3 Days in Cappadocia, Turkey

Deep in the heart of Turkey, there sits a magical city called Cappadocia, where when the sun rises, so do hundreds of balloons that add to the peaceful serenity of this ancient city. The name Cappadocia means “the land of beautiful horses”, but although there are gorgeous horses here, the region is most notable for its unique dome style landscapes. You will see fairy chimneys everywhere, built by the erosion of volcanic rocks that began millions of years ago.

Cappadocia was better than I ever imagined. To be honest I only knew about Cappadocia because of Instagram – and was mainly interested in the famous hot air balloon experience. After spending 3 days in Cappadocia, it is clear that it does not only offer some amazing sceneries to explore but also so much history. If you’re planning a trip to Turkey, you MUST visit Cappadocia! Continue reading as I will be sharing everything about my trip including tips, where to stay, where to eat and what to expect!

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THINGS TO KNOW

• Cappadocia is a UNESCO site
• Cappadocia’s landscape was mainly formed by volcanic erosions, which took place over 3 million years ago
• There are over 600 churches spread over the region
• The cities and towns of Cappadocia were possibly originally built in 2500-2000 BC
• The region of Cappadocia is a large grape producer and it’s believed that wine-making has a long history here
• Over 100 hot air balloons fly over the city of Cappadocia daily at sunrise

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HOW TO GET TO CAPPADOCIA

Fly

This is the fastest and most reliable way to get to Cappadocia with flight times taking only 1 hour and 15 minutes! There are two airports that you can fly into Cappadocia: 

• Kayseri Erkilet Airport
• Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport

From the airports, you can use shuttle buses, taxis or public transportation. The easiest way to arrange this is to simply ask your hotel upon booking.

I personally flew into Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport because it was closer to my hotel. I provided my flight information to my hotel and they arranged shuttle transportation. It was very convenient and made the transition between the airport and hotel very simple. The shuttle fee was about 8 USD per person each way and was charged to our hotel bill upon checking out.

Bus

The cheapest way to get to Cappadocia is to take one of the many buses inside the country. You can basically reach Cappadocia from every major city, which is a great option during a trip through Turkey. If money is an issue and time is not and you can sleep sitting on a bus, then the bus might be your best bet. A bus ticket from Istanbul to Cappadocia cost less than 20 USD one way.

Here are some time estimates from Turkish cities to Cappadocia:

• Istanbul (12 hours)
• Ankara (5 hours)
• Bursa (11 hours)
• Izmir (12 hours)
• Konya (4 hours)
• Antalya (9 hours)

There are night buses from Istanbul, which leave around 11 pm and arrive in the morning. You will be dropped off in whichever Cappadocia town you desire and be able to walk or take a taxi to your hotel. The most efficient way to get a bus ticket is to ask your hotel to help you reserve your seat.

Rent a Car

The last option is to rent a car at the airport and make the drive yourself. Prices vary widely and you can choose to use a known company like Avis or Budget or go with a Turkish company with offices at the airport. Driving can be a good option for those with a sense of adventure, but it is at least 10 hours from the Istanbul airport to Cappadocia. Keep in mind you may have to make a stop along the way to rest and also pay for gas throughout your journey.

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HOW TO GET AROUND

To get around Cappadocia without a car can be quite tricky, as the region is huge, the public transport is really not good and some of the main attractions are far away from each other. I personally recommend renting a car – if you don’t decide to book guided tours. Taxi’s and private drivers are an option, however they quickly add up and don’t allow you to fully explore and experience what Cappadocia has to offer.

We rented a car through our hotel, which they completely arranged and added the price to our bill upon check out. The process was SO convenient because the car was dropped off and picked up at the hotel. Our car rental cost 30 USD per day and was completely worth it. There is something about having the freedom to explore and do as you please when you have your own vehicle, especially in a foreign country. I personally prefer this method than being on a structured and guided tour with tons of tourists.

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BEST TIME TO VISIT CAPPADOCIA

• End of April – June
• September – October

During these months the days are warm, the nights are cool, and there is little threat of rain. Although some might be deterred from visiting Cappadocia in the winter because of snow, it is really beautiful seeing all of the snow capped caves and fairy chimneys.

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HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STAY IN CAPPADOCIA

I would recommend dedicating at least 3-4 days in Cappadocia. With scenic hiking trails, open air museums and underground cities, you will be surprised how much there is to do in Cappadocia besides riding a hot air balloon.

