Got queries about Cappadocia? Don’t worry we got all your questions answered here! We landed in Istanbul and spent a day there, before arriving at Cappadocia. Right from the beginning while we designed our Turkey itinerary the name Cappadocia has always excited us. Mixed feelings ran deep specially with the thought of going for hot air balloon ride and see the world from the top, staying at a cave hotel and everything beyond. Surely this region looks sensational, would rather say it feels like a complete alien world. Cappadocia is so weirdly picturesque that we don’t have suitable term to describe its beauty. We hope this Cappadocia Travel Guide helps you plan a perfect Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days. 3 Days in Cappadocia gives you enough time to cover all the best things to do in Cappadocia.
We have been to so many amazing cities around the world, but Cappadocia is one of the most awe-inspiring region we’ve been to thus far which will always hold a special corner in our heart. The more you scroll down you will know why. However many visitors, even we had a notion that Cappadocia is a city, but in actual its not. Its a large region covering 5 Turkish province. The central area of Cappadocia is made up of small towns and villages across hills and valleys making this region extremely dramatic and visit worthy. Whether you’re hiking between the fairy chimneys and rock formations, flying on the hot air balloon or sitting wrapped up under a blanket of stars, every experience in Cappadocia is so magical.
Cappadocia region lies in eastern Anatolia consisting of plateaus over 1000m in altitude which are pierced by volcanic peaks called ‘Hoodoo’ or mushroom capped ‘Fairy chimneys making Cappadocia one of the most popular destinations which emerged through the years from volcanic activity and erosion. These formations happened due to the volcanic eruptions which left this entire region covered in thick ash. Those ashes later solidified into rock like structures which are known as ‘tuff’. Even some of you might wonder about how many days would be enough to explore Cappadocia, well we would recommend spending at least 3 nights, to be able to explore this incredible region at its best.
Cappadocia Travel Itinerary: Cappadocia Travel Blog: Things to know before you go
1. How to reach Cappadocia : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
Its very likely that you would be travelling to Cappadocia from the major cities like Istanbul, Izmir, Pamukkale from where you can directly board flights or avail bus services.
By Air
We boarded direct flight from Istanbul which took 1hr30 min approx to reach Cappadocia. Mostly you would land in the major airport called Kayseri Erkilet Airport and it would take another 1hr from airport to reach the heart of Cappadocia region.
By Bus
There are many companies who run overnight buses from Istanbul to Cappadocia. This is also the cheapest means of transportation (90TL-100TL) but it’s also the longest, which would take approx 11 hrs. So it would be advisable if you can board overnight bus trip.
We flew to Cappadocia but booked our overnight bus from Cappadocia to Pamukkale which almost took 11hours. Our trip was very comfortable with the bus service which really had comfortable seating arrangements and leg space. Even for a while didn’t feel the journey to be too hectic and uncomfortable.
2.Turkey Currency : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
You can use Turkish Lira which is easily accepted everywhere. If possible, try to carry some hard cash as most of the local shops don’t accept plastic money apart from few big stores. You would even find ATMs at every corner so don’t have to worry much if you run short of cash. Also make sure that your ATM card is activated for overseas use. There were days where our cards worked in some machines and got rejected in few.
3. Language in Turkey : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
Turkish is spoken all over the nation. More than 85M people lives in Turkey but only 1% of them understands and speaks English. We really had a hard time interacting with people, but they would still try to help you with broken English. We would recommend using google translator whenever necessary.
4. Best time to visit Cappadocia : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
Cappadocia can be best explored during the summer months from June -August, but it would be pretty hot and also the busiest tourist season. Even the prices for everything remains high at those months and you would find forest of crowds flocking in.
We went in the month of April which was the off season and the weather was moderate. Just needed a layer of woollen and were good to go during the night, while the sun was absolutely pleasant on the skin throughout the day. December to March can also be one of the best time to visit Cappadocia as it turns into a winter wonderland making it a beautiful time of the year to witness snow capped fairy chimneys. Even the accommodations and other activities would also be the cheapest around this time of the year.
5. Is Cappadocia safe : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
Cappadocia is very safe to travel around everywhere, even if you are a solo traveller or travelling with friends & family. Still you must take good care of yourself and people around with you as safety should always be the first priority. We felt absolutely safe around every nook and corners.
