Cappadocia in Turkey is one of the most interesting and beautiful places I have ever been in the world. If you’re looking for fascinating landscapes, unusual activities to do and interesting places to see, Cappadocia is must-visit. If you can include a stay in Cappadocia in your Turkey itinerary, you will not regret it. In this Cappadocia Travel Guide, I’ve listed the must see sites, as well as detailed information on everything you might need to know before visiting. Covering topics like where to stay, how to get around Cappadocia and how to plan your stay – this post should include everything you need to get planning your own visit to Cappadocia!
Cappadocia Travel Guide: Essential things to know
Location and Getting to Cappadocia
Cappadocia is located in the east of the country in a region called Anatolia, which is a few hundred kilometres from the border with Syria.
To get to Cappadocia from Istanbul, you need to fly into Kayseri airport. Many airlines fly this route, such as Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines and flight prices can be as low as £40 one way.
When is the best time to go to Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is a unique year round destination, with each season offering really varied experiences. I went in the summer which was brilliant and I loved dipping into the pool to cool off. I’ve seen photos of Cappadocia as a winter wonderland too, which looks amazing!
The main advantage in going in the summer months is that the weather is more stable and therefore, it is easier to guarantee a hot air balloon flight. If the winds are too high, the balloons cannot fly.
Where to stay in Cappadocia?
Well, it is a missed opportunity to not stay in a cave hotel whilst in Cappadocia. I’ve written more on this further down and included suggestions of some of the best hotels to pick from. I stayed at the Sultan Cave Suites which I highly recommend as one of the best luxury cave hotels in Cappadocia.
Using local tour companies
There are a huge number of local tour companies in Cappadocia to choose to do a day tour with. We used a small company arranged through our hotel, the Sultan Cave Suites. Another idea is to use GetYourGuide and to arrange your tour in advance of arriving in Turkey. I’ve popped some great tours here below:
- Göreme: Small Group Full-Day Cappadocia Red Tour
- Cappadocia: Hot Air Balloon Flight
- Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight
- Full-Day Small Group Cappadocia Green Tour
- Discover the Beauty of Cappadocia by Hot Air Balloon
- Full-Day Cappadocia Blue Tour with a Small Group
- Göreme: Dinner and Folk Show at a Cave Restaurant
- Cappadocia: All-In-One Private Day Trip
- Cappadocia ATV Tour Adventure
- Full-Day Cappadocia Red Plus Tour
- Cappadocia Highlights Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Hidden Cappadocia: Private Full-Day Tour
- Göreme: Horseback Riding Experience in Cappadocia
- Goreme Open Air Museum and Fairy Chimneys Full-Day Tour
Things to do and see in Cappadocia
See Cappadocia from above in a hot air balloon
It goes without staying that this is an absolute bucket list experience in Cappadocia for any visitor. In fact, for many tourists, a hot air balloon ride is the sole reason travellers visit Cappadocia. I found it to be an pretty incredible experience. We found our pilot to be very adept in flying a hot air balloon – he took us so high above the whole region and then right down into the valleys, almost within touching distance of the fairy chimneys.
We enjoyed a hot air balloon ride above Cappadocia with a company called Kapadokya Balloons. Their service was faultless and experience was magical. We even enjoyed a champagne toast after the hot air balloon ride!
Visit the Göreme Open Air Museum
The Göreme Open Air Museum is a vast complex of monasteries and churches located just minutes from the centre of Cappadocia. The whole complex dates back to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries and is a bit of an otherworldly destination. The rock faces have been carved out and adorned with some really interesting, beautiful and well-preserved frescoes, it is quite something.
Göreme Open Air Museum is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and for good reason. I highly recommend visiting here with a guide, so you can really understand this truly unique museum and learn the about the unusual history.
Visit Uçhisar
The small village of Uçhisar is essentially a giant rock and the tallest point in Cappaddocia. It has a spectacular panoramic viewpoint which draws travellers who want the next best view in Cappadocia, without going up in a balloon. Most of the cave homes here have long been deserted, which provides a unique opportunity to have a bit of an explore in the ancient dwellings.
