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Ürgüp is a town in Cappadocia, Turkey. It sits within the UNESCO World Heritage listed Göreme Historical National Park (Göreme Tarihî Milli Parkı).
Introduction to Ürgüp
Historically, Ürgüp is best known for being the place St. John the Russian was kept as a slave. In Greek, it was known as Prokopio (Προκόπιο). Mainly a tourist center today, Ürgüp has a few interesting minor attractions if you have some extra time.
Wish Hill
Temenni Tepesi, also known as Wish Hill, dominates the old town. In front of the hill is a row of restaurants and souvenir shops. From there, the street inclines and winds around to the entrance at the back of the hill.
Wish Hill is a rock formation full of caves. Many of the caves are still used to this day for storage. There’s a scenic overlook at the top as well as a mock tomb.
The tomb was presumed to have been built by Seljuk Sultan Rüknettin Kılıçarslan IV (d. 1265). Apparently, research revealed it was actually built by Mehmed Vecihi Pasha (1797-1867) between 1857 and 1858. The sarcophagus inside is empty.
Dutlu Mosque
South of Wish Hill is the Dutlu Mosque (Dutlu Camii). Not much is known about its history but it dates back to the 18th century. The mosque has two minarets. The first is a small older minaret built in the baldachin style, with four columns and a cone on the top. Right next to it is a newer and much taller fluted minaret.
Azmi Ergür Park
Continuing east along Atatürk Boulevard is Azmi Ergür Park (Azmi Ergür Parkı). It’s a pleasant green space with a monument dedicated to the tradition of grape cultivation in the region.
Ürgüp Museum
The Ürgüp Museum (Ürgüp Müzesi) sits on one end of the park. It first opened in a small domed building on Wish Hill in 1965. Construction on the current location began in 1968 and it opened to the public in July 1971. Admission is free, but the museum is currently closed as it awaits the construction of a new building (as of April 2025).
The museum has a small but interesting collection spread out over two rooms. It covers the history of the region. The first room contains the archaeological collection spanning the prehistoric through Ottoman periods.
Some of the highlights include ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman coins as well as 19th-century icons from local Greek Orthodox churches.
The second room features the ethnographic collection. It contains artifacts related to daily life in Cappadocia in the 18th and 19th centuries.
You’ll learn about the tradition of carpet weaving brought to Cappadocia by nomads from Asia. There are also examples of traditional men’s and women’s clothing and accessories of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Ürgüp Municipality Building
Across the street from the park is the Ürgüp Municipality (Ürgüp Belediyesi). It’s not exactly an attraction but it’s an interesting cut-stone building constructed in 1950. It sits at the top of a long stairway.
Where to Stay in Ürgüp
As a tourist hub, there are lots of options for accommodation in Ürgüp.
Zeydem Suites
Although we didn’t stay there, on one guided tour of Cappadocia we made a quick stop at our tour company’s offices and hotel, Zeydem Suites. It’s a beautiful property situated in old stone homes surrounding an open courtyard.
The hotel restaurant serves Turkish and international cuisine. I had mushrooms stuffed with cheese while the rest of the group had pasta or kebabs. The food is very good and prices are reasonable.
Where to Eat in Ürgüp
There are plenty of restaurants, especially in the center of town.
Ehlikeyf Restaurant
We had lunch at Ehlikeyf Restaurant, which offers live music every night starting at 8:30pm. They’re located on the west end of Atatürk Boulevard and the dining room has a nice view of Wish Hill.
While service was friendly and prices are fair, the food wasn’t that great overall. I had a lentil soup that was a little too watery and the mantı. We all shared an order of yaprak sarma (stuffed grape leaves).
