Cappadocia, a historical region of central Turkey, is perhaps one of the most popular destinations in the country ! It is in fact known for its famous “fairy chimneys” and for the classic and timeless image of hot air balloons at dawn! It is a unique place in the world, to visit at least once in a lifetime!
Here are all our tips for organizing a trip to Cappadocia : where it is, when to go and what to see!
Travel informed: useful information
- Capital : Kayseri (or Caesarea of ​​Cappadocia)
- Languages : Turkish
- Local currency : Turkish lira (TL) / Change: €1.00 = 9.93 TL
- Climate : steppe type. Precipitation almost absent, with an average 226 mm per year. Average annual temperature 17 °, with cold winters, with possible snowfalls, and hot summers. Best period from May to October
- Time zone : GMT + 3 (+ 1h compared to Italy during the summer period; + 2h during the winter period)
- Vaccinations : no vaccinations required
- Entry requirements : valid passport. Visa not required for Italian citizens for tourist stays of less than 90 days. Health insurance strongly recommended
- Distance from Italy : 2,009 km (3 hours flight)
- Information on security : visit the Turkey section on the Farnesina website
Where is
Cappadocia is a historical geographical region of Turkey . It is located in the heart of Anatolia and partly includes the provinces of Kayseri (also known as Caesarea of ​​Cappadocia), Aksaray, Nigde and Nevsehir. It extends to the north by the Antitaurus Mountains and is bordered to the east by the Euphrates River.
How to get
- From Italy : there are no direct flights. You have to stop in Istanbul and then fly to Nevsehir (with Turkish Airlines and Anadolu Jet) or Kayseri (with Pegasus Airlines). Total duration 7 h (including stopover), return costs from € 260.00 – Compare flights
- From Istanbul : recommended to fly to Nevsehir or Kayseri (from € 80.00 round trip, flight duration about 2 hours). The journey by land lasts 10/12 hours and only makes sense if you want to make intermediate stops (eg Ankara).
Book a private transfer from the Airport to the Hotel: regardless of whether you arrive in Nevsehir or Kayseri, we recommend that you book in advance the comfortable private transfer from / to the airport, which allows you to easily reach your hotel. stay
When to go
Info on climate and best period
Month Average temperatures (min / max) Precipitation (days / mm) January -1 / 3 ° 9 days / 42 mm
February 1/6 ° 7 days / 40 mm
March 5/10 ° 9 day / 41 mm
April 10/16 ° 8 days / 32 mm
May 14/21 ° 10 days / 44 mm
June 18/25 ° 8 days / 29 mm
July 21/28 ° 2 days / 5 mm
August 22/29 ° 2 dd / 7 mm
September 18 / 25th 3 days / 10 mm
October 13 / 19th 5 days / 21 mm
November 6th / 12th 4th day / 19 mm
December 1st / 6th 8th day / 40 mm
- Climate : steppe type, with cold winters and relatively hot summers. The daily and high temperature range, with cool evenings even in summer. Scarce rainfall, mainly concentrated in the winter period
- Best period : May to October. During the day warmer temperatures, almost no rainfall. In winter, temperatures drop significantly
- Period to avoid : winter, due to cold temperatures. January is the coldest month, with lows below 0. Season with the highest rainfall
The main cities
- Kayseri : or Caesarea of ​​Cappadocia. It is the largest city, served by an airport with numerous daily flights from Istanbul. Numerous tours also depart from here, including several days, to discover Cappadocia
- Goreme : from a tourist point of view it is the most famous city, as it is located between the rock formations called fairy chimneys. It offers hotels with splendid views of the surroundings and within walking distance of the main attractions
- Nevsehir : Served from the airport, it is closer to Goreme than Kayseri. Numerous daily tours depart from here, including transport, some of which also include a sunrise balloon flight
10 things to see: places of interest in Cappadocia
Goreme Open
Air Museum Kaymakl
Underground City Derinkuyu Underground City
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- Goreme National Park and Fairy Chimneys : UNESCO World Heritage Site, this incredible place is home to the real attraction of Cappadocia, namely the Fairy Chimneys, the particular rock formations that make the landscape unique
- Open Air Museum of Goreme : about 1 km from Goreme (also reachable on foot), this place, once a Byzantine settlement, is full of churches, monasteries and chapels entirely carved into the rock
