
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pottery kebab testi kebabı | Lamb, beef or chicken stewed with tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic in a sealed clay jug, which is cracked open at the table. Associated with Cappadocia and served in most restaurants here. | Restaurants in Göreme, Ürgüp and Avanos; usually ordered a few hours ahead or the same day. | roughly ₺700–1,300 (about €15–27) per portion; more in hotel and 'show' restaurants |
| Kayseri dumplings Kayseri mantısı | Very small meat dumplings with garlic yoghurt, melted butter with red pepper flakes and dried mint. Kayseri, about an hour east, is the airport city and the home of this style. | Local restaurants (lokanta) in Ürgüp, Avanos and Nevşehir, and almost any restaurant in Kayseri. | roughly ₺300–500 (about €6–10) a plate |
| Cured beef and spicy sausage pastırma / sucuk | Kayseri's famous air-dried beef coated in çemen (a fenugreek, garlic and paprika paste), and garlicky beef sausage, often fried with eggs at breakfast (sucuklu yumurta). | Breakfast tables, delis and markets; specialist pastırma shops in Kayseri if you pass through. | sucuklu yumurta roughly ₺250–400 (€5–8); good pastırma is sold by weight and is expensive |
| Hand-rolled flatbread gözleme | Thin dough rolled out by hand, filled with cheese, spinach, potato or minced meat, folded and cooked on a griddle (sac). | Village cafés, roadside stalls and some restaurants in Göreme and Avanos, often made in front of you. | roughly ₺150–300 (€3–6) |
| Turkish breakfast serpme kahvaltı | A spread of cheeses, olives, tomatoes and cucumber, eggs, honey and kaymak, jams, grape molasses (pekmez) with tahini, bread and endless tea. Many hotels serve it after the balloon flights. | Hotels and breakfast cafés in Göreme, Uçhisar and Ürgüp. | roughly ₺500–900 (€10–19) per person for a full spread at a café |
| Cappadocian wine Kapadokya şarabı (Emir, Öküzgözü, Kalecik Karası) | The Emir grape is native to Nevşehir province and makes crisp whites and sparkling wine; reds from Turkish grapes such as Öküzgözü and Kalecik Karası are also made in the region. Wine is subject to high taxes in Türkiye. | Winery tasting rooms in Ürgüp and wine shops in Göreme and Ürgüp; restaurants list local bottles. | tastings roughly ₺400–1,000 (€8–20); a glass in a restaurant roughly ₺250–450 (€5–9) |
| Lentil soup and home-style lokanta food mercimek çorbası / ev yemekleri | Red lentil soup with lemon, plus trays of stews, beans, stuffed vegetables and rice pilaf at a cafeteria-style lokanta. The cheapest proper meal in the region. | Lokantas in the centres of Ürgüp, Avanos and Nevşehir; fewer in Göreme. | soup roughly ₺100–180 (€2–4); a full plate roughly ₺250–450 (€5–9) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Göreme
The main base for visitors, with the most restaurants, rooftop terraces and breakfast cafés. Food is generally aimed at tourists and priced accordingly, but there is plenty of choice within walking distance.
Ürgüp
A larger working town with a real centre, local lokantas, wine shops and wineries nearby. Good for a less touristy lunch and for wine tasting.
Avanos
Pottery town on the Kızılırmak river, where the clay jugs for testi kebabı are made. Riverside restaurants and local places around the main square.
Uçhisar
Hilltop village under the rock castle, with hotel restaurants and terraces with views over the valleys; more upmarket than Göreme.
Mustafapaşa
Former Greek village (Sinasos) south of Ürgüp with restored stone mansions, quiet courtyard restaurants and a slower pace than the main towns.
Food tours in Cappadocia compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets | 6.5 - 7 hours | from €70 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Cappadocia: Underground Cities Skip-the-Line Tour with Lunch | 6 hours | from €20 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Cappadocia: Premium Wine Tasting with 20 Local Wines | 1.5 hours | from €50 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Cappadocia: Best Seller Red Tour with Lunch | 7 hours | from €60 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Cappadocia: Small Group Guided Green Tour Visit with Tickets | 7 hours | from €65 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets
On GetYourGuide · run by Pupa Tours
- Length
- 6.5 - 7 hours
- Price
- from €70 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 389 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Cappadocia: Underground Cities Skip-the-Line Tour with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Tour Altinkum
- Length
- 6 hours
- Price
- from €20 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 156 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Cappadocia: Premium Wine Tasting with 20 Local Wines
On GetYourGuide · run by TOURMANIA
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €50 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 27 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Visit to traditional and modern wineries Tasting of local red, white, and rosé wines Cheese and food pairings Expert guide Transfer
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Salkım Şarap Evi | Wine House
Cappadocia: Best Seller Red Tour with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Stoneland Travel Cappadocia Turkey
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €60 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 5 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Cappadocia: Small Group Guided Green Tour Visit with Tickets
On GetYourGuide · run by TOURMANIA
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €65 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 3 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off Entrance fees to the sites and museums Parking fees Lunch (10€) Beverages Personal expenses
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
There is little street food in the city sense. The closest things are gözleme made at village stalls and cafés, simit and pastries from bakeries, and corn or chestnuts sold at viewpoints. For cheap eating, look for a lokanta or a pide and kebab shop in Ürgüp, Avanos or Nevşehir.
