Ever wanted to visit a fairytale? With Cappadocia, you can turn fantasy into reality. While many destinations hyped on social media often fall short, Cappadocia definitely lives up to the buzz.
Located in the heart of Turkey, this historical region will leave you speechless with its whimsical rock formations. These so-called fairy chimneys are the result of millions of years of erosion. Volcanic eruptions once spread ash across Turkey, which hardened into tuff, and subsequent erosion sculpted the enchanting formations we see today.
Here’s all the information you need for a perfect trip to Cappadocia, including cave hotel recommendations, tips for your hot air balloon flight, costs, activities, food recommendations and more.
How to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul?
With the growing popularity of Cappadocia, this whimsical region has become quite accessible by air and bus. Direct flights from Istanbul’s airports (IST and SAW) can take you to Cappadocia in just about 1.15 hours. While buses also operate from Istanbul to Cappadocia, the 10-hour ride makes flying a much more convenient option.
Cappadocia has two airports: Kayseri and Nevsehir. Both are about 40 minutes to an hour from the center of Cappadocia. While Kayseri offers more flight options, Nevsehir tends to have more affordable prices, so it’s worth checking both.
The quickest way to get to your hotel from the airport is by shuttle bus, which your hotel can pre-book for you.
How many days to stay in Cappadocia?
To fully experience the major sights, stay at least three nights in Cappadocia. If your main goal is to enjoy a hot air balloon ride, three days will also give you the best chance to do so. Weather conditions can sometimes cause delays, so booking your hot air balloon ride for the first morning of your stay is a good strategy. This way, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you still have the following mornings as backup options.
When to visit Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is known for its hot air balloons, attracting tourists from around the world. While these balloons operate daily, flights only take place when the weather is not too windy and the sky is clear.
The peak season in Cappadocia is July and August, with average temperatures around 32 degrees Celsius. To avoid the crowds, consider scheduling your trip outside these months. Both spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) are ideal times to visit, offering milder weather and fewer tourists compared to the hot, dry summer season.
In winter (December and January), Cappadocia transforms into a stunning winter landscape, which can be a beautiful sight as well.
Where to stay in Cappadocia?
There are two main locations to stay in Cappadocia, Göreme and Uchisar, each with its own pros and cons.
Göreme: Göreme is the hub of Cappadocia, offering excellent public transportation and easy access to various valleys and attractions, many of which you can reach on foot. It’s also a budget-friendly option, with numerous affordable and mid-range hotels, many of which are popular on Instagram. However, being located in a valley, Göreme doesn’t offer the panoramic views that you can find in Uchisar.
Uchisar: For those seeking relaxation, Uchisar is ideal. Perched on a hill, this village boasts breathtaking views and is home to many luxury hotels and restaurants. Uchisar is quieter and less hectic than Göreme, making it perfect for a tranquil getaway.
Best Cave Hotels in Cappadocia
Museum Hotel (Uchisar) The hotel is set in a unique area of Uchisar with the restorations of historic ruins. The Museum is the only member of the Relais & Chateaux member of Turkey and resembles a museum with its unique and antiques interior. The pool offers incredible views and heated throughout the year.
Mithra Cave (Göreme) This hotel is located in the heart of Cappadocia and features rooms in traditional Ottoman and Greek style. You can enjoy your breakfast on the terrace in the morning with an incredible view overseeing Cappadocia.
Koza Cave Suites (Göreme) A beautiful hotel located in a historic cave house overlooking Pigeon Valley and has the highest rooftop in Cappadocia. An ideal place to stay and see the air filled with hot air balloons in the morning.
Imperial Cave Suites (Göreme) A great place if you are looking for relaxation after a long day. The hotel also offers an in-house Spa including a variety of massages and everything else that helps you relax!
Sultan Cave Suites (Göreme) The hotel with probably the most photographed rooftop. The hotel itself is located quite high above Cappadocia, so if you are all about the view and watching the hot air balloon in the morning, this is the place for you.
Local Cave House (Göreme / Where we stayed). If you are on a budget and prefer having a pool, the local cave house is definitely the place for you. The rooms aren’t the fanciest, but with our days being packed full with activities, we didn’t spend too much time in the room.
