When I first saw Cappadocia, my mind was blown away! Surrounded by Fairy Chimneys and fairyland itself, the village is surely a crown possession of Turkey. Bearing the best Turkish culture, Cappadocia offers excellent geographical landscapes and cultural history. You will find many organized tours there. The Cappadocia Red Tour is the best. We will share with you all that you need to know about your Cappadocia itinerary in this post.
People also know the region for “Ballooning,” which should be a must on everybody’s bucket list, if you can afford it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t, but I don’t know a single traveler who tried it and regretted it!.
Anyways, there’s more to Cappadocia than just the things it is known for. Keep reading 🙂
Cappadocia is a fairly big region and cannot be toured in a single day. Hence, the whole area is divided into color-coded parts. The most famous of them is the Red Tour (North Cappadocia) and Green Tour (South Cappadocia).
Fun fact! Cappadocia is not a city or a town. It is just a tourist-appealing region in Turkey.
How To Get From Istanbul To Cappadocia
Cappadocia lies in the heart of Turkey. The distance between the largest city of Turkey, Istanbul, and Cappadocia, is about 450 miles or 730 kilometers.
The connection between Cappadocia and Istanbul is great. You could even find direct flights many times per day. Moreover, buses and train facilities are available too.
Istanbul to Cappadocia by Flight
Both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gocken Airport (also in Istanbul) offer flights to Kayseri Erkilet Airport in Cappadocia. You will spend a little more than one hour on the plane.
It is not only the fastest means to commute but also an inexpensive means if booked in advance. Turkish Airlines and Air Pegasus are the ones providing their services in this region. Both 2 tickets cost us around 50€.
The best way to get from Kayseri Airport to Cappadocia
Once landed at the Kayseri airport, you will find many shuttle van services waiting outside to take you to Cappadocia. These are operated by Rock Valley Travel and Argeus Tourism.
You could also rent a car. The price will be the same as the shuttle service. However, you will win a lot of flexibility when having a car in this region.
Turkey worked well maintaining the roads in the neighborhood. Google Maps also works great. So I don’t think you will have any problems driving.
The journey, either with the shuttle or with a car, will take around one hour and fifteen minutes.
Is Istanbul to Cappadocia Worth It by Train?
Honestly, trains aren’t a preferable mode to travel between the two regions, primarily because there is no direct connectivity through rails.
One can take a train to Ankara and continue by bus from the capital city to Cappadocia. However, it gets quite hectic to travel by train. Hence, it isn’t a preferred means of transportation.
Istanbul to Cappadocia by Bus
To get on the bus to Cappadocia, you can choose either of the two bus terminals. Those are Harem Bus Terminal and Buyuk Otogar Bus Terminal. The second is the main bus terminal in Istanbul which connects to Cappadocia. Metro Turizm and Nevsehir Seyahat are some of the companies running buses between the two regions.
Taking the bus is really worth it for two reasons. First, it will spare you a hotel night as you can sleep on the bus. Second, you will enjoy the scenic landscapes you will see during the journey and then you will get to know Turkey much better.
Although most buses are available at night, the journey takes around 13 hours to Cappadocia. So you will see most of the landscapes in the morning (including sunrise)
You can find the bus tickets here.
Is Istanbul to Cappadocia Worth it by Car?
The car journey makes sense if you are a group of four or five people and encounters a few mesmerizing scenic views. So if you have time and want to be more flexible on the road, you should consider this option.
However, it is a long drive to Cappadocia. It takes somewhere between 8-10 hours by road. But if you want a car to discover the region in a better way, consider renting it when you leave Istanbul to Cappadocia.
The Best Itinerary to Enjoy The Red Tour in Cappadocia
The red tour covers the central northern region of Cappadocia and covers all the major sites of this region. In addition, it comprises several appealing UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are valleys, castles, caves, and museums.
The best way to enjoy the red tour is to do it on yourself to avoid the crowds. Also, you will be more flexible with your own time. However, you need to rent a car for it.
