If you are planning your trip to Istanbul, or have already been here, add bright unforgettable experience you can travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia. This historical area differs not only with amazing landscapes, but also gives you the opportunity to touch the history Christian Church in its first centuries.

Cappadocia impresses with its unique nature, mysterious underground cities and caves, rocks and valleys, and it is here that the valuable memory of Christian culture and history is stored.

We will tell you about how to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia and what is worth seeing here in our article.

Cappadocia is an amazing place

The center of Cappadocia (Kapadokya) is Göreme (Göreme) it can be reached from the city of Nevsehir (Nevşehir) in 20 minutes, from the city of Kayseri (Kayseri) to Göreme 1 hour. The duration of the flight is 1 hour 25 minutes. Consider travel time to Goreme and flight time when planning your itinerary.

You can fly to Cappadocia with the following airlines:

1. Turkish Airlines
2. Anadolu Jet
3. Pegasus Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines flying from Ataturk Airport

Turkish Airlines fly to Cappadocia only from.

The cost of the flight on the route Istanbul-Kayseri from Ataturk Airport
in the spring of 2019 is from 120 lira to 350 lira, Istanbul-Nevsehir from 120 lira to 200 lira. The price is highly dependent on a number of factors and can change every day.

Flights from Ataturk Airport to Kayseri Airport (Kayseri havalimanı) operate throughout the day, while flights to Nevsehir are more rare - only once or twice a day. Turkish airlines are distinguished by good service, drinks and a sandwich are also included in the price of their ticket.

After 6th April 2019 all flights Turkish Airlines move to which is further away from historical center cities than Ataturk. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.

Anadolu Jet

Anadolu Jet planes fly to Kayseri from Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Departs from Istanbul to Cappadocia only from and land only at Kayseri Airport. The approximate cost of a round-trip ticket in the spring of 2019 is 150-170 lire. Anadolu Jet is owned by Turkish Airlines, so they often combine flights, but Anadolu Jet is a low-cost airline.

Pegasus Airlines

You can fly with Pegasus from Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Pegasus planes fly to Cappadocia from Sabiha Gokcen Airport. For the spring of 2019, the approximate ticket price is 170-200 lire. Pegasus is a low-cost airline, you can buy drinks and food on board for a bite to eat for little money. The choice of seats and additional options - for a fee.

Choose a departure time convenient for you, a favorable ticket price and which city it will be more convenient for you to fly to in order to get to Göreme without any problems. From Goreme you can take a local taxi or book in advance.

Buses are a very popular, convenient and comfortable way to travel throughout Turkey.

From Istanbul to Cappadocia can be reached by bus both at night and during the day.

Buses Nevsehir Seyahat

Buses carry passengers to the city of Nevsehir

The trip with this company is quite comfortable, there are built-in TVs in the backs of the seats (you can find dubbed films). The bus arrives in Nevsehir.

For the spring of 2019, the cost of a one-way ticket is 80 lire. Departure times from Istanbul are 20:30 and 20:45, the journey takes 12 hours. Return departure from Nevsehir to Istanbul at 20:00. In the summer, given the increase in tourist flow, the time of departures and the price may differ.

You can buy a ticket online at http://nevsehirlilerseyahat.com.tr/. Go to the site and hover your mouse over the top tab with the inscription online işlemler and select the inscription Bilet satın al. Further, in the window that appears on the right, you can already select the Russian interface language and start the process of searching for tickets.

Buses

By metro bus you can get to Kayseri or Nevsehir

Buses depart from Istanbul to Kayseri several times a day: 00:25, 10:30, 14:30, 18:00, 19:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00. The price of a one-way ticket on the Istanbul-Kayseri route is 90 lira, and the return ticket is 80 lira.

From Istanbul to Nevsehir depart at 8:00 and 22:00, the ticket price is 90 lira, in the opposite direction 80 lira.

To buy a ticket online, go to the site https://www.metroturizm.com.tr and select in the right upper corner interface language (no Russian, there is English). Then we proceed to the search for flights and selection.

Buses Kamil Koç

Comfortable Kamil Koç buses

Kamil Koç is a large company that operates throughout Turkey and provides very high level service.

Departure from Istanbul to Nevsehir three times a day at 5:00, 20:00, 22:30, ticket price 85 lira. In the opposite direction, the ticket price is also 85 lira.
The bus departs from Istanbul to Kayseri at 00:15, 10:00, 11:30, 15:00, 18:00, 20:30. The ticket price is 90 lire, the return ticket costs the same.

You can buy a ticket on the site, but unfortunately, the interface is only in Turkish. Therefore, you either have to either be patient or enlist someone's help.

From Istanbul to Cappadocia by car

You can get from Istanbul to Cappadocia by car.

For those who are used to traveling on their own in a rented car, you can find options on the sites (Rent a car/araç kiralama). But in fact, it is easier to get there without incident by bus, and then it is more profitable to rent a car in Cappadocia itself. In Cappadocia, you can also rent another type of transport - quad bikes, bicycles and mopeds.

Do not forget to check the availability of insurance, record any damage to the car body (using a photo or video) and point it out to the lessor.

The cost of gasoline in Turkey in the spring of 2019 is 6.5 lira per liter, diesel fuel 6.3 / liter. Just in case, take or purchase a paper map - the navigator will not work everywhere in mountainous areas. You will also need cash - this will save you problems with gas stations and small shops.

Why do we advise you to organize a trip to Cappadocia on your own? Still, a ready-made tour or excursion, as a rule, includes those trips and visits that it is better to do without. They include trips for baklava, carpets, souvenirs or other things that are not interesting to most travelers. After all, delicious baklava, sweets or Turkish delight are much more pleasant to choose slowly at the local market, having previously tried what your heart desires. When walking on your own, you are the master of your time and desires, so you can change your route at any time.

It is worth noting that as of 2019, it is not possible to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia on TCDD (Turkish National railways). This is due to the fact that the Haydarpasa railway station in Istanbul has not been operating for a long time. At the moment, the station is.

Thus, the best way independent travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia is an airplane flight or a bus ride.

Best time to travel to Cappadocia

Cappadocia is beautiful at any time of the year. The transport network operates here all year round, museum complexes open their doors and underground cities, travel available on hot-air balloon(in winter, however, due to windy weather, flights are sometimes postponed to the next day). To understand the charm of this place, it is enough even to relax on one of the cozy terraces, admiring the rocky landscapes, eating a local delicacy - meat in a pot and washing it down with beer.

Keep in mind that by the standards of Turkey, Cappadocia has a rather cool climate. Gusty winds often blow here, it is chilly in caves and underground cities, so make sure you have warm seasonal clothes in your wardrobe. Even in the summer, it is advisable to stock up on a warm, cozy sweater that will protect you from the chill of the night.

During the summer, outdoor swimming pools are extremely popular in Cappadocia. Extreme heat is not to be feared. And the lion's share of attractions is located underground, where you definitely won't be hot. Most high temperatures each year are recorded in August. During the day, the air warms up, on average, up to 28⁰С, and at night - up to 17⁰С. Therefore, during the day, a tour of the cool caves and dungeons will be a great pastime, and at night you can enjoy hiking in Cappadocia. During this period, the area is illuminated by soft electric light coming from the caves. Impressions are fabulous!

