How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul

If you are going to visit Cappadocia you should know that it is not a city, but rather a region within the limits of Istanbul. This area is famous for its strange and peculiar geological formations millions of years old. Its provinces include Aksaray, Niğde, Kayseri and Nevşehir.

Visiting Cappadocia is one of the best things to do in Istanbul if you have the time and budget for it. If you want to know how to go, how many days and how much it might cost, read on.

Booking an excursion to Cappadocia from Istanbul is the best alternative because you will get to know the most interesting regions and the most attractive tourist spots. All this while saving the many planning details involved in such an adventure.

This is one of the best tours to do from Istanbul and, with an expert guide, you will learn all the details about the history and culture of various points of interest such as the Uchisar Castle, the open-air museum of Goreme or the subway city of Derinkuyu.

And best of all, you will ride a hot air balloon and contemplate the breathtaking landscapes of Cappadocia characterized by peculiar rock formations.

Route

The tour lasts two days and includes:

• Accompaniment by a professional guide.
• Pick up and return to the hotel.
• Transfers to and from Istanbul airport and Cappadocia airport.
• Round trip airfare Istanbul-Cappadocia in economy class.
• Two lunches and breakfast.
• Overnight accommodation.
• Balloon ride.

Useful information

• Price: from about 740 €.
• Recommended if... you don't want to worry about logistics.

When planning a short trip to Istanbul, you need a quick and preferably not too expensive way to get to the Cappadocia area. For those in this situation I recommend the alternative of a direct flight between the two. The only real disadvantage of this option is that it does not allow us to enjoy the sights of Istanbul.

Route

If you decide to take a plane to move to the Cappadocia region you have to take into account that there are two airports:

• Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR): it is located in the city Kayseri, approximately 80 kilometers from the tourist area of Cappadocia. The best means of transportation between the two points is the Kayseri Airport bus service.
• Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV): a small airport located north of the city of Gülşehir, 40 kilometers from the most touristic area. The best means of transportation between the two points is a cab.

Finally, if you are looking to save much more time take into account Istanbul airport transfer services; instead of transferring by public transport.

Useful information about Istanbul

• Price: estimate an approximate value between 40 € and 90 €.
• Travel time: between 3 to 5 hours.
• Recommended if... you are only in Turkey for a few days and you are looking for a fast and efficient transfer; although keep in mind that if you book a tour to Cappadocia from Istanbul by plane, you will move just as fast and in the same means of transport and, in addition, you will not have to worry about the logistics.

If you have a flexible itinerary the high-speed train is the best alternative to move between Istanbul and Cappadocia. Although Cappadocia is a destination a bit far from Istanbul you will be able to make the most of your trip, getting to know various points of interest without spending too much.

Route

There is a high-speed train line between Istanbul, Ankara and Konya; if you have five days or more to get to know Istanbul you can spend the first few days in the city and the rest in the more remote areas taking advantage of the high-speed train service and making stops in all these destinations.

• Istanbul - Ankara. The journey takes about 4.5 hours and you will find trains every day. In this case, dedicate part of the itinerary to visit essential tourist destinations such as the Museum of Civilizations; the mausoleum of Ataturk, the founding father of modern Turkey.
• Istanbul-Konya. The journey between the two destinations takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes. From Ankara to Konya is less than two hours. Do you like architecture? If you stop in the city of Konya you should know that it is full of beautiful mosques and monuments from the Seljuk era. Don't miss the Mevlana Museum.

Useful information about Konya

• Price: around 5 € the high-speed train.
• Travel time: it is a long journey of approximately 13 to 15 hours each way.
• Recommended if... you have a little more time to spend and want to plan a route through Turkey that includes several destinations.

An exceptional alternative if you have an adventurous spirit, as well as the desire and time to plan a trip down to the last details. If you decide for this option I will share with you some useful tips:

• Driving in Turkey is not complex at all, as the main streets are very well paved and the most popular tourist attractions and historical sites are well signposted so it is easy to find them.
• The language is something that you will have to consider. The official language of the country is Turkish, English is fairly standardized, but you will only find Spanish speakers in the areas of high tourist mobility.
• Book in advance: stays especially in the areas of greatest demand and the times of greater affluence. This will allow you to get better prices.

Route

The main advantage of renting a car in Istanbul will always be the possibility of being able to set up the route as you wish. For example: you can prepare to drive through the Anatolian countryside from Istanbul to Cappadocia and, on the way, explore the following points of interest: the Ottoman village of Safranbolu, the Phrygian ruins of Gordion or the Hittite ruins of Hattusa.

Companies: Here are some of the companies whose offices are located in the downtown area of Istanbul.

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car Yenibosna.
• Budget İstanbul Yenibosna
• Sixt Rent a Car.

Useful information

• Price: renting a simple car in Istanbul is around 10 € per day. Take into account the cost of fuel and tolls.
• Travel time: 9 hours (approximately 735 kilometers).
• Recommended yes... if you have family or friends in Istanbul who can join the adventure or if you have traveled to Turkey before.

As you can see Cappadocia is one of the best things to do in Istanbul and the last option I am going to explain is to go by bus. Although it is not an option that I recommend due to the long journey combined with the uncomfortable means of transport, it is good to know that you can travel by bus from Istanbul to Cappadocia.

Route

Due to the distance, the companies that operate routes between both destinations do not contemplate direct routes but with stopovers. So some of the passengers get off and others take their place. It has its advantages and disadvantages, since although the trip is longer, you can take advantage of midday sightseeing in some of the destinations. The traditional route from Istanbul to Goreme, in the Cappadocia area, includes stops in the city of Ankara and Nevşehir.

Useful information

• Price: between 15 € and 20 € for each trip. However, if you contemplate stops the price can go up.
• Duration of the trip: approximately 12 hours of route.
• Recommended yes... there is no scenario in which I really recommend this alternative.

As you can see, Cappadocia is one of the best things to do in Istanbul. Below, I briefly indicate all the options available: