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Cappadocia Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 3 days

Best Time: March to May or September to November (Spring or Autumn) Read More

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Top places within Cappadocia

"The Fairytale City"

Cappadocia Tourism

Cappadocia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey. It is located in the centre of Turkey, almost 700km from Istanbul. It is a land of natural wonder famous for its picturesque valleys, unique cave hotels, mystical underground cities and fairy chimneys (unique rock formations). Cappadocia is also most popular for its breathtaking hot air balloon rides at sunrise.

The ancient valleys of Cappadocia offer many hiking trails. There is so much hiking here that it will take you at least a week to explore them all. Goreme is one of the main highlights of Cappadocia. It is home to an open-air museum and historical sites, home to hidden churches and exotic frescoes.

Unlike popular belief, Cappadocia is not a city but an entire region. It has small towns like Goreme, Uchisar, Urgup and Ortahisar, among others. These areas are surrounded by three dormant volcanoes - Mt Erciyes, Mt Hasan and Mt Gullu. These have contributed to the exotic landscape of Cappadocia and the unique cave hotels. These cave hotels are a sought-after experience, quintessential to Cappadocia. It is also the place where you don't want to miss a sunrise!

Must Know Before You Travel to Cappadocia

  • Shuttle services are available outside the airport to travel to Goreme. It generally costs TL 50. Havas buses are cheaper and drop you at the bus station, from where you can take another bus to Goreme
  • Book hot air balloon rides well in advance, as they can often be sold out
  • Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia are weather-dependent and may be canceled. So, plan to spend a few days and keep a buffer. Also, the take-off site changes daily depending on the wind direction.
  • Getting Around: Most sights in Cappadocia aren't accessible by public transport, so you need to hire or rent a car which is why most people prefer to book full day tours
  • Most popular tours in Cappadocia are Red, Blue & Green Tour. Green Tour is a full day tour involving a lot of walking and covers Derinkuyu Underground Village. Red tour is ideal if you are in Cappadocia for one day and want to see the main highlights. Blue tour covers some of the lesser known sights and is ideal if you are looking for a Turkish village experience.
  • The most convenient way to explore Cappadocia is by hiring a car or taking local tours.
  • The most popular areas for accommodation in Cappadocia are Goreme, Urgup, and Uchisar. Most tours start from Goreme.
  • Visit Goreme's Sunset Point in the early morning for the best photographs of the hot air balloons. Also, you can watch these from the rooftop of your accommodation. The terraces are part of individual hotels; you can access them only if you stay there. Many hotels also offer free entrance after sunrise.

Top Hotels In Cappadocia

More on Cappadocia Travel

Currency Exchange in Cappadocia

The only currency exchanges in Cappadocia are in Nevsehir and none in Urgup, Uchisar and Goreme. The only bank outside of Nevsehir is Denizbank in Goreme. You can exchange currency at some of the jewellery stores or withdraw Turkish Liras from the ATM.

Shopping in Cappadocia

Shopping isn't too elaborate or extensive in the region. Most of the shops have to do with souvenirs or handlooms. Hand-woven rugs are very popular in Turkey, and Cappadocia has some of the finest which you can find in the Gallery Cappadocia in Goreme. The region is also home to some fine pottery, and you should at least have a look at the Avanos Pottery. Other shops include souvenirs and clothes created by the domestic women of the region themselves, and you might find something you like!

Nightlife in Cappadocia

Nightlife in Cappadocia, as you'd expect, isn't the most popular. That being said, there are a few places in the region, especially in Goreme where you can kick back and have fun, such as the Flintstone's Cave Bar, or the Angel Cafe in Urgup, or you can find some entertainment exclusive to the land, such as Turkish Belly Dances and other performances at the Uranos restaurant. There isn't a huge array of options, but your needs will be taken care of for sure in Cappadocia!

History of Cappadocia

Cappadocia has a long history of being ruled by various empires and rulers, the earliest being that of the Persians. They were succeeded by Alexander the Great, who's military commander Ariarethes became king of Cappadocia and expanded the empire greatly. By the time of Ariarethes IV, Cappadocia came into conflict with the Roman empire, but then became an ally due to similar interests. Around 130 BCE, the Cappadocian and Roman empire marched on Pergamon and were handsomely defeated, and after various civil wars Cappadocia became a province of the Roman empire. Cappadocia was a major centre for Christians, as can be seen by the hundreds of churches. Turkish influence began after the 11th century, and the Ottoman Empire took over in the 15th century. Today this city is part of Turkey and is one of the country's prime tourist places due to the rich history and points of interest.

Best Time to Visit Cappadocia

Cappadocia Photos

Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia at night
Cappadocia is most famous for fairy chimneys. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, is synonymous with thousands of unique rock formations created due to the erosion of volcanic tuff or soft rock.
Hot air balloons flying over Uchisar town of Cappdocia

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FAQs on Cappadocia

What are the things to do in Cappadocia?

The top things to do in Cappadocia are Gšreme, Gšreme Open-air Museum, Kaymaklõ Underground City, Derinkuyu Underground City, Zelve Open Air Museum, Ihlara Valley. You can see all the places to visit in Cappadocia here

What are the places near Cappadocia?

The top places near to Cappadocia are Ankara which is 222 km from Cappadocia, Istanbul which is located 565 km from Cappadocia, Antalya which is located 411 km from Cappadocia, Kas which is located 533 km from Cappadocia, Pamukalle which is located 505 km from Cappadocia

What are the top hotels in Cappadocia?

There are 374 in Cappadocia which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Cappadocia are Yusuf Yigitoglu Konagi - Special Category, Hotel Surban - Special Category, Tafoni Houses Cave Hotel, Cappa Cave Hotel, Cozy Villa Cappadocia, Osiana Hotel. You can see all the hotels in Cappadocia here

What is the local food in Cappadocia?

You'll find many restaurants in the towns around Cappadocia. Most of these are Turkish cuisine, and while you're here you just have to try the world famous Turkish kebabs, or the manti which is indigenous to the region. If you have a sweet tooth, definitely try the Baklava to see what its original taste is!
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What is the best time to visit Cappadocia?

The best time to visit Cappadocia is from April to May and September and October. This is the time when the weather is warm during the daytime and cold during the evening, which allows you to move through the region. It is also the best time to check out the rock formations such as the fairy chimneys and the cones present in Love Valley.

April to May is Spring in Cappadocia, and it is the perfect time to hike and explore the caves of the Red and Rose valleys. Cycling through Gorome in the spring or autumn months will undoubtedly bring you joy. Cappadocia’s spring brings colour to the land of fairy chimneys in forms of flowers. Autumn in Cappadocia is equal to the Spring season experienced by the region and falls in September and October. In the spring and autumn, the temperatures are pleasant, the flowers in the valleys are budding in the spring, and the trees have taken a beautiful red shade during the autumn. The crowds are at a minimum, and you will be able to find reasonable prices. Summer months from June to September is the peak season for visiting this region of Turkey. Summers tend to get hot in Cappadocia, but the temperature remains within 40 degrees Celsius. It is also the time when the rains aren’t frequent. You may want to avoid visiting Cappadocia during the winter months of December to March when the weather is wet and windy. But it is an ideal season for those people who would like to enjoy skiing in any of the resorts. A hot air balloon ride is an integral part of experiencing the beautiful terrains of Cappadocia, and it is available all year long.
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