Autumn symbols of Cappadocia are balloons and sparkling, aromatic wine. The air temperature is very comfortable, the rainy season is rare. In the first two autumn months it is still quite warm. The average daily temperature was set at around 24⁰С. That is, in order not to freeze, it is enough to wear a tight shirt with a sleeve or a thin sweater. The November temperature is already less comfortable - about 10⁰С. Therefore, a traveler cannot do without a light jacket, especially if evening walks are planned. Despite the coolness, you can not be afraid of prolonged rains in autumn in Cappadocia - all precipitation occurs mainly in spring. The autumn period is the time of ripening of the famous Cappadocian wine. Be sure to go on a tour of the vineyards to see with your own eyes the process of harvesting a rich harvest.

Cappadocia in spring

Cappadocia in spring

During the spring months, Cappadocia is full of flowers and greenery. This is a traditional time for various music festivals.

In addition to music, in the spring you can find a unique festival here. balloons. As a rule, the time of its holding is set for May. At this event, you can not only admire the huge balloons soaring into the sky, but also enjoy local culinary delights and masterpieces of modern art at exhibitions. For lovers sports entertainment perfect for visiting extreme sports competitions. Music lovers will also like concerts and musical performances, held, for the most part, under the arches of the caves.

Spring is the time of the traditional pilgrimage to Cappadocia by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who comes here every year, without exception, and holds an Easter service in one of the local Orthodox shrines. The exact dates of the saint's arrival can be found on special religious websites on the Internet.

Cappadocia in winter

Cappadocia in winter

Winter Cappadocia is a bewitching scenery of rocky peaks covered with snow caps and melodic howling winds. It's nice that in winter there are not so many tourists here. For lovers extreme species Sports in Kayseri opens its doors to a modern ski resort. Such infrastructure for this area is quite new, and the prices in this resort are affordable.

winter city

You need to understand that the lion's share of hotels in Cappadocia is located inside the caves. Of course, most hotels are equipped with central heating, but in some of them air conditioners or heaters can simply work instead of the usual pipes. This most often happens in guest houses, so if you choose this accommodation option, check all the information in advance.

The winter season is also rich in entertainment, like all other seasons. Only you can not travel in a hot air balloon every day because of the vagaries of the weather. For this reason, if you are planning to fly in a hot air balloon without fail, order this service immediately upon arrival in Cappadocia, so that you can reschedule the flight, if necessary, to another day.

Be sure to take warm clothes with you, for Cappadocia, the presence of snow literally knee-deep is not uncommon. But it happens that the snow cover does not fall at all, with the exception of the tops of the rocks.

Cases have been recorded when the thermometer dropped to -20⁰С. But it doesn't happen that often. Basically, the temperature, even in the very middle of winter, stays at + 2⁰С during the day, and at -2⁰С at night.

Where to stay in Cappadocia?

The tourist infrastructure in Cappadocia is also developed, as in other resort areas in Turkey. Here you can find both elite branded hotels and budget, but cozy hostels.

The center of Cappadocia is Goreme, known for its vast national park and a huge museum complex under open sky. Travelers, for the most part, live in this village. But there are other towns nearby, such as Kayseri and Nevsehir, which, by the way, are not considered tourist towns.

Göreme

Göreme

If you are visiting Cappadocia for the first time, you should choose Göreme as your place to stay. From here you can comfortably get to any of the local attractions. In addition to the park and museum indicated above, it is worth going to the Zelve Museum Complex, the Dark Church and the ancient Uchisar Castle. Each of them can be easily reached on foot. Göreme attracts with the fact that Mountain peaks meet tourists right outside the doors of hotels. Almost every hotel has outdoor terraces from which you can enjoy great views to rocky landscapes.

Travelers can not only breathe in the fresh mountain air, but also see a stunning picture of hot air balloons soaring high in the sky. The largest number of them can be seen if you force yourself to wake up at sunrise.

For lovers of everything unusual, you can rent a room in a "cave" hotel, equipped with all the benefits of civilization. There are many hotels in Goreme with outdoor pools, popular in the bathing season (from late spring to early autumn).

Yurgup (Ürgüp)

Yurgup (Ürgüp)

Yurgup is famous for a fairly large number of attractions, including the Chatalkaya valley with beautiful mushroom-shaped rocks and Temmeni Hill, located right in the middle of the city. Inside the latter there are many large and small caves, which today are often used for domestic purposes: they equip garages, warehouses and other utility rooms. Also in Ugrup, which is also often referred to as Ugrup, you can find magnificent ancient tombs, ancient and modern mosques, inactive Orthodox churches, as well as a modest monument in honor of grape pickers. This monument, by the way, resembles our famous "Worker and Collective Farm Girl".

Uchisar ( Uchisar)

Uchisar

The rock-fortress stretching up to 60 meters is considered the symbol of Uchisar. This attraction is also called Uchisar Castle. Carved dovecotes have been preserved in local rocks, in which birds can still be found. There is also a modest church without frescoes, but it does not function today. The famous Uchisar houses have also been preserved in the rocks, which today have been given the status of museums.

Cavusin (Cavusin)

Cavusin (Cavusin)

This is a modest village located 30 minutes walk from Goreme. Here you can find a majestic rock with houses inside. Of course, most of the former local residents has long since left the mountainous area due to landslides. For this reason, travelers are advised not to get close to hard-to-reach areas. There are enough safe paths for tourists here. For example, one of the routes leads to the Church of John the Baptist with frescoes preserved in good condition.

Derinkuyu

Derinkuyu

This is an ancient underground city, consisting of several tiers. It is always cold here, so tourists cannot do without warm clothes.

The underground city has been perfectly preserved to this day. You can find literally everything in Derinkuyu: residential buildings, schools, wine cellars, workshops, barns, ventilation shafts and much, much more. It is known that the city was erected by Christians fleeing persecution and creating excellent conditions for themselves to live inside the rocks.

The city underground is truly amazing! The corridors are wide and there are signs everywhere. Once from here through a long tunnel it was possible to get to another underground city of Kaymakli. Today, the tunnel has been mothballed, as there is a threat of collapses, but the gates of Kaymakli are still open to guests.

What to see in Cappadocia

Even an ordinary walk in an unknown direction will give you a lot of impressions. Cappadocia is a true wonder of nature with countless mountains, volcanoes, valleys, caves. Those who want to immerse themselves in the life of ancient Christians should definitely visit the local underground cities.

Museum Pass Cappadocia

In Cappadocia, you can also purchase a museum card - Museum Pass Cappadocia, which gives the right to visit the following attractions:

1. Ihlara Valley (Ihlara Vadisi)
2. Derinkuyu Underground City
3. Ozkonak Underground City (Özkonak Yeraltı Şehri)
4. Kaymakli Underground City (Kaymaklı Yeraltı Şehri)
5. Göreme Open Air Museum (Göreme Açıkhava Müzesi)
6. Nevsehir Museum (Nevsehir Müzesi)
7. Museum Hadzhibektash (Hacıbektaş Müzesi)
8. Dark Church (Göreme Karanlık Kilise)
9. Cavusin Church (Çavusin Örenyeri)
10. Zelve Monastery Complex (Zelve-Paşabağlar Örenyeri)

The Cappadocia Museum Card costs 110 lire. It is valid for 3 days after purchase.

TOP 3 best attractions in Cappadocia

national park Goreme

1. Goreme National Park. Here, on a vast territory of 300 sq.m. you will find the famous Valley of Love, and many churches decorated with intricate frescoes, and monasteries, and underground houses. Finding yourself in this open-air museum complex, it is as if you are on another planet. You need to know that there are not one Valley of Love here, but two. The first is directly in Goreme, the second is closer to Uchisar. The latter is often depicted on postcards.

