History of Ürgüp: From Ancient Osiana to Cappadocia's Wine Town
Ürgüp is a historic town in the heart of Cappadocia, central Turkey, settled since antiquity and known through history as Osiana (and later Assiana) before becoming the wine-growing, monastery-dotted town you visit today. It sits about 20 km east of Göreme on the slopes below Temenni Hill, and its layers of Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman life are still readable in its rock-cut houses, old mosques and cellar-lined hillsides.
From Roman Osiana to a Byzantine monastic centre
In Roman and early Byzantine times the settlement was called Osiana, part of the wider Cappadocian heartland that produced some of early Christianity's most influential figures. As Christianity spread, the soft volcanic tuff around Ürgüp was hollowed into chapels, refuges and monastic cells, and the town grew into a regional centre for the cultivation of grapes and the production of wine — a tradition that survives in the local wineries you can still visit today.
After the Seljuk arrival in Anatolia in the 11th–13th centuries the town gained mosques, a medrese and caravanserai trade, and under the Ottomans it was an administrative seat known for a time as Burgut Kalesi and then Ürgüp. Through every era the same volcanic rock was reused — Byzantine chapels, Ottoman cellars and 19th-century stone mansions stand layered on the same hillsides.
Temenni Hill — the town's historic heart
The best place to read Ürgüp's history is Temenni Hill (Temenni Tepesi), the rocky bluff rising directly above the old town, also called the "Wish Hill." Local custom says a wish made at the top may come true. More concretely, the hill holds two Seljuk-era tombs (türbe) and a viewing terrace, and it gives the finest panorama over Ürgüp's rooftops, cave façades and the valleys beyond — an easy 10-minute walk up from the central square, best at sunset.
What to see in Ürgüp's old town
Ürgüp rewards slow wandering. The old quarter climbs in narrow, winding lanes lined with 19th-century Greek and Ottoman stone houses, cave dwellings and rock-cut rooms, many now restored as cave hotels and restaurants.
- Old town lanes & stone mansions — the carved façades around Esbelli and the upper streets are among the best-preserved historic houses in Cappadocia.
- Temenni Hill — Seljuk tombs and the top panorama over the town.
- Local wineries — Ürgüp is Cappadocia's wine capital; several cellars offer tastings of wines from the regional Emir and Öküzgözü grapes.
- Cappadocian Art & History Museum — a small museum near the centre covering local geology, ethnography and folk life.
- Saturday market — the weekly pazar fills the centre with produce, textiles and local life.
- Three Beauties (Üç Güzeller) — the iconic fairy-chimney trio sits just outside town on the road toward Nevşehir.
For a broader sweep of the region's rock-cut chapels and Christian heritage, pair Ürgüp with our Cappadocia history, churches & heritage guide and the famous frescoed chapels of the Göreme Open-Air Museum (€20), an easy day trip 6 km away.
How to get to Ürgüp
Ürgüp is well connected within Cappadocia. The two regional airports are Nevşehir Kapadokya (NAV), about 45 km / 50 minutes away, and Kayseri Erkilet (ASR), about 75 km / 1 hour 15 minutes away; both have daily flights from Istanbul. From the airport you can take an airport shuttle or a private transfer — check the current door-to-door fare on the live Cappadocia transfer price calculator rather than relying on a quoted figure. Once in town, Ürgüp is compact and walkable, with frequent dolmuş minibuses linking it to Göreme, Avanos and Nevşehir.
Many travellers base themselves in Ürgüp for its quieter, more local feel — see our pick of the best cave hotels in Cappadocia and the wider top things to do in Cappadocia to build out your trip.
Tips for visiting
- Stay at least one night in an Ürgüp cave hotel to see the old town empty out after the day-trip crowds leave.
- Walk Temenni Hill at sunset for the best light over the rooftops and chimneys.
- Book a winery tasting in advance in high season — cellars are small and fill quickly.
- Wear sturdy shoes: the old-town lanes are steep, cobbled and uneven.
- Ürgüp is a good launch point for hot-air ballooning — see our Cappadocia balloon ride guide and book ahead, as flights sell out.
Frequently asked questions
What was Ürgüp called in ancient times?
In Roman and Byzantine times it was known as Osiana (also Assiana). Under the Ottomans it was called Burgut Kalesi for a period before settling on the name Ürgüp.
What is Temenni Hill?
Temenni ("Wish") Hill is the rocky outcrop above Ürgüp's centre. It holds two Seljuk-era tombs and a panoramic terrace, and tradition says a wish made at the summit will come true. It is a short, steep 10-minute walk from the main square.
Is Ürgüp worth visiting?
Yes — Ürgüp offers a more authentic, less crowded base than Göreme, with historic stone mansions, a long wine-making tradition, good restaurants and easy access to the open-air museums, underground cities and balloon launch sites of central Cappadocia.
How far is Ürgüp from Göreme?
About 6 km, roughly a 10-minute drive or a short dolmuş ride, making the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the main fairy-chimney valleys an easy half-day trip.
