Cappadocia: travel tips
Cappadocia is a historical region of Turkey in Central Anatolia. A large territory marked by the history of millenary peoples where nature has created a unique scenario. Cappadocia is now an essential tourist destination, often combined with a tour of Turkey. Thousands of tourists reach this part. apparently remote, of the Anatolian peninsula to admire the spectacular flight of hot air balloons or be fascinated by an almost surreal landscape that becomes unforgettable especially at sunrise and sunset. Here are some practical tips for planning your visit!
When to go?
Cappadocia is a destination that can be visited all year round but it is necessary to make some clarifications. The territory is characterized by a continental climate with very harsh winters (it can drop well below zero degrees) and hot summers (particularly during the day). One of the characteristics of the climate in this region is the strong temperature range and considering that many of the attractions are to be done at dawn or in the early hours of the morning in winter it can be more difficult for those who suffer from the cold to bear! It goes without saying that the ideal season would be spring or autumn, but watch out for the rains. For those who don’t fear the cold, like me, visiting Cappadocia in winter with maybe snow can be truly spectacular.
How to get?
Turkey is very large and landing in Istanbul to reach Cappadocia can be quite difficult and long by bus or car (they are about 700 km apart!). The ideal is to take a domestic flight to Kayseri Airport (Caesarea of Cappadocia) which is about an hour away from the main attractions. An alternative, if you manage to find a direct flight to Ankara, is to reach the Turkish capital by plane and then travel about 300 km to Cappadocia. There is an airport even closer, that of Nevsehir, but poorly served and with fewer times or offers available.
Where stay?
The most characteristic centers of Cappadocia are the towns of Göreme, Ürgüp and Uçhisar, scattered a few km from each other. Staying in one of these countries is indifferent considering that to enjoy the territory it is necessary to travel by car or organized tours. Everywhere you can enjoy every type of accommodation, from hotels with a more international style to small guesthouses up to staying in typical rock houses with breathtaking views.
What to see/do?
Let’s start from the main attraction for which tourists from all over the world come to Cappadocia: hot air balloons. For about 40 years now, the lunar valleys of Cappadocia have been assaulted by hundreds of hot air balloons that soar every day at dawn in a magical ritual. Small clarification: to fly, the wind must not blow at more than 10 km/h, which fortunately rarely happens (about 100 days a year). The balloon flight costs around 150-200 euros and lasts an hour. An alternative to enjoying the show from below is to participate in a jeep safari in the rocky valleys among the hot air balloons to enjoy the magic of their flight at dawn. An experience that is worth the trip in itself.
Other unmissable places are the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO heritage site, with its rock-hewn churches and priceless Byzantine mosaics. Do not miss the fairy chimneys, rock formations shaped by wind and rain over the centuries, as well as the cities of Urgup and Uçhisar, carved into the rock with their shops, carpet and jewelery production workshops that are undoubtedly worth a visit.
Cappadocia is a fascinating land, rich in history and suggestions. The spectacle of the hot air balloons in flight, the landscapes that turn pink at dawn and dusk, the aromas of its cuisine and the hospitality of its people make this destination a must not to be missed.
