From Istanbul to Cappadocia on your own: how to get there and what to see. Detailed instructions: how to get to Cappadocia (Göreme) from various cities

Goreme this is a small town, which is rightfully considered a tourist center Cappadocia. Despite the fact that the administrative center of the district is the city Nevsehir, the main stopping place for tourists to access the main attractions Cappadocia is precisely this small town with an unusual landscape. The bus stop is located on the main square. On different sides of the square there are many restaurants, cafes, ATMs and several car, bicycle and ATV rental offices. Travel agencies that offer day trips are also located around this main square.

A Brief History of Goreme

The valley in which the picturesque town is located Goreme, like dozens of neighboring valleys, were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions Erciyes, Gulludag And Hasandag. For many millions of years, they filled the local space with ash and hot lava, which solidified in the most bizarre combinations and shapes. Then . People also put their hands on this transformation, having lived here for hundreds of thousands of years and adapted a significant part of the stone formations for housing and outbuildings. Throughout its long history, the town has had five different names. It is believed that her oldest name Korama The Byzantines called her Matiana, Christian Armenians - Makan(Macan), the Turks - Avcılar, and only then it was renamed into Goreme.

Attractions Goreme

Near Goreme and the immediate vicinity there are about 400 churches, mostly small, rarely two or four pillars, rarely three apses. The most famous and well-preserved churches are Tokaly, Charykly, Karanlyk, Elmaly, Yilanly, Sakly and the dilapidated El Nazar.

The ensemble of churches that we see in the vicinity of the town appeared approximately after 850. The frescoes that adorn them can be attributed to the second half of the 11th century. The mural style, inspired by works of clearly Byzantine origin, is remarkable for its extraordinary simplicity. The architectural decoration is admirably combined with the paintings made by professional artists thanks to the philanthropy common at that time. Many inscriptions (sometimes accompanied by portraits) introduce us to the names of artists and donors. According to historical and iconographic studies, the donors were usually noble and wealthy members of the rural community, united in unions, the purpose of which was to finance works of art. Due to the moisture resistance of the tufa and the constant climate inside the building, not subject to fluctuations in the external environment, the colors here have retained their brightness over many centuries. Biblical and gospel stories are accompanied by inscriptions made in Greek, but in Cyrillic.

Sunrise - Decorations on trees are beads from the evil eye

Goreme National Park

In addition to historical sights, there are a lot of natural sights around the city. goreme, is the center of the “National Historical and Natural Park” of the same name, which covers an area of ​​300 km². At the bottom of the article there is a map on which you can see the location of the national park. On the map, the territory of the national park is indicated in green. , Pigeon Valley, Meskendir, Red and Pink valleys, all of them are included within the national park. national park and cave settlements Cappadocia are included in .

What to do in Goreme?

Goreme, this is the best place to start exploring . Hiking in the vicinity of the city are the most preferred type of pastime by tourists. If you are afraid of long walks in the valleys adjacent to the town, then you can rent a bike, motorcycle or quad bike and ride through the valleys. If you love horses and horseback riding, you can also make horse rides.

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  Walk through the valleys of Göreme on quad bikes
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How to get to Goreme?

All bus companies that travel in this direction ( Kamil Koch, Syuha, Metro/ Kamil Koç, Süha, Metro) or passing through Goreme or come to Nevsehir and from there they transfer passengers to shuttle basses to Goreme, or . Bus schedule at the bus station Nevsehir can find by this link. How to get to Cappadocia is described in more detail in this one.

Where to live, where to stay?

The city has a large number of hotels for every taste and budget - both simple boarding houses in the rocks, and expensive stylish mini hotels. You can see the location of some hotels by clicking on the link below. About how to choose and you can read by following

	Hotels in the city Yurgup
Hotels in the city Uchisar	Hotels in the city Ortahisar
Hotels in the city Nevsehir	Hotels in the city Avanos

Photos of Goreme

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  Spring Cloudy
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  Rock Hotel
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  Cappadocian horse
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  rock cone
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  Goreme - view from afar
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Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Istanbul Ataturk

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Bodrum, Sabiha Gokcen

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Izmir, Sabiha Gokcen

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Antalya, Sabiha Gokcen

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Edremit, Istanbul Ataturk

Flights from Ankara to Nevsehir via Bodrum, Istanbul Ataturk

Friends, good day!

A large intercity bus station is located in the city of Nevsehir, which is 15 km from the Goreme we need. But don't let that scare you, since most of the routes go either directly to Goreme or take you to Nevsehir, from where small shuttles will drop you to Goreme for free.

