Cappadocia is a unique landscape of fairy chimneys, rock-cut homes, and underground cities that is a must-see destination in Turkey. This natural wonderland was made possible by the eruptions of three volcanoes millions of years ago. Tourists visit Cappadocia to explore this fascinating terrain and to soak in the culture that developed in the area.
One very special experience that has become more and more popular in recent years with tourists to Cappadocia is to do a hot air balloon ride. Its not cheap but it is a very worthwhile splurge and I highly recommend doing it. Check out the Cappadocia sites and activities page for more information.
You can see all the major sites in Cappadocia in two full days. If you want to stay longer you can add in some of the hikes, visit some less-touristy sites, or do a day-trip to the Ihlara Valley (which I recommend).
Getting around Cappadocia
Sites in Cappadocia are fairly spread out (getting between some sites can take an hour or more) so you either need to use a tour company or rent your own car. Depending on what hotel you stay in, you may be able to rely on them to arrange all your tours and transportation. In theory you can get around the region via public transit (primarily dolmuş). I have never seriously pursued this option because there are some places a dolmuş won’t go and you waste so much time and lose so much flexibility trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B. If you are adventurous / patient enough to go this route then let me know how it goes!
Tour operators
My family has used Euphrates Tours several times for tours in Cappadocia and for travel to other parts of Turkey. I have referred a few friends to them as well. We have always been very pleased with their services; I recommend them if you are thinking of using a tour company. They have some set tours on their website but will also work with you to customize things if you want to do something a little differently or if there are specific spots you want to see.
There are plenty of other tour operators in Cappadocia – a quick Google search will show many options! You will also have no problem engaging guides and transportation after you get to Cappadocia if you don’t want or aren’t able to plan ahead.
Do-it-yourself
If you choose to rent a car and do-it-yourself its fairly easy to drive around the area – roads are good and sites are pretty well marked. You can rent cars at the Nevşehir or Kayseri airports (you will find more options at the Kayseri airport). There are also several car rental offices in Ürgüp, including Avis and Europcar.
Getting there
By Air
There are two airports in the Cappadocia area.
- Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) is the smaller airport serving the region but is closer to the main attractions of Cappadocia (though it will still take about 40 minutes to get from NAV to Göreme). Turkish Airlines operates several daily flights between Istanbul and NAV.
- Kayseri Airport (ASR) is the larger airport and is attached to a major city so has more flight options, but is further from the main sites. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to drive from Göreme to ASR.
To get to / from either airport your hotel / tour company will be able to arrange an airport transfer for you (or if you are renting a car you can pick it up at the airport).
By Car / Bus
You can also arrive in Cappadocia via bus from most major cities or with your own rental car. If you are driving it’s about a 4 hour drive from Ankara or Konya, and a 9 hour drive from Istanbul or Antalya.
