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Türkiye · Central Anatolia

Cappadocia travel guide

Fairy chimneys, cave hotels and sunrise balloon flights

Hot-air balloons over Cappadocia. Photo: Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

4h 15mflight from London
ASRnearest main airport
22° in Augwarmest month
-1° in Jancoolest month

Cappadocia is a landscape of rock cones, valleys and cliffs shaped by wind and volcanic ash. People have carved homes, churches and entire underground cities into the soft rock for thousands of years.

Sunrise balloon flights over Göreme are the big draw, and you can sleep in a cave hotel. It's best for two or three nights, flying from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir.

Good forAdventureSceneryHistoryHiking

What Cappadocia is known for

  • Balloon flights

    Hundreds of balloons rising at sunrise.

  • Fairy chimneys

    Tall rock cones shaped by erosion.

  • Cave churches

    Painted Byzantine chapels in the rock.

  • Cave hotels

    Sleep in rooms carved into the rock.

Top things to do in Cappadocia

  1. 1

    A balloon flight

    Book with a licensed operator. Flights depend on the wind.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Göreme Open-Air Museum

    Rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    Derinkuyu underground city

    A city eight levels deep, used to hide from invaders.

    Find tours and tickets
  4. 4

    Hike the valleys

    Love Valley, Rose Valley and Pigeon Valley.

    Find tours and tickets

See all tours and tickets in Cappadocia

Where to stay in Cappadocia

Find a hotel in Cappadocia

Best time to visit Cappadocia

Best value: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. April to June and September to October: mild days for hiking and good balloon conditions.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
-1.2 C-1°J0.7 C1°F4.6 C5°M9.2 C9°A14.2 C14°M18.7 C19°J22 C22°J22.4 C22°A18.3 C18°S12.4 C12°O5.5 C6°N0.7 C1°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Cappadocia, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 4h 15m from London to ASR, and flights from most UK airports.

Book tours or hire a car. Fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir and take a shuttle.

Find flights to Cappadocia (ASR)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Leave a spare morning in case your balloon flight is cancelled.
  • Nights are cold even in summer.
  • Book balloon flights with a licensed company.
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Cappadocia FAQ

How many days in Cappadocia?

Two or three nights, to allow for balloon cancellations.

How do I get there?

Fly from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir in about an hour.

More places in Türkiye

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