When we first arrived in Cappadocia, it didn’t feel like we were stepping out of a bus. It felt more like we were getting off a spaceship.
It was the oddest-looking landscape I had ever seen with its mushroom-capped fairy chimneys and cities carved in stone. Cave dwelling has a long history in Cappadocia
CAPPADOCIA AT A GLANCE
Cappadocia is an area in Central Anatolia best known for its unique moon-like landscape. Called fairy chimneys, the strange rock formations that the region is known for were formed through the millennia by intense volcanic activity and erosion.
They’re comprised of two types of rock – a harder outer basalt and a softer inner volcanic tufa rock. Sculpted by the elements over thousands of years, the tufa erodes at a faster rate, creating these alien-looking spires with dark mushroom-like caps.
For centuries, people have utilized the region’s soft volcanic rock to carve houses, cave churches, and monasteries, even underground cities going hundreds of feet deep.
From what I understand, some people still live in these cave dwellings today though most of them are now used for tourism. They’re marketed as cave hotels and are a popular choice of accommodation for tourists.
BEST TIME TO VISIT CAPPADOCIA
●Spring (March - May)
This is the ideal time to visit Cappadocia for the reasons outlined above. The weather is ideal and the crowds aren’t as heavy as they are during the summer peak season.
●Autumn (September - November)
Like Spring, Autumn is a great time to visit Cappadocia. The weather is similar and crowds are thinner. We we there in November and it was already getting pretty cold, so September or October may be better.
HOW TO REACH CAPPADOCIA?
There are many ways to get to Cappadocia depending on where you are. Most of the tourists travel from Istanbul or Pamukkale.
But you're coming from else where you can check BOOKAWAY to find the best routes
FROM ISTANBUL
●BY AIR
It takes about 1 hr and 15 mins to fly to Cappadocia from Istanbul. Cappadocia has two airports — Nevsehir Kapadokya (NAV) and Kayseri Erkilet (ASR).
There are direct flights daily from Istanbul – Istanbul (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) – to either airport. Nevsehir is closer to the main towns of Göreme and Urgup but Kayseri is the larger airport.
If you’ve already booked a hotel, then you may want to ask them if they offer airport transfers. If not, then you can book a private transfer through
GET YOUR GUIDE
●BY BUS
Several companies run nightly buses from Istanbul to Cappadocia, including Metro Turizm and Nevşehir Seyahat. This is the cheapest way to go but it’s also the longest, around 10 hours so it’s best done as an overnight trip.
FROM PAMUKKALE
●BY BUS
From Pamukkale, you can take a minibus to Denizli’s otogar (bus station) then take a long-haul bus from there to Cappadocia.
Denizli to Cappadocia takes about 10 hours so it’s best done as an overnight trip. Several bus lines service the Denizli-Cappadocia route, like Suha Turizm, Nevsehir Sayanat etc
BEST AREAS TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA
The Cappadocia region is comprised of multiple cities and towns, though the majority of travelers stay in Göreme, Ürgüp, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, and Avanos.
The Cappadocia region is comprised of multiple cities and towns, though the majority of travelers stay in Göreme, Ürgüp, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, and Avanos.
RED – Göreme
BLUE – Ürgüp
PURPLE – Uçhisar
ORANGE – Ortahisar
GREEN – Avanos
Göreme is considered the hub for tourism in Cappadocia. There you’ll find Cappadocia’s main bus station as well as numerous restaurants, travel agencies, and hotels of varying price ranges to suit every budget.
Listing a few options to stay around
LUXURY : Divan Cave House
MID RANGE : Arif Cave Hotel
BUDGET : Homestay Cave Hostel
Ürgüp is similar to Göreme in terms of accommodations and services, plus it’s considered the region’s heart of wine production so it’s a great place for dining out.
Listing a few options to stay around
LUXURY : Kayhan Cave Villa
MID RANGE : Dokya Hotel
BUDGET : Yildiz Stone Hotel
Uçhisar is known for its rock castle which is the highest viewing point in Central Cappadocia. The area offers the best views of Cappadocia and is home to many luxury hotels and rental villas
Listing a few options to stay
LUXURY : Museum Hotel Cappadocia
MID RANGE : Asia Hotel
BUDGET : Anatolia Raymond Cave House
Ortahisar is a sleepy town that hasn’t been as commercialized as the previous three areas. There aren’t as many restaurants or hotels here so that may appeal to travelers looking for the most authentic Cappadocia experience
Listing a few options to stay
LUXURY : Exedra Cappadocia
MID RANGE : Turkish Cave House
BUDGET : Cappadocia Alba Cave
Avanos is a town that sits by the banks of the Red River. The Red River is the source of the clay used to produce the town’s famous pottery. There are no fairy chimneys or cave hotels in Avanos but if you’re a fan of pottery, then you may want to stay here.
