sightseeing things to do

Goreme Open Air Museum

It is the most famous and most visited attraction in Cappadocia. This is a monastery complex that was rebuilt from the first centuries of our era, when Cappadocia became a refuge for the first Christians fleeing the persecutions of the Roman Empire, and until the troubled period of iconoclasm for Christianity in the 8th-9th centuries, when Cappadocia again became a refuge for believers.

Ancient monastery complex. Photo: tomas meson, Flickr

Caves that served as cells and dwellings for monks. Photo: Louisa Gibson, Flickr

The museum is open daily from 8.30 to 19.00 in summer and until 17.00 in winter. Entrance to the museum costs 10 lira. The price also includes admission to the Buckle Church (Tokali Kilise), the largest cave church in Cappadocia. It is not located on the territory of the museum, but a little down the road in the direction of Göreme.

Cave church. Photo: Curious Expeditions, Flickr

Valleys of Cappadocia

Long walking tours through unusual, but very picturesque valleys - that, in fact, for which they go to Cappadocia. You can pick up a map with hiking trails at any hotel or guesthouse. To one of the most picturesque valleys - the Rose Valley - evening trekking is regularly organized from the city, which allows you to watch a magnificent sunset in the valley.

Rose Valley. Photo: Jonathan Reid, Flickr

Hot air balloon flight over the valleys of Cappadocia. Photo: Fatima Kazmi, Flickr

If you are planning your trip to Istanbul, or have already been here, a trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia can add vivid and unforgettable impressions to you. This historical area is distinguished not only by amazing landscapes, but also provides an opportunity to touch the history of the Christian Church in its first centuries.

Cappadocia impresses with its unique nature, mysterious underground cities and caves, rocks and valleys, and it is here that the valuable memory of Christian culture and history is stored.

We will tell you about how to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia and what is worth seeing here in our article.

Cappadocia is an amazing place

The center of Cappadocia (Kapadokya) is Göreme (Göreme) it can be reached from the city of Nevsehir (Nevşehir) in 20 minutes, from the city of Kayseri (Kayseri) to Göreme 1 hour. The duration of the flight is 1 hour 25 minutes. Consider travel time to Goreme and flight time when planning your itinerary.

You can fly to Cappadocia with the following airlines:

1. Turkish Airlines
2. Anadolu Jet
3. Pegasus Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines flying from Ataturk Airport

Turkish Airlines fly to Cappadocia only from.

The cost of the flight on the route Istanbul-Kayseri from Ataturk Airport
in the spring of 2019 is from 120 lira to 350 lira, Istanbul-Nevsehir from 120 lira to 200 lira. The price is highly dependent on a number of factors and can change every day.

Flights from Ataturk Airport to Kayseri Airport (Kayseri havalimanı) operate throughout the day, while flights to Nevsehir are more rare - only once or twice a day. Turkish Airlines is different good service, drinks and a sandwich are also included in the price of their ticket.

After 6th April 2019 all flights Turkish Airlines move to, which is further from the historical center of the city than Ataturk. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.

Anadolu Jet

Anadolu Jet planes fly to Kayseri from Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Departs from Istanbul to Cappadocia only from and land only at Kayseri Airport. The approximate cost of a round-trip ticket in the spring of 2019 is 150-170 lire. Anadolu Jet is owned by Turkish Airlines, so they often combine flights, but Anadolu Jet is a low-cost airline.

Pegasus Airlines

You can fly with Pegasus from Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Pegasus planes fly to Cappadocia from Sabiha Gokcen Airport. For the spring of 2019, the approximate ticket price is 170-200 lire. Pegasus is a low-cost airline, you can buy drinks and food on board for a bite to eat for little money. The choice of seats and additional options - for a fee.

Choose a departure time convenient for you, a favorable ticket price and which city it will be more convenient for you to fly to in order to get to Göreme without any problems. From Goreme you can take a local taxi or book in advance.

Buses are a very popular, convenient and comfortable way to travel throughout Turkey.

From Istanbul to Cappadocia can be reached by bus both at night and during the day.

Buses Nevsehir Seyahat

Buses carry passengers to the city of Nevsehir

The trip with this company is quite comfortable, there are built-in TVs in the backs of the seats (you can find dubbed films). The bus arrives in Nevsehir.

For the spring of 2019, the cost of a one-way ticket is 80 lire. Departure times from Istanbul are 20:30 and 20:45, the journey takes 12 hours. Return departure from Nevsehir to Istanbul at 20:00. In the summer, given the increase in tourist flow, the time of departures and the price may differ.

You can buy a ticket online at http://nevsehirlilerseyahat.com.tr/. Go to the site and hover your mouse over the top tab with the inscription online işlemler and select the inscription Bilet satın al. Further, in the window that appears on the right, you can already select the Russian interface language and start the process of searching for tickets.

Buses

By metro bus you can get to Kayseri or Nevsehir

Buses depart from Istanbul to Kayseri several times a day: 00:25, 10:30, 14:30, 18:00, 19:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00. The price of a one-way ticket on the Istanbul-Kayseri route is 90 lira, and the return ticket is 80 lira.

From Istanbul to Nevsehir depart at 8:00 and 22:00, the ticket price is 90 lira, in the opposite direction 80 lira.

