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 boundaries of Istanbul. This area is famous for its strange and peculiar geological formations that are 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. If you want to know how to get there, how many days and how much it might cost, read on.

Booking a tour to Cappadocia from Istanbul is the best alternative because you will see the most interesting regions and tourist attractions. All this without the many planning details involved in such an adventure.

This is one of the best tours to do from Istanbul and, with an experienced 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 underground city of Derinkuyu.

Best of all, you'll ride a hot air balloon and gaze at the breathtaking scenery of Cappadocia, characterised by peculiar rock formations.

Route

The tour lasts two days and includes:

• Accompaniment by a professional guide.
• Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
• Transfers to and from Istanbul airport and Cappadocia airport.
• Return economy class airfare Istanbul-Cappadocia.
• Two lunches and breakfast.
• Overnight accommodation.
• Balloon ride.

Useful information

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

When planning a short trip to Istanbul, you need a quick and preferably inexpensive 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 you to enjoy the sights of Istanbul.

Route

If you decide to fly to the Cappadocia region, there are two airports:

• Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR): located in the city of Kayseri, approximately 80 kilometres from the tourist area of Cappadocia. The best means of transport 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 kilometres from the tourist area. The best means of transport between the two points is by taxi.

Finally, if you're looking to save a lot more time, consider Istanbul's airport transfer services rather than public transport.

Useful information about Istanbul

• Price: estimate a value between €40 and €90.
• Travel time: 3 to 5 hours.
• Recommended if... you're only in Turkey for a few days and are looking for a quick and efficient transfer, although bear in mind that if you book a trip to Cappadocia from Istanbul by plane, you'll get there just as quickly and on the same mode of transport, and you won't have to worry about the logistics.

If you have a flexible itinerary, the high-speed train is the best alternative for getting between Istanbul and Cappadocia. Although Cappadocia is a bit far from Istanbul, you can make the most of your trip and see the sights 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 explore Istanbul you can spend the first few days in the city and the rest in the outlying areas, taking advantage of the high-speed train service and making stops at all these destinations.

• Istanbul - Ankara. The journey takes about 4.5 hours and there are trains every day. In this case, spend part of the journey visiting must-see tourist destinations such as the Museum of Civilisations; the mausoleum of Ataturk, the founding father of modern Turkey.
• Istanbul-Konya. The journey from Istanbul toKonya 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 for the high-speed train.
• Journeytime: It's a long journey, approximately 13-15 hours each way.
• Recommended if... you have a little more time to spend and want to plan a multi-destination route through Turkey.

An exceptional alternative if you have an adventurous spirit, as well as the desire and time to plan a trip down to the last detail. If you choose this option, here are some useful tips:

• Driving in Turkey is not at all complex, as the main roads are well paved and the most popular tourist attractions and historical sites are well signposted, making them easy to find.
• Language is something you'll need to consider. Turkish is the official language of the country, English is fairly standardised, but you'll only find Spanish speakers in the more touristy areas.
• Book well in advance- especially in the areas of high demand and the busiest times of the year. 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 plan your 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 central 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 kilometres).
• Recommended if... you have family or friends in Istanbul who can join you on the adventure or if you have travelled to Turkey before.

As you can see, Cappadocia is one of the best things to do in Istanbul and the last option I'm 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 the two destinations do not provide direct routes but with stopovers. So some of the passengers get off and others take their place. This has its advantages and disadvantages, as although the journey is longer, you can take advantage of midday sightseeing at 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 travel information

• Price: between €15 and €20 each way. However, if you include stops, the price can go up.
• Travel time: Approximately 12 hours on the road.
• 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. Here is a brief overview of all the options available: