What to Wear in Cappadocia

The one rule: dress for two climates in one day. Cappadocia sits on a high plateau, and a July morning at the balloon launch site can be close to freezing, while the same afternoon in Red Valley is hot and shadeless.

So pack layers. A fleece or warm jumper and a windproof jacket for early starts and evenings, a T-shirt underneath. From November to March you'll want a real winter coat, a hat and gloves, since nights regularly drop below zero and the balloon launch sites are exposed.

Footwear matters more than people expect. Valley trails are dusty, sandy and, in places, polished smooth by feet and water. Some short sections involve scrambling up tuff steps or through narrow tunnels. Trainers with a proper grip work fine for most walks. After rain the clay turns sticky and slippery, and in winter paths can be icy.

Packing list

• Shoes with grip that you don't mind getting dusty
• A warm layer and a windproof jacket, all year
• Hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
• A refillable water bottle
• Something light for the underground cities, which stay cool
• A small torch or phone light for dark chapels
• Gloves and a beanie from November to March
• A scarf, for mosques and for dust on windy days

There's no dress code at the museums or the underground cities, but the low tunnels are hard on long skirts and big backpacks. Leave the bag at the hotel. If you visit a mosque in Ürgüp or Avanos, cover shoulders and knees, women should cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door.

Hotels in the region are relaxed. Nobody dresses up for dinner, even in the smarter places in Uçhisar.