To buy a ticket online, go to the site https://www.metroturizm.com.tr and select the interface language in the upper right corner (there is no Russian, there is English). Then we proceed to the search for flights and selection.

Buses Kamil Koç

Comfortable Kamil Koç buses

Kamil Koch is a large company that operates throughout Turkey and provides a very high level of service.

Departure from Istanbul to Nevsehir three times a day at 5:00, 20:00, 22:30, ticket price 85 lira. In the opposite direction, the ticket price is also 85 lira.
The bus departs from Istanbul to Kayseri at 00:15, 10:00, 11:30, 15:00, 18:00, 20:30. The ticket price is 90 lire, the return ticket costs the same.

You can buy a ticket on the site, but unfortunately, the interface is only in Turkish. Therefore, you either have to either be patient or enlist someone's help.

From Istanbul to Cappadocia by car

You can get from Istanbul to Cappadocia by car.

For those who are used to traveling on their own in a rented car, you can find options on the sites (Rent a car/araç kiralama). But in fact, it is easier to get there without incident by bus, and then it is more profitable to rent a car in Cappadocia itself. In Cappadocia, you can also rent another type of transport - quad bikes, bicycles and mopeds.

Do not forget to check the availability of insurance, record any damage to the car body (using a photo or video) and point it out to the lessor.

The cost of gasoline in Turkey in the spring of 2019 is 6.5 lira per liter, diesel fuel 6.3 / liter. Just in case, take or purchase a paper map - the navigator will not work everywhere in mountainous areas. You will also need cash - this will save you problems with gas stations and small shops.

Why do we advise you to organize a trip to Cappadocia on your own? Still, a ready-made tour or excursion, as a rule, includes those trips and visits that it is better to do without. They include trips for baklava, carpets, souvenirs or other things that are not interesting to most travelers. After all, delicious baklava, sweets or Turkish delight are much more pleasant to choose slowly at the local market, having previously tried what your heart desires. When walking on your own, you are the master of your time and desires, so you can change your route at any time.

It is worth noting that as of 2019, it is not possible to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia on TCDD (Turkish National railways). This is due to the fact that the Haydarpasa railway station in Istanbul has not been operating for a long time. At the moment, the station is.

Thus, the best way independent travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia is an airplane flight or a bus ride.

Best time to travel to Cappadocia

Cappadocia is beautiful at any time of the year. The transport network operates here all year round, museum complexes open their doors and underground cities, hot air balloon trips are available (in winter period, however, due to windy weather, flights are sometimes postponed to the next day). To understand the charm of this place, it is enough even to relax on one of the cozy terraces, admiring the rocky landscapes, eating a local delicacy - meat in a pot and washing it down with beer.

Keep in mind that by the standards of Turkey, Cappadocia has a rather cool climate. Gusty winds often blow here, it is chilly in caves and underground cities, so make sure you have warm seasonal clothes in your wardrobe. Even in the summer, it is advisable to stock up on a warm, cozy sweater that will protect you from the chill of the night.

During the summer, outdoor swimming pools are extremely popular in Cappadocia. Extreme heat is not to be feared. And the lion's share of attractions is located underground, where you definitely won't be hot. The highest temperatures are recorded each year in August. During the day, the air warms up, on average, up to 28⁰С, and at night - up to 17⁰С. Therefore, during the day, a tour of the cool caves and dungeons will be a great pastime, and at night you can enjoy hiking in Cappadocia. During this period, the area is illuminated by soft electric light coming from the caves. Impressions are fabulous!

Autumn symbols of Cappadocia are balloons and sparkling, aromatic wine. The air temperature is very comfortable, the rainy season is rare. In the first two autumn months it is still quite warm. The average daily temperature was set at around 24⁰С. That is, in order not to freeze, it is enough to wear a tight shirt with a sleeve or a thin sweater. The November temperature is already less comfortable - about 10⁰С. Therefore, a traveler cannot do without a light jacket, especially if evening walks are planned. Despite the coolness, you can not be afraid of prolonged rains in autumn in Cappadocia - all precipitation occurs mainly in spring. The autumn period is the time of ripening of the famous Cappadocian wine. Be sure to go on a tour of the vineyards to see with your own eyes the process of harvesting a rich harvest.

Cappadocia in spring

Cappadocia in spring

During the spring months, Cappadocia is full of flowers and greenery. This is a traditional time for various music festivals.

In addition to music, in the spring you can find a unique balloon festival here. As a rule, the time of its holding is set for May. At this event, you can not only admire the huge balloons soaring into the sky, but also enjoy local culinary delights and masterpieces of modern art at exhibitions. For fans of sports entertainment, visiting extreme sports competitions is perfect. Music lovers will also like concerts and musical performances, held, for the most part, under the arches of the caves.

Spring is the time of the traditional pilgrimage to Cappadocia by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who comes here every year, without exception, and holds an Easter service in one of the local Orthodox shrines. The exact dates of the saint's arrival can be found on special religious websites on the Internet.

Cappadocia in winter

Cappadocia in winter

Winter Cappadocia is a bewitching scenery of rocky peaks covered with snow caps and melodic howling winds. It's nice that in winter there are not so many tourists here. For lovers of extreme sports in Kayseri, a modern ski resort. Such infrastructure for this area is quite new, and the prices in this resort are affordable.

winter city

You need to understand that the lion's share of hotels in Cappadocia is located inside the caves. Of course, most hotels are equipped with central heating, but in some of them air conditioners or heaters can simply work instead of the usual pipes. This most often happens in guest houses, so if you choose this accommodation option, check all the information in advance.

