How to get to the Land of Beautiful Horses: all the ways to get to Cappadocia. Detailed instructions: how to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from various cities

The simplest option to get to Cappadocia is a bus. Buses in Turkey are comfortable. Air conditioners work, but there is no freezer, as, for example, in buses in Thailand or Venezuela. During the trip, the stewards offer free drinks (tea, coffee, juices, all kinds of soda, water), snacks (biscuits, crackers, sandwiches). Every 3 hours, stops are made for 20-30 minutes, where you can visit cafes, shops, toilets, smoke and just stretch. More and more companies are offering Wi-Fi on their buses. The only BUT: no matter how comfortable the bus is, the legs still numb from a long sitting position. But this is not fatal and is quite experienced.

It is quite possible to buy tickets on the same day, and even before departure. But of course, there is no 100% guarantee, it is better to take care of this in advance. On local national and religious Muslim holidays, as well as on weekends from Friday to Sunday, it is also worth taking care of this issue in advance, because. Turkish citizens are very fond of visiting relatives and friends in their free time. On Eid al-Adha, you should take care of tickets even for a week, or even more.

You can get to different cities of Cappadocia (Nevsehir, Goreme, Yurgup, Avanos) from different places, by different companies. If there is no bus to Goreme, Yurgup, etc., then focus on Nevsehir. This is a type of district center, from which you can then get to other cities and villages of Cappadocia.

How to get from Nevsehir to Goreme

From Nevsehir to Goreme can be reached in 15-20 minutes. Lots of options here:

1. Can be free service of the company you come from;

2. from a large otogar (where you arrived) travel agencies organize a transfer (lire 5);

3. can be reached from the same hillside. on which you arrived, on any intercity bus that goes through Göreme;

4. you can walk to the stop of the local bus Nevsehir-Goreme (for opening hours, see “Local transport”);

5. some hotels, if you booked a room with them, provide a transfer, sometimes free of charge;

6. Well, and taxis, of course.

How to get to Cappadocia by bus from Istanbul

From Istanbul to Cappadocia, the bus takes an average of 10-11 hours. There are morning (from 8 am to 9 am) and evening (from 8 pm to 11 pm) flights. There are no flights during the day. Tickets can be bought at, i.e. bus station (Otogar metro station) or at the offices of bus companies that are scattered around Istanbul and, as a rule, have offices in the Sultanahmet area. The ticket price is about 50 -55 liras (about 30 USD). The location of the offices of these companies can be found on their websites.

You can also get on buses from Istanbul to / from Cappadocia in the Asian part of Istanbul - at the Harem bus station, to Dudulu, etc. - check when buying a ticket

Here are some of those who travel in this direction. On the websites of companies you can see the schedule, price, buy a ticket. But not all companies have websites:

The same companies can get from/to Cappadocia from/to Ankara (about 4 hours, 25-30 lira)

Another such moment when delivering by bus. As it turns out, there is such an akhtung, which one of the readers told me about, who has already returned from Cappadocia. He traveled from Istanbul to Nevsehir with the Süha company. They took him to Nevsehir. But with a change in Kayseri. Those. We were taken to Kayseri, and from there by free service to Goreme. Naturally, time is wasted on this. So be careful. I assumed that it was sent that way because there were no tickets for the Istanbul-Nevsehir flight. But in order not to lose a client, "Syuha" pulled off such a trick. In fact, they took the passenger to the desired point. It turned out that he bargained a lot. He was sent with a cheaper option. As a result, it really cost him 10 lire cheaper. But he lost time. Which, of course, he later regretted.

How to get to Cappadocia from Antalya

From Antalya to Cappadocia can be reached in 9-10 hours, the ticket price is about 40 lira, 27 USD. Available from the following companies

Can DersimTuncelililer

Nevsehir Kapadokya

Luks Goreme Tourism

How to get to Goreme from Kayseri

You can get the Kayseri bus to Goreme in 1 hour. Buses run every hour from 6.00 to 22.00. Transportation is carried out by the following companies:

Nevsehir Kapadokya

Luks Goreme Tourism

How to get to Cappadocia by bus from different cities in Turkey

Cappadocia is connected by bus to many cities in Turkey. There are direct buses to / from the cities of Trabzon, Bursa, Adana, Canakkale (to Troy), Manavgat, Rize, Samsun, Izmir, Mersin, Alanya, Kemer, etc. For details, see the websites of bus companies (the link is given above) .