6. Turkey Mobile Networks : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
On arrival we issued a Vodafone sim card worth 46$ from Istanbul airport. Yes that was one of the most expensive sim card we ever purchased. Stores at the airport would only accept dollar or euro. We would suggest taking a sim card from any local shop outside airport, and that would be pretty cheaper. Our sim was valid for 28 days offering 20GB data+750 min local calls+1000 sms.
7. How to apply for an E-Visa for Turkey : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
If you have a valid US, Canada or Schengen visa then you can easily apply a single entry Turkish e visa online for a fee of 44$ per person prior to arrival. Apply your online visa here.
Please note: Your US, Canada or Schengen visa needs to be valid during the duration of your stay in Turkey.
8. Food in Cappadocia : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
This is our favourite subject. One can never go wrong with food anywhere here in Turkey. We ate at multiple restaurants and tried street food too, and found it to be very pocket friendly. We almost ate every strange looking food and seriously had hell of time enjoining Turkish cuisine.
Turkish people love having tea, which is basically served in a very stylish pear shaped cup, no need to ask where you would find those, its served almost everywhere around single corner. Here in Cappadocia we tried ‘pottery chicken’( kebab) which is prepared in a clay pot. It’s usually made with lamb, beef, or chicken with seasonal vegetables and served with rice. A must try for everyone visiting Cappadocia. One more thing we found very interesting here is the ‘hot wine’. However its tastes like regular wine but its served warm, do give it a try.
Some of our favourite Turkish delicacies were Menemen which is a Turkish style omelet prepared with peppers tomatoes herbs etc. Also you can’t go wrong with Turkish Kabab platters, Shawarma rolls, Burek, Manti(Turkish ravioli served with yogurt).
If you have a sweet tooth like us, we would recommend trying some of the famous Turkish dessert – Cheese Kunefe, Baklava, Turkish delight, Sutlac and lot more, but these were our daily dose.
9.Transportation and getting around in Cappadocia : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
The best way to get around Cappadocia is either by renting/hiring a car. But for airport and hotel transfers it would be advisable if your hotel can arrange a cab for you. Moreover there are many local travel agencies that offer shared shuttle bus transfers from airport-hotel and also for city tours as well. Personally, we prefer exploring on our own so we try not to go on guided tours. But in Cappadocia, it was necessary. Mostly all the major attractions are spread out over large distances from one place to the other so unless you have a rental car, it’s tough to go from one place to the next. However for the nearest locations close to our hotels, we tried to explore those on foot.
Since Cappadocia is a huge region, exploring all of it can be a task. Therefore, the tour companies there have designed three Cappadocia tours to help you cover different regions of Cappadocia. They are Cappadocia Red, Blue and Green tour respectively. We opted for the Cappadocia Red and Green tour during our stay. These Red and Green tour not only covers the museums, castles, valleys, underground cities, monasteries but also include lovely hikes through valleys, local food/wine tastings, and pottery workshops as well.
While in Blue tour you will only cover the popular attractions and sights of the southern part of Cappadocia such as valleys, fairy chimneys, villages and underground city. So it makes more sense to do the Cappadocia Red and Green tour which includes everything. However, you can also do the Blue tour as well if you have extra days with you. Typically these tours mostly start early in the morning. You’re being picked-up from your hotel around 09:30 am by of a professional tour guide in a lavish car, accompanied by other travellers as well which goes for about 7-8 hours(mostly lunch included). At the end of the tour, you’re being dropped-off to your hotel.
However the hot air balloon is not a part of the Cappadocia Red Green and Blue tours. Booking a sunrise hot air balloon ride is a must thing to do, and you absolutely can’t leave Cappadocia without experiencing it. We booked our entire travel from Get Your Guide in Cappadocia. You can book yours from HERE.
Note: Our tour guide mixed and matched the Red and Green tour areas and took us to places which were at close proximity. So we would suggest of having a conversation with the tour guide about the exact locations they would be covering during the day.
Best areas to stay in Cappadocia
Cappadocia region is comprised of small valleys and towns, but we stayed at Goreme and majority of travelers prefers this area for stays. However both the towns, Goreme and Uçhisar are the most popular picks, while Goreme is our personal favourite as it offers the best views of hot air balloons every morning. While Goreme is crowded and touristy with more options as far as eating, shopping and nightlife are concerned, Uchisar is a quieter place in comparison.