Explore Pasabag (Monk’s Valley)
Another must see attraction in Cappadocia is to visit the famous ‘Fairy Chimneys’ that dominate the landscape. The locals that used to live here carved into these fairy chimneys. So rather than living at ground level, they created rooms that were 10-15m above the valley floor.
Pasabag has some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, with some having twin and even triple rock caps. You can easily lose an hour or two wandering around this valley and climbing onto the rocks. It’s one of the most popular sites to see in Cappadocia, so definitely visit earlier than than later. It gets very busy in the afternoon!
Stop by Devrent (Imagination Valley)
Devrent, also known as Imagination Valley, is fairly different to the rest of the area and a walk around here is one of the top things to do in Cappadocia.
Devrent doesn’t have cave homes, churches, or fairy chimneys. But in fact, it is a unique lunar landscape which consists of many different rock formations, all of which happen to look like animals. Let your imagination run free, and you might see camels, snakes, seals, dolphins, a dragon. Some even say they can see Jesus in a rock formation too!
Explore the ancient village of Cavusin
This old Greek village is often overlooked by visitors to Cappadocia and is rarely included in travel guides to the area. I think this is a real shame, as it was uniquely different to the other top sites in Cappadocia.
Exploring Cavusin was fascinating and a actually a great opportunity to have a real poke around the homes. In fact, I was surprised to see several homes for sale! Cavusin is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, but has long been abandoned following an earthquake.
Sample the local cuisine
As with anywhere, it’s a always a great idea to explore local cuisine. Cappadocia is a great place to sample typical Turkish food, but I highly recommend a dining experience in the Avanos Valley. Arranged for us by Turkish Heritage Travel, we visited the owner’s family home in the valley with our tour guide Barış Şahin. The food served was fantastic and all vegetarian. Plus, the location was out of this world!
Stay in a cave hotel
There aren’t many places where you can stay in a real cave hotel that dates back centuries, but in Cappadocia you can. I highly recommend staying at the incredible Sultan Cave Suites. This hotel is also known to be home to one of the best photo spots in Cappadocia, with its phenomenal terrace.
If Sultan Cave Suites is full, here are some of the best hotels to stay in in Cappadocia:
Experience a Cappadocia sunrise
A sunrise in Cappadocia is pretty special. I’ve never seen anything like it. The sky fills up silently with floating hot air balloons, offering a completely magical scene. One of the best places to witness this wizardry is from the Sultan Cave Suites with its Instagram-famous terrace. I’ve put this guide together here, detailing how to best capture the sunrise in Cappadocia and why the terrace at Sultan Cave Suites really is the best photo spot in Cappadocia.
Explore the town centre of Cappadocia
My Cappadocia travel guide would not be complete if I didn’t encourage my readers to simply wander and explore its quaint town centre. Not only is it charming, it offers some of the best shopping I found in Turkey. I couldn’t stop buying cute souvenirs and stopping by some of the lovely coffee shops.
Cappadocia Travel Guide
Have you been to Cappadocia before? Let me know in the comments!
Cappadocia had been on my travel bucket list for so long and I’m so glad I finally went. It was just as magical as I had hoped!
I hope this has been Cappadocia Travel Guide helpful if you’re planning on heading to the amazing towns of Göreme and Cappadocia. If you’re considering a longer Turkey adventure, you might find my two-week Turkey itinerary useful. I’ve also written guides to Bodrum, Pamukkale, Ephesus, as well as sailing the famous Turquoise Coast and Istanbul.
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Disclaimer: This visit to Cappadocia, Turkey was entirely paid for by myself and there was no involvement from the tourism board or the Sultan Cave Suites team. This is an independent guide.
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I am headed to Turkey for the second time but still won’t be making it to see cappadocia unfortunatelty. Your post and pictures look beautiful. There seems to be more in the area than the hot air balloons. Such a rustic old world charm.
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OMW, never in a million years would I have even imagined something so stunning Claire. That GÖREME Open air museum is out of this world. Every single place on my wishlist of travel places has just been moved down the list. Cappadocia is now right at the very top. Stunning!!!!
I do believe that the magic of Cappadocia stands in the beautiful balloons that you can admire at sunrise from the beautiful high balconies of some privileged buildings in the city. The town itself looks gorgeous! The Greek village looks like a place I would love to visit and maybe stay overnight as well if there’s a chance. It’s fascinating that some of those houses are for sale as well.
