From its incredible landscapes, to its amazing culture, food and people, Cappadocia, Turkey surpassed every expectation. I can confidently say that it was my favourite destination to travel to whilst in Europe.
We spent four days and nights in Cappadocia which was the perfect amount of time. I would suggest this as a minimum as you want plenty of opportunities to see the balloons fly, explore the landscapes and experience as much as possible.
As we were staying in Pamukkale before making our way to Cappadocia we took the cheapest route via overnight bus. Ten hours, it was long but a cost effective way to get there (€11 per person). They serve tea, coffee and have tv’s for each seat (although I wouldn’t rely on this as a form of entertainment as they were off for most of the trip). There were also plenty of stops.
There are other options for getting to or from Cappadocia, Turkey:
Flying: The closest airport to Cappadocia is Nevşehir, Turkey. Flying here means that it’s only a 20 minute drive to Göreme centre.
Private transfer or taxi: Our accommodation in Pamukkale advised for a private transfer or taxi it would roughly cost €120+ to get to Cappadocia. Coming from Pamukkale considering you would be paying a similar amount for flights and it would take a lot more time I wouldn’t opt for this unless it’s your last option.
TRANSPORT WITHIN CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
There are a few choices on how to travel within Göreme. The main two we relied on were taxis and walking. Due to the centre being quite small, walking is easy. Exploring further (which I would highly suggest) getting a taxi is the quickest and most affordable.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
I enjoyed visiting during mid-October, as it wasn’t too hot or cold but I believe that April, May and September are just as nice. June, July and August are the hotter months so if going then, be prepared for the heat. During October there were still tourists but it wasn’t overcrowded, the weather was also perfect. Not only did we experience a hot air balloon ride but we were lucky enough to see them fly every morning.
WHERE TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
Cappadocia, Turkey is known for its cave dwellings so when booking accomodation Artemis Cave Suites didn’t disappoint. The rooms are stunning, have plenty of terrace options for sunrise and sunset and to top it all off their traditional buffet breakfast is incredible. The pricing was also extremely reasonable at €50 per person, per night for a four star hotel in the centre of Göreme. There are copious amounts of other accommodation options in Cappadocia and not just in Göreme. Here are a few that I’ve heard good things about:
– Koza Cave: A family run hotel with a small amount of rooms to ensure no overcrowding. I’ve heard amazing things about this hotel from the staff to exceptional service.
– Sultan Cave Suites: A hotel that boasts panoramic views of Göreme, an instagrammers heaven with great reviews.
– Museum Hotel: The name says it all. A hotel based around a museum experience, furnishings included. Also a heated pool, what else could you want?
ACTIVITIES
– Red Valley: You can’t beat the panoramic views here. Make sure you visit for sunset and allow plenty of time to grab a seat at Crazy Ali Panorama Cafe. With an apple tea in hand you really can’t go wrong. It also won’t cost very much to get there from Göreme centre. The cost was 35 TL (€5.50 each way).
– Hot Air Balloon: With Butterfly Balloons the cost per person was €180.00. The ‘Butterfly Flight’ experience included a one hour flight, pick up, drop off and insurance. Even though its an expensive activity it hands down was one of the best experiences. It also included a light breakfast before the flight and champagne included after landing. It’s stunning watching the balloons from the ground but is a whole other experience to see it from the sky.
– Uchisar Castle: From the top of the castle you can get an amazing view of the village and beyond. At 9 TL per person for entry, it’s a must-do.
– Check out your hotel terrace for sunrise. Depending on the trajectory of where the balloons will fly, spend a sunrise sitting at your hotel terrace. If you’re lucky enough you may get a balloon fly directly overhead!
– Galerie Ikman: Wanting to get some photos with floor and walls covered in beautiful carpets? Then a Galerie Ikman photo shoot will be right up your alley! For the photoshoot there are two options, the first is using your own gear (50 TL per person). The other is a drone shoot with a professional photographer (250 TL for a couple). Suley, the photographer for our drone shoot was super friendly and his attention to detail was unparalleled.
ACTIVITIES CONT
– Lovers Hill: It has a great 360 degree view of Göreme which reaches Uchisar and the Red Valley. We did a sunset and sunrise, both spectacular in their own ways. Sunrise here took my breath away as you could see every single balloon in the sky.
– Göreme and Zelve Open Air Museums: These museums are a great place to get your daily dose of history. Guided tours are available online as well as a self guided audio tour at the ticket office on arrival. We enjoyed seeing and learning about the history at both sites. Göreme had a lot more interior creations to marvel at whereas Zelve had a much larger location, was less crowded and exhibited some grand exterior architecture. Göreme entrance fee in October 2019 was 40 TL and Zelve was 18 TL.
– Devrent Valley: You’ll find a few places in Göreme will make you feel like you have stepped onto the moon but Devrent Valley takes the cake. With its lunar scenery and shaped rock formations it’s a must-see.
– Love Valley: It’s called Love Valley for a reason. Turns out the fairy chimneys shape are a hot commodity for tourists in Cappadocia, Turkey. We opted for sunset and with only a 10-15 minute drive and 25 TL per way from Göreme we thought it was worth the fuss. In all honestly, in contrast to other spots in Cappadocia it wasn’t my favourite sunset view but was an interesting one.
– Outdoor activities: If you’re a bit more adventurous mountain biking or hiking different parts of the valley a go. We didn’t manage to tick this off our list while we were here but saw plenty of people out. A great way to see the landscape from a different perspective and maybe to get to those a little less well known places too.
EAT AND DRINK:
– One way restaurant and cafe: Dinner here was affordable and had a great area with beanbags to have a drink or shisha. 130 TL got us drinks, water, two main meals and a starter. Make sure to try the cheese Turkish pancake.
– Viewpoint Bar and Cafe: Perfect to admire the town after dark, enjoy some shisha and drinks.
– Cancan Cafe and Restaurant: We went here as I’d seen the reviews online. It didn’t disappoint with plenty of starters (at no extra charge), great food and friendly staff.
– Fat Boys Restaurant & Cafe: Again, a perfect dinner spot. Fat Boys has a great vibe, friendly staff and a great range of authentic Turkish dishes.
– Cafe Safak: For the coffee lovers.
HINTS AND TIPS FOR CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
– Earlier the better. Start your day off earlier and you’ll see the main attractions without all the busy-ness.
– For the balloons to fly there are weather elements that need to be aligned. Keep this in mind when planning your trip to make sure you allow for the conditions. We booked for four days and were in luck every morning to see them but I’ve heard stories of others who only saw them once in that space of time. Also, if you’re planning on doing a balloon flight make sure to book this well in advance before arriving in Cappadocia, Turkey. Depending on the time of year they can book up fast.
– If you don’t have a car or aren’t hiring one and want to tick a few places off your list look into booking a taxi for a half or full day. Your accommodation can organise it and the driver will wait for you at each place while you explore. Some of hot spots don’t have taxi stands so it does make it super handy. We were quoted 600 TL for a half day.
– If you have a free morning hire a car so you can head to one of the valleys for sunrise. There are companies within town who can chauffeur you to the best photography spots.
– Even though the English was limited we found the Turkish people very kind and helpful. Whenever we needed something or had any questions they went out of their way to make sure we were well looked after. So don’t be scared to have a chat.
A couple years down the track and still in awe of this place and its people. Not only do the balloons create an unforgettable ambience but coupled with the unique landscape you have the perfect recipe for a remarkable experience.
If you would like more hints and tips, check out my other Europe destinations here.