Ortahisar is a village about five kilometres from Urgup dominated by a massive natural tuff rock formation that rises 86 metres above the surrounding plain. The rock has been carved into a castle — there are stairways, rooms, and passages cut through the tuff, climbing to an open platform at the top with views across the Cappadocia plateau. The path to the top is steep in places, and some sections require using handrails cut into the rock face.
The village around the base of the castle has a quieter character than nearby Göreme, with fewer tour groups and a more local atmosphere. The surrounding valleys — particularly the Hallaç Valley and the routes toward Ürgüp — are good for walking. The area is also known for citrus storage: the cool cave cellars in the rock are still used by traders to condition oranges and lemons from the Mediterranean coast.