Türkiye travel guide
Cappadocia, simplified.
Fairy chimneys, cave hotels and sunrise balloons. Tap the map to see how far everything is, pick how you'll get around, and find the best month to go. Built from my own trip.
- ₺ LiraCarry cash
- ~37 minNAV airport to Göreme
- Apr–Jun · Sep–OctBest months
- SunriseBalloons only fly then
The map
Where is everything?
Cappadocia is a cluster of small towns and valleys in central Türkiye. Tap an area to see how far it is from Nevşehir airport (NAV) and who it suits.
Where to sleep
Stay in a cave hotel
Sleeping inside carved rock is half the magic of Cappadocia. Here's what to expect before you book.
Cave hotel
- Rooms carved into the rock, full of character
- Terraces for watching the sunrise balloons
- Stone walls keep rooms cool in summer
- Often family-run, with a big Turkish breakfast
- Lots of steps and uneven floors
- Some rooms have small windows
Best for the full Cappadocia experience and photos.
Regular hotel
- Bigger rooms and more facilities
- Easier access, with lifts in larger hotels
- Often cheaper in the towns
- Less unique
- Fewer balloon-view terraces
Best for accessibility needs or longer stays.
Where I stayed
Lubberona Cave Cappadocia
A small, family-run stone hotel in Nar village, with a garden, terrace and spa. It's about 10 km from Uçhisar Castle, so you'll use taxis to get around.
| Village | Nar |
| Nights | 4 |
| Total paid | $272 |
| Per night | ≈ $68 |
Getting around
Your ride, sorted.
The towns are close together, but the valleys and underground cities are spread out. Pick a journey to see the best way to do it.
Airport shuttle
Shared shuttles run from both airports to the main towns. Pre-book through your hotel or a shuttle company.
Taxi
Village taxi stands post their fares. For anything else, agree the price before you ride, or ask your hotel to call one.
Guided day tour
Small-group tours bundle the valleys, museums and viewpoints, or the underground city and Ihlara Valley, with a guide and lunch.
Private driver or guide
Your own car and guide, on your schedule. Good for photos, sunsets and a slower pace.
Walk
Göreme is walkable, and trails link it to Love, Rose and Pigeon valleys. Wear good shoes and carry water.
Pre-book a shuttle, or a private transfer through your hotel. Nevşehir is about 37 minutes from Göreme; Kayseri about an hour.
Money and language
Two things that make it easy
Carry lira
Hotels and tours often quote in euros, but taxis, cafés, street vendors and tips want Turkish lira. Use a bank ATM, and choose to pay in lira on card machines.
Download a translator
Not everyone speaks English. Download Turkish for offline use in Google Translate, and use conversation mode with drivers.
Agree the fare first
Village taxi stands post their fares. For anything else, agree the price before you get in, or ask your hotel to book.
Timing
When should you go?
Tap a month. Spring and autumn are the sweet spots: mild days and the best odds that balloons fly.
A sweet spot: mild days, green valleys and good flying weather. Busy, so book early.
Balloons fly at sunrise only, and wind or weather can cancel them. Book your flight for your first morning, so you have backup days. You can also watch them for free from a viewpoint.
My trip
What I actually did
Four nights, a cave hotel, and the moments I'd do again.
Cappadocia Senza Restaurant
Family-owned, with views of Uçhisar Castle. Order the testi kebab, which is cooked in a sealed clay pot and cracked open at your table.
Seten
A Michelin Guide pick at Sultan Cave Suites, with a sunset terrace. Try the manti, tiny lamb dumplings in yogurt.
Pottery on the wheel
Avanos potters use red clay from the Kızılırmak river, a craft going back to Hittite times. Try the wheel and keep what you make.
Don't miss this
Top things to see
The big ones in the region. Tap any of them to see it on the map.
Before you fly
Your pre-flight checklist
Tick things off as you go. Your ticks stay on this device.
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