Thinking of visiting Cappadocia, Turkey? Here is how to get there, the best things to do, and Cappadocia’s best cave hotels!
Cappadocia, Turkey is truly a magical place. It is the sort of place you image to exist only in fairytales – an underground city made up of ancient ruins and cave hotels all carved out into the hillside. The landscape, which from a distance appears only a dense area of rocky pinnacles, becomes a maze of different sized caves, balconies and terraces lining the streets. The markets and shops selling Turkish tapestries make this city a vibrant wonderland.
In this Cappadocia travel guide, I have included our 4 day itinerary as well as how to get to Cappadocia, the best cave hotels, a list of costs to help with planning a budget, and things to do (including a hot air balloon ride!).
If you are thinking of visiting Cappadocia, don’t forget to save this post so you can make sure not to miss the best of the city!
This guide to Cappadocia, Turkey includes:
- General Information about Cappadocia
- How to get there
- A 4 day Itinerary
- Costs and budgeting for Cappadocia
- The best things to do
- Where to stay
General Information about Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a place that can be enjoyed in all seasons – it’s not just about the hot air balloons here.
The city has so much culture to explore that is not as well known or discussed in other travel sites!
Cappadocia hot air balloon trips
If you are planning to see Cappadocia via hot air balloon you should try to keep in mind that these trips are cancelled if there is rain or strong winds. This means that april to october are the best times to visit if you want to be sure your hot air balloon visit will go ahead!. There are so many companies that offer flights, all well regulated and safe. We organised our trip with Butterfly Balloons as they had a partnership with our hotel so picked us up there and we did not have to travel to their office in the morning. The other company I looked at booking was Royal Balloon. They charged the same price.
Cappadocia cave hotels book up quickly
Accommodation can fill up quite quickly so it is good to book in advance, especially the more well known Cappadocia cave hotels! If there is a certain place you want to stay! I would recommend booking as early as possible just incase – many hotels can be flexible with changes in dates if you need to adjust your trip later!
How to get to Cappadocia , Turkey
Planning the trip to Cappadocia can be confusing when you are looking at booking a trip. There are many options to get to Cappadocia and whether you are on a small or large budget there is always a way! I have more on this below in my guide!
Transport in and around Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a place that you is easy to travel around without needing to go on a tour or hire a car! The buses are really easy to catch and run on a regular basis from the main bus station. Many of the best places to visit and things to do in Cappadocia are within walking distance to the town center as well.
For more information about travelling in Turkey, check out this post with all my top tips!
How to Get To Cappadocia
There are a few different ways to get to Cappadocia, Turkey. The best way to travel depends on how much money you are looking to spend and what your time frame of travel is. So if you are a budget traveller, I would recommend visiting Cappadocia on an overnight bus route. If you have a little more money to spend, or are short on time, flying directly to Cappadocia is your best option!
Flying to Cappadocia
Flights to the Cappadocia and Göreme only operate domestically within Turkey. This means that you must start your trip within Turkey and then catch a flight from there. It is possible to get a connecting flight through Turkish Airlines or Pegasus Airlines that will take you directly to Cappadocia. Flying to Cappadocia, you have the option to arrive at two different airports – Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport and Kayseri Erkilet Airport. Both of these are a little distance from the Cappadocia itself so you need to organise a shuttle. Some hotels offer these as a part, or extra, to your accommodation. Flights to Cappadocia usually cost around $90 – $200 depending what time of year you are visting and how far in advance you book them!
Travelling to Cappadocia by Bus
This is the cheaper alternative, and the option we took when we travelled to Cappadocia, Turkey! We started off in Istanbul and caught a night bus which took around 10 hours in total. It went from central Istanbul to to the centre of Göreme. From here it was only a 5 minute walk to our hotel. I can’t remember exactly how much it cost, but it was around $20 for the bus ticket and we booked it on the day of travel.
The only problem we had with the bus is that we had trouble working out how to book it in advance. Many websites require that you have a Turkish identity number so you either need to book through a travel agent or hotel. Another option is to book the ticket in person a few days before travel if you are in turkey before your trip. This is how we ended up booking the majority of our bus tickets – as we arrived in a city we booked our ticket to leave a few days later!
The quality and comfort of the bus journey itself can differ depending on which company you book it through! It ca be hard to tell what type of experience you will get until you are on the bus! Some journeys have tv screens and give out snacks, where as some are just the basics! I recommend bringing lots of water and snacks just incase, as well as some coins because you often have to pay to use the toilet at most of the rest stops!
