Here's how to get to Cappadocia from other parts of Turkey. In general, bus and plane are the best ways.
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Ankara—CappadociaBus and car are the easiest way, train longer and less convenient. Forget the plane—there are no direct flights:
There are no non-stop flights between Ankara and Cappadocia, the trains (see below) are slow and run mostly at inconvenient times, so the best way to go is by road: bus or car.
By BusNevtur buses depart Ankara's ASTI main bus terminal about every two hours for Nevsehir (and vice-versa). The journey takes 4 hours, including a 25-minute stop about 1-1/4 hours into the journey to stretch your legs, use the toilet, have a glass of tea, a meal or a smoke (no smoking on the bus). The fare is YTL20.
When you arrive at Nevsehir's bus terminal, you'll be transferred to a minibus for the final part of your journey to one of Cappadocia's towns such as Göreme, Uçhisar or Ürgüp. The cost of the minibus trip is usually included in your bus ticket fare.
Buy your ticket at Nevtur, ASTI ticket counter no. 50. It's best to buy yor ticket in advance if you can, but most of the time you can just show up at ASTI, buy your ticket, and be on your way on the next bus. (That's what I do.)
If you're going to travel during a national holiday or religious holiday period, you should reserve your bus seat in advance to avoid delay or disappointment.
By CarFight your way through Ankara traffic to the E-90 highway south, following signs for Aksaray, 219 km (136 miles, 3 hours). At Aksaray, turn left (east) following signs for Nevsehir, 73 km (45 miles, 1 hour).
Just at the junction of E-90 and the Nevsehir highway in Aksaray is the Orhan Agaçli Tesisleri, an elaborate commercial highway rest stop with a motel, restaurant, cafeteria, snack stands, toilets, souvenir shops, fuel and service stations, even a small mosque.
By TrainThe main railway line runs from Ankara to Kayseri, then splits, one line running east to Sivas, the other south to Nigde, Karaman and Adana, skirting Cappadocia to the east and south.
Express trains take about seven hours to cover the distance between Ankara and Kayseri. (Compare this to the bus's four hours from Ankara to Nevsehir.)
Erzurum Ekspresi leaves Ankara in early afternoon and arrives at Kayseri in the evening. Güney Ekspresi departs Ankara early in the morning, and arrives at Kayseri in mid-afteroon. Çukurova Mavi Tren and Dogu Ekspresi depart Ankara in the evening and arrive at Kayseri in the middle of the night.
A taxi between Ankara Gar (railway station) and ASTI (main bus terminal) takes about 10 minutes in light traffic, and costs about YTL10.
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Antalya—CappadociaThere may be a direct flight soon, but right now you must fly via Istanbul, or (better) go by bus or car:
By BusOvernight buses run between Antalya and Nevsehir, about 9 or 10 hours. From Nevsehir, you continue to your Cappadocian town by minibus. You might also decide to take a bus to Konya, see the sights there, spend the night, and continue to your destination the next day.
By CarThe 586-km (364-mile) drive takes between 8 and 9 hours, depending on how you drive, how often you stop, and whether you're going north uphill to Konya or south down the mountains to Antalya.
It's an interesting ride, along the ancient Silk Road past the Sultanhani and other Seljuk Turkish caravanserais to Konya (good for a meal or overnight stop), then through mountain country down to the Mediterranean coast.
By PlaneTo fly between Antalya and Cappadocia you must go via Istanbul. The flights take about 90 minutes each, but getting to the airport, checking in, passing through security, boarding, transferring, waiting again, flying again, collecting your luggage and transferring from the airport can add up almost to the time it takes to go by bus or car.
There are flights between Antalya and Ankara. Then you must take a bus or drive from Ankara to Cappadocia. More...
Check with one of my recommended travel agencies to see if there is a nonstop flight between Kayseri and Antalya yet.
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Istanbul—CappadociaSeveral options: daily nonstop flights to Kayseri (and a few weekly to Nevsehir), direct overnight buses, or sleeper train-and-bus via Ankara or Konya:
You have a choice of ways to travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia, in central Anatolia.
By PlaneFastest, though not easiest or cheapest, there are daily (morning and afternoon) nonstop flights from Istanbul to Kayseri on Turkish Airlines and Onur Air, and occasional flights from Istanbul to Nevsehir's airport at Tuzköy.
Shuttle vans can take you from Kayseri airport directly to your Cappadocian hotel. The entire journey from your Istanbul hotel to your Cappadocian hotel can be done in 4 to 5 hours, if all goes well. More...