Here is our 2 best hotels to stay in Cappadocia
We went through lots of booking sites for hotels, scrolling down the rating and reviews. Moreover who would not like to have the best time here without any flaw. In Cappadocia, you can easily find any type of rooms from luxury boutique cave hotels to backpacker hostels. But these are our two top picks for where to stay in Cappadocia. If you book any one of these we guarantee, you would have an amazing stay in a great location. We grabbed wonderful moments of our life that we would always cherish. Would definitely recommend to experience the charm of staying at a cave hotel, for the quintessential Cappadocia experience. These cave hotels are one of the best places to stay in Cappadocia and its something you would not find anywhere else.
1. Hera Cave Suits– We stayed here for the first 2 nights which is incredibly beautiful inside out. It has the best cave rooms which you can book at a minimal price(if you book in advance).
2. Henna Hotel– What we can say about this beautiful hotel words are really short, its a living paradise. You can enjoy the breathtaking views of the early hot air balloon from the terrace with the panoramic view overlooking the village and surrounding valleys. It has 2 beautiful vintage rooms at the terrace since 1823 that would take you in a whole new world. Its a photographers heaven. Also the restaurant serves you the most delicious and sumptuous Turkish breakfast. Oh! And yes don’t forget to cuddle the fur ball named Latte.
Note: Henna hotel also allows non residents to come to the terrace and click gorgeous sunrise pictures with the hot air balloons for free. Its a bonus.
Our Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
Day 1- Arrive at Cappadocia and explore
- Zelve Pasabaglar Mushroom Archaeological Site
- Visit Zelve Open Air Museum
- Visit Devrent Valley
- Visit the Ceramic and Pottery Workshop
- Visit Goreme Panorama Viewpoint
- Visit Uchisar Castle/Town
Day 2- Go for Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon and explore the valleys
- Go for Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Explore Love Valley and Rose Valley
- Visit Ozkonak Underground City
- Visit the Pigeon Valley
Day 3 – Cappadocia city tour
- Watch the Hot Air Balloons from your hotel terrace
- Visit Goreme Open Air Museum
- Explore the local markets
- Board overnight bus for Pamukkale
Things to do in Cappadocia : Cappadocia Itinerary 3 Days
Day 1
We reached our hotel by 10am. Finished our breakfast freshened up, while our guide awaited us for the city tour. So lets begin!
NOTE: We would suggest you to buy the Turkey Museum Pass, because it allows you to visit more than 300 museums and archaeological sites which is valid for 15 days and costs 600TL. Its a one time purchase E-card that saves you from getting into long ticket queues and wasting time. You can either purchase it online or from any walk-in museum ticket counters(recommended).
You can also purchase this museum pass only for Cappadocia region which remains valid for 3 days (72hrs) that would cost 230TL. With this you can enter most of Cappadocia’s tourist sites.
Visit Zelve Pasabaglar Mushroom Archaeological Site
The Zelve Valley houses large and pointed mushroom shaped fairy chimneys, monasteries, cave houses and churches made by human carving which is also known as the ‘valley of priests’. This is a place you should definitely not miss to visit. We hiked through this unreal landscape between the rugged areas of the valley climbing up and downhill. We got mystical feelings watching the religious shrines and church throughout the valley which is estimated to be built more than 1000 years ago. Ticket price for this museum is 25TL per person and free with museum pass.
Visit Zelve Open Air Museum
The Zelve Valley, known as the Zelve Open Air Museum is the earliest-settled and last-abandoned monastic valleys between 9th to 13th century in Cappadocia which is located just 1 kilometre ahead from the Pasabaglar Mushroom Archaeological Site. Until 1952 Zelve was a living community which was a Byzantine-era settlement. But in the later years the population moved down the road and settled there. Our tour guide mentioned they migrated due to the hill slides and erosion with caused risk to the life of the people.
Its a 2km walk through the valley where you can explore various cave rooms and churches. Inside this valley the Zelve churches are not preserved that well so you would see fewer people coming, still would add its worth the visit. In 1960, Zelve became an official open-air museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ticket price for this museum is 25TL per person and free with museum pass.
Visit Devrent Valley
Devrent means “pit and cliff” where the valley is entirely filled with fascinating animated scenery which is also very close to Zelve open air museum. This valley is surrounded by surreal fairy chimneys, which resembles animal and birds figures. You can use your imagination and transfer to fictional animal kingdom. We could visualize few like the camel, elephant, a peacock and some more. It was really interesting and fun. You can see this valley just stopping by the roadside and it doesn’t have any entry fee.
