Your Ultimate 2024 Cappadocia Travel Guide

Cappadocia, a captivating region in central Türkiye, is a surreal destination perfect for travellers seeking otherworldly landscapes, fascinating history, and bucket-list adventures. In this Cappadocia travel guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know to make the most of your trip.

Discover the best things to do in Cappadocia, from exploring the ancient cave dwellings and stunning rock formations to experiencing the magic of a sunrise hot air balloon ride.

In this guide, you’ll also find information on the best ways to get around Cappadocia, how many days to spend in the region, and the ideal times to visit to make the most of your holiday.

14 Best Things to do in Cappadocia

1. Hot Air Balloon Ride – Soar above the magical landscapes on this sunrise hot air balloon tour for breathtaking views of fairy chimneys and valleys.

2. Explore Göreme Open-Air Museum – Wander through ancient rock-cut churches and monasteries adorned with stunning frescoes.

3. Stay in a Cave Hotel – Experience the charm and luxury of sleeping in a beautifully restored cave.

4. Go Horseback Riding – Discover the “land of beautiful horses” on a guided sunset horseback tour through the valleys.

5. Pottery Workshop – Try your hand at this traditional pottery-making class in the historic town of Avanos by the Kızılırmak River.

6. Visit Uchisar Castle – Climb to the top of this natural rock fortress for panoramic views of the region.

7. Hike the Red and Rose Valleys – Trek across scenic trails with unique rock formations and breathtaking sunset views.

8. Explore Pasabag Valley – Marvel at the unique fairy chimneys and learn about the monastic life of ancient hermits.

9. Visit Derinkuyu Underground City – Explore the depths of this ancient subterranean city, once a refuge for early Christians.

10. Carpet photoshoot at Galerie Ikman – Book a photo session at this carpet shop in Göreme. To book: message the shop on IG here.

11. Enjoy a romantic dinner experience at Sunset Wine Garden Uçhisar

12. Taste Traditional Turkish Cuisine – Savour delicious local dishes like testi kebab at the best restaurants in Cappadocia.

13. ATV Tours – Get your adrenaline pumping with an exciting quad bike tour through Cappadocia’s rugged terrain.

14. Visit Zelve Open-Air Museum – walk through a historic village in a rock valley.

Best time to visit Cappadocia?

The best months to visit Cappadocia are during spring (April to June) and autumn/fall (September to November). During these seasons, the temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F), which is mild and perfect for exploring.

Summer (July to August) can also be a good time to visit if you don’t mind the heat, as temperatures can soar up to a sizzling 35°C (95°F).

The advantage of visiting in the summer is the longer daylight hours, which allow more time to explore. However, it’s also the peak tourist season, so popular spots will be crowded, and accommodation prices are usually higher too.

Winter (December to February) offers a completely different experience in Cappadocia. The region can be quite cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing, and occasional snowfall transforms the landscapes into a winter wonderland.

Winter can be a magical time to visit if you’re prepared for the cold and want to see Cappadocia from a different perspective. Plus, winter is off-season, meaning fewer tourists and lower prices.

When is the best time to see hot air balloons in Cappadocia?

While hot air balloons can be seen year-round in Cappadocia, spring and autumn are the best months to visit if you want to do a hot air balloon ride and avoid cancellations. It’s important to note that the balloons will only fly if the wind conditions are stable enough.

January & February are the worst months to see the hot air balloons in Cappadocia as these months have the highest cancellation rates. If your flight gets cancelled you usually get a refund on your deposit or you’ll be offered a replacement flight for the next available morning.

I recommend you give yourself a minimum of at least four mornings on your trip to Cappadocia for the best chance of seeing the balloons or going on a balloon ride. Make sure to book your balloon ride as soon as you know your travel dates, as flights can get booked up quickly in peak months.

The best way to get balloon flight status updates is by contacting the company you booked your ride with or ask your hotel reception team who will be able to check this for you.

Where to stay in Cappaodica?

In Cappadocia, there are dozens of charming towns to base yourself in. Here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in Cappadocia:

Göreme

Göreme is centrally located and ideal for exploring major attractions. It’s known for its unique cave hotels and stunning views of the fairy chimneys and hot air balloons.