Balloons - a visiting card of Cappadocia

2.Travel in a hot air balloon. Huge baskets under the dome soar into the sky with the sunrise. It is very interesting to observe even how the preparations for the flight are going. If ballooning itself is ruinous for your budget, you can simply visit one of the observation decks in the morning. Believe me, the picture of balloons floating against the backdrop of dawn will leave an indelible impression!

Valley of Love (Aşk vadisi)

3. The Valley of Love (postcard) is also called the Pigeon Valley in a different way. You can walk here from Goreme. The whole way there and back will be no more than 12 km. From the second name, you can understand that there are a lot of dovecotes here, which were once equipped right in the rocks. Another attraction of this area is the notorious "mushrooms" made of tufa.

Red Valley (Kızıl vadi)

You can also visit the Meskendir Valley, as well as the Red and Rose Valley. These places are known for their reddish mountains and many old churches.

Churches and temples of Cappadocia

Tokali Church (Tokali Kilise)

There are a lot of church shrines in Cappadocia. Services are held only twice a year - at Christmas and Easter, but are open to tourists all year round. Keep in mind that in churches with frescoes, as a rule, the entrance is paid.

• Tokali Kilise is the largest church in Goreme outside of the Goreme Open Air Museum and can be visited with a museum ticket. Built in the 10th century, frescoes with scenes from the life of Jesus and other saints have survived to this day.

Dark church (Karanlik kilise)

• The Dark Church is a magnificent masterpiece ancient architecture worth a look even for those who are far from religion.
• Church with apples, which leads to a short but very narrow tunnel under the ground.
• Church of St. Barbarians. It is interesting because on its walls there are ancient frescoes that have come down to us from the era of the struggle against iconoclasm.
• Serpentine Church, the main decoration of which are frescoes of the 11th century. One of them has a picture of St. Onufry, therefore the second name of the church is in his honor.
• Chapel of St. Basil (11th century). Attracts with a picture of the battle of St. George with a snake, painted in ocher and perfectly preserved.

Museums of Cappadocia

Museum of Ceramics (Güray seramik)

The main museum complex of Cappadocia is Goreme, which is part of the Goreme National Park. The church shrines described above are located in this open-air museum. It is noteworthy that this attraction is included in the UNESCO heritage list.

The museum complex is very popular with tourists, so in order not to queue for entrance tickets, it is better to come here half an hour before the opening, which always takes place at 8 am.

Each attraction of Cappadocia is unique in its own way, for example, the Museum of Ceramics, located in the city of Avanos, is located in natural as well as man-made caves, 15 meters deep below ground level. total area The museum is about 500 square meters.

If a lucky chance brought you to the beautiful and mysterious Cappadocia, be sure to:

• Rent a scooter and feel like an explorer of the local valleys: the beauty and quirkiness of the local landscapes captivate at first sight. You can talk a lot about them, but it's better to see once!
• Sign up for sightseeing tour, leading from Göreme to the underground city of Derenkuyu through the Ihlara canyon. These sights are quite remote from each other, and the informative story of the local guide will be very useful and interesting for any traveler.
• Feel like an aeronaut and go on a trip in a hot air balloon at sunrise. Believe me, the chance to see the beauty of Cappadocia from a bird's eye view and take unique photos is worth any money!
• Walk along the ancient streets of Goreme, visit souvenir shops and, if possible, be sure to purchase one of the luxurious handmade carpets.

An evening in Cappadocia is a pleasure to spend with a glass of wine with a beautiful view of the mountains.

• Study in detail the ancient frescoes that adorn the walls of temple shrines dug in the middle of the rocks in great abundance. The largest number of these objects of ancient culture is concentrated in the so-called open-air museum.
• Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of the underground city, explore the local labyrinths of rooms and passages to feel for yourself how the first Christians survived here many centuries ago, avoiding Arab persecution and seeking protection within these walls.
• In the evening, join the ranks of gourmets and be sure to visit one of the local catering establishments only to taste the unsurpassed traditional dish - meat with vegetables baked in a clay pot (Testi Kebabi).
• At least for one night, become a guest of a cozy hotel, equipped right in the cave. Despite the apparent outward wildness, inside such mini-hotels you can find all the benefits of civilization.
• Spend at least a couple of hours driving to Avanos, which is rightly called the city of potters. Local handmade ceramics will leave an indelible impression in your memory!
• At the end of the day, be sure to hurry to Uchisar to watch the sunset from the famous mountain fortress. Believe me, the pictures that open before the eyes of travelers from this point are simply breathtaking!

Prices in Cappadocia for the 2019 season

Unusual hotels in Cappadocia

In nearby areas and in Goreme itself, you can find accommodation from 40 lira / day, but here you need to consider that prices will be higher in the spring-summer season. Therefore, count on a minimum of 150-200 lira / day in the summer. Of course, in Cappadocia there is a wide variety of hotels - these are cave hotels, hotels on the slopes of the mountains and simply luxurious stone apartments. Plan your accommodation in advance, because already in April it is difficult to find rooms for the summer. But as an option, you can consider hostels or apartments.

In the tourist center of Cappadocia, Göreme, you can find many budget establishments: the price for a hearty lunch will be about 25-30 liras, dinner with a glass of wine in a cafe will cost you 50 liras.

From inexpensive and interesting cafes you can visit:

Omurca Art Cave Cafe

The cafe is partially located in a cave, and the owner of the establishment named Harun will serve and cook delicious food for you. You can have a hearty meal in a homely atmosphere for little money here.

The owner of the cafe willingly communicates with tourists and tries to create a comfortable and hospitable environment.

We especially recommend this establishment to cat lovers, because the owner of the cafe has more than 6 of them. They are hosts here, but they are well-behaved and do not interfere with guests. Soup 3 lira, a serving of kofte (fried Turkish cutlet) 20 lira. You can have a hearty meal with homemade wine for 60 lire for two.

This cafe is quite famous and popular place in Cappadocia, in the evening, as a rule, there are always guests here, so get ready for a leisurely service (after all, the owner of the establishment receives and prepares guests).

Cafe on the map:

Inci Cafe Restaurant

Inci Cafe Restaurant

Inci Cafe Restaurant, located in a cave, with an unusual authentic atmosphere, delicious homemade food and homemade wine. Lentil soup - 3 lira, snacks 10-30 lira.

Cafe on the map:

Pumpkin Goreme Restaurant and Art Gallery

pumpkin restaurant

It is one of the popular restaurants in Goreme and is known for its lanterns and lamps carved from pumpkins. For dinner, you are not offered dishes from the menu, but a set of dishes (every day is different), consisting of an appetizer, hot, dessert and drinks. The cost of the set is 60 lira per person. The atmosphere is very friendly, friendly service and delicious food.

Cafe on the map:

If we talk about options for a delicious dinner with a stunning view, then you can visit premium segment restaurants, such as The Plum Restaurant or Seki Restaurant. Dinner with a glass of local wine at Seki Restaurant will cost an average of 160-170 liras per person. From the veranda of the restaurant you can see the Goreme National Park, and from the restaurant you can go directly to one of the caves. This institution is quite famous and is considered one of the best in Cappadocia.

Great view from the top of the hills

Prices for one of the main attractions - hot air ballooning - can vary. In the absence of a tourist peak, you can try to negotiate for 100 euros. But on this moment, the minimum price for a balloon flight has risen to 150 euros. This is the price for the 2019 season. The flight lasts 60, 75 or 90 minutes, it all depends on the service provider and entertainment conditions.