Sit-down meals
Most eating is sit-down: terrace restaurants in Göreme and Uçhisar, cave restaurants, and the 'Turkish night' dinner shows sold by tour agents, which are mainly about the show. Testi kebabı is the dish most visitors order; many places ask you to order it in advance. Alcohol is widely available in tourist restaurants but not in every local lokanta.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are usually held in village homes or boutique hotels and teach dishes such as mantı, dolma, gözleme and lentil soup, followed by the meal. Ask whether transport from your hotel is included, since the venues are spread across the region.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | ₺1,000–1,600 (about €20–33): bakery breakfast, lokanta lunch, gözleme or pide dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | ₺2,200–3,500 (about €45–72): café breakfast, two restaurant meals with a glass of wine |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | ₺6,000+ (about €125+): cave or hotel restaurant tasting menus and a winery visit |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Manageable. Lentil soup, gözleme with cheese or spinach, vegetable dishes cooked in olive oil (zeytinyağlı), salads, bulgur, cheese and the breakfast spread are all meat-free. Beware that some soups and rice use meat stock; ask 'etsiz mi?' (is it without meat?). Vegan choices are fewer because of yoghurt, butter and cheese.
Halal: Easy. Meat in Türkiye is almost always halal-slaughtered and pork is rarely sold. Many tourist restaurants serve alcohol; if that matters, choose a lokanta or ask. Some imported cured products in hotels may not be halal.
Gluten-free: Hard. Bread is served with every meal, and bulgur, pide, gözleme, mantı and many desserts contain wheat. Grilled meat, testi kebabı (ask about thickeners), salads, rice and eggs are safer. Say 'glutensiz' and carry a written note in Turkish.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Meze, bread or extras brought to the table that you didn't order, then charged on the bill. Send back anything you didn't ask for, or ask whether it is free ('ücretsiz mi?') before eating.
- Prices quoted in euros or dollars at a poor exchange rate, or a card payment run in a foreign currency. Ask for the bill in lira and pay by card in lira (decline currency conversion on the terminal).
- Expensive 'Turkish night' dinner packages and hotel-recommended testi kebabı restaurants where the agent takes a commission. Compare menus with prices yourself in Göreme, Ürgüp or Avanos; book a show only if you actually want the show.
- Menus without prices in tourist restaurants and 'fresh trout' or fish of the day priced only after cooking. Ask for the price before ordering and choose places with a printed priced menu, which restaurants in Türkiye are required to display.
Top tours & activities in Cappadocia
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Cappadocia?
Tipping is customary in restaurants: about 5–10% for good service, left in cash. Check the bill first, since some restaurants add a service charge (servis ücreti). In cafés, rounding up is enough. Hotel and balloon staff often have a shared tip box. Tips added on card terminals don't always reach staff, so cash is better.
What is testi kebabı and do I need to order it ahead?
It is a meat and vegetable stew cooked slowly in a sealed clay jug, which the waiter cracks open at the table. Because it cooks for hours, many restaurants ask you to order it in the morning or the day before; others have some ready. Ask when you book, and check the price per portion, which is higher than most other dishes.
Is the tap water and food safe?
Restaurant food is generally safe, and busy places with high turnover are best. Tap water is treated, but most locals and visitors drink bottled water, which is cheap. Salads are washed in tap water, which rarely causes problems, but be more careful if you have a sensitive stomach.
Where should I stay to eat well?
Göreme has the most restaurants in walking distance but is the most touristic. Ürgüp has more local eating and is close to wineries. Uçhisar is quieter and more upmarket. Avanos has riverside places and pottery workshops. Distances are short, but there is limited public transport in the evening, so plan taxis or stay where you want to eat.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Because of inflation, lira prices rise often, so think in euros. A budget day of bakery, lokanta and gözleme costs roughly €20–33. A comfortable day with café breakfast and two restaurant meals with a glass of wine is roughly €45–72. Hotel restaurants and winery dinners cost noticeably more. Wine and imported spirits are heavily taxed.
Can I visit a winery?
Yes. Several wineries around Ürgüp and in the surrounding villages have tasting rooms, and wine shops in Göreme and Ürgüp offer tastings of local wines, including the white Emir grape native to Nevşehir province. Opening hours vary by season, so check current hours, and don't drive afterwards: Türkiye's drink-driving limits are strict.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.