The winter season is also rich in entertainment, like all other seasons. Only you can not travel in a hot air balloon every day because of the vagaries of the weather. For this reason, if you are planning to fly in a hot air balloon without fail, order this service immediately upon arrival in Cappadocia, so that you can reschedule the flight, if necessary, to another day.

Be sure to take warm clothes with you, for Cappadocia, the presence of snow literally knee-deep is not uncommon. But it happens that the snow cover does not fall at all, with the exception of the tops of the rocks.

Cases have been recorded when the thermometer dropped to -20⁰С. But it doesn't happen that often. Basically, the temperature, even in the very middle of winter, stays at + 2⁰С during the day, and at -2⁰С at night.

Where to stay in Cappadocia?

The tourist infrastructure in Cappadocia is also developed, as in other resort areas in Turkey. Here you can find both elite branded hotels and budget, but cozy hostels.

The center of Cappadocia is Goreme, famous for its vast national park and a huge open-air museum complex. Travelers, for the most part, live in this locality. But there are other towns nearby, such as Kayseri and Nevsehir, which, by the way, are not considered tourist towns.

Göreme

Göreme

If you are visiting Cappadocia for the first time, you should choose Göreme as your place to stay. From here you can comfortably get to any of the local attractions. In addition to the park and museum indicated above, it is worth going to the Zelve Museum Complex, the Dark Church and the ancient Uchisar Castle. Each of them can be easily reached on foot. Göreme attracts with the fact that Mountain peaks meet tourists right outside the doors of hotels. Almost every hotel has outdoor terraces that offer magnificent views of the rocky landscapes.

Travelers can not only breathe in the fresh mountain air, but also see a stunning picture of hot air balloons soaring high in the sky. The largest number of them can be seen if you force yourself to wake up at sunrise.

For lovers of everything unusual, you can rent a room in a "cave" hotel, equipped with all the benefits of civilization. There are many hotels in Göreme with outdoor pools, popular during the swimming season (from late spring to early autumn).

Yurgup (Ürgüp)

Yurgup (Ürgüp)

Yurgup is famous for a fairly large number of attractions, including the Chatalkaya valley with beautiful mushroom-shaped rocks and Temmeni Hill, located right in the middle of the city. Inside the latter there are many large and small caves, which today are often used for domestic purposes: they equip garages, warehouses and other utility rooms. Also in Ugrup, which is also often referred to as Ugrup, you can find magnificent ancient tombs, ancient and modern mosques, inactive Orthodox churches, as well as a modest monument in honor of grape pickers. This monument, by the way, resembles our famous "Worker and Collective Farm Girl".

Uchisar ( Uchisar)

Uchisar

The rock-fortress stretching up to 60 meters is considered the symbol of Uchisar. This attraction is also called Uchisar Castle. Carved dovecotes have been preserved in local rocks, in which birds can still be found. There is also a modest church without frescoes, but it does not function today. The famous Uchisar houses have also been preserved in the rocks, which today have been given the status of museums.

Cavusin (Cavusin)

Cavusin (Cavusin)

This is a modest village located 30 minutes walk from Goreme. Here you can find a majestic rock with houses inside. Of course, most of the former local residents have long since left the mountainous area due to landslides. For this reason, travelers are advised not to get close to hard-to-reach areas. There are enough safe paths for tourists here. For example, one of the routes leads to the Church of John the Baptist with frescoes preserved in good condition.

Derinkuyu

Derinkuyu

This is an ancient underground city, consisting of several tiers. It is always cold here, so tourists cannot do without warm clothes.

The underground city has been perfectly preserved to this day. In Derinkuyu you can find literally everything: residential buildings, schools, wine cellars, workshops, barns, ventilation shafts and much, much more. It is known that the city was erected by Christians fleeing persecution and creating excellent conditions for themselves to live inside the rocks.

The city underground is truly amazing! The corridors are wide and there are signs everywhere. Once from here through a long tunnel it was possible to get to another underground city of Kaymakli. Today, the tunnel has been mothballed, as there is a threat of collapses, but the gates of Kaymakli are still open to guests.

What to see in Cappadocia

Even an ordinary walk in an unknown direction will give you a lot of impressions. Cappadocia is a true wonder of nature with countless mountains, volcanoes, valleys, caves. Those who want to immerse themselves in the life of ancient Christians should definitely visit the local underground cities.

Museum Pass Cappadocia

In Cappadocia, you can also purchase a museum card - Museum Pass Cappadocia, which gives the right to visit the following attractions:

1. Ihlara Valley (Ihlara Vadisi)
2. Derinkuyu Underground City
3. Ozkonak Underground City (Özkonak Yeraltı Şehri)
4. Kaymakli Underground City (Kaymaklı Yeraltı Şehri)
5. Göreme Open Air Museum (Göreme Açıkhava Müzesi)
6. Nevsehir Museum (Nevşehir Müzesi)
7. Museum Hadzhibektash (Hacıbektaş Müzesi)
8. Dark Church (Göreme Karanlık Kilise)
9. Cavusin Church (Çavusin Örenyeri)
10. Zelve Monastery Complex (Zelve-Paşabağlar Örenyeri)

The Cappadocia Museum Card costs 110 lire. It is valid for 3 days after purchase.