Cappadocian views are impressive beauty

There are, of course, companies that position their services as luxury and ask for about 500-650 liras per person. The basket accommodates from 20 to 24 people, the flight lasts 1 hour. Follow the safety recommendations when flying in hot air balloons, be sure to buckle up.

cappadocia is enough quiet place however, walking alone on dark evenings is not recommended.

Since Cappadocia is a mountainous area, it is not recommended to engage in rock climbing without preparation and in places not intended for this, it is dangerous, given that there is a possibility of landslides. Be careful about hiking- a motorcycle or an ATV may suddenly appear here because of the turn.

One of the main tips regarding an independent trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia is to pay with local money, i.e. lyre. Do not forget that when paying in euros and dollars, the exchange rate will always be disadvantageous for you. To avoid unpleasant conflicts and misunderstandings, change the required amount of money in the Istanbul exchanger in advance.

Ave. Duration 4h 5m When Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Estimated price 650 ₺ - 2.500 ₺

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Istanbul Ataturk

Ave. Duration 4h 15m When Every day Estimated price 650 ₺ - 2.600 ₺

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Bodrum, Sabiha Gokcen

Ave. Duration 5h 55m When Saturday Estimated price 750 ₺ - 2.700 ₺

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Izmir, Sabiha Gokcen

Ave. Duration 6h 15m When Wednesday, Friday and Sunday Estimated price 700 ₺ - 2.700 ₺

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Antalya, Sabiha Gokcen

Ave. Duration 6h 30m When Wednesday and Friday Estimated price 700 ₺ - 2.700 ₺

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Edremit, Istanbul Ataturk

Ave. Duration 6h 45m When Monday and Saturday Estimated price 700 ₺ - 2.700 ₺

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Bodrum, Istanbul Ataturk

Ave. Duration 6h 50m When Monday, Wednesday and Sunday Estimated price 750 ₺ - 2.800 ₺

Here are the ways to independently get to Cappadocia from various cities in Turkey, and also tells how to get from Russia, Ukraine or Belarus.

It must be understood that most of the travelers who travel to Cappadocia get to, which is the tourist center of this region. Therefore, the article discusses how to get to it on your own. locality in Cappadocia.

There are no direct flights directly to Cappadocia itself, so from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Minsk or any other city, you must first buy a ticket to Turkey, namely to Ankara, Istanbul or Antalya (see). It is more convenient to fly to Ankara, because it is the closest to go from there.

• Through Ankara. If you are going to visit Turkey only Cappadocia, then the ideal option is to take a ticket to Ankara. Firstly, from Ankara it is the fastest way to get to Cappadocia (), secondly, they often sell enough to Ankara cheap tickets. For such a trip, I recommend having at least one week left.
• Through Istanbul. The second good option is to take a ticket to Istanbul and from there get to Cappadocia. This is also often done. It takes longer to drive from Istanbul to Cappadocia (Göreme), but the advantage is that you can immediately see both Istanbul and Cappadocia. For this, it is ideal to have two weeks left: a week for Cappadocia and a week for Istanbul.
• Through Antalya. The downside is that, as a rule, the ticket will cost a little more. The advantage is that you can combine beach holiday and a visit to the wonderful Cappadocia. It is also ideal to have two weeks in stock.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Ankara

• By bus. The bus station in Ankara is called ASHTI (AŞTİ). This is a large bus terminal that generates a huge number of flights to all corners of Turkey. get there from the city to the bus station the easiest way is by metro - you need to go to the metro station of the same name ASHTI (AŞTİ). get there from Ankara Esenboga Airport The easiest way to get to the bus station is on the Havaş buses. These buses run from the airport to the bus station at intervals of half an hour during the day and once an hour at night.
  (see or.

Option 1. It is ideal to buy a ticket for a direct bus from Ankara to. There are 8-9 such buses per day. Travel time: 4-4.5 hours.

Option 2. With a change in Nevsehir (Nevsehir). There are about 10 buses a day from Ankara to Nevsehir. Travel time: 4-4.5 hours. In Nevsehir, you need to transfer to a minibus to Goreme (minibuses run often). Travel time: 15-20 minutes.

Option 3. With a change in Kayseri. Departure - every half an hour, travel time to Kayseri: about 5 hours. In Kayseri we take a bus to Goreme. There are about 14 flights per day. Travel time: about 1 hour.

• By train. Not the most convenient way: it takes longer, but is somewhat cheaper than by bus. get there from the city to railway station in Ankara the easiest way is by metro - the station is located 700 meters from the Ulus metro station. From the metro to the station, you need to go along Cumhuriyet Cd street. From Ankara Esenboğa Airport to the Railway Station The easiest way to get there is by Havaş buses. They go from the airport to the bus station ASHTI (AŞTİ). We need to get to the stop "Stadion 19 May" (19 Mayis Stadyumu), then walk to the railway station about 1 km.

When you arrive in Kayseri, you will need to get from the railway station to the bus station in order to continue your journey by bus. To do this, you need to go to the station square, from which Kocasinan street goes to the right. Without crossing the street, take the city bus to the bus station (Kayseri Otogarı). At the bus station, buy a ticket to the suburban bus. In about an hour you will be there (see).

• by plane I do not recommend getting from Ankara to Cappadocia. In a good way, you will have to fly first either to Kayseri or Nevsehir, and then go by bus. However, there are no direct flights Ankara-Nevsehir or Ankara-Kayseri, all flights are via Istanbul. This method is unreasonable, because it is expensive and long.
• Transfer(see) from Ankara airport to a hotel in Goreme, you can still order at home via the Internet on sites or. Advantages: convenient, especially for travelers with children and those who arrive at night. Flaw: high cost, but can be quite economical if you are traveling with a group.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Istanbul

The most convenient way to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul is by plane. The acceptable way is to go by bus, and the most difficult option is by train. All of these options are detailed below.

• By plane. The best way to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia is by plane - quickly and not as expensive as it might seem. There are two cities in Cappadocia where you can buy a ticket from Istanbul: Kayseri and Nevsehir.

Flights search on sites www.aviasales.ru or www.skyscanner.ru.

From Nevsehir you can get to by minibus in 15-20 minutes (there are many minibuses), and from Kayseri to shuttle bus- about an hour (there are also many buses).

• By bus. In Istanbul, we need Bayrampaşa Otogar bus station, it is also called Esenler Otogar bus station. This is a huge bus station for three hundred bus platforms. From the city you can get to it by metro - you need to get off at the Otogar station. From Ataturk Airport(Istanbul's first airport) it is also most convenient to get to the bus station by metro. The metro station located at the airport is called Havalimanı. From Sabiha Gokcen Airport(Istanbul's second airport) you will have to get there with transfers, and this is not very convenient. First we take the Havataş bus to Taksim Square (minimum 1.5 hours). Then by metro from Taksim station to Yenikapı metro station. This is the M2 metro line. Now we switch to the M1 metro line and go to the Otogar metro station. Allow at least 3 hours for the whole trip. You can also book a transfer in advance.(see) from the airport to the bus station via the Internet on the sites or.

Option 1. Direct bus routes from Istanbul to Goreme are 3-4 times a day. The most convenient are those that go at night and arrive in Göreme in the morning. Travel time: about 10-12 hours.