If you're arriving from abroad and you plan to visit both Istanbul and Cappadocia, consider leaving your Istanbul visit until the end of your trip. Arrive at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport International Terminal on your international flight, walk to the Domestic terminal, and catch a flight directly to Cappadocia (if the connection timing works.) You'll save yourself a back-and-forth transfer from the airport and an unpacking and repacking at your Istanbul hotel.
Turkish domestic flights are often much more expensive if purchased outside of Turkey, so you should consider having a good Turkish travel agent make your internal flight reservations. They can help with any other arrangements (private guides, hotels, rental cars, yacht cruises) you may need as well. More...
By BusA night bus from Istanbul to Cappadocia is the cheapest way to go, but it's a long ride—730 km (454 miles, about 12 hours). Still, if you can sleep on buses, this may be your favored way.
The most efficient way is to ask your hotel to help you reserve your seat. Leaving from Istanbul, board your bus at the Harem Bus Terminal if possible. Your journey will be almost an hour shorter than if you board at the main bus terminal (Büyük Otogar) in Esenler.
By Train & BusIt takes a bit longer, but it's more comfortable and fun: board the Ankara Ekspresi sleeping car train at Istanbul's Haydarpasa Station in the late evening, arrive at Ankara Gar the next morning, take a short taxi ride (10 minutes, YTL10) to ASTI, Ankara's main bus terminal, and buy a ticket for the 4-hour ride to Nevsehir in Cappadocia. (Here's more on taking the bus.)
It's a longer trip, but more comfortable and enjoyable, and not expensive considering that you save a night's hotel expense by taking the sleeper train.
An alternative is to ride the nightly Meram Ekspresi sleeper train from Istanbul to Konya, then take a bus for the 3-hour ride east to Nevsehir.
By CarIt's a long drive (730 km/454 miles, 11 or 12 hours), and it only makes economic sense if several people share the car and the fuel expense. Use the otoyol (expressway) between Istanbul and Ankara to save time, then follow the E-90 highway south from Ankara to Aksaray, then go east along the ancient Silk Road to Nevsehir.
Leaving Istanbul is a traffic nightmare, but the otoyol then goes through some mountain scenery. The countryside south of Ankara is more monotonous.
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Izmir & Ephesus—Cappadocia Several Kayseri-Izmir flights weekly, direct buses, and an interesting (if long) drive, or sleeper train-and-bus via Ankara.:
Many travelers in Turkey want go between the Ephesus region south of Izmir, and Cappadocia in Central Anatolia.
It's 720 km (447 miles), a drive of nearly 12 hours, so most people going by car or bus break their journey with an overnight in Pamukkale or Konya, or both.
By BusYou may find a direct bus all the way from Nevsehir to Izmir, but it's also possible you'll have to change buses enroute—not a big problem. From Izmir there are frequent minibuses south to Selçuk, Ephesus and Kusadasi.
If you plan to spend a night in Konya or Pamukkale along the way, you may have direct buses for both segments of your journey.
By CarMost travelers choose to drive via the Meander River valley, from Selçuk via Aydin to Denizli and Pamukkale, so they can detour to ancient Aphrodisias along the way, then spend the night at Pamukkale. This makes a good first day of travel (190 km, 118 miles, about 3 hours, not counting the detour to Aphrodisias).
On the second day, it's 306 km (190 miles, 5 to 6 hours) from Pamukkale to Konya through Turkey's lake country. Stop at Egirdir for lunch, and enjoy the scenery. Stay the night at Konya to see its great Seljuk Turkish buildings (especially the Mevlana [Rumi] Museum). The next day, continue east along the ancient Silk Road via Sultanhani to Nevsehir, Cappadocia (221 km, 137 miles, 3 hours) on Day 3.
For details, see my 5-Day Ephesus—Cappadocia Driving Itinerary.
By PlaneSun Express has Izmir-Kayseri and Kayseri-Izmir flights several times weekly from April through October. It's worth planning your Cappadocia visit around these flights, because if you don't fly directly, you must fly via Istanbul, which takes more time and expense. See my 5-Day Fly-Drive Itinerary.
By Train & Bus If you're not in a great hurry, one of my favorite ways to do this journey is by sleeper train from Izmir to Ankara, then bus from Ankara to Cappadocia. You board the train in late afternoon, dine aboard, bed down in your private sleeping compartment, breakfast on the train, and arrive in Ankara in the morning. A quick taxi ride (10 minutes, YTL10) takes you from the Ankara Gar to Ankara's ASTI main bus terminal, where you buy a bus ticket for the 4-hour ride to Nevsehir
