10 Pro Tips You Need Now to Plan the Perfect Cappadocia Trip!
Another destination checked off the bucket list! When I landed in Cappadocia it felt like I had landed on a whole new planet.
Cappadocia is UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Central Turkey. It is famous for its mystical landscape full of whimsical fairy chimneys and oddly-shaped rock formations. Cappadocia is also referred to as the “land of the beautiful horses” and is an absolutely magical place to spend a long weekend with friends, family, or your significant other. If you are planning a trip to Turkey, definitely consider adding a few days in Cappadocia to your itinerary. In this post I’ll be sharing all the details about our trip, including how to get to Cappadocia, what to do in Cappadocia, and the best times to visit!
Cappadocia Travel Tips
How to Get to Cappadocia
We started our trip in Istanbul, then flew the Nevsehir airport in Cappadocia. You can also fly to Kayseri Airport, but Neveshir is closer to where you will want to stay in Cappadocia and has more daily flights. Cappadocia is just a 1 hour flight from Istanbul, but if road trips are your thing the 8 or 9 hour drive will be beautiful!
Best Times to Go to Cappadocia
Cappadocia has an inland location and high altitude, so the weather varies a lot seasonally. Summers are hot and dry and winters cold and snowy. I went the first week of April and while it was chilly in the mornings and evenings, the afternoons were pretty perfect
If you go in Summer, just be prepared for extreme temperatures and loads of tourists.
Where to Stay in Cappadocia
Göreme is the main town in Cappadocia and is essentially the tourism hub. You’ll find the bus station, taxi stands, tons of restaurants, travel agencies and of course hotels. It’s also walking distance to the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the main sites in Cappadocia.
Top Things to Do in Cappadocia
Watch the Sunrise
The best things to do in Cappadocia are the simplest. Wake up at the crack of dawn and you will be greeted with the glorious sight of the sun rising over the fairytale landscape, hot air balloons rising on the horizon. Most hotels will have a terrace, but as you’re planning your accommodation make sure to double check! If your hotel or AirBnB doesn’t have one you are out of luck and there are no public terraces or restaurants open that early. A lot of hotels with terraces will allow guests in later in the day for the restaurant or café, but not during sunrise which is the best time for the views.
Ride a hot air balloon in Cappadocia
Cappadocia and hot air balloons are kind of synonymous, so it would be a shame to miss out on a balloon ride. And we unfortunately did! Balloon tours are scheduled every day, but depending on the weather and wind conditions the flight may be cancelled. That is decided by the Turkish Civil Aviation and they would make the call the evening before flight. If that happens all the balloon companies would have to cancel their balloon rides.
We only had 2 sunrise opportunities, so the plan was balloon ride one day and photo shoot the next day. But when the balloon ride got cancelled, I had to choose between rescheduling for the next day and canceling the photo shoot, and as a content creator I decided to go for the photos! Which brings me to my next point!
Do a Flying Dress Photo Shoot in Cappadocia
So I knew I was going to get some amazing pics in Cappadocia, and I had to enlist a pro. Flying dress photo shoots were popularized in Santorini, and for some reason I was never interested in them then, but I couldn’t resist the unique landscape in Cappadocia. I booked a photographer on AirBnB experiences and I recommend planning and reserving ahead. I did see a lot of places advertising flying dress photo shoots, but if you are coming around peak season and have a tight travel schedule don’t risk missing your chance.
Explore Cappadocia on an ATV
Cappadocia has a lot of horseback riding tours, but If horseback riding isn’t your thing, then you may want to go on an ATV ride instead. We booked at ATV adventure through our hotel, and it was a blast! The guided excursion zips through Cappadocia’s stunning landscape and valleys just before sunset, giving you plenty of chances to enjoy the views and stop for photos along the way.
Are you planning a trip to Cappadocia, or anywhere in Turkey? I can’t recommend it enough!
Insider Tips for Travel To Cappadocia
Plan your trip early!
Most of the cute cave hotels are small and there are limited AirBnBs in or close to Göreme. Planning early will help you get the best options at the best prices.
Be Prepared for Your Photo Shoot
If you do a flying dress Cappadocia photo shoot, be prepared to wake up early, get glammed up, and head out! You also should convince your friend or significant other to come with you just for safety. The photographer and his assistant picked me up at the crack of dawn, and we drove out into the middle of nowhere where the balloons took flight. Obviously doing that on your own is questionable from a safety perspective, so I recommend not going alone.
You may also need to get ready to be demanding about your photo quality and edits. While the photographer I used was great, the photos looked nothing like the ones on his Instagram and AirBnB page, and I had to get VERY demanding about him fixing them.
Consider Doing Some Shopping
You’ll find beautiful rugs in Cappadocia, and I felt like the shopping experience there was way better than Istanbul! Much less aggressive and intimidating than the bazaar. Stop by Sultan Carpets and some of the other shops in Göreme. Don’t be worried about the size of the rugs, even most of the area rugs can be folded up small enough to fit in your suitcase.
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