Start your journey with a Hot Air Balloon
Start your day early because there’s a lot to discover. The best start to the tour would be nothing but a ride in the Hot Air Balloon. The balloons go up early in the morning at sunrise. The price of hot air ballooning in Cappadocia ranges from $140 to $250.
Don’t miss the Uchisar Castle
If you want to enjoy Cappadocia without a hot air balloon, you haven’t missed much. There is just so much to see in this beautiful region. The most unrealistic and unique castle around the globe, Uchisar Castle, should be your next destination. It is a volcanic projection and is surrounded by similar cave-like rock formations. Villagers used it as a shelter in the ancient era because the caves maintain a temperature of 15°C throughout the year, making it efficient even today.
Open Air Museum
Next, drive to the Goreme Open Air Museum. It is the most famous tourist attraction in Cappadocia. The museum includes caves, Churches, and Monasteries. In addition, there are preserved mural paintings and carvings. These date back to the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. The entry fee for the museum is about 12€.
Love Valley: Best Spot of Cappadocia Red Tour
The Love Valley is another attraction, especially for couples. Instagram lovers will be happy to click and capture Instagram-friendly photos with probably the best backdrop and cliché photo props to pose with.
There are props like love-swing, benches, and a vintage car. Note that the valley is wholly formed by the process of natural wind erosion over centuries.
Devrent Valley
Next, you should go to the Devrent Valley, also known as the Imagination Valley. The valley is skirted by red-colored rocks in various shapes. It is up to your creativity to imagine various animals and figures formed by the rocks.
Pasabag
End your red tour at Pasabag, which is known for mushroom-shaped rocks. This is why it is also known as Mushroom Valley. It is best known for fairy chimneys which build up mushroom shapes.
Tours Comparison in Cappadocia
There are a lot of tour types in Cappadocia. Depending on which region you would like to discover, you should choose a corresponding tour. I tried to compare the best tours in Cappadocia so that you can make your mind.
I also included the prices that I saw if you do not rent a car or don’t feel like doing the tour yourself.
Red Tour
The Red Tour includes the Northern part of Cappadocia. It includes many attractions, including the Uchisar Castle, Open Air Museum, Love Valley, Imagination Valley, and the Mushroom Valley.
This tour is mostly around the Goreme region and costs somewhere between $40-$45.
Green Tour
The Green Tour includes the southern part of Cappadocia and is a fairly long tour compared to the other tours.
The major attractions of the Green Tour are the Derinkuyu Underground City, which, as the name suggests, is a spectacular ancient underground town. And the Ihlara Valley, which allows hiking and breath-taking views.
The Green Tour would cost anywhere between $45-$50.
Blue Tour
The Blue Tour includes the typical Turkish Village tour. Though not a popular choice, the main attractions of this tour are villages, churches, and landscapes around Mustafapasa and Soganli Valley. The Blue Tour is the most expensive, costing anywhere between $50-$55.
I personally would go for the red or green tours. Here is why:
Cappadocia’s Red Tour Advantages
- With the key sites, the red tour carries the essence of the whole Cappadocia as a region.
- The Red Tour is best for people with kids as there are less walking and hiking involved and is also good for couples as it has the ultimate romantic point, the Love Valley.
- You might stumble upon the typical Turkish dishes and shops offering local artwork and clothing items.
- Sites are near each other, so it cuts down the travel expense.
The Green Tour Advantages
- This is THE tour for hikers and wanderers! You will love to get lost in those unfamiliar and amazing landscapes of Cappadocia.
- This is the quietest tour for those who want to enjoy the region’s beauty in the calm and stay away from the crowds.
- The Green Tour includes a lake (Nar Crater Lake)
- You will have the chance to witness a mind-blowing sunset in the Goreme Panorama Viewpoint.
What to Bring with You for your Cappadocia Itinerary
- It is hard to climb up the rocks, so make sure to wear comfortable slippers and sports clothes.
