Avanos, Cappadocia

Avanos sits on the banks of the Kızılırmak — Turkey's longest river — and has shaped its red river-clay into pottery since Hittite times. The riverside old town is full of ceramic workshops where you can try the wheel yourself.

What to do in Avanos

• Throw a pot in a centuries-old workshop — Chez Galip is the famous one.
• Wander the riverside old town and the bridge over the Kızılırmak.
• Buy hand-painted Cappadocian ceramics straight from the makers.
• Base here for the nearby Paşabağ (Monks Valley) and Zelve.

How to get there

Avanos is about 15 minutes from Göreme and roughly 40 minutes from Nevşehir Airport (NAV). Regular dolmuş services link it to Göreme and Ürgüp.

Where to stay

Avanos is cave-hotel country — rooms carved into the soft rock, from family pensions to luxury suites. See our guide to cave hotels, or message a local host.

Nearby: walk the valleys, take a balloon flight, or see all the Cappadocia towns.