I can’t say that I ever had any desire to visit Turkey, until this blog. What a beautiful place and amazing sites!
This looks like the land of Rapunzel with the hot air balloons. I think my daughters would love to travel here. It’s remarkably beautiful.
The hot air balloon ride looked magical as did the Imagiantikn Land. Wow! Have you been to toner places in South east Asia?
The sights there look amazing! I love reading travel blogs so I can see the world through the eyes of others, until I’m able to travel myself. the village of Cavusin looks really cool.
I must see Uchisar one day! I’ve also always wanted to take a balloon ride, but have never had the opportunity. What a view from that balcony
The sights are absolutely stunning! This would make such a wonderful and romantic trip to go on! I always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon but I’m so frighten of heights!
How was the travel cost on this?
That picture of all the balloons in the air is just so incredibly beautiful! I’d love to go on a trip like this, it has to be so much fun!
This looks amazing and the pictures are stunning! Never seen them before but your post makes it appalling! Not planning any trip yet but when I do, I sure will find this helpful.
What an amazing expedition, I love hot air balloons but honest have never thought to try them out while traveling abroad, I can’t even begin to imagine the site with the sky full of balloons.
This Cappadocia Turkey looks like a great and awesome place to explore. Lots of beautiful scenery and views. I remember my friend visit the beautiful place of Turkey and she really enjoys the peaceful and stunning ambiance of this place. I will absolutely put this on my Bucket list for my next travel visit this 2018.
Oh wow these photos are stunning! The hot air balloon ride is definitely on my bucketlist!
Now I really want to go here! What beautifful pictures, I’d love to see the little Greek village but it all looks amazing to explore. I LOVE the photo of you sat with all the balloons in the air, that is magical!
Cappadocia looks like a beautiful place to visit. I love all the rock chimneys and the hot air balloon photos are so cool!
Omg! The hot air balloon ride seems to be an amazing and magic experience! I’d love to live it sooo much!
Cappadocia is definitely on my travel list! I have heard so many things on that part of turkey! and your photos are stunning!
This place looks so beautiful, I would love to take a hot air balloon ride. Your pictures are gorgeous and stunning. I’ve never been to Turkey but I would love to go sometime!
These photos are stunning! The Cave hotel looks like a really cool place to stay. I’d love to take a hot air balloon ride, but I don’t know if I have the nerve to do it.
Author
So amazing 🙂 I also found the hot air balloon a bit scary at first, and then I relaxed :)X
WOW! it looks so beautiful there! would love to go visit!
I have never been to Turkey but it looks so beautiful. I would love to visit the air museum
Author
You definitely should 🙂 X
I gotta say, your photos are sooooo…. instagram-ish! I’ve never thought about going Turkey, but looking at your photos make me think about putting it in my bucket list! The hot air balloon and Monk’s Valley will be the top 2 places I would like to visit!
Author
Ah thank you! I know, just the most amazing scenery!!! x
Oh my goodness those air balloons!! The photos you took of those were breathtaking! Monk’s valley looks really cool and a great way to experience the culture more!
Author
Thank you! I know, totally amazing 🙂
Turkey is such an amazing place to visit and to explore. I am jealous of your photos. It seems that you had a fun and awesome experience there in Cappadocia Turkey. I would love to visit it someday.
Author
Ah thanks, hope you visit soon!! x
Those are such amazing places that everyone could ever see. If I bumped into that place for sure I will took lots of selfie. Nobody can avert me from taking and documenting those spots for sure.
Author
Haha, too right! x
I need this place in my life!!! I love traveling and Turkey looks amazing! Definitely on my list of places I must go. Your pictures are really beautiful too! Keep up the good work, I will be back to see more.
Author
Thank you, appreciate it! I hope you visit soon 🙂 x
Wow gurl. Turkey is gorgeous. I never looked up much on turkey. It’s so pretty! Wow
Author
I know! Such an underrated beautiful country! 🙂
Wow… I just added Cappadocia to my own bucket list. The pics look amazing and your blog too.
Nice article, it helped us a lot to explore. I am an entrepreneur by profession and a traveler by heart. Your article made our stay exciting.
Very attractive information.