Bus times to Cappadocia
- Istanbul to Cappadocia: 12 hours
- Ankara to Cappadocia: 5 hours
- Bursa to Cappadocia: 11 hours
- Izmir to Cappadocia: 12 hours
- Konya to Cappadocia: 4 hours
- Antalya to Cappadocia: 9 hours
- Çanakkale to Cappadocia: 17 hours
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Our 4 Day Cappadocia Itinerary
Day 1 : Night bus from Istanbul to Cappadocia / Arrive in Turkey
The first day of our trip started with an overnight bus which arrived in Göreme at 7am. We immediately went to our hotel (Sultan Cave Suites) to drop of our bags, eat breakfast and relax by the pool until we were able to check in at 2pm. We spent the afternoon strolling around the town and exploring the markets.
Day 2: Cappadocia hot air balloon ride
On day 2 we went on a hot air balloon trip with Butterfly Balloons! It started at 6am and we were picked up in a minibus outside the hotel and taken down to their office for breakfast! The balloon ride started around 8am and ended at 10am. Following the hot air balloon ride we had a glass of champagne.
In the afternoon we visited the Göreme Open Air Museum. This is a centre for culture and an amazing place to visit to really get a feel for the history of Cappadocia and Turkey.
Day 3: Uchisar Castle and Pigeon Valley
On day 3 we woke up at 7am to watch the hot air balloons rising above the skyline of Cappadocia. It was an amazing thing to see. We checked out of Sultan Cave Suites at 11am and walked to Local Cave House (about 7 mins) where we would spent the next night. Check in was at 2pm so we relaxed by the pool while we waited for our room.
In the afternoon we took the bus from the central bus station to Uchisar Castle. This is an ancient castle that was carved into a big rocky mound – today it is just ruins. Following this we took the bus to Pigeon valley for a walk and then went up to Sunset Point for a picnic dinner and to watch the sunset over the city.
Day 4: Night Bus to Pamukkale
On our last day we spent the morning walking around the city, exploring the markets and doing some souvenir shopping. We visited the beautiful coffee shop next to the bus station before catching the night bus to Pamukkale at 6pm.
Travel Budget for Cappadocia, Turkey
All costs are calculated in Australian Dollars and Turkish Lira. Whether you are planning your trip on a low or high budget, make sure to take a look at my post on things to do in Cappadocia for every budget here!
Total cost per person = $710 / 2875₺
Total cost per person including a tour = $790 /3210₺
Food and Drink: $110 / 445₺
- Lunch – $20 / 80₺
- Snacks – $20 – / 80₺
- Dinner – $70 / 285₺
Transportation: $74 / 296₺
- Buses in Cappadocia – $4 / 16₺ (usually around 3-4₺ depending on where you get on and off the bus)
- Night Bus from Istanbul – $30 / 120₺
- Night Bus to Pamukkale – $40 / 160₺
Cappadocia Cave Hotels: $181 / 735₺
- Sultan Cave Suites – $68 / 275₺ per night (including breakfast)
- Sultan Cave Suites – $45 / 182₺ per night (including breakfast)
Activities: $345 / 1395₺
- Hot Air Balloon – $320 / 1300₺ (including breakfast and champagne)
- Göreme Open Air Museum – $20 / 75₺
- Uchisar Castle – $2.50 / 10₺
- Sunset Point – $2.50 – 10₺
Other Cappadocia Tour Options: $710 / 2875₺
We did not do these as we were on a tight budget and were happy to walk around and do thing by ourselves
- The Red Tour – $70 / 285₺
- The Green Tour – $80 / 325₺
- The Blue Tour – $100 / 405₺
The Best Things to do in Cappadocia, Turkey
There are so many things to do in Cappadocia, so I have decided to show you the top 10! This includes hikes, activities, and view points! If you want a more detailed list of things to do in Cappadocia, make sure to take a look at my posts on things to do in Cappadocia for every budget, or the best instagram locations in Cappadocia!
Sunset Point
This was my favourite view point in Cappadocia. As the sun sets and the lights in the city start to sparkle it really highlights the magic of the underground city. We took some wine and takeaway food up to the top and has a picnic in the sun. It costs 10₺ for entry and you pay on the walk up to the guard who are at the entrance. The fee is worth it if you plan to be up there for a while! It is just a short walk from the city centre.