Option 2. A good option is to go with a transfer in Nevsehir. Travel time too. In Nevsehir, you will need to transfer to a minibus to Goreme. Travel time: 15-20 minutes.
Option 3. Another working option is to take a bus to Kayseri. There are about 40 flights per day. Travel time: 11-12 hours. In Kayseri we take a bus to Goreme. There are about 14 flights per day. Travel time: 1 hour.

• By train. Travel by train very difficult It is better to go by bus or fly by plane. The train option is only suitable for those who appreciate transport adventures. The most acceptable way– take a high-speed train (YHT) Istanbul-Ankara, and then go from Ankara to Cappadocia by bus.

Attention! I’ll warn you right away: from Istanbul airports to the railway station, it’s best to order a transfer (see) via the Internet, even when you are at home, because it’s very difficult and long to get there on your own. The transfer can be ordered on the websites or. In fact, the biggest difficulty is not to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia using the train, but to get from Istanbul Airport to the station from which this train leaves. The second difficulty is getting from the Ankara railway station to the bus station in Ankara.

Step 1. First of all, we get from Istanbul airport to the city center to the Eminönü ferry terminal, which is located near the Sirkeci railway station.

Step 2. Now you need to get to the station Pendik (Pendik). This commuter station temporarily used now for high-speed trains. It is located 25 km from the city center. We get to it in the following way. We take the ferry from the Eminönü ferry terminal. We take the ferry to Kadıköy. Travel time: about 20 minutes. Ferries run frequently. Then we take the metro from Kadıköy station to Pendik station. It's still about 40 minutes. Pendik railway station is 2 km away from Pendik metro station. You can walk this distance in 20 minutes or take a taxi. In total, it will take at least 2 hours to get from the Eminönü ferry terminal to Pendik station.

Step 4. In Ankara, you need to get from the railway station (Ankara Gar) to the ASTI bus station (AŞTİ). You have to act on your own. From the station we go along Cumhuriyet Cd. to Ulus metro station. It's about 700 meters. Then we take the metro to the metro station ASHTI (AŞTİ).

Step 5. Now it would be nice to immediately take a bus from Ankara to Goreme. There are about 8-9 such buses per day. Travel time: 4-4.5 hours. You can also take a bus to Nevsehir. There are also many buses to Nevsehir - about 10 per day. Travel time is about the same. Then you need to transfer to the Nevsehir-Göreme minibus (15–20 minutes on the way). Another option is to drive from Ankara to Kayseri (5 hours) and then take a bus to Goreme (1 hour on the way).

How to get from the resorts of the Mediterranean Sea

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Antalya

By bus. The bus station in Antalya is located a few kilometers from the city. From the city center it can be reached by high-speed tram Antrey (AntRay). Get off at the Otogar stop. Also, any minibus goes to the bus station, which says Otogar or Terminal. From the airport to the bus station Havaş bus or round-the-clock city bus No. 600 runs every half an hour or an hour. If there are several people or you have a lot of luggage, then it is profitable and convenient to book a transfer in advance (see or .

From Antalya to Cappadocia It is most convenient to go by direct bus. There are about 7-8 direct flights per day. Travel time: 8-10 hours. You can save on the hotel if you leave Antalya by night bus between 20.00-22.00. In Göreme, the bus will arrive early in the morning.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Side

By bus. Directly from Side there are few direct flights anywhere. Tickets must be bought from the neighboring city of Manavgat, which is located 4 km from Side. It is very easy to get to Manavgat from Side by minibus in 10 minutes. They go often. From Manavgat there are about 7-8 direct flights immediately to. Pay attention to those that go at night and arrive at the place early in the morning. Travel time: about 7-9 hours depending on the bus route.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Alanya

By bus. The bus station is located 2 km from the city center. The easiest way to get there is by bus number 2.

Option 1. There is only one direct bus from Alanya. He comes not very conveniently, late at night. Travel time: 8 hours.

Option 2. From Alanya, you can buy a ticket not in Goreme, but to the neighboring district town of Nevsehir (Nevşehir) - there are three such flights per day. Travel time: 10 hours. This option is also good because there is a convenient night bus to Nevsehir, which arrives at the place in the morning. You can get from Nevsehir to Goreme by local minibuses. Travel time: 15-20 minutes. The buses run frequently.

Option 3. From Alanya, you must first take a bus to the bus station of the city of Manavgat (55 km). Many buses go through Manavgat in various directions, there are 7-8 direct flights immediately to Goreme. Travel time: 7-9 hours. There are convenient night flights.

How to get to Cappadocia (Goreme) from Kemer

By bus. The bus station in Kemer is located outside the city, and it is not very convenient. To get to it from the center, you need to look for minibuses that say Otogar.

Option 1. From Kemer there is one direct and very convenient night flight. Night bus allows you to save on the hotel, and also saves one extra day of vacation. Travel time: 10 hours.

Option 2. From Kemer you can also go to Goreme with a change in Manavgat. There are many more direct buses from Manavgat to Goreme. First we get by bus from Kemer to Manavgat (2.5-3 hours), then we transfer to a direct bus to Goreme (7-9 hours). From Manavgat to Goreme there are about 7-8 direct flights per day.

How to get from the resorts of the Aegean Sea

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Izmir

• By bus. The bus station in Izmir is far from the city center (11 km). You can get there by minibus with a sign Otogar. But it's best to do this: buy a ticket not at the bus station, but at one of the bus company's offices in the city center. Then a free bus will take you from the office of the carrier company to the bus station. There are a lot of such bus offices near the Basmane railway station, which is located next to the Basmane metro station. You can also book a transfer in advance.(see) to the bus station via the Internet on sites or.

Option 1. It is best to immediately buy a ticket for a direct bus. There are about 4-5 such buses per day. Travel time: 12-13 hours. There are convenient night buses that allow you to arrive in Göreme in the morning and save on hotel costs.

Option 2. A good option to go with a change in Nevsehir. First, we buy an Izmir-Nevsehir ticket (about 10 flights per day). Travel time: about 12 hours. From Nevsehir we take a minibus to Goreme (there are many minibuses). Travel time: 15-20 minutes.

• By plane. Be sure to pay attention to air travel, because very often a flight from Izmir to Cappadocia costs about the same as a bus fare. The most convenient way to get to the airport in Izmir is by metro: you need to go to the Havalani / Airport metro station (Havaalani / Airport).

From Izmir you need to buy a plane ticket to the city of Kayseri. Travel time: 1 hour 30 min. Searching for tickets is best on sites Pegasus or Turkish Airlines. At the Kayseri airport, we take a minibus to the bus station with the inscription Otogar. About 14 flights leave from the bus station to Goreme every day. Travel time: approximately 1 hour. You can also book a transfer in advance. to the bus station via the Internet on sites or.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Marmaris

• By bus. A small bus station in Marmaris is located on the outskirts of the city. Reach from central square of the city (square with a fountain and a clock) can be taken by bus, which goes along the Siteler–Otogar route.

From Marmaris there are two direct flights at once. Travel time: 13-15 hours. One of the buses is comfortable - it goes at night and arrives in Göreme early in the morning.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Bodrum

By bus. The bus station in Bodrum is located in the city center next to the Migros supermarket.

Option 1. There are no direct flights from Bodrum. A good option is to go with a change in Nevsehir. There are two buses a day from Bodrum to Nevsehir. Travel time: about 13 hours. In Nevsehir, you need to transfer to a minibus to Goreme. Travel time: 15-20 minutes.

