Often described as a fairytale, the unreal landscapes and balloon-filled skies of Cappadocia might just be that. You’ve probably seen photos of hundreds of hot air balloons floating over fairy chimneys and otherworldly landscapes. Taking a hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia is a once in a lifetime experience, and one of the best things you’ll ever do. But it doesn’t stop there.
Cappadocia is a breathtaking region in central Turkey with many things to do and see. Plan to spend a few days, and also be prepared to be blown away.
Cappadocia is not a single town, but a region in central Anatolia. Most visitors choose to stay in the towns of Göreme or Ürgüp. The region is as old as time itself and people have been living in Cappadocia from as early as the sixth century BC. Cappadocia is so old that it’s mentioned in the book of Acts in the bible.
If you’re not sure whether you should include Cappadocia on your Turkey itinerary; our answer is a resounding YES!
Our guide to Cappadocia is for people like you who are looking for the best things to do in Cappadocia without having to take a tour. If you’re looking for tips on how to have an extraordinary holiday while staying in Göreme, then keep on reading.
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Stay in a Cave Hotel
It’s not enough to merely see these fairy chimneys or fly over them in a hot air balloon. To immerse yourself into Cappadocia’s culture, ensure you’re sleeping in a cave hotel.
The towns of Göreme and Ürgüp are the most popular places to stay in Cappadocia. We think that Göreme is the best place to base yourself, as it has the most options for accommodation, restaurants, and transportation.
Cave hotels in Göreme come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s something out there for every budget and taste. What they all have in common is that they are very atmospheric and offer guests a truly unique experience. Some of these cave hotels have great rooftop terraces from where you can watch the balloons in flight before sitting down to a fantastic Turkish breakfast.
We stayed at the superb Alaca Cave Hotel (formerly Caravanserai Cave Hotel) in Göreme, which is highly recommended. Located in the centre of Göreme, the Caravanserai Cave Hotel offers exceptional value for money, and the location can’t be beaten. All points of interest in Göreme town are within walking distance away.
The ensuite rooms are comfortable, cool throughout the day, and include a tasty breakfast. The views from the bedroom window are unbelievable. Your host, Serdar, will take care of you like a family member. Serdar also provides free pickup from the bus stop in town and helped us hire a scooter for a few days.
If you’re looking for an excellent mid-range cave hotel in Göreme, the AlacaCave Hotel is for you.
Float Over Cappadocia in a Hot-Air Balloon
If there is one thing you absolutely must not miss when in Turkey, it is to take a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia! We cannot recommend this highly enough. Yes, it can seem a bit expensive, but believe us, it’s worth every penny.
The hot-air balloon flight is spectacular – firstly because you are floating over the lunar-like landscapes, and secondly, you will be surrounded by hundreds of other balloons. It’s pure magic! We loved every second of our one hour flight and often found our mouths hanging open in pure amazement.
We flew with Royal Balloons and the whole experience was magical. Included in the price is pick up and drop off to your hotel and a full Turkish buffet breakfast before your flight. After breakfast, it’s off to the wicker baskets for taking off.
The serenity and darkness of the valley in contrast to the loud and bright burners of the balloons are quite spectacular too. From the moment the enormous balloons start popping up like giant mushrooms all around the valley and taking off, you’ll be in another world.
During the one hour balloon flight your pilot will vary the altitude of the balloon. The one moment you’ll be hundreds of meters high up in the sky and the next moment you’ll almost be touching the ground. Royal Balloons is one of the few balloon companies that do this. Most others simply take off, fly around and then land.
Our pilot showed off his skills and landed right on the awaiting trailer, saving the ground crew some heavy lifting. We were met with smiles and champagne! After some light celebrations and a few last jokes, we were driven back to our cave hotel in town.
Tips for Your Cappadocia Balloon Flight
- Deciding which operator to go with when choosing your Cappadocia balloon flight can be difficult. There are just so many operators out there, but price should not be the only deciding factor.