TOP 3 best attractions in Cappadocia

national park Goreme

1. Goreme National Park. Here, on a vast territory of 300 sq.m. you will find the famous Valley of Love, and many churches decorated with intricate frescoes, and monasteries, and underground houses. Finding yourself in this open-air museum complex, it is as if you are on another planet. You need to know that there are not one Valley of Love here, but two. The first is directly in Goreme, the second is closer to Uchisar. The latter is often depicted on postcards.

Balloons - business card Cappadocia

2.Travel in a hot air balloon. Huge baskets under the dome soar into the sky with the sunrise. It is very interesting to observe even how the preparations for the flight are going. If ballooning itself is ruinous for your budget, you can simply visit one of the viewing platforms. Believe me, the picture of balloons floating against the backdrop of dawn will leave an indelible impression!

Valley of Love (Aşk vadisi)

3. The Valley of Love (postcard) is also called the Pigeon Valley in a different way. You can walk here from Goreme. The whole way there and back will be no more than 12 km. From the second name, you can understand that there are a lot of dovecotes here, which were once equipped right in the rocks. Another attraction of this area is the notorious "mushrooms" made of tufa.

Red Valley (Kızıl vadi)

You can also visit the Meskendir Valley, as well as the Red and Rose Valley. These places are known for their reddish mountains and many old churches.

Churches and temples of Cappadocia

Tokali Church (Tokali Kilise)

There are a lot of church shrines in Cappadocia. Services are held only twice a year - at Christmas and Easter, but are open to tourists all year round. Keep in mind that in churches with frescoes, as a rule, the entrance is paid.

• Tokali Kilise is the largest church in Goreme outside of the Goreme Open Air Museum and can be visited with a museum ticket. Built in the 10th century, frescoes with scenes from the life of Jesus and other saints have survived to this day.

Dark church (Karanlik kilise)

• The Dark Church is a magnificent masterpiece of ancient architecture that is worth seeing even for those who are far from religion.
• Church with apples, which leads to a short but very narrow tunnel under the ground.
• Church of St. Barbarians. It is interesting because on its walls there are ancient frescoes that have come down to us from the era of the struggle against iconoclasm.
• Serpentine Church, the main decoration of which are frescoes of the 11th century. One of them has a picture of St. Onufry, therefore the second name of the church is in his honor.
• Chapel of St. Basil (11th century). Attracts with a picture of the battle of St. George with a snake, painted in ocher and perfectly preserved.

Museums of Cappadocia

Museum of Ceramics (Güray seramik)

The main museum complex of Cappadocia is Goreme, which is part of the Goreme National Park. The church shrines described above are located in this open-air museum. It is noteworthy that this attraction is included in the UNESCO heritage list.

The museum complex is very popular with tourists, so in order not to stand in line for entrance tickets, it is better to come here half an hour before the opening, which always takes place at 8 am.

Each attraction of Cappadocia is unique in its own way, for example, the Museum of Ceramics, located in the city of Avanos, is located in natural as well as man-made caves, 15 meters deep below ground level. The total area of ​​the museum is about 500 square meters.

If a lucky chance brought you to the beautiful and mysterious Cappadocia, be sure to:

• Rent a scooter and feel like an explorer of the local valleys: the beauty and quirkiness of the local landscapes captivate at first sight. You can talk a lot about them, but it's better to see once!
• Sign up for sightseeing tour, leading from Göreme to the underground city of Derenkuyu through the Ihlara canyon. These sights are quite remote from each other, and the informative story of the local guide will be very useful and interesting for any traveler.
• Feel like an aeronaut and go on a trip in a hot air balloon at sunrise. Believe me, the chance to see the beauty of Cappadocia from a bird's eye view and take unique photos is worth any money!
• Walk along the ancient streets of Goreme, visit souvenir shops and, if possible, be sure to purchase one of the luxurious handmade carpets.

An evening in Cappadocia is a pleasure to spend with a glass of wine with a beautiful view of the mountains.

• Study in detail the ancient frescoes that adorn the walls of temple shrines dug in the middle of the rocks in great abundance. The largest number of these objects of ancient culture is concentrated in the so-called open-air museum.
• Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of the underground city, explore the local labyrinths of rooms and passages to feel for yourself how the first Christians survived here many centuries ago, avoiding Arab persecution and seeking protection within these walls.
• In the evening, join the ranks of gourmets and be sure to visit one of the local catering establishments just to taste the unsurpassed traditional dish - meat with vegetables baked in a clay pot (Testi Kebabi).
• At least for one night, become a guest of a cozy hotel, equipped right in the cave. Despite the apparent outward wildness, inside such mini-hotels you can find all the benefits of civilization.
• Spend at least a couple of hours driving to Avanos, which is rightly called the city of potters. Local handmade ceramics will leave an indelible impression in your memory!
• At the end of the day, be sure to rush to Uchisar to watch the sunset from the famous mountain fortress. Believe me, the pictures that open before the eyes of travelers from this point are simply breathtaking!