To get to Cappadocia by bus to / from the western direction, in the absence of a direct bus, you will have to change in Antalya, Ankara, Konya.

To get to Cappadocia by bus from \ to the East of Turkey, in the absence of direct buses, you will have to change in Kayseri, Adana.

See also the chapter “How to get to Cappadocia – general”, which tells about the site neredennereye.com

120 responses to “ How to get to Cappadocia by bus”

I lived in Turkey for almost a year, and I can say with confidence that this is an absolutely magical country. I would even say that these are several different countries in one country. Here, let's take at least kebabs: there are as many varieties of them in Turkey as there are regions in the country. Adana kebab, Izmir kebab, Urfa kebab, Iskender kebab (invented in Bursa)... Do you know why? Because each city wants to do it in its own way, in a special way, better than its neighbors.

Kayseri and Nevsehir are already Cappadocia, but not yet what you need. The center of Cappadocia is Goreme, from Nevsehir and Kayseri it is an hour away by car/bus/taxi.

Transport

Trips around the cities of Cappadocia cost from 0.5 EUR (2 TRY) to 4 EUR (15 TRY) - it all depends on the remoteness of the cities you want to see. In Cappadocia, you can often get to a neighboring village / city on a "ride" - then everything varies from "free" to "as agreed with the driver."

Nutrition

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants in Goreme, the average bill for a lunch of salad, soup and a second course is 6.3 EUR (25 TRY). It is problematic to eat on your own, there are only two cities in the region with large supermarkets: Avanos and Nevsehir, in other cities there are shops in the spirit of "selpo" with the most necessary set of products (vegetables, sausage, bread, cheese, chips, juices, etc.) It is very possible to take bread, cheese, wine and tomatoes with you on a hike.

Main attractions. What to see

Frankly, even if you just leave Göreme and walk wherever your eyes look, you will find a lot of beautiful places, rocks, caves and valleys. Of course, you need to come to Cappadocia first of all for the extraordinary "alien" landscape: craters, volcanoes, rocks, cave cities - all this is a real miracle of nature, which resembles a beautiful oriental ancient fairy tale.
If you are interested in Christian shrines, then, of course, from all over Turkey, you should choose Cappadocia. After all, the entire rocky Cappadocia is a former Christian city, whose inhabitants were forced to hide from persecution and persecution. True, all churches and temples are now not operating, except for Easter and Christmas, no services are held there. But many of them have preserved ancient frescoes, which tourists from all over the world come to see.
And, of course, in Cappadocia, many newlyweds spend their weddings and "honeymoon", because it's warm, delicious, a lot of wine, beautiful sunsets, caves, rocks and balloons :)

Top 5

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

There are a lot of churches and temples in Cappadocia, because these are real Christian cities, where at first the early Christians simply settled, and later hid from persecution. There were quite a few of them, and there were a decent number of churches left after them (to be honest, at every step). These churches and temples do not operate, but services are held in some of them twice a year: at Christmas and Easter, and the rest of the time they are open to tourists. Almost all churches with frescoes have an entrance fee (2-3 EUR). If you're planning on avoiding paid museums and churches, Cappadocia has a large number of free, well-preserved churches.

There are a lot of beautiful churches on the territory of Cappadocia, where there are frescoes, photography, unfortunately, is usually prohibited. Do not try to go around absolutely all the churches in the area - even a month is not enough for this. Choose a couple of paid and a couple of free churches for review, after all, almost all of them were built at the same time and according to the same model.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

Of course, almost every major city in Cappadocia has a city, archaeological or ethnographic museum. But the number 1 museum in Cappadocia is, of course (Goreme Open-Air Museum). This museum is located in the Goreme National Park. All the churches that I wrote about above are located in the open-air museum.
This is a large monastic rock and geological complex with bizarre tufa mountains, hills, in which dwellings and churches of Christians have been preserved. This site is protected by UNESCO. Entrance - 5 EUR + 2.5 EUR for the entrance to the Dark Church.

