How to Get to Cappadocia from Istanbul

When talking about a visit to Cappadocia it is very important to clarify that it is not a city per se, but rather a region within the boundaries of Istanbul. This area is famous for its strange and peculiar geological formations that are millions of years old. The provinces that partly make up Cappadocia include Aksaray, Niğde, Kayseri and Nevşehir.

Visiting Cappadocia is one of the best things to do in Istanbul if you have the time and budget. If you want to know how to get there, for how many days and how much it might cost, here is all the information in approximate values.

Visiting the Cappadocia region on a guided tour is the best alternative as the guided tour will take you through the most interesting regions and tourist attractions. All this without the many planning details involved in a large-scale adventure.

This is one of the best tours to do from Istanbul, which is why you'll find so many quality local companies offering this service to travellers. It's up to you to do your homework to research options that suit your travel itinerary and budget.

Route

Due to the long distance between Cappadocia and Istanbul, tour operators offer multi-day options. Tours range from two to eight days depending on the itinerary and the areas you plan to visit.

You will find companies offering a full multi-day tour that includes visits to the Cappadocia region, the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, Pamukkale, the Gallipoli peninsula and more. Other companies offer 2-day tours of Cappadocia.

Useful information about Cappadocia

• Price: About 600 euros for a 2-day tour including entrance fees, meals, flights and guide.
• Recommended if... You are looking for a hassle-free option and have enough time in Istanbul to spend a few days in this beautiful region.

When planning a short trip to Istanbul, you need a quick, and preferably not too expensive way to get to the Cappadocia area. To all friends with such a scenario I recommend the alternative of a direct flight between the two. The only real disadvantage of this option is that it does not allow us to enjoy the sights of Istanbul.

Route

If you decide to fly to the Cappadocia region it is important to keep in mind the two main airports where the vast majority of flights departing from Istanbul Airport (IST) will arrive.

• Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) is located in the city of Kayseri, approximately 80 kilometres from the tourist area of Cappadocia. The best means of transport between the two points is the Kayseri Airport bus service.
• Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) is a small airport located north of the city of Gülşehir, 40 kilometres from the tourist area. The best means of transport between the two points is by taxi.

Finally, if you're looking to save a lot more time, consider Istanbul airport transfer services rather than public transport.

Useful information

• Price: Estimate a value between 40€ and 90€.
• Travel time: Between 3 to 5 hours
• Recommended if... you are only in Turkey for a few days and are looking for a quick and efficient transfer.

When you have an unstructured and flexible itinerary the high-speed train in Istanbul is the best alternative for moving between cities. Although Cappadocia is a little far from Istanbul, you can tailor your route to make the most of your trip, taking in the sights without spending too much.

Route

There is a high-speed train line between Istanbul, Ankara and Konya; if you have five days or more to see Istanbul you can spend the first few days in the city and the rest in the outlying areas, taking advantage of the high-speed train service and making stops at all these destinations.

• Istanbul - Ankara. The journey takes about 4.5 hours and there are trains every day.

If you stop in the Turkish capital, dedicate part of the itinerary to visit unmissable tourist destinations such as the Museum of Civilisations, the mausoleum of Ataturk, the founding father of modern Turkey.

• Istanbul-Konya. The journey between the two destinations takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes. From Ankara to Konya is less than two hours.

If you like architecture, Konya is full of beautiful mosques and monuments from the Seljuk era. Don't miss the Mevlana Museum.

Useful information about Konya

• Price: About 5€ on the high-speed train.
• Journeytime: It is a long journey of approximately 13 to 15 hours on the train alone.
• Recommended if... You have a little more time to spend and want to plan a multi-destination route through Turkey.

An exceptional alternative if you have an adventurous spirit, as well as the desire and time to plan a trip down to the last detail. If you choose this option, here are some useful tips to consider.

• Driving in Turkey is not at all difficult, the main roads are well paved and the most popular tourist attractions and historical sites are well signposted, making them easy to find.
• The officiallanguage of the country is Turkish, English is fairly standardised but you'll only find Spanish speakers in areas of high tourist traffic.
• Book in advance, especially in areas of high demand and at peak times. This will allow you to get better prices.

Route

The main advantage of renting a car in Istanbul will always be the possibility of being able to plan your route as you wish. For example, you can prepare to drive through the Anatolian countryside from Istanbul to Cappadocia and, on the way, explore the following points of interest: the Ottoman village of Safranbolu, the Phrygian ruins of Gordion and the Hittite ruins of Hattusa.

Companies: The following are some of the companies whose offices are located in the central area of Istanbul.

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car Yenibosna
• Budget İstanbul Yenibosna
• Sixt Rent a Car

Useful information

• Price: The cheapest rate to rent a single car in Istanbul is around 10€ per day; the price increases depending on the type of vehicle. Additional costs include fuel andtolls, if applicable.
• Travel time: The journey from Istanbul to the Cappadocia area is approximately 735 kilometres long; without making stops it will take you about 9 hours to travel between the two destinations.
• Recommended if... You have the facilities and knowledge required to prepare for a road trip in a foreign country. I think it's a great alternative if you have family or friends in Istanbul who can join you on the adventure or if you have travelled to Turkey before and know how to handle yourself.

Although not an option I recommend due to the length of the journey combined with the uncomfortable means of transport, it's good to know that you can travel by train from Istanbul to Cappadocia.

Route

Due to the distance, the companies operating routes between the two do not provide direct routes but rather interconnected routes where some passengers dismount and others take their place. This has its advantages and disadvantages since, although the journey is longer, you can take the opportunity to do some 1/2 day sightseeing yourself at some of the destinations. The traditional route from Istanbul to Goreme in the Cappadocia area includes stops in the city of Ankara and the city of Nevşehir.

Useful Travel Information

• Price: Depending on the company you choose, you will need to book between €15 and €20 for each journey; if you don't include stops between cities, the price may be slightly higher.
• Journeytime: It's a fairly long journey, with only the short stops scheduled by the operating company it takes about 12 hours.
• Recommended yes... There is no scenario in which I really recommend this alternative, the budget of the journey is hardly different from the high speed train journey and it offers almost none of the comforts.