Some details of bus companies in Turkey

There are 3 sites you can search for:

• neredennereye.com,
• obilet.com
• tickets.com.

It is best to use the 1st of them, since, firstly, it is in English, and secondly, it is on it that you have the experience of buying tickets online. But the problem is that he shows, for some reason, not all bus companies plying on a particular route.

The best and with the widest network of transport links is the Metro company - metroturizm.com.tr. Personally used their services and rating 5+. Everything is clear and professional. If you have the opportunity, then do not experiment!

1. Kamıl Koç — kamilkoc.com.tr. Another road transport monster. I consider this the number 2 moving company. Highly recommend, but they simply do not appear in the search engine.
2. Guney Akdeniz - guneyakdeniz.com. This company provides transportation in the Mediterranean region: Bodrum - Antalya - Alanya - Isparta. Frequent flights and very reasonable prices.
3. Pamukkale- pamukkale.com.tr. Another well-known and reliable company. But it seemed to me, a little more expensive than the previous one for the same directions.

What you need to know about traveling by bus

1. When choosing seats it is not allowed to sit men and women together, so if you are a couple, then remind the ticket seller about this, otherwise you may not be close at all
2. Almost always your luggage will be required to check in the luggage compartment. From my own experience, it is better to have a very small handbag or even a bag with you to throw everything you need into it: a tablet, a snack, headphones and a charger.
3. Many buses have WiFi. The password must be asked from the steward.
4. If you are thirsty, then do not be shy and do not wait for the next call of the steward for distribution.
5. Remember your bus number especially for Metro. Very often 2-3 identical buses with the same signs can be nearby.
6. To find out the timetable, it is better to go to the bus station website. Here is the schedule for the bus station in Antalya: antalyaulasim.com.tr/nasil-giderim

Can a foreigner buy a bus ticket online

As you have probably heard, if foreigners have difficulty buying tickets online. No, citizenship is not yet required, but a Turkish bank card is required!

It is still possible for a foreigner to buy an online ticket, but so far only on the website neredennereye.com

Distances from resort towns to Göreme

• from Antalya to Cappadocia 535 km
• from Alanya to Cappadocia 495 km
• from Side to Cappadocia 466 km
• from Kemer to Cappadocia 582 km
• from Istanbul to Cappadocia 730 km
• from Ankara to Cappadocia 300 km
• from Bodrum to Cappadocia 842 km
• from Marmaris and to Cappadocia 781 km
• from Pamukkale to Cappadocia 620 km
• from Fethiye to Cappadocia 714 km
• from Izmir to Cappadocia 770 km

Now you will answer for yourself from which resort is the closest to Cappadocia?

How to get to Cappadocia by bus

This is the easiest and most reliable way to get to Turkey from anywhere and anywhere. Thanks to companies Metro And Kamil Koç direct flights, at least once a day, go to Cappadocia from all famous resorts. Below I will provide screenshots from the site. neredennereye.com, but I recommend additionally checking the individual sites of the bus companies that I mentioned above.

If, suddenly, by the will of fate, there is no direct flight from your "village", then focus on transfers at large bus stations. Your route will consist of two segments. It will cost 5-15 lira more, but it will help you turn the route with maximum speed and convenience.

First get to Ankara, Konya, Isparta, Antalya or Maganaut, and from there look for tickets further.

From Istanbul

You already know that from Istanbul the easiest way to get to Cappadocia is by plane. Only from here direct flights are made to both airports of Cappadocia - Nevsehir and Kayseri, and tickets are not at all expensive - check.

But if you decide to go by bus, then on the way you will wake up 10 hours if the bus is night, and 12 hours if it is daytime. Worth the trip 120 lire, something around $25. ( 1$ - 4.5 Lira).

This is a screenshot from another site. Bilte.com

Buses depart from the bus station Bayrampasa. On the map, we will designate it, for some reason as Esenler Otogar. It is very easy to get to it, as there is a metro stop right next to it. Otogar.

From Ankara

Since you already know from the previous article that there are no direct flights from Ankara to Cappadocia, it is best to get there by bus, which takes 4 hours. Fare 50-60 lire. Please note that there are no night buses.

Ankara bus station Asti located in the western part of the city. It is easily accessible from the airport by the company's bus. Havatas, and from the city by metro to the station of the same name Asti.

From Antalya

In Göreme from Antalya there is a mass of buses. Travel time is 9-10 hours. Fare approx. 80 lire. This is the service I used.