What to do in Cappadocia
Hot Air Balloon: A must thing to do when in Cappadocia! Watch the sunrise from above with the sky filled with hundreds of other balloons. The ride usually lasts about 1 hour and you will get a glass of Champagne after your landing.
I highly recommend you booking your flight for the very first morning in Cappadocia. Depending on the weather, it will be decided daily if the hot air ballons can operate. If you are unlucky, your flight will be postponed to the next day.
One of the most well known and most reputable operator for Hot Air Balloon Flights is Royal Balloon. We choose the King Balloon Flight for 150€ per Person with only 6 people per basket. Flights can be cheaper if you are willing to fly with more people.
Open Air Museum Zelve: An historical open air museum that showcases one of the important settlements for Christians in the 9th and 13th centuries. The museum is home to 15 churches and used to be a turkish village until 1960. Entrance is 25 TL (2022).
Open Air museum Göreme: If you are located in Göreme, you can easily walk to the museum within 15 minutes. With this museum you can enjoy very well preserved fairy chimneys, churches and frescoes. Walk around and take a look at the beautiful cave wall paintings and take a look into the cave rooms to get insights on how the people used to live in the area. There is a reason this museum is part of the UNESCO world heritage and is definitely worth a visit!
Love Valley Situated between Göreme and Uchisar and is named after the look of the interesting fairy chimey formations (you know what I mean) and offers a beautiful scenery with lots of great photo opportunities that is also popular for marriage proposals. You can reach Love Valley by car within 10 minutes from Göreme or through a Tour (see below)
Pigeon Valley A Valley that earns its name thanks to the countless pigeon houses that are caved into the rock formations. Cappadocia is a dry area therefore the pigeons are used as fertiliser for the soil.
Devrent Valley Also called Imaginary Valley since the rock formations are said to look like animals. You can let your imagination go free and see what animals you can see in the rocks!
Uchisar Castle The word „castle“ can be misleading as this building was used as a point of defense. Uchisar castle offers the highest viewpoint in Cappadocia and you can walk all the way up to enjoy the view from above.
Underground Cities One of the most interesting things to do in the region are visiting one of the underground cities that were built in ancient times to protect the citizens from raids and attacks. The cities were carved within the volcanic tuff land and it is believed that up until today that there are still undiscovered underground cities. There are more than 200 underground cities but the most well known are Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.
Best Tours in Cappadocia
Underground City and Ihlara Valley Tour: Visit the amazing Derinkuyu Underground City & Hike through the Ihlara Valley. Lunch included
Red Tour: Includes the visit of Devrent Valley, Pasabagi Valley, Avanos, Göreme Open Air Museum, Esentepe and more. Lunch included!
Green Tour: Includes the visit Kaymaklı Underground City, a hike through Ihlara canyon, Nar Lake, Pigeon Valley, Yaprakhisar Panorama and Selime Monastery.
Blue Tour: Includes the visit of the Underground City, Red and Rose Valley, Greek houses of Uchisar, and Orthisar.
Where to Eat in Cappadocia
Here are some top dining and food recommendations in Cappadocia that you shouldn’t miss:
Dibek ($$) Dibek is famously known for their Pottery Kebab, a traditional Turkish dish cooked for many hours in a pottery vessel. The pottery is cracked open while serving, making dinner a memorable experience. Be sure to make a reservation and inform them that you’d like to try their Pottery Kebab due to its lengthy preparation time.
Topdeck Cave ($$) A small, cozy restaurant that looks like it’s straight out of an Aladdin movie set. With only about 10 seats, reservations are essential. Topdeck serves traditional Turkish dishes, and you can sit on the floor to enjoy your meal. There is a 10% service fee will be added to your bill.
Turkish Ravioli ($$) If you love pasta, this is the place to go. We visited twice to try all the Manti they offer. Located high in Göreme, the restaurant provides a beautiful view from the terrace.
Coffeedocia ($$) If you enjoy hookah, Coffeedocia is the place for you. It’s a great spot to relax and enjoy the local ambiance.
Oz Coffee Shop ($$) A small and cozy café offering a variety of iced coffee and hot chocolate variations. Be sure to try their famous Chocolate Baklava!