Royal Balloons is the most reputable balloon company with the best safety record in Cappadocia. They continuously get excellent reviews and their pilots are the most experienced in Göreme. - Balloon flights depend on the weather, and won’t fly if it’s too windy. For this reason, stay a few days in Cappadocia so that you have a good chance to take this spectacular flight. Book your balloon flight online before arriving in Cappadocia, and book it for the first full day that you’re here. If the weather is not cooperating and flights get cancelled, you will be bumped to t a flight the next day.
- It’s a breathtaking experience and you will feel compelled to take a picture every second. Royal Balloons even have Wifi available in their baskets if you can’t wait to post a selfie on Instagram. But please, do you yourself a favour and also put down your camera and just enjoy the moment. It’s such an extraordinary experience, so do remember to just be and suck it all in.
- It gets really chilly up there, so take something warm to wear, even in the height of summer.
Explore Cappadocia by Scooter
The best way for us to see the Cappadocia is to rent a scooter and go where and when we please. The freedom to stop wherever you like is very rewarding. Riding a scooter in Cappadocia is easy, and traffic is light. That being said, if you’re not a confident scooter rider or don’t have a license, rather take a tour or hire a car.
Where to go in Cappadocia on your scooter?
A good starting point is to look at the popular Red Tour and pick what you like to see. That was our plan, but that plan was abandoned soon after we had left Göreme. The best is simply to go where the road takes you.
We hired a scooter for two consecutive days, and our drives took us to fairy chimneys, whole settlements dug into cliffs, cave churches and castles, golden-brown fields and miles and miles of freedom.
We really liked Cavusin, which we didn’t plan to visit, yet we ended up there. The Cavusin castle was deserted, and we felt like Indiana Jones as we explored the ancient church and houses carved into the cliff.
Later, we read that the church is the Church of St. John the Baptist, which dates back to the 5th century. Cavusin is genuinely off the beaten path, and if you’re searching for a unique site in Cappadocia, this is it.
The picturesque Pasabag Valley and Rose Valley should definitely not be missed either. You basically can’t go wrong no matter which direction you’re going. Part of the fun is taking little unmarked paths to see where they lead to.
Ask at your hotel about scooter rentals. We paid 100 lira per day.
Visit Love Valley
One of the most unique places to visit in Cappadocia is the Love Valley. Love Valley gets its name from the enormous stone pillars in phallic shapes that stand at the bottom of the valley.
Most tours only view the Love Valley from the overlooking viewpoint. To experience the magic of the Love Valley, ride your scooter down the path into the valley. You can almost be sure to have the whole valley to yourself.
If you didn’t rent your own scooter, you could also go on an incredible Quad-Bike safari tour through the Love Valley just before sunset. The bottom of Love Valley is also one of the best spots to photograph the balloons just after sunrise.
Climb Uchisar Castle
Uchisar Castle should also not be missed for its sweeping views over Cappadocia and the Anatolian plains beyond. Half mountain, half castle, Uchisar Castle rises 60 meters above Cappadocia and can be seen from miles away.
As you approach Uchisar Castle from Göreme, it looks just like another Anatolian village built around a rocky outcrop. However, as you get closer you’ll see that the whole village of Uchisar actually clings to a massive fairy chimney.
It’s believed that Uchisar Castle was used as a refuge and stronghold against attacks from as early as the 7th century AD. Around 1 000 people lived in the castle, but today it’s completely uninhabited.
Entrance to Uchisar Castle is only 9 Lira, and the steps leading to the top will reward you with panoramic views over the UNESCO Göreme National Park.
To reach Uchisar Castle from Göreme took about 15 minutes drive by scooter, but prepare to stop every so often to take a picture as the scenery is out of this world.
Watch the Sunset from Sunset Point
The best place to be in Göreme for sunset is the aptly named Sunset Point. You’ll see signposts pointing the way to either Sunset Point, Lover’s Hill or Asiklar Tepesi, as it’s known by locals. (They are all the same place). Or even easier to find is simply to look for the hill overlooking Göreme with the huge Turkish flag on top.