Prices in Cappadocia for the 2019 season

Unusual hotels in Cappadocia

In nearby areas and in Goreme itself, you can find accommodation from 40 lira / day, but here you need to consider that prices will be higher in the spring-summer season. Therefore, count on a minimum of 150-200 lira / day in the summer. Of course, in Cappadocia there is a wide variety of hotels - these are cave hotels, hotels on the slopes of the mountains and simply luxurious stone apartments. Plan your accommodation in advance, because already in April it is difficult to find rooms for the summer. But as an option, you can consider hostels or apartments.

In the tourist center of Cappadocia, Göreme, you can find many budget establishments: the price for a hearty lunch will be about 25-30 liras, dinner with a glass of wine in a cafe will cost you 50 liras.

From inexpensive and interesting cafes you can visit:

Omurca Art Cave Cafe

The cafe is partially located in a cave, and the owner of the establishment named Harun will serve and cook delicious food for you. You can have a hearty meal in a homely atmosphere for little money here.

The owner of the cafe willingly communicates with tourists and tries to create a comfortable and hospitable environment.

We especially recommend this establishment to cat lovers, because the owner of the cafe has more than 6 of them. They are hosts here, but they are well-behaved and do not interfere with guests. Soup 3 lira, a serving of kofte (fried Turkish cutlet) 20 lira. You can have a hearty meal with homemade wine for 60 lira for two.

This cafe is quite famous and popular place in Cappadocia, in the evening, as a rule, there are always guests here, so get ready for a leisurely service (after all, the owner of the establishment receives and prepares guests).

Cafe on the map:

Inci Cafe Restaurant

Inci Cafe Restaurant

Inci Cafe Restaurant, located in a cave, with an unusual authentic atmosphere, delicious homemade food and homemade wine. Lentil soup - 3 lira, snacks 10-30 lira.

Cafe on the map:

Pumpkin Goreme Restaurant and Art Gallery

pumpkin restaurant

It is one of the popular restaurants in Goreme and is known for its lanterns and lamps carved from pumpkins. For dinner, you are not offered dishes from the menu, but a set of dishes (every day is different), consisting of an appetizer, hot, dessert and drinks. The cost of the set is 60 lire per person. The atmosphere is very friendly, friendly service and delicious food.

Cafe on the map:

If we talk about options for a delicious dinner with a stunning view, then you can visit premium segment restaurants, such as The Plum Restaurant or Seki Restaurant. Dinner with a glass of local wine at Seki Restaurant will cost an average of 160-170 lire per person. From the veranda of the restaurant you can see the Goreme National Park, and from the restaurant you can go directly to one of the caves. This institution is quite famous and is considered one of the best in Cappadocia.

Great view from the top of the hills

Prices for one of the main attractions - hot air ballooning - can vary. In the absence of a tourist peak, you can try to negotiate for 100 euros. But on this moment, the minimum price for a balloon flight has risen to 150 euros. This is the price for the 2019 season. The flight lasts 60, 75 or 90 minutes, it all depends on the service provider and entertainment conditions.

Cappadocian views are impressive beauty

There are, of course, companies that position their services as luxury and ask for about 500-650 lira per person. The basket accommodates from 20 to 24 people, the flight lasts 1 hour. Follow the safety recommendations when flying in hot air balloons, be sure to buckle up.

Cappadocia is quite a calm place, however, walks alone on dark evenings are not recommended.

Since Cappadocia is a mountainous area, it is not recommended to engage in rock climbing without preparation and in places not intended for this, it is dangerous, given that there is a possibility of landslides. Be careful about hiking - a motorcycle or ATV may suddenly appear because of the turn.

One of the top tips for independent travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia - settlement with local money, i.e. lyre. Do not forget that when paying in euros and dollars, the exchange rate will always be disadvantageous for you. To avoid unpleasant conflicts and misunderstandings, change the required amount of money in the Istanbul exchanger in advance.

The simplest option to get to Cappadocia is a bus. Buses in Turkey are comfortable. Air conditioners work, but there is no freezer, as, for example, in buses in Thailand or Venezuela. During the trip, the stewards offer free drinks (tea, coffee, juices, all kinds of soda, water), snacks (biscuits, crackers, sandwiches). Every 3 hours, stops are made for 20-30 minutes, where you can visit cafes, shops, toilets, smoke and just stretch. More and more companies are offering Wi-Fi on their buses. The only BUT: no matter how comfortable the bus is, the legs still numb from a long sitting position. But this is not fatal and is quite experienced.

It is quite possible to buy tickets on the same day, and even before departure. But of course, there is no 100% guarantee, it is better to take care of this in advance. On local national and religious Muslim holidays, as well as on weekends from Friday to Sunday, it is also worth taking care of this issue in advance, because. Turkish citizens are very fond of visiting relatives and friends in their free time. On Eid al-Adha, you should take care of tickets even for a week, or even more.

You can get to different cities of Cappadocia (Nevsehir, Goreme, Yurgup, Avanos) from different places by different companies. If there is no bus to Goreme, Yurgup, etc., then focus on Nevsehir. This is a type of district center, from which you can then get to other cities and villages of Cappadocia.