Option 2. You can also buy a ticket to Kayseri. Travel time: 13-14 hours. In Kayseri, at the bus station, you need to transfer to a local bus to Goreme (about 14 flights). Travel time: 1 hour.

How to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from Fethiye

By bus. The bus station in Fethiye is located at the intersection of Inönü Blvd. and Ölüdeniz streets. The station is not visible from the street, it is hidden from the eyes of the Carrefour shopping center, which is popular with tourists. To get to the bus station, you need to go around shopping mall on right.

Option 1. Buy a ticket for a direct flight from Fethiye . There are 3 such flights per day. Travel time: about 13 hours.

Option 2. You can go with a change in Nevsehir. Travel time: 13 hours. In Nevsehir, you will need to transfer to a minibus to Goreme. Travel time: 15-20 minutes.

Life hack 1 - how to buy good insurance
It is very difficult to choose good insurance. Therefore, for travelers, I made a rating. I take reviews, opinions and fresh information for the rating based on my experience, as well as analyzing travel forums and specialized sites.

Life hack 2 - how to find a hotel for 20% cheaper
First choose hotel on Booking. They have a great base of offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel can often be found for 20% cheaper through

The second place to visit was the small town of Goreme in the center of Cappadocia. In order to get to it, we bought bus tickets at the METRO sales office in some kind of shopping center.

In general, you can buy tickets directly at the Asti bus station, there are sales stands of famous bus companies. The names of the companies, as a rule, are written in huge letters on the buses, you can orient yourself by them. Intercity bus service is very common and developed in Turkey and it really deserves all praise, very convenient, comfortable buses and service at their best. Therefore, you can come to Goreme from anywhere in Turkey. Well, to get to Turkey you need to buy a plane ticket. We use the proven Aviasales resource, for convenience, you can use this form:

A ticket from Ankara to Goreme cost 40 liras, we bought two tickets, but since we were given a 10% discount, in the end, 36 liras came out for one person.
They didn’t take a separate place for Camilla, they decided to take turns on their knees, though it was 5 hours to go.

We got to the bus station on our own by metro. The bus station is impressive, large, three floors in my opinion, it works like a conveyor belt, buses leave in different directions every half an hour. There are also plenty of people at the bus station, mostly the local population, in some places diluted with interspersed independent travelers. Inside the bus station is not to say that it is very clean and gypsies dart around, begging for food and money, quite aggressively, so be careful with your things.

In order not to miss our bus, closer to the time of boarding, we went to the platform and found it ourselves, did not wait for the announcement, they speak rather incomprehensibly. Bus pleased:

1. There was a distance between our chairs, where we put our backpack, and put Camilla on top and drove comfortably.
2. There were special footrests, which is very convenient, the legs do not swell.
3. A small worker was mounted in the back of each chair!!! a tablet computer on which one could watch movies, cartoons (all in Turkish), play toys, listen to music, individual headphones were provided for this. As soon as the bus started moving everything worked.

Remarkably, in Turkish intercity buses, in addition to the driver, there is a mandatory steward. I'll tell you why. Before we had time to drive off, the steward began to go around all the passengers and offer ice cream!!! Honestly, we're freaking out! 🙂
After some time, the steward again walked around the bus offering hot tea, water, sweets, collecting garbage, etc. All this, mind you, for free. We were amazed by the level of service and in general by the fact that this is possible in buses. Needless to say, the bus itself is modern, with air conditioning and other things.

Besides us, there were no other foreigners on the bus.
On the way we stopped several times for snacks and other things. One of the stops was not far from the salt lake, we understand that salt is mined there.

After we reached the bus station of the city of Nevsehir, from it another 10 km to Goreme, we were transferred to a minibus and taken further. Even before reaching Göreme, it’s as if you find yourself on another planet, just such a feeling and impression arises. Landscapes are simply extraordinary, bizarre, cosmic!

Meanwhile, the bus brings us to the final stop, which is also an open-air bus station. You can't tell by looking at it, but that's how it is. By the way, this place is located in the very center of Goreme.

Having immediately asked people how to get to our hotel, booked in advance, we slowly wandered in that direction ...

Other articles about our trip to Turkey:

Services that we use in our independent travels:

Search and purchase of air tickets
Aviasales - for us it is No. 1 of all search engines, we use it only because it is convenient and reliable, without "pitfalls".
One Two Trip! - a surprisingly convenient search engine in which you can find and purchase not only air tickets, but also railway ones. In addition, it is also easy to book a hotel or a hotel there. By clicking on our link, you will additionally receive an additional 500 rubles discount on the purchase of an air ticket!

Finding and booking accommodation

1. - a world-famous search engine where you can find and book accommodation from guesthouses to luxury villas. Have used many times and highly recommend.
2. Hotellook is a service for finding and booking accommodation from the creators of Aviasales.
3. Airbnb - booking and renting apartments, rooms, houses from local residents. Tested on myself, everything is honest, we recommend. When booking through our link, you will receive a bonus of 2100 rubles, which you can use when paying for housing. To do this, you will need to create your AirBnB account.

Car rental
- a great alternative to traveling by intercity buses and trains across Russia. Prices are usually lower public transport and significantly higher comfort.

Service-aggregator for car rental in local rental companies. You choose a car, as it were, at a local rental, but through a service, booking with a bank card, from which only 15% of the cost is charged. MyRentacar is the guarantor. You can choose not only the class of the car, but also a specific car, accurate to the color of the body and the type of radio. But most importantly, the prices on this service are the same as if you yourself came to a local rental company!

How to get to Goreme from Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara and other cities? What are the best airports to fly to? And how to get to the city from Nevsehir and Kayseri airports. Everything you need to know before independent trip to Cappadocia. How to get there, where to rent a house, prices in cafes and restaurants.

I rarely sing praises to certain cities, countries and tourist destinations but Cappadocia is not the case. Goreme is a really cool place. Just space (like Stas from the song "Leningrad"). Therefore, if you are suddenly brought to Turkey, be sure to go to this place for at least a full 2-3 days. You'll like it. And I, for my part, will tell you how to organize such a trip for yourself.

The easiest way is, of course, just go to one of the many travel agencies in Istanbul and buy yourself a ready-made tour to Cappadocia. There are no tricks here. But keep in mind that the prices there go through the roof. I won’t even list them, because depending on the duration of the trip, the quality of the hotel and the options included, and the language the guide will speak to you, their cost can vary greatly. Therefore, in this article, I will not consider such options for traveling to Cappadocia. Instead, I'd rather tell you how to get to this region on your own - by bus or plane.

Let's define concepts

Cappadocia is a fairly large region located in the central part of Turkey. Most big cities here it is Kayseri and Nevsehir. However, from a tourist point of view, they can only be considered as a transit point. Most of the sights for which, in fact, people go to Cappadocia, are located in the area of ​​​​the city of Urgup. It is next to it that such popular tourist villages as Goreme, Uchisar, Zelve, as well as various valleys, caves and open-air museums are located.

Where is the best place to live in Cappadocia?

Panorama of Goreme from the terrace of Arch Palace Hotel.

The most popular tourist centre region is Goreme city . Well, as a "city" ... There are two streets along and two across. The entire settlement, in fact, is a collection of hotels, cafes, travel agencies and souvenir shops. There is nothing special there. Well, except that you can still remember the mosque that will wake you up every morning. It was in Göreme that we ourselves lived during this trip.

In principle, if for some reason Goreme does not suit you, you can rent a hotel for the duration of the trip in the village Uchisar . There is the famous cave castle, and also very close to it is located pigeon valley, which is one of the popular tourist routes.