From the top of Sunset Point, you’ll have some of the best views in Cappadocia. Looking down over Göreme’s minarets, rooftops and fairy chimneys while everything turns golden and the Imams call their prayers is one of the most magical experiences and a fantastic way to end the day.
It’s worth taking a walk along the ridge going past the Turkish flag. From this ridge, you have spectacular views over the Red Valley below. The formations here almost look like soft-serve ice cream and makes for pretty pictures.
In the other direction, you’ll see Uchisar Castle in the distance as it lights up.
There is a small restaurant selling tea, soft drinks, cold Efes lagers and wine near the flag. Get yourself a sundowner and enjoy basking in that last golden glows and the atmosphere. If you’re here with a loved one, you should definitely be at Lover’s Hill for sunset, before heading out to dinner.
See the Balloons Take Off at Sunrise
Sunset Point could also be called Sunrise Spot 😀 as it’s one of the best sunrise spots in Cappadocia.
If for some reason you won’t be taking a balloon flight while you’re in Göreme (YOU REALLY SHOULD!) the best place to view the balloons as they take off is from here. Even if you had taken a balloon flight the day before, still come here to get a different perspective. The sheer number of the balloons is just incredible.
The balloons usually take off between 5:00 and 5:30, depending on the season.
Go Carpet Shopping in Goreme
If you’re looking for a unique souvenir from your trip to Turkey, a handmade carpet or kilim is probably the best there is. It’s something that will be in your house forever, and going carpet shopping is a wonderful cultural experience.
We found the variety and prices of carpets much better in Göreme than in Istanbul. The salespeople were too pushy and prices waaaay too high in the Grand Bazar to our liking. Carpet shopping in Cappadocia turned out to be a fun experience, and in the end, we got the kilim that we were Jin was looking for and is now in our living room.
Carpet shopping is a unique experience to have in Turkey and usually involves a set procedure.
The salesman will ask you a few questions about what carpets you like in terms of colour and design. Tea will be served and a few samples will be shown to you. The seller will probably ask questions like “How old do you think this one is?“, or “Is this wool or silk?” This is just to gauge your knowledge of carpets, which in turn determines how much he thinks he can charge you.
Once you had narrowed down the size, colour and design of your preferred carpet, the carpet show will actually start. A helper will magically appear and the carpets will start flying. Simply motion if you’re interested in one to put it aside for you. At the end of the show, you’ll have a few carpets to choose from, and then the process of elimination starts.
After visiting several carpet shops, many cups of tea and countless flying carpets we finally found our forever carpet.
Tips When Buying a Carpet in Cappadocia
How to Get to Cappadocia
Cappadocia is not a single town, but a whole region in central Turkey. Two airports are serving the region: Kayseri Airport and Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport.
Kayseri Airport is the most convenient, as it has more flights to choose from, and are also cheaper. Direct flights to Kayseri Airport include Istanbul, Antalya and Izmir.
The flight from Istanbul to Kayseri takes about an hour and a half, and the view from the window is surreal. The arid landscapes of Anatolia below almost look like modern art, or even like some of the designs that you’ll see on the kilims and carpets for sale all around Cappadocia. Make sure you get a window seat.
Kayseri Airport is still about an hour away from Göreme. The cheapest and most convenient way to reach Göreme from Kayseri Airport is by air-conditioned minivan. A seat costs from €9. Book your transfer online before arrival, or fork out for a taxi.
Couples or families will find better value to book a private transfer, which only costs €48 for the whole car.
After visiting Cappadocia, we took the overnight bus to Pamukkale. The journey takes about 10 hours, and tickets can be bought the day before from the bus stop in Goreme or online.
How Many Days in Cappadocia?
Plan to stay at least three full days in Cappadocia. This will give you enough time to ensure that you can take the balloon flight if the weather is bad. With three days in Cappadocia, you’ll be able to explore this magnificent area without having to rush.
Will many will only come for the balloon flight and then fly back to Istanbul, that’s not ideal. You’ll have a much more enjoyable stay in Cappadocia if you don’t have to rush.
And that’s our guide to the best things to do in Cappadocia. Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions, and as always we’ll try our best to help.