This is the most visited place in Cappadocia, come as early as possible (opening at 8.00), especially if you come in the season to see everything calmly and not stand in lines (15-30 minutes). Perhaps this is the only paid museum that I would still recommend visiting. But, if the budget does not allow, do not despair, Cappadocia is full of beautiful fantastic landscapes and free churches. Every tourist who has been there for more than 1 day will have some favorite secret place - a mountain where it is best to meet the dawn, a cave where the most bizarre tunnels are, a crevice in which you can hide - there is a lot of free Cappadocia and enough for everyone.

Food. What to try

About Turkish cuisine, you can write collected works in 10 volumes, and there will be little. Here in, you can read about Turkish cuisine in general, there are many dishes in Cappadocia.

But in general, the cuisine of Cappadocia is a special cuisine, which in some places is very different from Turkish. Famous Istanbul mussels drizzled with lemon? Who will say why they are not in Cappadocia? That's right, six hours to the nearest sea. Shrimp, gobies, trout and other red mullet? They are served in restaurants in Cappadocia, but they will never be as tasty as fresh ones, alas (although some craftsmen may argue with me).

The cuisine of Cappadocia is, first of all, all kinds of pots and tandoor. Stewed vegetables + stew + pickles in earthenware = home cooking. A long cold winter (and the Turks believe that Cappadocia has cold winters, yeah, +2C on average in January), a lot of clay around - all this contributes to the preservation of products and the abundance of dishes in pots and in clay tandoor.

Tandoors remained in many underground cities, churches and monasteries. Near them it was possible to bask in a cold cave. And in the operating tandoors they cook soup, meat and magnificent long and flat (like a big boat) local bread. Long, crispy, fresh bread (sometimes as long as your table) is made by many cafes and restaurants, and this bread with fresh vegetables, feta cheese, sausage (from a local grocery store) can be taken on hiking trips. And to meet the sunset, you can also take local crayfish (aniseed vodka) or wine.

The real gastronomic attraction of Cappadocia is "testi kebab", or it is also called "potyri kebab". At the very beginning, I wrote that there are as many kebabs in Turkey as there are cities, and I did not lie. Cappadocian kebab is cooked in a tandoor in a clay pot, which is broken in half with a large knife in front of you already on the table. This is lamb with vegetables, juice flows from the dish, which remains in the rim of the pot and you can dip the freshest bread into it. This is a real hearty Cappadocian food, served in almost all cafes and restaurants.
Eggplants are very popular here in different versions (this is my favorite vegetable, only for the sake of it I can return to Cappadocia again and again). Pickles, jams, marinades, all this is present in large quantities in home cooking.

Also in Cappadocia they love to cook lamb on a spit and all kinds of steaks. And, of course, rich lentil soup, however, it is loved throughout Turkey.

The nearest large supermarkets are located in Avanos and Nevsehir, so if you are staying in Göreme and there is nothing to go for groceries, then you should know that local stores do not have a very large selection. Fruits, vegetables, local meat (no pork), olives, sweets. There are no problems with alcohol: wine, beer, crayfish are sold almost everywhere.

Be sure to try the local wine (if you drink alcohol, of course). Cappadocia is the wine region of Turkey, there are a large number of vineyards, and some winemakers still make wine in the ancient way - in a reservoir carved into the rock. And the corks are corked with clay to give the bottle a resemblance to the Cappadocian rocks.

Be sure to buy some local wine (if it does not contradict your beliefs) and drink it on the terrace overlooking Cappadocia at night (the stars in this area are especially bright). You can also smoke hookah and cigars on the terrace (check with the owner of the restaurant / hotel).

Safety. What to watch out for

Cappadocia is a very peaceful area. It's not noisy at all with a bunch of thieves, beggars and suspicious taxi drivers :) You can go to Cappadocia with one girl and absolutely nothing to fear. Even night buses are very comfortable, and you will be waiting for them at a busy bus stop.