Fortress Uchisar.

In terms of logistics, Uchisar is also a good place. But there is one important “But” here: balloons. I personally am not sure that their morning flight from Uchisar will look as picturesque. One young Turk (who on the whole impressed me as an educated person) swore by his mother that balloons were also perfectly visible from Uchhisar. "But"! I repeat: I doubt it. The thing is that in Göreme they take off right above your head. And in Uchisar, they will most likely be visible at a distance (even though it is located on a hill, which, in theory, should provide a good overview).

In general, an extravagant option for a trip to Cappadocia to settle in Nevsehir. In fact, even there there are indeed tourists in hotels (despite the fact that before national park"Göreme" from here 12 kilometers). Usually, tourists who have made a choice in favor of Nevsehir simply rent a car or buy some kind of SUV tour and thus move around the region. Again, the question here arises only with balloons. As for the rest, of course, Nevsehir also has its advantages. For example, cafes in Goreme are relatively expensive. In Nevsehir, I'm sure there is no such problem. And it's easier to get from the airport.

In a separate line I will write a few words about Urgup. This is another important center of Cappadocia. But I was not there, so I will leave Urgup out of the brackets. I read in one article that this is a cross between Goreme and Nevsehir. Let's go to that.

How to get to Cappadocia?

Let's still consider Göreme as the final point. This is right in the heart of Cappadocia. Therefore, the phrase "how to get to Cappadocia" in this article will mean "How to get to Goreme." So... let's get down to business. There are two different ways to get to this region from Istanbul: by bus or by plane. More about everything separately.

How to get to Cappadocia by bus (from Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya)?

To do this, you need to buy tickets on the website or at the office of bus companies such as Metro, Nevsehir Seyahat or Kamil Koc. These three companies fly directly to Goreme. Some other companies have flights to Nevsehir or Kayseri, but going to Cappadocia with a transfer is, of course, not very convenient, so I will leave them out of the brackets.

Ticket price . At the time of writing flights from Istanbul to Goreme cost 100 lira (about 20 euros) for a one-way trip. Driving from Ankara cheaper (such a ticket will cost you about 50 lire). From Antalya a ticket costs 70-80 lire.

Travel time also different everywhere. From Istanbul to Goreme 10-11 hours drive. From Ankara - 4 or 5 hours. And from Antalya - 8 or 9 (depending on specific flights and traffic on the roads).

More detailed information look at the following sites:

• metroturizm.com.tr
• nevsehirlilerseyahat.com.tr
• kamilkoc.com.tr

The advantages of this option . Buses in Turkey are very comfortable. There are soft chairs, monitors in the seats, toilets, wi-fi, sockets. I heard some of them even serve food like on an airplane. But, as they say, this is inaccurate. Another plus of traveling to Cappadocia by bus is that many flights are at night, which means you can save on a hotel. For many travelers, this is important. However, I personally would like to draw your attention to another circumstance - the fact that buses come directly (!!!) to Goreme. Planes, in turn, fly to nearby airports - to Kayseri or Nevsehir, from where you still need to somehow get to the end point (I will write about this separately). Another advantage of buses a large number of free baggage, which in the same Turkish low-cost airlines is limited by individual parameters (8 kg and 55 × 40x20 cm). In general, as you understand, buses also have their own important advantages. Carefully weigh all the pros and cons before choosing one or another option.

This is interesting ! Lyrical digression in the style of "A Minute of the Curious". In Turkish buses, seats for men and women are initially separated. Yes, if you are a husband and wife, you can travel together. But in general, by default, men and women are seated separately in the salon (girls with girls, boys with boys). Seats in the cabin are even highlighted in different colors - blue for men, pink for women. Like in a maternity hospital. Gee-gee-gee...

Disadvantages of traveling by bus . In fact, there are only two of them: it is long and it is quite expensive. The thing is that the cost of air travel and bus travel is almost identical. But at the same time, the plane from Istanbul flies for 1 hour, and the bus travels as much as 10.

How to get from Goreme back to Istanbul/Antalya/Ankara

Everything is simple here. Come to the Göreme bus station and buy tickets from one of the bus companies right there. Pay attention to the photo - it clearly shows that there are a lot of different offices there (and they are located next to each other).

Prices are the same everywhere. Only the companies themselves and the time of departure differ. Choose the right time, buy a ticket and eat. The bus station in Goreme is located in the city center. You won't miss it. I repeat: there are two streets along and two across. If anything, focus on such a monument.

Looks like a zombie crawling out of the ground and clutching the Turkish flag in his hands.

How to get to Cappadocia by plane?

Buy a ticket and get there. Everything is extremely simple here. Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport in this direction are carried out by such companies as TurkishAirlines and their low-cost "daughter" AnadoluJet. Also, low-cost airlines fly to Cappadocia. Some sites on the Internet also mention Atlas jet, but I personally got pretty confused on their site.

In fact, I personally recommend that you watch Anadolu Jet and Pegasus flights. The cost of a flight here starts from 60 liras (12 euros), but by itself it can seriously change depending on the day of departure, the amount of luggage you need, or, for example, the class you are going to fly.

Personally, we ourselves traveled to Nevsehir from Istanbul on an Anadolu Jet flight (110 lira for a one-way flight). And personally, I was completely satisfied with them. At the moment, this is the best low-cost airline I have ever flown. They have new planes, a convenient site. And the free included luggage here is already as much as 8 kilograms (+ laptop, handbag, etc.). This, by the way, is a kilogram more than the national airline of Ukraine - UIA. In addition, on the flight they feed for free (they give some kind of sandwich, cupcake and drinks). The national airline of Belarus - Belavia - despite the draconian prices, has only Vzletnye sweets and stunted chocolate.

Retro photo from my archive.

In general, Anadolu Jet are great. When the flight was delayed by two hours, they even gave us a dry lunch (at the time, my favorite Ryanair ignored us in a similar situation last year). So stop… Enough about Anadolu Jet… Everyone has already realized how wonderful they are. Now let's talk about airports...

What is the best airport to fly into in Cappadocia?

As I said, there are two airports in Cappadocia - in Nevsehir and Kayseri. The first is located 35 kilometers from Goreme. The other one is in his 70s. Therefore, flying to Nevsehir is a little more convenient. Personally, we did just that - we flew to Nevsehir, and from there we went directly to Goreme by a separate transfer.

By the way, the airport in Nevsehir is one of the smallest I have ever seen.

How to get to Goreme from Nevsehir/Kayseri Airport

Everything is pretty simple here. You can order a direct transfer yourself or through the hotel (this is also very popular). The thing is that there are a lot of transfer companies in Goreme. They are here like freaks in "House-2". Hotel owners, as a rule, are friends with certain companies and constantly order a transfer from them for their guests.

All that is required of you personally is to write to the hotel and ask them to organize a transfer for you. We booked the hotel on the AIRBNB website. There, writing to the landlord is generally easier than ever. Our own transfer from Nevsehir airport to Goreme cost 25 lira. Focus on this amount. At the exit from the airport, you will be met by a driver with a sign and taken to the minivan. There is a roll call on the bus. When all the tourists have been collected, the car sets off.

The bus brings you directly to the door of the hotel. It is very comfortable. And one more thing… By the way, we paid for the transfer itself not to the driver who met us at the airport, but already at the hotel. I don’t know, maybe he paid for the transfer with his own money before the trip. Or maybe the whole point is that they (the owners of the hotels) receive some percentage from the transfer companies? But the fact remains: the prices are the same everywhere.

