Things to Know Before Traveling to Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a historical fairy town in the heart of Turkey’s legendary Anatolia region. The region is known for its bizarre rock formations, magnificent underground cities, windswept fairy chimneys, rock castles, winding valleys, ancient cave dwellings, and, lately, dozens of hot air balloons that take to the skies every morning at sunrise. Millions of years of lava and ash in the sky collided with nature, resulting in some of the most intriguing landforms on the planet.   Cappadocia’s unique moonlike landscapes, formed by volcanic eruptions, cannot be found anywhere else. 

With hundreds of thousands of local and foreign tourists each year, the little fairytale town is undoubtedly the most loved tourist destination in Turkey. The attention, however, is justified. This is one of those rare instances where a place is better than it appears on social media. Cappadocia is a spectacularly beautiful, mystical, and magical place on Earth, and you must see it for yourself to understand how dreamy it is. If you’re thinking about traveling to Turkey’s most beautiful region, keep reading. Here are 15 things you should know before visiting Cappadocia to help you plan your trip.

1). Cappadocia Is Far Away from the Rest of your Turkey Trip

Adding Cappadocia to your itinerary may seem obvious if you are traveling in Turkey. However, keep in mind that it is not close to other popular destinations such as Izmir, Antalya, Istanbul, Bodrum, and the Roman ruins of Ephesus. Cappadocia is located in central Turkey, far from any of them. So, if you want to visit Cappadocia, you’ll need to go out of your way.

2). Pick the Right Season

Cappadocia is worth visiting at any time of year. The shoulder seasons, from April to June and September to October, are unquestionably the best times to visit Cappadocia. The weather is cooler and the region is less crowded, which makes life much easier. It is not recommended to visit Cappadocia in July or August. These are the months with the highest temperatures and the most tourists. Because most activities take place outside, the hot weather makes things uncomfortable and challenging. On the flip side, the best season for balloon rides is summer.

If you can tolerate the lower temperatures, winter can be a fantastic time to visit Cappadocia. It is bitterly cold, but seeing the region with its snow-covered landscape is an entirely different experience. However, due to unpredictable weather and frequent snowfalls, winter is not the best season to go hiking or take hot air balloon rides.

3). Getting to Cappadocia

If you’re visiting Cappadocia, chances are you’ll be flying in. Cappadocia is accessible via Kayseri Erkilet Airport (75 km) and Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (26 km). Nevsehir is closer to Göreme, but Kayseri has a larger airport and greater connectivity to Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, and several European cities. Airport shuttles, taxis, or car rentals can transport you from the airport to your hotel or downtown. The next best way to get to Cappadocia is by bus. It is less expensive than flying, but the journey to Nevsehir Bus Station takes approximately 12 hours. From the bus terminal, you will need a taxi or a minibus to the Cappadocia region. Cappadocia can be reached by car in approximately 9 hours.

4). Cappadocia is Not a City, But a Region

In Turkey, there is no town named Cappadocia. The kingdom of Cappadocia was an independent empire that flourished between 330 BC and 20 AD. Even today, Cappadocia refers to a large region that includes the cities of Nevsehir, Nigde, Aksaray, Kirsehir, and Kayseri. The region is best known for the three popular towns of Göreme, Uchisar, and Ürgüp.

5). Cappadocia has Four Cities to Stay in

Cappadocia is split into 4 major regions for tourists to stay: Göreme, Avanos, Uchisar, and Ürgüp. Each location has its distinct charm and advantages. Most tourists prefer Göreme because it is the most vibrant area of Cappadocia, with an eclectic mix of hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. It is also close to fairy chimneys and other attractions in the area. Furthermore, hot air balloons fly over Göreme every morning, providing a breathtaking view each day. Avanos has the best nightlife, while Ürgüp has some of the most luxurious and expensive cave hotels. Uchisar has fantastic views and is an excellent choice for families and those looking for good food. Find out the pros and cons of each region here.

6). Getting around Cappadocia

Göreme is small, and you can walk around the entire town. However, since many of the highlights are a little far away, you will need transportation to get there. And even though the attractions are rather close to one another, walking the distance between them is not feasible. The most practical way to explore Cappadocia is by car or scooter, which allows you complete freedom. Rental companies are reasonably priced and widely available. A huge network of minibusses connects the entire region, making them a popular form of transportation in Cappadocia. Taxis are also easy to find. Alternatively, you can book tours that include pickup and drop-off at your accommodation.

7). What is a Fairy Chimney?

If you are planning a trip to Cappadocia, you have probably heard about Fairy Chimneys. But what exactly are they? Fairy Chimneys are rock formations that are the result of millions of years of volcanic activity and erosions. Volcanic eruptions dumped ash across Central Anatolia. Over time, the volcanic ash solidified into the soft, porous rock known as tuff. The tuff was then topped with a layer of basalt, a harder rock. Wind and water gradually eroded the softer tuff material at the base. The harder basalt eroded more slowly, forming a protective mushroom-shaped cap over each pillar, shielding it from further erosion. This is a simpler explanation of how ferry chimneys are formed.

