# Dark Church, Turkey: what it is and when to go

> Dark Church is a cave church in Turkey (Karanlık kilise) (Nevşehir). Interests: History and Temples. The best time to visit is April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 41 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 19. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/dark-church/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Cave church in Turkey · History, Temples
- **Local name:** Karanlık kilise
- **Where:** Turkey
- **Best time:** April to June and September to October.
- **Nearest airport:** ESB Ankara, 230 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 38.6387, 34.84626

## What it is and where

Dark Church is a cave church in Turkey (Karanlık kilise) (Nevşehir). It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Nevşehir](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/nevsehir/), where this site lists 36 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 38.6387, 34.84626; the nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB, Ankara), 230 km as the crow flies. How to get around Turkey (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=38.638704%2C34.846265)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.638704%2C34.846265)

It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/historia/) and [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/espiritual/) places in Turkey. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Dark Church is **April to June and September to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 35 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 33 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 42 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 01 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 06 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 41 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 27 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 30 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 14 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 58 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 51 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 19 |

In June there are 14 h 41 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 19. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | April to June and September to October | November to March and July to August |
| Temples | April to June and September to October | November to March and July to August |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Dark Church has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Turkey in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Turkey

To enter Turkey there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Spanish ID card (DNI) or passport with plenty of validity”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Turkey checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Turkish lira (TRY); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz (the same plug as in Spain); emergencies: 112 for everything (the same number as in the EU).

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Çarıklı Kilise](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/church-with-sandals/): History · Temples · 15 m
- [Azize Catherine Şapeli](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/saint-catherina-chapel/): Chapel in Göreme District · 21 m
- [Churches of Göreme](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/museo-al-aire-libre-de-goreme/): Archaeological sites in Turkey · 72 m
- [Pantokrator Kilisesi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/pantocrator-church/): History · Temples · 93 m
- [Yilanli Church](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/yilanli-kilise/): History · Temples · 98 m

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Turkey guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/).

## More in Turkey: History

- [Hagia Sophia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/santa-sofia/): mosque, museum, and former church in Istanbul, Turkey
- [Troy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/sitio-arqueologico-de-troya/): ancient Homeric-era city in northwest Asia Minor; it is known as the setting for the Greek myth of the Trojan war
- [Temple of Artemis](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/temple-of-artemis-artemision/): temple in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- [Ephesus](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/efeso/): ancient Greek city in Anatolia
- [Mausoleum at Halicarnassus](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mausoleum-at-halicarnassus/): one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- [Blue Mosque, Istanbul](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/mezquita-azul/): historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey, also known as Blue Mosque

Every Turkey place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/historia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Dark Church?

It is a cave church in Turkey (Karanlık kilise in the local language). It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Turkey: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Dark Church?

April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 41 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 19.

### How do you get to Dark Church?

The nearest main airport is Esenboğa International Airport (ESB), 230 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.638704%2C34.846265) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Turkey is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Turkey map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Çarıklı Kilise](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/church-with-sandals/), [Azize Catherine Şapeli](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/saint-catherina-chapel/), [Churches of Göreme](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/museo-al-aire-libre-de-goreme/). The rest is in [the Turkey guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/turquia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/316770600), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114383869), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).