Ürgüp

Ürgüp offers a mix of luxury and boutique hotels in a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for those seeking comfort and tranquillity.

Uçhisar

Uçhisar is known for its panoramic views of the Cappadocian landscape and Uçhisar Castle, offering a quieter, upscale experience.

Avanos

Avanos, located by the Kızılırmak River, is known for its pottery and relaxed ambience.

My recommendation is to stay in either Göreme or Uçhisar due to their proximity to the hot air balloons and the range of amazing cave hotels which are available in both of these towns.

How Many Days in Cappadocia?

In order to fully appreciate the unique landscapes, historical sites, and cultural experiences that Cappadocia has to offer, three to four days is enough time to see the best highlights of this region.

That being said, if you are hell-bent on seeing the hot air balloons, then I highly recommend you spend at least five days in Cappadocia, maybe even six!

When I visited Cappadocia for five days in April, we had gorgeous sunny weather all week (25°C/77°F) however the balloons only flew once during our visit. This meant I had to make the difficult decision of either going on a hot air balloon ride or viewing them from a lookout point.

Cappadocia is usually a destination most people will only visit once in their life, so it makes sense to give yourself the best chance to witness the jaw-dropping balloons. 4 nights in Cappadocia = 5 mornings and 5 chances to see the balloons fly.

There is truly nothing like seeing hundreds of balloons take flight at the same time and there’s simply nowhere else in the world you can experience something like this. Plus, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Cappadocia, so trust me, you won’t run out of ideas for the week.

How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul?

The most convenient way to get to Cappadocia is by plane. If you are arriving from outside of Turkiye you will need to catch a flight to Istanbul. From Istanbul, you will then need to get a connecting flight to one of the two airports which are nearest to Göreme, the heart of Cappadocia. The two main airports are.

Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV):
40 km from Göreme. 1 hour and 15 minutes flight from Istanbul.

Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR):
70 km from Göreme. 1 hour and 20 minutes flight from Istanbul.

Note: Kayseri has more frequent flights from Istanbul and other major Turkish cities. Once you arrive at either airport, you can take a taxi to your accommodation in Cappadocia.

For an idea of costs, a taxi ride to the city centre of Göreme takes 40 minutes from Nevsehir Airport and the taxi fare is around £25/30€/$32.

How to get to Cappadocia from the UK?

From London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), and Manchester (MAN) you can get direct flights to to Istanbul Airport (IST). The flight time to Istanbul is approximately 4 hours.

From Istanbul get a 2nd flight to Cappadocia as mentioned above. The total journey time from the UK to Cappadocia is around 7-8 hours. I suggest spending a night or two in Istanbul on your way there or back to help break up the trip.

How to get around Cappadocia?

Renting a Car

The best way to get around Cappadocia is by hiring a car, especially if you want to explore this region at your own pace. This will give you the most flexibility to visit off-the-beaten-path locations and travel between towns easily.

You can pick up your rental car from either Nevşehir or Kayseri Airport.

I recommend using Discover Cars to book your car rental in Cappadocia. I always get the best deal on car rentals on their site as they compare hundreds of providers and give you the best price available.

If you don’t plan on driving, then you can absolutely get around Cappadocia without a car. Note: a lot of activities in Cappadocia have transfers from/to your hotel which are included in the price of your tour.

Taxis

Uber is not available in Cappadocia however you can easily flag taxis in town centres or ask your hotel to arrange a pickup from your accommodation.

Taxi fares cost up to 1000 Turkish Lira (£24/28€/$30) per 25 km. For example, a 5km/10-minute taxi ride from Göreme to Uçhisar should not cost more than £5/6€/$6.

Buses

Public transport is not the best option in Cappadocia, it’s quite difficult to navigate however it is the most affordable option with fares usually less than £1-£2 per journey.

I wouldn’t personally recommend catching the bus in Cappadocia, it’s hard to plan journeys and there aren’t any mobile apps to easily locate bus stop locations or timetables. I wasn’t able to find this information using Google Maps either.