A Bird’s eye view of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a historical region in the central Anatolian peninsula of Turkey. The region is surrounded by various towns such as Hacıbektaş, Aksaray, Niğde, and Kayseri.

The terrain of Cappadocia is mostly volcanic. It has a thick layer of volcanic ash. This was eroded, dissolved, and carved over time by wind and water. It is one of the most distinctive places in Turkey.

Though the region may look inhospitable, the soil is rich and is an excellent location for cultivating vegetables and fruits. This makes Cappadocia a rich agricultural region. It is always known as a prime region to grow grapes and still possesses great vineyards and wineries.

• How to Reach Cappadocia
• Places to visit in Cappadocia
• Tips to know during your visit to Cappadocia
• Covid Guidelines for Turkey.

Also Read Best Activities To Do In Cappadocia On Your Turkey Vacation

HOW TO REACH CAPPADOCIA:

The closest airport is Nevşehir Airport approximately 40 mins drive from the city center of Kayseri. During the summer seasons, there are daily flights from Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir to Nevşehir Airport. For people flying through a different airline, the easiest way to reach Cappadocia is either hiring a transfer from the airport like a taxi or rental car. You can also contact the hotel requesting a pickup.

Bus service operates every one hour between Nevşehir airport and Cappadocia. They go by the name Tüzköy minibus. The minibus will take you to the town of Gülşehir. From Gülşehir you can a city bus to the main city of Cappadocia.

A cheaper way is to take the bus. Though the journey is approximately 10 hours long from Istanbul, it is more scenic and a better way to experience the Turkish culture. The trip is mostly overnight and services are quite up to standard with comfortable seats. The buses will stop at Nevşehir Otogar. This is roughly 25 minutes drive from the city center. If you contact your hotel in advance they will provide transfers from the bus station to the hotel.

Also Read Turkey’s Cappadox festival: Music, food and Fairytale charm!

PLACES TO VISIT IN CAPPADOCIA:

A minimum of two or three nights is ideal for a stay in Cappadocia. In order to visit all places in Cappadocia four nights to a week would be even better. This allows you to check out off-beaten tracks and some good hiking spots. You can also visit the Aladağ National Park.

Göreme Open-Air Museum

The valley is filled with some amazing medieval painted churches. This is the main site to visit in Cappadocia. The churches are small and crowded. So plan your visit accordingly.

Uçhisar Rock Castle

The rock castle is the highest point in Cappadocia and is a natural fortress. There are steps through the tunnels that take you to the top.

Underground Cities

In the southern regions of Cappadocia are the underground cities. The honeycomb dwellings are a must-see venue.

Ihlara Valley

This is a narrow canyon where the medieval monks carved secluded churches. They have also painted them with biblical scenes. You can make this venue a stop during your day excursion or can keep it as a full day’s hike.

Zelve Valley

This is also known as Zelve open-air museum. Its located near the village of Çavuşin, a town between Göreme Town and Avanos. This valley is among the last abandoned monastic venue in Cappadocia. The churches may not be as magnificent as the ones in Göreme Open Air Museum, but the topography is dramatic and gives the ability to climb and look around the caves.

Devrent Valley

Devrent Valley has one of the most fascinating and natural rock sculptures in Cappadocia.

Soğanlı Valleys

Situated on the southern part of Cappadocia approximately 36 KM south of Mustafapasa. At Soğanlı (soh-AHN-luh) one may find hiking trails and churches.

Hot-Air Balloon Flight

Among all the activities the most famous is the Hot air balloon flight. This is one of the must-do activities in Turkey.

This is very prominent during the summer season, as many as 100 air balloons take up the skies right after sunset and passengers get a birds-eye view of Cappadocia.

The air balloon is available all day throughout the year unless they stopped due to climatic conditions. The ride approximately takes around 60 minutes.

In case you are traveling all the way from Istanbul to Cappadocia just to view or get on board the hot air balloon. It is advisable to stay overnight as tours start early morning.

Hiking Cappadocia

Apart from the hot air balloon ride. The other best option across the scenic trails of Cappadocia is through hiking.

Also Read: The Blue Mosque in Istanbul

TIPS TO KNOW DURING YOUR VISIT TO CAPPADOCIA:

• Full-day tours in Cappadocia are great options if you are on a time constrain and do not know how to fit everything in one day.

• There are good public transports links between the villages that pass by majority of the historical sights.This makes it easy to visit every activity.
• The best time to go is during the summer season(July to August). During autumn season the valley rocks are at their brightest just after the summer dust is washed off by rain. This provides best scenic photos for photographers.

Also Read 5 Best Hotels in Cappadocia To Stay at On Your Turkey Vacation

COVID GUIDELINES FOR TURKEY:

• Passenegers must fill out a travel entry form atleast 72 hours before depature.It must be handed over during arrival and check in. The form is available at https://register.health.gov.tr. Passenegers younger than 6 years need not apply this form.
• Passengers who have been to Afghanistan,Bangladesh,Botswana,Brazil,India,Namibia,Nepal,Mozambique, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test which should be no longer than 72 hours before your arrival.The above mentioned requirement is not required for children below 12 years.

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The region is filled with things to do for both nature enthusiasts and people who enjoy history. Cappadocia’s valleys are the prime hiking and horse riding destination. The shots of the valley from the aerial view are one of the best places in the world to go on a hot air balloon tour. Excited to visit Cappadocia? Visit the pick your trail page and check out our exclusive packages on turkey. Our team will assist you in visiting your dream destination.