Visit the Ceramic and Pottery Workshop
There are hundred of Ceramic and Pottery Workshop you would come across in Cappadocia. We went to Bezirhane ceramics which is a pottery workshop cum store. The place has a demonstration area where we’re shown how the pottery products are made. You can even try your hands at it and learn the skill from the proficient masters(if interested). The ease with which they make such intricate and wonderful pieces of ceramic art left us so impressed. We purchased an oil lantern for our living area and whenever it is lit up, reminds us the amazing time we had there.
Visit the Goreme Panorama Viewpoint
There are marvelous vantage view points which gives you the panoramic views of Goreme. All you need is a good camera to capture the magic moments. You can visit the Goreme Panorama viewpoint either at sunrise or sunset to watch the fairy chimneys as the rock formations comes alive with the golden lights of the sun. There is no entrance fee to enter this viewpoint.
Visit Uchisar Castle/Valley
The Uchisar Castle, is located just 5 km away from the town of Göreme. Uçhisar is known for its rock castle which is a stunning landmark and definitely worth a visit. This valley is dominated by 60m high castle mountain which has many underground passages and rooms. However some rooms are not longer reachable now due to erosion over the years.
This valley used to be the residential area during the Byzantine era. You would see hundred of fairy chimneys scattered all over the region. More than 2000 people lived here once but no longer inhabited today. Now there is nothing inside except hollow rooms, but from the top you get the most magnificent panoramic view of the town and the fairy chimneys. There is no entry charge to hike across the valleys but to go inside the castle the entry charge is 8TL and not free with museum pass as it is not a part of museum network. This area offers the best views of Cappadocia and is home to many luxury hotels and villas with amazing restaurants. Get a seat to yourself at the closest cafeteria and its really magical watching the sun going down with Turkish tea in hand.
Day2
The alarm was set for 4am, we both were still sleepy head but woke up being extremely excited. This was the moment we have been waiting for long and had the best time of our life in the Hot Air Balloon and can’t recommend the activity enough!! You just cant miss it anyway. Imagine floating above the unusual landscapes while the golden sun rises from the horizon, wow, what an iconic and classic Cappadocia experience.
Go for the ultimate Hot Air Balloon Ride
We were given a pick up call at 5am on the day of our balloon ride. Pick up hours might vary depending on the time of the year. We were picked up from our hotel by a luxury van and were taken to the Cappadocia balloon launching site. There stood crews and pilots from different tour companies storming up the hot air balloons firing the burner, while all the passengers waited for their turn to get into that massive air balloon for the epic flight. The flying duration was almost for an hour from the time of sunrise.
Hot air balloon cost starts from 130-250Euro per person (depending on the season). The balloon took off and soon the entire air was filled with hundred of flying balloons, what a magical view it was, hence making it a lifetime experience for us. The pictures says it all.
We booked our hot air balloon ride from Get Your Guide. Book yours HERE.
NOTE: the hot air balloon might get cancel even at the last moment if the weather condition and the wind force is not favorable. We were lucky enough we could do it, because there were fellow travelers we know who couldn’t go. It really broke our heart watching their sulky face. Guys make sure you keep a close check on the weather forecast before booking the hot air balloon.
Explore Love Valley and Rose Valley
Love Valley gives you an interesting perspective of the cave dwellings and volcanic-rock formations and is one of the most fantastic valleys of Cappadocia. This valley is located between Avanos and Goreme road, where you can see an endless spread of Fairy Chimneys. Its called love valley because the chimney rocks are in the formation of men genitals, ha-ha crazy!
Hiking through the Rose valley is an option if you love hikes and have time. Rose Valley is another picturesque valley that has to be on your must-visit list. We hiked from the Göreme town and went straight to the viewpoint which almost took 15 mins crossing the sandy path across the first Christian settlements in Cappadocia where only 1000 people once lived, while our guide narrated several interesting stories. Rose Valley has unique rock formations and the minerals present in the sandstones have a pink coloured tinge to them making them different from other rock formations. Its seriously beautiful.