• Transfer to Goreme from Nevsehir airport costs 25 lira;
• Transfer to Goreme from Kayseri Airport costs 30 lira.

Sometimes hotel owners may ask for a transfer and a large amount. Such immediately go to the forest. However, there is a downside when the hotel offers you an airport transfer for free (at least one way). This is not kindness or exaggerated generosity. Just in return, you will be offered to buy from the same hotel an off-road tour, a hot air balloon flight, or something else in the same vein. See for yourself here. If you are interested in such alignment - you can agree. There is no deception here.

How to get to Goreme from Nevsehir / Kayseri Airport on your own

I am ready to swear that when I left the airport, I saw a minibus with the inscription Goreme and the price of 15 lira, which was indicated on the body. However, when I went to photograph these same minibuses, it suddenly disappeared, and only minibuses to Nevsehir remained in place. On the Internet, I also did not find any mention of that very mysterious direct minibus for 15 lira. Therefore, I will appeal with facts and write about what I know for sure.

So. Firstly, the same “minivan transfer” that we ordered from the hotel, you can book on your own. For example, the links below.

• Helios Transfer, [email protected]
• Argeus Shuttle Service, [email protected]

The price will remain the same - 25 liras for Nevsehir and 30 for Kayseri.

Another option is to go to Goreme in transit. For example, you leave the airport and take a minibus to Nevsehir. Pay 15 lire for it. You reach the city, and there you buy a ticket to Goreme for another 3 lira. The savings are in the region of 7 lire (approximately 1.5 euros). Is it worth it to bother, see for yourself. We personally booked a transfer through the hotel.

Hotels in Cappadocia

About where it is best to stay during a trip to Cappadocia, I already wrote at the very beginning of the article. There are two and a half options here - Goreme, Uchisar or Nevsehir. But I repeat: Goreme is the juice itself. Therefore, we will take it as a basis.

Despite the touristic nature of this Turkish village, hotels here are generally inexpensive. For 30 euros you can easily find a great hotel here with breakfast included and a terrace on the top floor. Personally, we lived during this trip in superior room hotel ARCH Palace. I liked him. I recommend. The breakfast is delicious, the view from the terrace is beautiful, and on the bed I could even sleep across. Plus the owner speaks excellent English.

As for other places. Their selection is huge. All hotels can be conditionally divided into "rock hotels" and "rock type hotels".

The second option, in my opinion, is preferable. Since in the first it is often cold and the Internet does not pull well. Although I will make a reservation: here, of course, a lot depends on the hotel itself. Read reviews.

Budget rooms in Goreme hotels can be rented for 17-20 euros. But I would still recommend that you focus on the amount around 30 euros per room. These will already be hotels of a slightly higher class.

Another important nuance is the location. Try to find a hotel near the local viewpoint ("View point" is sometimes also referred to as "Sunset/Sunrise point"). This is such a mountain crowned with a huge Turkish flag.

Taking pictures of flying balls from there is most pleasant and convenient. If your hotel is far from this point, you just have to run there through the entire village and get up early so that by 6 in the morning you can already stand on the observation deck.

On which site did I personally search for hotels in Goreme? On the AIRBNB website (+ a small discount for registration).

I also recommend that you check all the options through the RoomGuru website. It's an ugly interface. But he compares prices at different sites (like Booking and Ostrovka) and shows where a particular room is the cheapest. After that, you just have to go to the desired site and complete the booking.

Travel insurance for Cappadocia

See, it's all about medical insurance can seriously differ in their coverage and the number of options included. Ordinary insurance will help you in case of food poisoning, sunstroke, or, for example, if you suddenly have a toothache. A completely different thing is riding in a hot air balloon or, for example, horseback riding. Many companies can classify such entertainment as active sports (and such an option must be included and paid separately). There are exceptions. For example, before my own trip, I was able to find out that insurance policies from Zetta or Sberbank the same balloon flights cover by default. As for everyone else, check this point separately before buying a policy. Well, or just in case of injury, crawl to the hotel and, in a conversation with the insurance company, swear that you sprained your leg in the shower, and not while riding a horse or ATV.

You can buy insurance online and immediately compare the policies of different companies by the number of options included. They also sell company insurance. Zetta And Sberbank.I bought my policy there for the duration of the trip. Took a policy from Zetta. Insurance cost me $ 7.5 (per week). I did not include “active sports” in my policy. But I repeat, if you want to insure yourself in case of injury while riding a motorcycle or, for example, walking in the mountains (trekking), you need to include these items in your policy (see print screen below).

There's nothing complicated here. Roughly speaking, you just need to check the box next to the corresponding item. Insurance covering active sports will cost 12-15 dollars. Read more about travel insurance for Turkey in the article below.

Goreme tours and hot air balloon rides

Excursions in Cappadocia are a popular thing. Some people drive jeeps. Some people fly in balloons. There are many options here. You can book such a tour right on the spot or online. For example, here (excursions in Russian are presented here).

A flight on a balloon will cost you about 150 euros. Plus or minus. In winter, I heard that such flights can be found cheaper (for 80-100 euros). The balloons are flying all year round(The main thing is that the weather is right). The price is affected by the qualification of the pilot, the place of take-off and the language in which the same pilot (or escort) will speak to you. for Russian and English language you actually have to pay extra. The price is also affected by various perks. For example, champagne upon arrival, some diplomas about flying in a hot air balloon, a mini-tour in the style of “there is the Valley of Love over there, look.”

As for the usual excursions, they are very different. The most popular are Red Tour and Green Tour. See photos for routes and prices. Something similar in Cappadocia is offered at every turn.

An alternative option is to rent a car () and drive everywhere on your own.

Where to go and what to see in Cappadocia?

In principle, you can walk along the valleys of Cappadocia on foot. This is a little difficult, but not critical - all points are within walking distance.

Plus, the path itself can only be done in one direction, and hitchhiking back in Goreme. Distances - 5-6 kilometers. Stopping the car is not a problem. You go out onto the track and in 5-10 minutes someone will pick you up. Turks are warm and friendly people.

So… What to see in the Goreme area.

• Open Air Museum (there are old churches in the rocks and frescoes);
• Valleys. There are many of them. The most popular are the Valley of Love, Pigeon Valley, Red and White Valleys, etc.

• Cave fortress Uchisar. It is located in the village of the same name. You can get from Goreme by bus for 2.5 lira. Or walking through Pigeon Valley.
• cave cities. Kaymakli, Derinkuyu and others. Better to go with a tour. It's a little tricky on your own.
• Flight of balloons. Starts every day at 6 am. It is best to watch him observation deck in the center of Goreme. Although it is also clearly visible from many hotels.

Food in Cappadocia: how much do groceries cost

Goreme is a tourist place, so all those doners and kebabs that you saw in Istanbul for 3-5 liras cost 7-10 here. Here's a bun with chicken and vegetables will cost you 7 lire.

Tea in the same cafe costs 2 lira. In a cafe for locals (where Turkish grandfathers cut into checkers for days) they asked for 1.5 lira for a glass of tea.

Pida (similar to a closed pizza or Georgian khachapuri) costs 14-15 lira in a cafe. Barbecue - 25 lira.

I will write separately about the Anatolian Kitchen cafe. Bypass him. It looks decent and is located right in the center of Goreme, but I personally got poisoned there. Maybe you are lucky, and your own trip to this cafe will not end so tragically. But don't risk it. May my sacrifice not be in vain.