The Göreme Open-Air Museum resembles a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic church. It is obviously the first sight to be visited by any traveller in Cappadocia, standing as it does in the very centre of the region with easy access from all directions. It is only 15 minutes walk (1.5km, 1 mile) from Göreme village centre. It contains the finest of the rock-cut churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colours still retain all their original freshness. It also presents unique examples of rock hewn architecture and fresco technique. The Göreme Open Air Museum has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984, and was one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey.
The area covered by this Open Air Museum forms a coherent geographical entity and represents historical unity. There are eleven refectories within the Museum, with rock-cut churches tables and benches. Each is associated with a church. Most of the churches in Göreme Open Air Museum belong to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries.
The entrance fee to the museum is 25 TL per person. In summer, it is better to visit the museum early in the morning or late afternoon, instead of mid-day. There are many churches and chapels in Göreme Open Air Museum but the most important ones are: Nunnery, St. Barbara Church, Apple (Elmali) Church, Snake (Yilanli) Church, Dark Church (Karanlik Kilise), Carikli (Sandals) Church and Buckle (Tokali) Church.