How to get from Nevsehir to Goreme

From Nevsehir to Goreme can be reached in 15-20 minutes. Lots of options here:

1. Can be free service of the company you come from;

2. from a large otogar (where you arrived) travel agencies organize a transfer (lire 5);

3. can be reached from the same hillside. on which you arrived, on any intercity bus that goes through Göreme;

4. you can walk to the stop of the local bus Nevsehir-Goreme (for opening hours, see “Local transport”);

5. some hotels, if you booked a room with them, provide a transfer, sometimes free of charge;

6. Well, and taxis, of course.

How to get to Cappadocia by bus from Istanbul

From Istanbul to Cappadocia, the bus takes an average of 10-11 hours. There are morning (from 8 am to 9 am) and evening (from 8 pm to 11 pm) flights. There are no flights during the day. Tickets can be bought at, i.e. bus station (Otogar metro station) or at the offices of bus companies that are scattered around Istanbul and, as a rule, have offices in the Sultanahmet area. The ticket price is about 50 -55 liras (about 30 USD). The location of the offices of these companies can be found on their websites.

You can also get on buses from Istanbul to / from Cappadocia in the Asian part of Istanbul - at the Harem bus station, to Dudulu, etc. - check when buying a ticket

Here are some of those who travel in this direction. On the websites of companies you can see the schedule, price, buy a ticket. But not all companies have websites:

The same companies can get from/to Cappadocia from/to Ankara (about 4 hours, 25-30 lira)

Another such moment when delivering by bus. As it turns out, there is such an akhtung, which one of the readers told me about, who has already returned from Cappadocia. He traveled from Istanbul to Nevsehir with the Süha company. They took him to Nevsehir. But with a change in Kayseri. Those. We were taken to Kayseri, and from there by free service to Goreme. Naturally, time is wasted on this. So be careful. I assumed that it was sent that way because there were no tickets for the Istanbul-Nevsehir flight. But in order not to lose a client, "Syuha" pulled off such a trick. In fact, they took the passenger to the desired point. It turned out that he bargained a lot. He was sent with a cheaper option. As a result, it really cost him 10 lire cheaper. But he lost time. Which, of course, he later regretted.

How to get to Cappadocia from Antalya

From Antalya to Cappadocia can be reached in 9-10 hours, the ticket price is about 40 lira, 27 USD. Available from the following companies

Can DersimTuncelililer

Nevsehir Kapadokya

Luks Goreme Tourism

How to get to Goreme from Kayseri

You can get the Kayseri bus to Goreme in 1 hour. Buses run every hour from 6.00 to 22.00. Transportation is carried out by the following companies:

Nevsehir Kapadokya

Luks Goreme Tourism

How to get to Cappadocia by bus from different cities in Turkey

Cappadocia is connected by bus to many cities in Turkey. There are direct buses to / from the cities of Trabzon, Bursa, Adana, Canakkale (to Troy), Manavgat, Rize, Samsun, Izmir, Mersin, Alanya, Kemer, etc. For details, see the websites of bus companies (the link is given above) .

To get to Cappadocia by bus to / from the west direction, in the absence of direct bus, you will have to change in Antalya, Ankara, Konya.

To get to Cappadocia by bus from \ to the East of Turkey, in the absence of direct buses, you will have to change in Kayseri, Adana.

See also the chapter “How to get to Cappadocia – general”, which tells about the site neredennereye.com

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Goreme is a small but most popular tourist village in Cappadocia. Although there are more than big cities(Kayseri and Nevsehir) with an airport, markets, museums and noisy bars, Goreme is the tourist center of the region. 95% of tourists rent a hotel here, buy excursions, make walks through the valleys and trips to various attractions from here.

Why go mostly in Göreme (Türkiye) and not to other places in Cappadocia?

Firstly, the village is very advantageously located: it is located in the very center of the Goreme National Park. This is a huge open air museum that is on the list world heritage UNESCO. The national park is known for the fact that many centuries ago it was the largest Christian center with a large number of rock churches, monasteries and separate cells of monks. In addition, many beautiful valleys with unique "lunar landscapes" are also located on the territory of this park and start right at Goreme. It is very convenient for independent walks and walking tours.

Secondly, Goreme (Türkiye) is equipped especially for tourists. There are a huge number of hotels and restaurants, souvenir shops and tour agencies, there are many bike and ATV rental offices. And there is a playground near Goreme. locals live at the expense of tourism and try to make vacationers comfortable and cozy.

Third, Goreme (or rather its center) is more well-groomed and clean compared to neighboring resort "cities". But on the outskirts here is preserved colorful atmosphere Turkish village: women choose seeds from pumpkins, chickens run around, and tractors stand along the road.

Attractions Goreme and surroundings

1. (Türkiye)- the most famous attraction of Cappadocia. Read more about it in a separate article of our author's guide.
2. Valleys near Goreme. Near the village there are many valleys where you can walk, take beautiful pictures, and if you're lucky, watch turtles and lizards. Detailed description valleys with photographs can be found by looking in, and see ready-made walking routes for walking.
3. Observation deck. It is clearly visible from almost everywhere. It rises above a small one. It offers a wonderful view of Göreme (it is also commonly called the "panorama of Göreme"), the Görkünder valley and the surrounding area.
4. UFO Museum. It is no coincidence that a small museum was opened here in 2005, because Cappadocia is one of the “five” places where increased UFO activity is observed. Here are clippings from newspapers and magazines in 8 languages ​​with descriptions of various paranormal activity and interviews of people abducted by aliens. But the most interesting thing in the exposition is an installation depicting a scene of four aliens studying an inhabitant of the Earth. Museum opening hours: 09.00-19.00. Finding the UFO museum in Goreme is not difficult: it is located 200-300 m to the left of the road to the Open Air Museum.