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WHEN DO THE HOT AIR BALLOONS LAUNCH?

Balloons usually take off early in the morning—about 5:00 AM to 5:30 AM, depending on the season. The reason launch times are so early is because the wind conditions are best around sunrise.

It is very important to note that the hot air balloons only go up if the weather and winds are perfect for flying. This is for your safety!

In my experience visiting Cappadocia in the month of May, I was fortunate to witness the hot air balloons twice within three days. On the second day of our trip, the balloons were cancelled because of high winds. We had been informed that the three days before our visit the balloons did not fly at all due to the wind and on the day we left they had already cancelled the balloons for the following day. I am pointing this out so that you realize not riding or seeing the balloons fly is a possibility. On the other hand, you maybe lucky and see the balloons every day you’re there – it’s truly weather dependent.

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WHERE TO STAY

To break it down for you, Cappadocia is the region and within there are many different towns. Göreme is one of these towns and this is the main hub for tourists in Cappadocia. The town of Göreme is located between the ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations that make up Cappadocia and give this area such a unique look and trust me it does feel like you’re in a fairy tale!

I recommend looking for accommodations within Göreme , however if you have a car or prefer to be outside of the main tourist area then you may want to consider Uçhisar, Urgap or Ortahisar. For a better overview of Cappadocia, click here to view a map.

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WHERE I STAYED

When it comes to where you should stay in Cappadocia there is only one answer for me: In a cave hotel. While there are plenty of amazing options in and around Göreme we stayed at Sultan Cave Suites.

Sultan Cave Suites, I believe, has the most incredible terrace view of the hot air balloons rising + authentic cave rooms. They also have an amazing restaurant, Seten, on the rooftop. Breakfast is served daily in the restaurant for guests of the hotel and offers a huge spread that is totally worth waking up for!

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Sultan Cave Suites is truly an absolutely amazing place to stay! The staff made us feel like family and made everything from our stay, to rescheduling our cancelled balloon ride to booking a rental car SO simple. They even have a few cute little pups that roam around the hotel and are super friendly. I plan to definitely visit again one day!

Other great cave hotels to stay at: Museum Hotel, Rox Cappadocia, Mithra, and Artemis Cave Suites have all become very popular on Instagram as the place to stay when visiting Cappadocia. Many of the hotels are built into the rock fairy chimneys and as such rooms are in a series of caves. Watching the sunrise from a hotel rooftop is a magical experience, so pick your hotel wisely!

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WHAT TO DO

Göreme Open Air Museum

Probably the most well known and most visited place in Cappadocia is The Göreme Open Air Museum. The museum, which is home to dozens of churches, was first built when the Christians settled there. The churches are built into rocks, which makes them extremely special and so different compared to average churches. Inside the churches, you can see paintings, which some are better preserved than others.

I really enjoyed visiting this place – however, you should try to avoid the huge tourist buses that arrive around 9 AM, as the Göreme Open Air Museum is one of the first things to do in Cappadocia. I recommend visiting early in the morning or shortly before it closes. Admission is about 5 USD.

Monks Valley

Nearby The Open Air Museum you can find another well known place to visit in Cappadocia: Monks Valley. The name was derived from some cones carved in tuff stones which stand apart. This spot has the most striking Fairy Chimneys and should definitely be on your list when you travel to Cappadocia.

Uçhisar Castle

Uçhisar is the highest point in Cappadocia and offers magnificent views from the top.

Inside the rocks, there are many rooms hollowed out and are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels, and passages. Due to the erosion, it is unfortunately not possible to access all the rooms.

Love Valley

The combination of the name Love Valley and the interesting pillars is quite hilarious. The rocks basically resemblance man hood. At Love Valley, you can visit the viewpoint from above or you can hike down to the base of the huge structures.

Red Valley

Red Valley Sunset viewpoint is known for its amazing views. There is a cafe at the top that serves wine and beer. The views there are a mix of Grand Canyon and moon landscapes, in short: just breathtaking.

Devrent Valley

Devrent Valley is also known as Imagination Valley. It is filled with unique looking Fairy Chimneys resembling animal shapes. 

All the places listed above I was able to visit using a car, however here are two tours that allow you to visit these locations and more if you prefer to be with a guide. Each tour is 7-9 hours long and both are popular, however if you can only do one, I suggest the green tour.