Visit Ozkonak Valley
The idea of an underground city has always fascinated us a lot, while Cappadocia has a lot of them hidden beneath the moonscape topography. For centuries, these magnificent underground structures has provided shelters to the Cappadocians and provided them retreat from those who wanted to destruct them. Of all the underground towns in the region, Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are extensive and most visited. But it is said that Ozkonak underground city is one of the best, which was carved out around 4th century BCE.
Long after it was abandoned, this city was discovered in 1972 and upon further excavation, archaeologists discovered an underground city that could hold hundred of people at a time which has churches and religious schools. We had a great time squat-walking and exploring this special place. Definitely a must visit place in Cappadocia. Entry charges for Ozkonak underground city is 30TL and free with museum pass.
NOTE :
1. Exploring these underground cities requires a basic level of fitness. So if you have back or knee problems, then you can re-think of visiting this place.
2. Also if you’re too claustrophobic, then this underground cities aren’t for you, visit at your own risk.
So before our last stop for the day Pigeon Valley we drove to a beautiful cafeteria( Lavanta Panorama Cafe) uphill for tea and to grab some eatables. The view was incredible from that vantage point and the surrounding areas. This location is now added to one of our favourite memory.
Visit the Pigeon Valley
Pigeon Valley also known as Guvercinlik Valley, is situated between the towns of Goreme and Uchisar and the valley runs from one town all the way to the other. The entrance to Pigeon Valley is within walking distance of Uchisar Town.
The Pigeon Valley got it’s name from the various pigeon homes in the pigeon valley rock for its domesticated pigeons. Their poops were used for producing food and fertilizers for the arid landscape around Goreme and Uchisar.
Pigeons were a part of life since the Bronze Age for people residing in the Cappadocia region. As a result this valley was named after the pigeons to honor their contribution towards productive farming. You can also feed the pigeons if that interests you. This beautiful Cappadocia valley is absolutely free to enter.
Day 3
Watch the gorgeous Hot Air Balloon ride from hotel terrace
It is quite obvious that you would be staying at a cave hotel, and not spending the early morning at the hotel terrace watching the hot air balloons fly would be a sin. You can also walk up to any viewpoint to watch the balloons in the early morning light. We have to admit, watching the hot air balloons fly at sunrise from the hotel terrace was the most memorable experience we had. Imagine you with your loved ones with a glass of orange juice in hand facing hundred of balloons, fascinating right?
The memories would stick with us for ever. We would highly recommend you to prioritize an additional day and experience this beautiful hour. The day you would go for the hot air balloon ride you can’t experience this, because by the time you head back to the hotel, almost all the balloons would be already settled. So you need to seize that moment for the next day.
Visit Goreme Open Air Museum
Post breakfast we felt lazy and slept for couple of hours more. Later in the afternoon, we walked to the Goreme Open Air Museum, on the outskirts of Göreme which took almost 20 min from our hotel.
Goreme open-air museum is one of the most popular attractions that hosted an extreme monastery life where the monks and nuns pursued monastic life. This cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry holds multiple rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries that dates back to the Byzantine era.
The interior of the churches and chapels offers frescoes and images(no filming allowed) adorning walls and ceilings, which are really well preserved dating from the early 10th century which is also considered as the best Byzantine art in Cappadocia. The Goreme Open-Air museum has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It covers a huge walking area so make sure to keep at least 2hrs in hand while you visit this museum. Entry fee for Goreme open air museum is 100TL and free with museum pass.
Explore the local markets
Once we were back from Goreme open air museum, thought of exploring the local markets, as we had enough time to board our overnight bus to Pamukkale. We came across many pottery and ceramic shops selling handcrafted items, even there are plenty of carpets shops selling beautiful rugs, mats and traditional hand made carpets. The shopkeepers would charge bomb rates, so make sure you bargain till your lungs are swelled.
You would also find women sitting at the corners almost everywhere, selling hand made crochet jewelry like earrings, finger rings, bracelets, scarf’s and what not. That’s a very unique thing we saw in Cappadocia, which you would not find anywhere else in Turkey. So you can buy some of those for sure, we got plenty of them. We would still consider Istanbul to be the shoppers paradise in terms of quality and price as well. And yes don’t forget to buy local wines from Cappadocia, as the region is famous for its wine.
So yeah that’s all about it, things you can plan in Cappadocia in 3 days. So guys hope you find this blog helpful planning yours, and if you have any queries please write it down in the comment section below. We would try to help with the best of our knowledge.
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