Please note that if you choose Nevsehir instead of Goreme, the price will not change much, but the frequency of flights will increase. Most importantly, do not use the services of the company Igdir. Why? my revelation.

The bus station is located in the north of the city next to the tram station Otogar. You can get here both by tram directly from the airport, and by bus of the company Havatas. From different parts of the city there are a lot of buses with the names Otogar and Terminali.

From Kemer

From Kemer today there is only one night flight to Goreme from the company Rahmi Hamurcu. The journey will take 10 hours and cost 90 lira.

If this turn does not suit you, then you can wave from Kemer to the Antalya bus station (journey time 40-60 minutes) and from there go further to Cappadocia.

The Kemer bus station is located in the north of the city near the highway going through Antalya to Kas. You can get to it from the resort part by minibus with a sign Otogar.

But to get to Antalya it is not necessary to go to the bus station. Local buses pass right through the center of Kemer.

From Alanya

It may seem that from Alanya you can take a direct bus only to Nevsehir. And there you can get on your own by minibus, or jump into the bus of another company going to Göreme.

Since the buses from Alanya are night buses, there will be no problems with this. Travel time is 10.5 hours, and the ticket price 75 lira.

But there is still a direct flight. Like I said, check other sites for tickets. If this option does not suit you, then go from Alanya to the neighboring intercity bus station in Manavgat(about 1 hour). From there, the choice of flights is much larger.

The bus station in Alanya is located at the western tip Cleopatra beach and entrance to the city from Antalya. You can walk or jump on bus number 2.

From Side

You won't get anywhere from Side itself. This small coastal town simply does not have an intercity bus station. First, you need to get to the bus station of the neighboring satellite town on the local dolmush Manavgat. It takes about 10 minutes to drive. And from there, on a solid bus, set off on a journey.

Drive 7.5 hours and the ticket costs 70 lire. There are a lot of flights (on the slide there are only a few for an example).

And here is the bus station in Manavgat:

From Izmir

From the Aegean region, getting to Cappadocia is even further than from the Mediterranean.

From Izmir, the bus to Goreme takes the same amount as from Istanbul, about 12 hours. But it costs not 120 lira, but 100 . There are very few flights to Göreme itself, but there are many more flights to Nevsehir.

I hope you remember from the previous article that there are direct flights from Izmir for 100-150 liras? If you decide to fly, then read this article on how to get to Izmir Airport from the city.

The Izmir bus station is located at the exit from the city towards Istanbul. You can get here both by minibus and by a free service bus from the carrier company. I know for sure that this way you can leave directly from the company's offices next to the railway. station Basmane.

From Fethiye

There are 3 buses a day from Fethiye to Goreme. Travel time is about 13 hours and the ticket costs 100 lire All buses except the Metro company are checkpoints.

The bus station in Fethiye is located in the southern part of the city next to the highway along which we enter it from the east. You can also reach it on foot.

To be honest, the bus station here is not very remarkable and, as it were, hidden from view. So either ask passers-by, or be guided by maps.me .

From Marmaris

From Marmaris to Goreme itself there are only 2 evening flights per 90 and 110 lire(but there is a morning in Nevsehir). Travel time is half a lifetime or 13 hours. You don't wish it on your enemy.

The bus station is located almost at the exit from the city to the north.

From Bodrum

There are no direct flights to Göreme from Bodrum in the search engine. So you will first have to get to Nevsehir, and only then jump into the local dolmush. Until 18.00 - 19.00 in the evening - this is not a problem at all.

There is a morning 90 lira and evening for 110 lire flight, but the travel time has not been determined.

But there is a direct flight on the website KamIl Koç

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

Good to know

Friends, pay attention in the last slide, I pointed with an arrow to the phrase stopover. This means that the bus passes by and will continue to the final in another city. It is always better to clarify exactly how this stopover will occur. Since in my case, which I described in this article, I was just thrown out at the nearest gas station 1 km from the bus station.

And further. Return route tickets you can either buy immediately upon departure, or later at the bus station in Goreme. The fact is that there are 2 more local companies that deliver tourists to almost anywhere in Turkey:

1. Nevsehir Seyahat — nevsehirlilerseyahat.com.tr
2. Suha Tourism — www.suhaturizm.com.tr

Their ticketing agency is located right at the bus station along with offices Metro And Kamil Koc. So you can choose a convenient fare and departure time right on the spot. It is especially convenient that their schedules are posted right in front of the offices.

Friends, I have everything on buses. If you still have questions or sensible comments, then please do not be shy and pour out your thoughts with a pen in a special column.