Christians who were persecuted during the Roman era flocked to Göreme in large numbers. They discovered that the soft tuff of the chimneys could be easily evacuated and built homes and churches inside them.

 8). You Must Spend at Least 2 Days in Cappadocia

Cappadocia should not be visited on a day trip. Since most Cappadocian activities revolve around sunrise, you will miss some of the best activities if you fly in and out during the day. At the very least, you’ll need two nights or two early mornings in Cappadocia – to go on a hot air balloon ride and see the balloons rise from the ground. Additionally, it allows you time to tour the area, explore underground cities, go hiking, savor the local food, and engage in other activities.

9). Stay in a Cave Hotel in Cappadocia

There are very few places in the world where you can stay in cave hotels, so if you have the opportunity, you should not pass it up. In Cappadocia, people have lived in caves for centuries. While exploring the caves can provide some insight, nothing compares to staying in rooms carved out of rock. The cave hotel rooms are old homes built into the rocks that have been remodeled to accommodate guests. A lot of these hotels are nicely furnished, ensuring that your stay is both special and comfortable. However, cheaper cave hotels may be dimly lit, damp, and dingy, so do your homework before making a reservation.

10). Do Your Research Before Booking your Balloon Ride

Not all hot air balloon flights are alike. You can book a hot air balloon flight with a variety of companies and prices vary greatly. The cost of hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia is determined by several factors, including the season, time of day, duration of the flight, number of riders, the area they are flying over, and operator credibility. A low-cost hotel air balloon ride will likely depart shortly after sunrise. Moreover, less expensive balloon rides are probably shorter and fly over less popular spots. During peak tourist season, which lasts from May to October, balloon flights can cost around 300 euros. In the off-season, they start at 100 euros. To ride a balloon, children must be at least 6 years old and 4’6″ tall.

11). Reserve a Balloon Flight in Advance

One of Cappadocia’s most iconic experiences is taking a hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys and soaking up the incredible landscape from above. The flight lasts about an hour, and you will take off before sunrise to enjoy the sunrise from the basket. Even though hundreds of balloons are visible in the sky every day, the reality is that there is a cap on the number of balloons that can be in the air at any given time. Given the popularity of hot air balloon rides, book your flight as soon as you know you’ll be visiting Cappadocia, especially during peak season. If you’re worried about booking too early and losing money, go with Viator or GetYourGuide. They usually offer free cancellations one day before the flight date.

 12). Book a Hot Air Balloon for the Earliest Available Date

Hot air balloons take off in Cappadocia every day, as long as the weather permits. The balloons won’t fly if the weather isn’t favorable. Balloon rides can get canceled as late as the very morning of the flight if the conditions do not allow for safe flying. Although companies will reschedule your trip for the following day (if there is availability), this will not be possible if it is your last day in the region. Given the unpredictability of flights, it is strongly advised that you reserve your Cappadocia hot air balloon ride on the first morning in the vicinity. This allows you to shift the ride to another day if it is canceled.

13). If you’re not into Balloon Rides, You can Always Skip

In case you don’t want to go hot air ballooning because it’s too expensive, you’re afraid of heights, or for any other reason, don’t worry. You can simply wake up very early and enjoy the daily sunrise show with hundreds of balloons floating above you. Many of the hotels in Cappadocia have terraces perfect for photographing and viewing hot air balloons. And, if you’re lucky, your hotel will have an excellent view of the sky. If not, there are numerous cafes and viewpoints from which to watch the spectacular sky show.

14). Cappadocia is Not Only About Hot Air Balloons

Cappadocia offers much more than balloon rides and sunrise photo shoots. Together with its intriguing history, Cappadocia offers some of the most distinctive landscapes on the planet. Beyond the famous hot air balloons, some of the must-see attractions are. Derinkuyu Underground City, Kaymakli Underground City, Zelve Open Air Museum, Göreme National Park, Uchisar Castle, and Pigeon Valley. Pasabag Valley, Devrent Valley, and Red Valley, among others. If you want some action, you can trek the valleys, experience pottery making, go horseback riding, join an ATV Safari Tour, visit an ancient winery, and check out the bazaars.

 15). The Tours Are Colour Coded

Tours are very convenient, particularly for those who do not drive. You get to visit a lot of places in a short period without putting in minimum effort. Local tour operators have made things simpler by color-coding their tours based on the routes they follow. The Green Tour, also known as the South Cappadocia Tour, typically includes visits to Pigeon Valley Viewpoint, Güvercinlik Valley, Kaledibi Monastery, Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Red Valley, Ortahisar Rum Village, and Onyx Jewellery Factory. 

The Red Tour, also known as the North Cappadocia Tour, takes you to the Göreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Love Valley, Cavusin, Pasabag Monks Valley, Devrent Imagination Valley, and Pottery Workshop. The Green Tour is a better option if you only want to do one tour because most of these sites are far from Göreme. Red Tour can be completed primarily on foot if you’re staying in Göreme.