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Cappadocia
Fairy chimneys, cave hotels and sunrise balloons
- Best time to visit
- Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
- Currency
- TRY
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Country
- Türkiye
A high plateau of eroded rock pillars, valleys and churches carved into stone, best known for the balloons that fill the sky at dawn.
- Istanbul
- Ankara
- Izmir
- Bursa
- Antalya
Quick facts
- Country
- Türkiye
- Capital
- Ankara
- Province population
- 310,000
- Population of Türkiye
- 85.7M
- Country area
- 783,562 km²
- Official language
- Turkish
- Currency
- Turkish Lira (TRY) · 1 USD ≈ 49.22 TRY
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Calling code
- +90
- Drives on the
- Right
- Elevation
- 1,100 m
- Plugs
- C / F · 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 112
- Best time to visit
- Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 4° | 6° | 11° | 17° | 22° | 26° | 30° | 30° | 26° | 19° | 12° | 6° |
| Low | -6° | -5° | -2° | 3° | 7° | 11° | 14° | 14° | 10° | 5° | 0° | -3° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$51
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$120
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$315
Top things to do
- ≈ $220
Hot-air balloon at sunrise
About an hour over the fairy chimneys at dawn. Flights are cancelled in wind, so book it for your first morning to leave room for another try.
- Half day
- Göreme
- ≈ $22
Göreme Open-Air Museum
Rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes; the Dark Church needs a separate ticket and is worth it.
- Half day
- Göreme
- Good for kids
- ≈ $5
Uçhisar Castle and Pigeon Valley
Climb the rock castle for the widest view of the region, then walk down Pigeon Valley towards Göreme.
- Half day
- Uçhisar
- Good in the evening
- ≈ $22
Derinkuyu Underground City
Eight levels of tunnels and rooms dug to shelter thousands of people; the passages are low and narrow.
- Half day
- Underground cities and Ihlara
- Indoors
- ≈ $45
Day trip: Ihlara Valley and Selime
A walk along a green canyon with rock churches, and the cathedral-like Selime monastery. Tours usually add Derinkuyu.
- Full day
- Underground cities and Ihlara
- Free
Avanos and its potters
A riverside town of clay workshops where you can watch, or try, the wheel; buying is optional.
- Half day
- Avanos
- Good for kids
- Free
Sunset over the Red and Rose valleys
Walk or ride to the viewpoints above Çavuşin as the rock turns pink; take a torch for the way back.
- Half day
- Göreme
- Good in the evening
Before you go
Entry and visas
Rules depend on your passport: many nationalities enter visa-free, others need an e-Visa. Apply only on the official portal, evisa.gov.tr. Your passport should be valid for at least 150 days from arrival.
Official websiteFrom the airport
Fly from Istanbul to Kayseri (about 1 hour by road to Göreme) or Nevşehir (about 40 minutes); most hotels arrange shared shuttles that meet each flight.
Getting around
Towns are small and walkable, and a local minibus links Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos and Ürgüp. For the valleys and underground cities, a day tour or a rented car saves time.
Local tips
- Balloon flights depend on the wind and are often cancelled in winter; don't book your only morning.
- Nights are cold even in summer; bring a warm layer for dawn and evening.
- Many cave hotels are reached by steps and slopes; ask about luggage help.
- Use a licensed balloon company; the civil aviation authority publishes the flight status each morning.
Areas worth knowing
- Underground cities and Ihlara
- Avanos
- Göreme
- Uçhisar
The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 21, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.
Read the advice on GOV.UKMore cities in Türkiye
All destinations- IstanbulTwo continents, one city
Türkiye - AntalyaOld harbour, long beaches and Roman ruins
Türkiye - BodrumWhitewashed bays and a castle on the sea
Türkiye - IzmirAn easy-going Aegean city and the gateway to Ephesus
Türkiye - TrabzonGreen mountains, lake villages and the Black Sea
Türkiye - BursaThe first Ottoman capital, below Mount Uludağ
Türkiye
Sources: Republic of Türkiye e-Visa · GoTürkiye: Cappadocia · Türkiye Museums (Ministry of Culture and Tourism)