- Balloon ride on the Chimneys of the Fairies : an experience not to be missed, one of the most popular activities for tourists. The balloon flight will give you a splendid view of all the Chimneys of the Fairies
- Kaymakli underground city : one of the most famous in Cappadocia, a set of tunnels that develop underground, between stories and mysteries. Not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia. Guided tour recommended
- Derinkuyu Underground City : the largest underground city in Cappadocia, and one of the most visited. Dating back to the 7th century BC, it is spread over 8 levels of tunnels, reaching a depth of 85 m. Not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia
- Sunset View Point : Probably the most famous viewpoint in Cappadocia. Near Goreme, from here you can admire the most beautiful sunset in the area, with a splendid view over the city and all the surroundings
- Red and Rose Valley : the two valleys surrounding the city of Goreme. Expanses of rock formations that at sunset take on the colors of the sky. They can be visited either on horseback, thanks to the many ranches in the area, or on a quad safari
- Uchisar Castle : located in the homonymous locality of Uchisar, 5 km from Goreme. It is a natural rock formation of volcanic origin, from which a defensive stronghold was obtained. From its top the view is spectacular
- Ihlara Valley : a valley of about 16 km, which extends from Ihlara to Selime. It is a paradise for those who love trekking, with many paths between rocky walls and along the Melendiz River
- Love Valley : perhaps the most particular and original valley in Cappadocia. Its rock formations up to 40 m high, in fact, have a particular phallic shape. Inside there are several hiking trails to explore the whole area
The main itineraries in Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a region that has so much to offer and that allows you to create different itineraries according to your needs! For example, there are numerous trekking routes, ideal for those who love walking, or you can live unique experiences.
With little time available , you can think of concentrating your visit even only in a specific area, for example Goreme and its surroundings, while with one week at your disposal you can think of a complete itinerary that touches more points and places, even different from each other.
Here are some examples of itineraries to discover Cappadocia , including day excursions.
- Cappadocia day trip: day trip departing from Nevsehir, transport included, with visit to the open-air museum of Goreme, the underground city of Kaymakli, Uchisar Castle and the Devrent Valley
- Northern Cappadocia : journey to discover the north of the region, with a visit to the Fairy Chimneys at Pasabagi, the Zelve Open Air Museum, the underground city of Ozkonak and trekking near Cavusin
- Southern Cappadocia : journey to discover the south of the region, with a visit to Goreme, the Tokali Church, the cities of Mustafapasa and Urgup, the Church of Santa Barbara and trekking to the Soganli Valley
- Cappadocia Grand Tour : 6 days to discover all the places in the region. Arrive in Kayseri, Urgup, Devrent Valley and Goreme Museum, Kaymakli and Mustafapasa, Avanos and Rose Valley. A hot air balloon flight is not to be missed
What to do in Cappadocia: excursions and tours
How much does a holiday in Cappadocia cost
Prices, offers and advice
To reach Cappadocia, the best solution is to fly from Istanbul . There are numerous daily flights at very affordable prices. We recommend that you avoid traveling by land, as the bus takes at least 12 hours, while a rental car is not entirely recommended!
Cappadocia is not an expensive destination, rather. The cost of living is relatively low, as are the entrance fees to attractions. You can also find great deals on hotels and accommodations, of course there is no shortage of luxury accommodations with incredible views! What will likely affect your budget the most will certainly be excursions and experiences, such as a hot air balloon ride or quad bike safari at sunset.
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 15.00 per room – see the offers
- Low cost flights: to Nevsehir starting from € 260,00 – look at the offers
- Flight + hotel: 7 days starting from € 360.00 per person – see the offers