Listing a few options to stay
LUXURY : DoubleTree by Hilton
MID RANGE : Sofa Hotel
BUDGET : Avanos Suites
THINGS TO DO IN CAPPADOCIA
1.RIDE A HOT AIR BALLOON
Without a doubt, riding a hot air balloon over this alien landscape is the most epic thing you can do in Cappadocia. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and there is better place than to do it here.
You can check for flight options from GET YOUR GUIDE
2.RED TOUR CAPPADOCIA
Red Tour is one of the best things you can do in Cappadocia outside of the hot air balloon ride. It’s a great introduction to the area and takes you to the most striking spots in northern Cappadocia.
●UCHISAR CASTLE
Rock castle offering the best panoramic views of Cappadocia.
●LOVE VALLEY
Valley with erotically shaped fairy chimneys.
● GÖREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM
Vast monastic complex and Cappadocia’s most popular attraction.
●THREE BEAUTIES
Most famous fairy chimneys in Cappadocia.
●DERVENT VALLEY
Lunar landscape with animal-shaped rocks.
●CHEZ GALIP
Studio of master potter Chez Galip.
●PAŞABAĞ VALLEY
Landscape with some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia.
●CAVUSIN
Ancient village built into the region’s soft volcanic rock.
3.GREEN TOUR CAPPADOCIA
The second most popular tour in Cappadocua after the Red, the Green Tour will take you to a slew of interesting sites in southern Cappadocia.
Highlights include an underground city that goes 300 ft below the surface of the earth and a picturesque hike through a valley honeycombed with rock-cut dwellings and churches.
●GÖREME MANORAMA
Area offering fantastic panoramic views of the landscape.
●DERINKUYU UNDERGROUND CITY
Ancient multi-level underground city.
●SELIME MONASTERY
Rock-cut monastery and the largest religious structure in Cappadocia.
●IHLARA VALLEY
Picturesque valley famous for hiking.
●PIGEON VALLEY
Long and beautiful valley with interesting rock formations.
4.EXPLORE CAPPADOCIA’S MOONSCAPE ON HORSEBACK
Cappadocia in Turkish means “land of the beautiful horses”, so what better way to explore this alien landscape than on horseback?
One of our fondest memories in Turkey
5.EXPLORE CAPPADOCIA ON AN ATV
If horseback riding isn’t your thing, then you may want to go on an ATV ride instead. We didn’t do this but cruising around on ATVs is another popular activity in Cappadocia.
6.GET A TASTE OF TURKISH CULTURE AND DANCE DURING TURKISH NIGHT
Accompanied by live music over dinner and free-flowing wine, you’ll be treated to folk dances from different parts of Turkey, including a whirling dervish ceremony and a belly dance.
Accompanied by live music over dinner and free-flowing wine, you’ll be treated to folk dances from different parts of Turkey, including a whirling dervish ceremony and a belly dance.
HOW TO GET AROUND CAPPADOCIA
Personally, I prefer exploring on our own so we try not to go on guided tours. But in Cappadocia, I felt it was necessary. Attractions are spread out over large distances so unless you have a rental car, it’s tough to go from one place to the next.
Derinkuyu underground city and Ihlara Valley, for example, are over an hour away from Göreme. Public transportation in the form of minibuses does exist between towns, but not all attractions are within the towns themselves. On top of that, you’ll need to wait around for the minibuses which only adds to the travel time.
If there are enough people in your group to split the cost, then a good alternative would be to rent a car. Many travelers do.
HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY
A minimum of two full days, no less. If you do both the Red and Green Tours, then you’ll see pretty much all the major sights in Cappadocia. Each tour takes a full day which is why I’m suggesting a stay of no less than two.
If you plan on taking a hot air balloon ride, then you can do it on either of those days. It starts bright and early at around 5:30AM, and they’ll have you back at your hotel in time for your tours.
If I were you, I’d throw in an extra day just to take it easy and do some exploring on your own. Cappadocia is captivating and one of the most interesting landscapes I’ve ever seen. It’s fun to just walk around and soak in the atmosphere.
Here’s a sample 2 DAY CAPPADOCIA ITINERARY to help you plan your trip. The Red and Green Tours cover everything so there isn’t much to it.
DAY ONE
• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Red Tour
DAY TWO
• Green Tour
• Turkish Night
I've tried to sum up mostly everything here. Hope this helps.
HAVE FUN!