The main thing to remember in Cappadocia is that you are in the mountains and actively climb them without special training, in non-tourist places, in uncomfortable shoes, imagining yourself as a climber, and especially in winter, when slippery is dangerous.

Also, be careful away from the tourist trails, where you can’t see that around the corner (quad bikes, bicycles, motorcycles drive in Cappadocia), accelerating all these vehicles can harm you.

And finally, balloons. Balloon crashes are extremely rare, most often ending badly when a tourist refuses to buckle up during an emergency landing because of the wind and continues to photograph scenic views.

Things to do

So, you are in my beloved Cappadocia. Things to do? Pfff. Guys, just get out of the hotel and walk, walk, breathe, climb rocks, kiss in caves, read a book in Old Gyor, fly a balloon, wake up at dawn (I am an owl myself, but Cappadocia just requires an early rise if you don't want to miss the flight of balloons).

How to move around the region

Cappadocia - holidays with children

I would not say that Cappadocia is an ideal place for traveling with children. Although it depends on the children, and on the parents (some calmly climb the mountains with a child almost in a backpack), while others are afraid to go beyond the Moscow courtyard.

Of course, these are not the resorts of sunny Antalya, where there is a sea, sandy beaches, a buffet, baby clubs, water parks and zoos. This is a harsh mountainous Cappadocia with hiking, climbing mountains, dust, clay, transfers to planes, buses and minibuses.
Be sure to check with hotels / excursions / hot air balloon flights whether it is possible with children. Some hotels do not accept children under the age of 15, and some firms do not allow children under 10 years of age on the balloons.

If your child is a fidget, you need to be prepared to keep him from very dangerous jumps in the mountains, and if he is just small and you are not used to taking him on hikes and trips, then leave the baby in Cappadocia with someone , it will be difficult. Well, this holiday is not designed for families with small children.

Although, if you are in a car and / or your children feel great on the road, then why not? We can say that this is a kind of "Disneyland", only created by nature.

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 independently get to this particular settlement 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 (), and secondly, quite cheap tickets are often sold to Ankara. 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 a 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 the railway station in Ankara (Ankara Gar) 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.com.

From Nevsehir you can get to by minibus in 15-20 minutes (there are many minibuses), and from Kayseri by suburban bus - in 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 services 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 suburban station is currently used temporarily 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 into the 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 in 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. The 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. You can get from the central square of the city (a square with a fountain and a clock) 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 approach the bus station, you need to go around the shopping center on the 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

If you are planning your trip to Istanbul, or have already been here, a trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia can add vivid and unforgettable impressions to you. This historical area is distinguished not only by amazing landscapes, but also provides an opportunity to touch the history of the 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 kept.

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 April 6, 2019, all Turkish Airlines flights are moved to, which is further from the historical city center 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 the interface language in the upper right corner (there is no Russian, there is English). Then we proceed to the search for flights and selection.

Buses Kamil Koç

Comfortable Kamil Koç buses

Kamil Koch is a large company that operates throughout Turkey and provides a very high level of 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 lire.
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) trains. 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 ways to travel independently from Istanbul to Cappadocia is by plane or by bus.

Best time to travel to Cappadocia

Cappadocia is beautiful at any time of the year. A transport network functions here all year round, museum complexes and underground cities open their doors, balloon travel is available (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. The highest temperatures are recorded each year 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 balloon festival here. 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 fans of sports entertainment, visiting extreme sports competitions is perfect. 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 of extreme sports, a modern ski resort opens its doors in Kayseri. 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, famous for its vast national park and a huge open-air museum complex. Travelers, for the most part, live in this settlement. 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. Goreme attracts with the fact that the mountain peaks meet tourists right outside the doors of the hotels. Almost every hotel has outdoor terraces that offer magnificent views of the 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 Göreme with outdoor pools, popular during the swimming 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 have 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. In Derinkuyu you can find literally everything: 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 (Nevşehir 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

Goreme National Park

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 Valleys. 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 of ancient architecture that is worth seeing 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 stand in line 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. The total area of ​​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 a sightseeing tour leading from Goreme 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 just 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 rush 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 at the 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 lira 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 quite a calm place, however, walks alone on dark evenings are 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 ATV may suddenly appear 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.