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Goreme is a small but most popular tourist village in Cappadocia. Despite the fact that there are larger cities in the area (Kayseri and Nevsehir) with an airport, markets, museums and noisy bars, Goreme is the tourist center of the region. 95% of tourists rent a hotel here, buy excursions, make walks through the valleys and trips to various attractions from here.

Why go mostly in Göreme (Turkey) and not to other places in Cappadocia?

Firstly, the village is very advantageously located: it is located in the very center of the Goreme National Park. This is a huge open-air museum, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The national park is known for the fact that many centuries ago it was the largest Christian center with a large number of rock churches, monasteries and separate cells of monks. In addition, many beautiful valleys with unique "lunar landscapes" are also located on the territory of this park and start right at Goreme. It is very convenient for independent walks and walking tours.

Secondly, Goreme (Turkey) is equipped especially for tourists. There are a huge number of hotels and restaurants, souvenir shops and tour agencies, there are many bike and ATV rental offices. And there is a playground near Goreme. Local residents live off tourism and try to make vacationers comfortable and cozy.

Third, Goreme (or rather its center) is more well-groomed and clean compared to neighboring resort "cities". But on the outskirts, the colorful atmosphere of a Turkish village has been preserved here: women choose seeds from pumpkins, chickens run around, and tractors stand along the road.

Attractions Goreme and surroundings

1. (Turkey)- the most famous attraction of Cappadocia. Read more about it in a separate article of our author's guide.
2. Valleys near Goreme. Near the village there are many valleys where you can walk, take beautiful pictures, and if you're lucky, watch turtles and lizards. A detailed description of the valleys with photographs can be found by looking at, and see ready-made walking routes for walking.
3. Observation deck. It is clearly visible from almost everywhere. It rises above a small one. It offers a wonderful view of Göreme (it is also commonly called the "panorama of Göreme"), the Görkünder valley and the surrounding area.
4. UFO Museum. It is no coincidence that a small museum was opened here in 2005, because Cappadocia is one of the “five” places where increased UFO activity is observed. Here are clippings from newspapers and magazines in 8 languages ​​with descriptions of various paranormal phenomena and interviews of people abducted by aliens. But the most interesting thing in the exposition is an installation depicting a scene of four aliens studying an inhabitant of the Earth. Museum opening hours: 09.00-19.00. Finding the UFO museum in Goreme is not difficult: it is located 200-300 m to the left of the road to the Open Air Museum.

Where to stay in Goreme: hotels, pensions, hostels, campsites

Goreme (Turkey) has the largest number of different hotels, boarding houses and hostels. There are so many of them that even during the season it is not necessary to book in advance (unless, of course, you are tied to a particular hotel). You can always find something on your own upon arrival.

The types of housing in Goreme are different: there are cave hotels, completely or partially carved into the rock, there are real Sultan's stone palaces, there are family hotels, there are simple hostels, and there are comfortable campsites.

The checkout time is usually at 09.00 (by the arrival of the morning buses). If you have already left, but you have free time and a desire to take a walk somewhere else before the bus leaves, you can leave your luggage at the reception.

Where to eat in Göreme: restaurants, cafes, bars…

There are a lot of different places in Göreme where you can eat or drink a cup of coffee, have a light snack or relax with a glass of Cappadocian wine. There are restaurants, cafes, pide establishments (i.e. pizzerias), bars… There are places where vegetarians can dine and places that serve halal (food without pork). There are restaurants with Turkish cuisine, and there are European (French, Italian, Austrian) or generally international (American, Indian, Chinese, Korean) restaurants. That's just Russian and Ukrainian cuisine in Goreme in Turkey yet, but I think it's a matter of time!

We talked about the top five places to eat in Goreme (three restaurants and a couple of cafes) in the material (see rating). Here we will give a few more food establishments, which are also included in the top ten.

Cappadocian Cuisine- family restaurant with traditional Turkish cuisine. The hospitable hostess Hatizda meets you at the doorstep in national dress, sometimes with a cigar or a cup of coffee. She knows how to say “Hello” and “Come visit us” in many languages ​​and accurately, at a glance, determines how to address you specifically. All the waiters in the restaurant speak excellent English. The menu is extensive: here you can order both individual dishes to your taste, and a set lunch, which includes soup (for example, chorba), the main meat dish (testi-kebab or something else), rice, salad and tea. They serve quickly, but so that guests do not get bored while waiting for an order, they are given a “compliment from the restaurant” for free - a basket of warm bread with ayran sauce with herbs (it’s so “delicious” to break off small pieces from the cake and dip them into the sauce), sometimes tea or small puddings if you come with children. You can eat inside the restaurant or outside. You can bring your own wine. Portions are average. Prices are moderate. Address: Uzundere Cad., 5/B.