Where to stay in Goreme: hotels, pensions, hostels, campsites

In Göreme (Türkiye) the most a large number of various hotels, boarding houses and hostels. There are so many of them that even during the season it is not necessary to book in advance (unless, of course, you are tied to a particular hotel). You can always find something on your own upon arrival.

The types of housing in Goreme are different: there are cave hotels, completely or partially carved into the rock, there are real Sultan's stone palaces, there are family hotels, there are simple hostels, and there are comfortable campsites.

The checkout time is usually at 09.00 (by the arrival of the morning buses). If you have already left, but you have free time and a desire to take a walk somewhere else before the bus leaves, you can leave your luggage at the reception.

Where to eat in Göreme: restaurants, cafes, bars…

There are a lot of different places in Göreme where you can eat or drink a cup of coffee, have a light snack or relax with a glass of Cappadocian wine. There are restaurants, cafes, pide establishments (i.e. pizzerias), bars… There are places where vegetarians can dine and places that serve halal (food without pork). There are restaurants with Turkish cuisine, and there are European (French, Italian, Austrian) or generally international (American, Indian, Chinese, Korean) restaurants. That's just Russian and Ukrainian cuisine in Goreme in Turkey yet, but I think it's a matter of time!

We talked about the top five places to eat in Goreme (three restaurants and a couple of cafes) in the material (see rating). Here we will give a few more food establishments, which are also included in the top ten.

Cappadocian Cuisine- family restaurant with traditional Turkish cuisine. The hospitable hostess Hatizda meets you at the doorstep in national dress, sometimes with a cigar or a cup of coffee. She knows how to say “Hello” and “Come visit us” in many languages ​​and accurately, at a glance, determines how to address you specifically. All the waiters in the restaurant speak excellent English. The menu is extensive: here you can order both individual dishes to your taste, and a set lunch, which includes soup (for example, chorba), the main meat dish (testi-kebab or something else), rice, salad and tea. They serve quickly, but so that guests do not get bored while waiting for an order, they are given a “compliment from the restaurant” for free - a basket of warm bread with ayran sauce with herbs (it’s so “delicious” to break off small pieces from the cake and dip them into the sauce), sometimes tea or small puddings if you come with children. You can eat inside the restaurant or outside. You can bring your own wine. Portions are average. Prices are moderate. Address: Uzundere Cad., 5/B.

Firin Express- a cafe without frills in the interior, but it is here that you can try the best Turkish pizza in the city - pide. It is served straight from the oven, hot and juicy. There are many variations of pide on the menu, but the most popular one is with cheese and spinach. Etli ekmek is also baked here - a thin and narrow long pizza with minced meat. The kitchen is located right in the hall, and you can watch how your order is prepared (and, if you wish, shoot it on video). In a huge oven, meat and vegetable dishes are stewed, as well as everything that crumbles in an egg. In addition, here you can order lentil or tomato soup, rice with vegetables, tuna salad, and, of course, testi kebab. It is possible to buy pizza to take away (everything will be perfectly packed for you). Address: Cami Caddesi, 4-5.

red wine house- a cozy wine bar in Goreme (Turkey) with delicious homemade wines, as well as alcoholic drinks from local wineries. It's good to relax with friends, smoke a hookah and watch the fire in the fireplace. There is wi-fi. Light Turkish music creates a pleasant atmosphere. The bar is open all year round in memory of the fact that Carlos Santana, an American virtuoso guitarist and winner of numerous Grammy awards, once visited here (because of this, Red wine is sometimes called Santana Bar). If you get hungry, you can order food from the restaurant next door, which is owned by the son of the owner of the bar. The only negative, probably, is that in a glass you can only order homemade wine (on tap). If you want to try the wine of local wineries, then you need to purchase a whole bottle. Address: Muze Caddesi, 9.

Excursions and entertainment in Göreme (Turkey): safaris, hammams, hot air balloons…

Goreme has a huge number of tour agencies and private guides. All of them offer, as a rule, a standard set, the most popular of which are tours. The only downside is that they are held mainly on English language. If you want to have a Russian-speaking guide, then you can book some excursions via the Internet in advance, while still at home, for example, on the website.

Among the entertainment in Goreme (see also), ATV safaris, shows, hiking tours, hammams and excursions to wineries are in the lead.

Souvenir and grocery stores

While relaxing in Goreme (Turkey), you can choose and buy various souvenirs (see) both for yourself and as a gift to friends and family. They are sold in small souvenir shops, as well as on the ruins of viewing platforms near the city. Please note that there is no own production in Goreme, so ceramics are brought here from Avanos, wine from Uchisar or Urgup, and carpets from Kayseri or Avanos (in these cities, of course, they will cost less). But in Göreme there are galleries where you will be offered original handmade gizmos.

We recommend paying attention to Art By Emre - this is a small shop with jewelry, accessories, postcards, handbags that the owner Emre makes himself (besides, he speaks excellent English and loves to chat with tourists). The best carpet shop in Goreme (Turkey) is Sultan Carpet (Address: Muze caddesi, 32). And you will find beautiful ceramics at Hattuşa Handmade Ceramics (Address: Muze caddesi, 42/4).