Have a traditional Turkish ice cream
Turkish ice cream is AMAZING and very unique. Although not specific to Cappadocia, it can be found throughout turkey, it is something you must try on your trip! It is a really stringy goats milk ice cream that becomes soft and gooey in texture when you eat it. If you buy ice cream from one of the many street vendors they will often put on a show for you and do tricks with the cone while serving it up!
Stroll the markets in Cappadocia for gifts made in Turkey
The main markets in the town are filled with beautiful locally made products and different souvenirs. They are a lot of fun to look around, especially when it comes to negotiating a price! There are more traditional farmers markets run in Göreme and surrounding areas on different days of the week too!
Hike Red Valley: Cappadocia’s most beautiful landscape
Red Valley is located around a 15 minute drive from the centre of Göreme. It can be reached by car or bus, as well as on one of the tours! The hiking trail passes through some beautiful landscapes of rocky pinnacles, as well as some amazing cave structures! The hike ends at the Red Valley sunset view which is a little more touristy. Here you will find some cafes and vendors in the evenings.
Pigeon Valley View Point
This is only a short stop, but a beautiful one. Located on the way to Uchisar Castle, Pigeon Valley is a view point that looks over the valley of unusual rock formations. It is a classic view that sums up exactly what Cappadocia is about.
Göreme Open Air Museum – Cappadocia UNESCO Site, Turkey
Göreme Open Air Museum is a great place to go and discover the history and culture of this beautiful landscape! Here you can visit many caves that were once used as churches and holy sites by the past people who lived here. The museum is a member of the UNESCO world heritage list and many of the original cave paintings still exist today!
Uchisar Castle
Uchisar Castle is an old “castle” located around 10 minutes from Göreme by bus. It is an amazing place to walk around, as the castle was built into a very large rocky structure located on the top of a hill. From the top, you can see a 360 degree view of the landscape. Inside, you can wander through a few cave rooms that show how the castle once was. Outside Uchisar castle is a small town with a few cafes and quite a big market. This is a beautiful place to walk around for an hour of so during your visit!
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride
For many reasons this was my favourite thing to do in Cappadocia! It was an amazing way to see the landscape in a different way, and doing it at sunset really added to the magic of everything. We booked our trip though Butterfly balloons and it cost 180 euros if you paid in cash. If you pay on card it costs 190 euros – it is a similar price and policy for all the companies in the area.
It was absolutely magical to see the rocky landscape from the air while the sun was rising. There were around 12 other people in our balloon which was still few enough for it to feel like we had a little bit of our own space. All hot air balloons in Cappadocia take off at the same time so you are constantly surrounded by others drifting up and down in the landscape around you. This experience was like nothing else.
Watch The Hot Air Balloons Rise
This is an amazing thing to see. It is a completely different experience to being in the balloon itself, as you see hundreds of colourful balloons light up the sky. The balloons all leave at 7 in the morning so this is the time you need to be outside in order to watch them! As the sun rises, the balloons fill the sky and it really feels like a fairytale! The best place we found to watch them was from the balcony of our hotel – Sultan Cave Suites.
The Best Cappadocia Cave Hotels
We stayed at 2 different cave hotels over the course of our trip. These were Sultan Cave Suites and Local Cave House.
Sultan Cave Suites
I definitely preferred the Sultan Cave Suites as the room we has was much bigger, the breakfast was amazing and the hotel itself just had such an incredible vibe! The complex was massive and just felt like a fairytale to walk around! So if I was going to visit Cappadocia again, I would definitely stay here for the whole trip.
Local Cave House
Local Cave House was a great choice too, but you could tell it was the cheaper option. It has a pretty basic breakfast and the rooms were quite small. It was less of a hotel complex and more of a standard, but beautiful, hotel. The pool however, is amazing! You can actually visit here and use the pool without staying over night, you just have to purchase something from their cafe. That is probably what I would do next time!
There are so many more hotels with similar features around the area so its worth looking at a few before you book! The thing I liked best about Sultan Cave Suites was we actually booked via email with them directly and if you go on their website you are actually able to choose which room you would like in advance! This made it even more fun as we looked through the website months earlier deciding what room was our favourite at the cave hotel!
A Roundup of Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia is definitely one of my favourite destinations so far. It was a truly magical place to visit, with such a unique landscape and cave hotels like nowhere else. I think 4 days was the perfect amount of time to spend in Cappadocia – any more and we would have struggled with what to do on the remaining days!
If you want to do this trip, don’t forget to save this post and come back to it! Feel free to ask me any questions in the comment section below and I will happily help you out!