Firin Express- a cafe without frills in the interior, but it is here that you can try the best Turkish pizza in the city - pide. It is served straight from the oven, hot and juicy. There are many variations of pide on the menu, but the most popular one is with cheese and spinach. Etli ekmek is also baked here - a thin and narrow long pizza with minced meat. The kitchen is located right in the hall, and you can watch how your order is prepared (and, if you wish, shoot it on video). In a huge oven, meat and vegetable dishes are stewed, as well as everything that crumbles in an egg. In addition, here you can order lentil or tomato soup, rice with vegetables, tuna salad, and, of course, testi kebab. It is possible to buy pizza to take away (everything will be perfectly packed for you). Address: Cami Caddesi, 4-5.

red wine house- a cozy wine bar in Goreme (Turkey) with delicious homemade wines, as well as alcoholic drinks from local wineries. It's good to relax with friends, smoke a hookah and watch the fire in the fireplace. There is wi-fi. Light Turkish music creates a pleasant atmosphere. The bar is open all year round in memory of the fact that Carlos Santana, an American virtuoso guitarist and winner of numerous Grammy awards, once visited here (because of this, Red wine is sometimes called Santana Bar). If you get hungry, you can order food from the restaurant next door, which is owned by the son of the owner of the bar. The only negative, probably, is that in a glass you can only order homemade wine (on tap). If you want to try the wine of local wineries, then you need to purchase a whole bottle. Address: Muze Caddesi, 9.

Excursions and entertainment in Göreme (Turkey): safaris, hammams, hot air balloons…

Goreme has a huge number of tour agencies and private guides. All of them offer, as a rule, a standard set, the most popular of which are tours. The only downside is that they are held mainly in English. If you want to have a Russian-speaking guide, then you can book some excursions via the Internet in advance, while still at home, for example, on the website.

Among the entertainment in Goreme (see also), ATV safaris, shows, hiking tours, hammams and excursions to wineries are in the lead.

Souvenir and grocery stores

While relaxing in Goreme (Turkey), you can choose and buy various souvenirs (see) both for yourself and as a gift to friends and family. They are sold in small souvenir shops, as well as on the ruins of viewing platforms near the city. Please note that there is no own production in Goreme, so ceramics are brought here from Avanos, wine from Uchisar or Urgup, and carpets from Kayseri or Avanos (in these cities, of course, they will cost less). But in Göreme there are galleries where you will be offered original handmade gizmos.

We recommend paying attention to Art By Emre - this is a small shop with jewelry, accessories, postcards, handbags that the owner Emre makes himself (besides, he speaks excellent English and loves to chat with tourists). The best carpet shop in Goreme (Turkey) is Sultan Carpet (Address: Muze caddesi, 32). And you will find beautiful ceramics at Hattuşa Handmade Ceramics (Address: Muze caddesi, 42/4).

Two grocery stores are located to the left of the road at the very exit from Goreme towards Cavusin. One small private, second chain store Dias. The Dias store sells everyday food and hygiene products at a regular price. They accept bank cards for payment.

Useful places for tourists: information kiosk, bank, post office

Information kiosk, located at the Göreme bus station (Turkey), is open during the arrival of most intercity buses. It belongs to the Göreme Tourist Society and is essentially an association of restaurant and hotel owners whose main task is, of course, to advertise their establishments (which is why the staff does not have any meaningful information). But here you can be given free area map and change money (however, the rate will be much lower than in a bank).

Withdraw money in the city it is possible at ATMs located at the bus station (otogar) and around it. Exchange currency best of all at the post office or at Deniz Bank (note that it is closed on Saturdays and Sundays). These days you can change money in travel agencies or at your hotel. Advice! It is best to change the currency in general somewhere not in Cappadocia, because the exchange rate here is much worse than, say, on the same Mediterranean Sea or in Ankara.

At the post office in Goreme you can buy souvenir postcards for friends and stamps to send them. In addition, there is a telephone and a currency exchange service. There are always a lot of tourists at the post office - everyone wants to send postcards.

How to get to Goreme (Turkey)

Goreme is the tourist center of the region, and how to get here from different cities of Turkey, as well as from Russia or Ukraine, we described in detail in the material
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 lire 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.