Two grocery stores are located to the left of the road at the very exit from Goreme towards Cavusin. One small private, second chain store Dias. The Dias store sells everyday food and hygiene products at a regular price. They accept bank cards for payment.

Useful places for tourists: information kiosk, bank, post office

Information kiosk, located at the Göreme bus station (Turkey), is open during the arrival of most intercity buses. It belongs to the Göreme Tourist Society and is essentially an association of restaurant and hotel owners whose main task is, of course, to advertise their establishments (which is why the staff does not have any meaningful information). But here you can be given free area map and change money (however, the rate will be much lower than in a bank).

Withdraw money in the city it is possible at ATMs located at the bus station (otogar) and around it. Exchange currency best of all at the post office or at Deniz Bank (note that it is closed on Saturdays and Sundays). These days you can change money in travel agencies or at your hotel. Advice! It is best to change the currency in general somewhere not in Cappadocia, because the exchange rate here is much worse than, say, on the same Mediterranean Sea or in Ankara.

At the post office in Goreme you can buy souvenir postcards for friends and stamps to send them. In addition, there is a telephone and a currency exchange service. There are always a lot of tourists at the post office - everyone wants to send postcards.

How to get to Goreme (Türkiye)

Goreme is the tourist center of the region, and how to get here from different cities of Turkey, as well as from Russia or Ukraine, we described in detail in the material
First choose hotel on Booking. They have a great base of offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel can often be found for 20% cheaper through

Goreme this is a small town, which is rightfully considered a tourist center Cappadocia. Despite the fact that the administrative center of the district is the city Nevsehir, the main stopping place for tourists to access the main attractions Cappadocia is precisely this small town with an unusual landscape. The bus stop is located on the main square. On different sides of the square there are many restaurants, cafes, ATMs and several car, bicycle and ATV rental offices. Travel agencies that offer day trips are also located around this main square.

A Brief History of Goreme

The valley in which the picturesque town is located Goreme, like dozens of neighboring valleys, were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions Erciyes, Gulludag And Hasandag. For many millions of years, they filled the local space with ash and hot lava, which solidified in the most bizarre combinations and shapes. Then . People also put their hands on this transformation, having lived here for hundreds of thousands of years and adapted a significant part of the stone formations for housing and outbuildings. Throughout its long history, the town has had five different names. It is believed that her oldest name Korama The Byzantines called her Matiana, Christian Armenians - Macan(Macan), the Turks - Avcılar, and only then it was renamed into Goreme.

Attractions Goreme

Near Goreme and the immediate vicinity there are about 400 churches, mostly small, rarely two or four pillars, rarely three apses. The most famous and well-preserved churches are Tokaly, Charykly, Karanlyk, Elmaly, Yilanly, Sakly and the dilapidated El Nazar.

The ensemble of churches that we see in the vicinity of the town appeared approximately after 850. The frescoes that adorn them can be attributed to the second half of the 11th century. The mural style, inspired by works of clearly Byzantine origin, is remarkable for its extraordinary simplicity. The architectural decoration is admirably combined with the paintings made by professional artists thanks to the philanthropy common at that time. Many inscriptions (sometimes accompanied by portraits) introduce us to the names of artists and donors. According to historical and iconographic studies, the donors were usually noble and wealthy members of the rural community, united in unions, the purpose of which was to finance works of art. Due to the moisture resistance of the tufa and the constant climate inside the building, not subject to fluctuations in the external environment, the colors here have retained their brightness over many centuries. Biblical and gospel stories are accompanied by inscriptions made in Greek, but in Cyrillic.

Sunrise - Decorations on trees are beads from the evil eye

Goreme National Park

In addition to historical sights, there are a lot of natural sights around the city. goreme, is the center of the “National Historical and Natural Park” of the same name, which covers an area of ​​300 km². At the bottom of the article there is a map where you can see the location national park. On the map, the territory of the national park is indicated in green. , pigeon valley, Meskendir, Red and Pink valleys, all of them are included within the national park. national park and cave settlements Cappadocia are included in .

Night Goreme – Cappadocia Türkiye

What to do in Goreme?

Goreme, This the best place to get started with . Hiking in the vicinity of the city are the most preferred type of pastime by tourists. If you are afraid of long walks in the valleys adjacent to the town, then you can rent a bike, motorcycle or quad bike and ride through the valleys. If you love horses and horseback riding, you can also make horse rides.

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  Walk through the valleys of Göreme on quad bikes
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How to get to Goreme?

All bus companies that travel in this direction ( Kamil Koch, Syuha, Metro/ Kamil Koç, Süha, Metro) or passing through Goreme or come to Nevsehir and from there they transfer passengers to shuttle basses to Goreme, or . Bus schedule at the bus station Nevsehir can find by this link. How to get to Cappadocia is described in more detail in this one.

Goreme - bus stop

Where to live, where to stay?

The city has a large number of hotels for every taste and budget - both simple boarding houses in the rocks, and expensive stylish mini hotels. You can see the location of some hotels by clicking on the link below. About how to choose and you can read by following

	Hotels in the city Yurgup
Hotels in the city Uchisar	Hotels in the city Ortahisar
Hotels in the city Nevsehir	Hotels in the city Avanos

Photos of Goreme

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  Spring Cloudy
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  Rock Hotel
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  Cappadocian horse
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  rock cone
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  Goreme - view from afar
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