- Transport facilities in Cappadocia are poor. That is also why I recommended renting a car.
- If you’ve decided to experience the Hot Air Balloon, bring warm clothes, as it might get cold up above in the sky in the early morning.
- Do not forget to carry your official Identity proofs.
- Start the day with a full camera battery. You will see beauty everywhere, waiting to be captured.
Where To Stay in Cappadocia
We stayed at Milat Cave Hotel. However, we didn’t have a cave-style room, which you can experience in Sultan Cave Suites as it was a little expensive for us.
Nevertheless, we enjoyed staying at this hotel because it offered a great service and an amazing terrace to see the sunrise and balloons.
Actually, Milat Cave Hotel is so close to the city center that you can find all restaurants and tour agencies and other attractions.
In general, Cappadocia has quite a few quirky hotels to stay in. Goreme and Uchisar are two villages where you can plan your stay.
However, if you opt for the Red Tour, Goreme is the best choice because it is easily accessible from the Northern Cappadocia region. Hence, it will cut down the travel expense.
Most Cappadocia hotels offer stay-in caves. I think this facility is only available in this region. Also, those hotels usually have nice terraces that have gorgeous views of ballooning, sunrise, and sunset.
Several hotels provide Cave Rooms. The best among the lot is said to be Cappadocia Cave Suites. These are cheap, have the yummiest food, gorgeous rooms, and the best terrace view. However, the place surely looks unrealistic, especially during the nights.
Few other similar hotels are:
- Sultan Cave Suite
- Charming Cave Hotel
- Grand Elite Cave Suites
Best Time To Visit Cappadocia
Cappadocia experiences extreme weather conditions. The summers are dry and bare, with high temperatures converting the whole area into a hot ball.
The temperature can go as high as 40°C. So, it is not the best time to visit. Ironically, the summer months are the months that experience the maximum footfall.
Winters, on the other hand, are extremely cold. The temperature drops to negative. The temperature can even get to -10°C. Then, however, the place turns heaven-like because of the winter snowfall.
One more point, trekking, during the spring months, gets difficult because of slippery rocks. So, the chances of accidents increase. So bring trekking shoes if you plan to visit Cappadocia during this period.
The best time, however, is the spring or the autumn season. This is when the weather conditions are quite moderate and bearable. Hence, the periods between April and May and between August and October are the most suitable, with less crowd and enjoyable weather.
We visited the region in early March. Unfortunately, we had only one cloudy day, but we also had the right to a sunny one where we enjoyed the balloons flying!
What Else to Do in Cappadocia
Although it is a relatively small region, there are lots of things to do in Cappadocia. Here are some:
- If you’ve plenty of time to spend in Cappadocia, do explore the underground cities. Cappadocia has a total of 36 underground cities, explore anyone, and you’re good to go!
- Handmade local crafts are a steal! Take your time (and don’t be like u!) and choose a good piece of souvenirs. Don’t forget to bargain!
- Many restaurants play Turkish music after dinner. Some of them sometimes invite bands. This is a good chance for you to explore Turkish folk culture.
- You might find a couple of sunset points while hiking uphill. Watch the sunset and only then set back to the hotel.
- If you are planning to stay more in the city, then make sure you read enough about the Cappadocia guide to not miss any hidden gems!
- Cappadocia with no hot-air balloon is also an enriching experience. If you cant afford it or you find it unavailable, iz’s not the end of the world.
That’s it, guys! Cappadocia was the first stop before planning our Istanbul itinerary. Although the city is quite rich, you can see pretty much of Cappadocia in one day.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to enjoy the best of Turkey. But we mentioned a couple of destinations, where we would have loved to go, like Izmir, which is a must-do if you are staying in Turkey for one month or so.
You can find it also in our Istanbul itinerary post. Actually, there is so much to do in this country, including hiking. Actually, doing the Lycian way is so famous for trekkers and offers breathtaking views. So you need to check it out if you are traveling further south.
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