How to Get to Cappadocia – Options for Reaching Turkey’s Fairytale Destination

Planning a trip to central Turkey and wondering how to get to Cappadocia? This magical region, known for its fairy chimneys and hot air balloons, might seem remote, but getting there is easier than you think.

Whether you're arriving from Istanbul, Ankara, or even abroad, there are several options to reach this one-of-a-kind destination. From flights and buses to scenic road trips, here’s everything you need to know to get to Cappadocia smoothly and stress-free.

No matter how you travel, the journey to Cappadocia is the beginning of an unforgettable adventure through one of Turkey’s most iconic landscapes.

How to Get to Cappadocia, Turkey: a Brief Intro

Before diving into all of the details for how to get to Cappadocia, let's go over some of the basics.

Which Part of Turkey is Cappadocia?

Cappadocia is located in the Anatolia region, which is in central Turkey. The closest major city to Cappadocia is Ankara (the capital), which is 300 km north west.

Cappadocia refers to a full region, but the most popular towns for people to base themselves (and where a lot of the top things to do in Cappadocia are) are Goreme and Uchisar, which are just minutes from one another.

Where Do You Fly to For Cappadocia?

The region of Cappadocia has two airports. The closest airport to the heart of Cappadocia is Nevşehir- it's just 35 km from Uchisar, and 43 km from Goreme. Another option is to fly to is Kayseri, which is 70 km away, or an hour drive.

How to Get to Cappadocia

Here are the different options for how to get to Cappadocia:

• Fly to one of the nearby airports
• Take a bus from another city in Turkey
• Rent a car and drive from another city in Turkey
• Go on an organized tour from another city in Turkey

How to Get to Cappadocia, Turkey: The Different Options

Now that you know the different options for how to get to Cappadocia, let's look into some of the details, so you can choose which option is right for you.

How to Get to Cappadocia by Flight

There are two different areas that you can fly into to get to Cappadocia, which are Nevşehir (NAV) and Kayseri (ASR).

The closest big city to Cappadocia is Ankara (ESB), which is the capital of Turkey and has many more options than the smaller airports of Nevşehir and Kayseri. Ankara is about 300 km away from Cappadocia, and takes a little over 2 hours driving.

Alternatively, many people will fly into Istanbul (SAW or IST), and then travel to Cappadocia from there, since it is the biggest hub for Turkey and oftentimes the cheapest city to fly into.

Search for a flight to Cappadocia:

 Is it Better to Fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir?

Nevşehir is definitely the more ideal option of the two airports, as it is newer, more organized, and closer to Cappadocia. That being said, there are few flights going into Nevşehir, only coming from Istanbul, so if you'd like some other options, Keyseri is a bit easier.

Kayseri has more flight coming in from Istanbul each day, as well as a few other direct flights from Antalya, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Ercan, Izmir, Rotterdam, and Stuttgart.

 How Do I Get from Kayseri to Cappadocia?

From Kayseri airport you can get to Cappadocia in the following ways:

• Take a taxi or order an Uber (approx. 3,800-5,100 TL)
• Take the bus from the bus terminal (15 min from the airport and just $6)
• Rent a car from the airport and drive (approx. 1 hour)
• Take the airport shuttle (around $10)

 How Do I Get from Nevşehir to Cappadocia?

• Take a taxi or Uber (approx. 900-1,200 TL)
• Take the airport shuttle ($15-20/person)
• Rent a car from the airport and drive (approx. 30-40 min)

How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul

Istanbul is the main hub for Turkey, so if you're coming from another country, you'll most likely find it easiest to fly to Istanbul first, and travel to Cappadocia from there.

As we've mentioned, you can fly right from Istanbul to Nevşehir or Kayseri (just make sure you are flying in and out of the same airport since there are two airports in Istanbul!).

The other options for how to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul include:

• Taking a bus from Istanbul to Cappadocia
• Renting a car and driving to Cappadocia from Istanbul
• Taking an organized trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia

How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul by Bus

There are plenty of buses to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia. While the journey is a bit long (9 1/2- 11 1/2 hours), this is a great budget-friendly option for how to get to Cappadocia.

We'd recommend getting one of the overnight buses, that way you can save a night on accommodation, and use your sleep time to get there!

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 How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul by Car

Driving to Cappadocia is easy! The roads in Turkey are well-paved, and you really don't need any special kind of car or tires to get from Istanbul to this beautiful region of Turkey. (Unless you're driving in winter- in that case you'll need winter tires on your rental, which is an extra charge to consider).

The drive is around 8 hours, and is most ideal if you fly into SAW airport and rent a car directly from there (it's about an hour east of Istanbul and on the way to Cappadocia).

There are electronic toll systems in Turkey, and rental companies will simply bill you after bringing the car back, so you don't need to worry about getting a pass or having cash.

 How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul by Tour

Tight on time but want to experience the magic that Cappadocia has to offer? Well, don't worry because there are a variety of day trips or overnight trips that you can take from Istanbul!

Transportation, guides, activities, and even many meals are all included, so that you can enjoy everything without the hassle of planning ahead.

Here are a few fun trips from Istanbul to Cappadocia that you can take!

How to Get to Cappadocia: Conclusion

There are a variety of options you can pick from when choosing how to get to Cappadocia! Here's a quick breakdown of what we've shared:

• The closest airport to fly into is Nevşehir, which only has flights from Istanbul.
• A great secondary airport option is Kayseri, which has some international flights going into it.
• If you're coming from abroad, also check out Ankara! It's much closer than Istanbul.
• Istanbul is typically the cheapest and easiest to fly into, and has a variety of options for getting to Cappadocia.
• Turkey has plenty of buses that go to Cappadocia from other cities. (This is the most affordable option!).
• Renting a car is super easy, and great for those that want a more flexible schedule.
• There are no trains to Cappadocia.
• Cappadocia may seem far, but the journey there is totally worth it!

 What's Next?

Now that you know how to get to Cappadocia, you'll probably want to learn more about visiting! Here are some of our top guides we recommend to help you getting acquainted with this stunning region of Turkey:

 The 22 Best Cave Hotels in Cappadocia

 Top 18 Hotels in Cappadocia

 20 Top Things to Do in Cappadocia

 29 Unique activities in Cappadocia

...and more coming each week!

So are you ready to start exploring the incredible region of Cappadocia? We hope our guide has helped you plan how to get to Cappadocia, no matter where you're coming from. If you have any other questions though, please feel free to comment them below!

Want to learn about the awesome things to do and see in Cappadocia? Don't miss out on our other Cappadocia guides - we also have plenty of others coming up! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our weekly updates, and for exclusive discounts on our products and services!

Ready to start planning an epic trip to Cappadocia? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers custom travel planning services, offering you specially curated itineraries. Want to learn more? Simply send us an email to start your free consultation!

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