Red Tour // Uchisar, Goreme Open Air Museum, Monks Valley, Devrent Valley, Love Valley

Again, you can rent a car yourself and easily get to the places featured on the Red Tour, however if you don’t feel comfortable driving yourself and prefer a guided tour then this tour is an option. You will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel. Click here for more information on the Red Tour.

Green Tour // Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, Pigeon Valley

The reason I recommend the green tour over the red tour is because the places you’ll see on the green tour are a long distance from Göreme and not the easiest to find. Taking a tour will ensure you’ll make it to all the spots mentioned in a timely manner. This tour requires quite a lot of walking. So, it’s best to save this for a day that you’re not tired. Click here for more information on the Green Tour.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

The reason for Cappadocia’s fame is clearly those magical hot air balloon rides! This is an absolute MUST do if you’re in Cappadocia! Flying in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip to Cappadocia – as it offers aerial views on this beautiful region. It is an unforgettable experience and the best thing to do in Cappadocia.

There are SO many hot air balloon companies, however we decided to go with Butterfly Balloons. Tour operators will pick you up from your hotel around 4:30 AM, provide breakfast and transport you to the starting point. After enjoying the sunrise views in the hot air balloon, you land and celebrate the experience with champagne. Hot air balloon prices start at about 190 USD.

Watch the Sunrise

Watching the hot air ballons drift throughout the sky while the sunrises is another epic reason to visit Cappadocia. Why? Because the whole sky just looks way more beautiful and romantic. It’s probably the main reason why Cappadocia became so famous on Instagram – because hands down the images of Cappadocia with the balloons during sunrise are just out of this world. You can get amazing views from several valley viewpoints or if you’re lucky from your own hotel.

Sunrise – Photoshoot

Now, if you’re set on getting the perfect photo of the hot air balloons rising over Göreme – I highly recommend you stay at your hotel. Ask the hotel concierge what time they suggest you arrive on the rooftop to watch the balloons rise. Although you have to be up early, you pretty much just roll out of bed, get ready and walk right outside of your room.

Another option is to hire a local photographer to take photos of you on your hotel rooftop and take you around to all the hot spots for photos.

Visit a Carpet Shop

There’s a huge shop with over 50,000 pieces of craftsmanship divided throughout several rooms called Galeri Ikman. It is owned by the friendliest shop owner you will ever meet. Take an item home if you’re able to fit something in your suitcase or just stop by for a photo. The shop owner is more than willing to be your Instagram boyfriend and snap a picture for a few Liras.

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ADDITIONAL THINGS TO DO

Horseback Riding

Depending on how adventurous you are, you can spend your late afternoon/evening a few different ways. A popular option is horseback riding through the valleys and fairy chimneys. These rides typically last 2 hours.

Quad Tours

Another popular activity to do in Cappadocia is riding an ATV through Love, Sword and Rose Valleys. These tours also last about 1-2 hours and are perfect to take just before sunset. You’ll get a different perspective of the valleys, plus get to have some fun driving an ATV!

Wine Tour

Why not take a wine tour? It’s not too often that you get to visit a wine region that has been in production for 4,000 years! Wineries are about a 15 minute drive from Sultan Cave Suites. You can visit the wineries on your own or choose a $75 pp wine tour. 

We personally chose to visit Kocabag Winery on our own. We were able to sample 6 of their wines. We ended up choosing our favorite wine and purchased a bottle to share at the winery. We also purchased a few bottles for less than 10 USD each, to enjoy on our hotel balcony and bring home.

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WHERE TO EAT

• Seten
• Topdeck Cave Restaurant
• Pumpkin
• My Mother’s Restaurant
• Nostalji Restaurant
• The Plum Restaurant 

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TIPS

• Be sure to schedule your hot air balloon ride the first morning you are in Cappadocia. This is because if there is bad weather, you will have the chance to reschedule it for the next day.
• If you plan to drive around Cappadocia, you will need a GPS or a phone with GPS. While some of the places are easy to reach, there are hidden spots which are not on the usual tourist route. 
• If you’re booking a popular hotel, I suggest booking at least 3-4 months in advance. Cave hotels book quickly.
• Bring the right power adapters for your devices. For Turkey there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Electrical voltage is 230V and 50HZ.

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Want to book your own trip to Cappadocia? Book your trip on Kayak.com through my affiliate link. Kayak offers the best prices by scanning hundreds of travel sites in seconds and gathering flight deals from across the web and putting them in one place, at no extra cost to you!

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