Cappadocia in 2 Days
The name Cappadocia comes from Katpaktukya (Persian) – “the land of beautiful horses”. These days, however, Cappadocia is known worldwide for its fantastic landscapes and floating balloons.
Balloons or hot air balloons. You can take a ride like this in many countries. But when more than a hundred of them rise into the sky at once, drifting over such otherworldly scenery – that happens only in Cappadocia, and maybe on Tatooine.
It is one thing to see it in pictures and a completely different thing to witness it in person. Even if you do not take a ride yourself but simply watch from the ground, the feeling is indescribable. I cannot even say what is more mesmerizing – flying among dozens of balloons or looking at this magic from below. If you get the chance, it is worth experiencing both.
What follows will be plenty of photos of Cappadocia and the balloons I captured in winter and summer. And of course, all the details, addresses, passwords, secret spots – what to do in Cappadocia and why you should go there, how the balloon flight works, how they differ, and which one you should choose.
How to get there
Cappadocia is not a city, but a large region in central Turkey. Its area is 5,000 sq. km – about the size of two Luxembourgs.
In Turkish Kapadokya, in English Cappadocia. A fun fact to throw in the collection of useless trivia, or just to make sure you find it on the map and tag it correctly.
The main tourist town of the region is Göreme. This is where you will find most of the attractions, plenty of restaurants, and hotels for every taste and budget.
You can get there by:
- By plane. Nevsehir (Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport – NAV, 40 km) and Kayseri (ASR – further away, 80 km). There are flights from Istanbul and various Turkish cities.
- By bus from Istanbul – 13 hours, from Antalya – 9 hours. Cheap, but exhausting. After such a trip you need another day just to recover. Although, if you are tough enough, you can save money this way. Tickets are on 12go.asia.
By car.
I have visited Cappadocia twice with rental cars – first from Istanbul, second from Antalya. Some might see this as not the most efficient option, so let me explain.
I believe that a car in Cappadocia is a must. I am not a fan of hitchhiking or crowded buses running between villages. And you always have to stick to their schedule. So in any case, I would rent a car at Nevsehir airport. Coming with a rental from Istanbul meant I was not rushing to catch a return flight, and if something went wrong or I wanted to stay longer, I could easily do so by just informing the rental company.
I rented through localrent.com – they have options in Istanbul, Antalya, Nevsehir and Göreme.
The expenses for driving from Istanbul to Cappadocia came down to: fuel + toll roads. Comparing that to tickets for two on the Istanbul – Nevsehir – Istanbul route, renting a car in Istanbul made more sense. From Istanbul to Nevsehir there is a fast highway, we made it in 7 hours with a stop for food in a roadside restaurant. For me, that is also part of the fun of traveling.
When to go
You can explore Cappadocia all year round. The peak season is May through September. The first time I went was in February, and the weather was perfect. Sunny, sometimes even hot. Early in the morning a light jacket was enough, during the day just a hoodie. The balloons also fly year-round, but there is one catch – only if there is no wind. A flight can be canceled almost at the very last moment if the weather data is unfavorable. Usually you will know in advance, at least the day before. In high season the chances of cancellation are much lower. But the price will also be higher.
How many days to stay
Cappadocia fans might throw rags at me, but in my experience, there is not much to do there for more than two or three full days. Three if you are really taking it slow and sleeping till noon.
Yes, the valleys are beautiful, the balloons are magical, everything feels completely otherworldly. In the first few hours it even seems like you are not on Earth at all. But gradually you get used to it. The full trail through the most popular valleys is about 20 km, but why bother? The views are all the same. I would just drive to the start of a trail, walk around for an hour, and then move on.
If you have unlimited free time and love wandering the area all day long, then sure, you can spend a week there. But that would mean stopping and staring at every single rock.
Where to stay
Stay in Göreme! That is where the main tourist infrastructure is. All the balloons take off from areas near Göreme. Do not book in places like Ürgüp, Uçhisar, or Ortahisar.
One of the highlights of Cappadocia and Göreme are the cave hotels. Those very same pointy tufa rocks where rooms are literally carved out. Not medieval at all — everything is modern, stylish, beautiful, with showers, white toilets, Wi-Fi. But there is a catch. A warning for asthmatics: in most cave hotels there are no windows in the rooms, and apart from the entrance door there is no source of fresh air. Looks great in the pictures, but staying in a musty, chilly room was not much of a pleasure for me personally. Still, we came for adventure and memories, so two nights are bearable.
- Guzide Cave – great location, a large public parking lot right in front, the path up to the viewpoint goes past the hotel, all restaurants are within a 10-minute walk. The double deluxe rooms are just gorgeous, little houses with private terraces where balloons float right overhead. This one is not a cave hotel.
- Artemis, Asteria, Mansion – stylish, pretty, close to the viewpoint, with decent cave rooms.
Why am I emphasizing the viewpoint? Because aside from actually flying, in the morning you also have to watch the balloons from below. And running across town at 4:30 a.m., half asleep and half starved, is not exactly ideal…
When booking on Booking.com or anywhere else, read the room descriptions carefully and check the photos. Not every hotel with “cave” in the name is actually carved into the rock. And sometimes the opposite.
Viewpoints
For sunsets, head here (Google Maps link).
For sunrises, run here. Sunsets from this spot are also great. Do not be surprised by the barrier on the climb and the cashier in the booth. 25lira per person (August 2025) and up you go. Inflation in Turkey is crazy, so I cannot say how much it will cost tomorrow — bring small cash with you. Once you get to the top (the climb is easy), walk further to the edge — from there you can see the entire valley, watch the balloons being inflated, and then slowly rising one after another, floating over the valley.
All the balloon photos you saw before, and the ones up to the next section, were taken from this viewpoint. The balloons actually fly this close, almost right above your head. Plan to spend at least an hour, maybe an hour and a half, up there.
Pro tip: for photo shoots with balloons in the background, long flowing dresses in bright colors — red, yellow — look stunning.
Where to book a balloon flight, what the differences are, and how much it costs
Every morning at sunrise, in season, around 150 balloons take to the sky. All the companies are good — bad ones simply do not get licensed to fly.
So what are the differences?
Flight time. If you see “3 hours” in an ad — that is just a marketing trick to get you to click. Flights are never that long. The advertised time includes hotel transfer there and back. The actual flight lasts 45–60 minutes or 75–90 minutes. That difference is quite significant.
Takeoff time. Almost all balloons start their ascent about 20 minutes before sunrise. While you are up in the air, you can watch the valley fill with light. There is also the “bright” flight — it starts about 30 minutes after sunrise. Most balloons fly according to the early “sunrise” schedule. The “bright” flight is not any worse — you see the valley already lit, instead of in dawn twilight.
Number of people in the basket. The basket is divided into compartments. The pilot is in the center, and you cannot move freely from one corner to another. Typical baskets hold 28, 20, 16, or 8 people. The fewer passengers, the more expensive the flight. But not being squeezed in a crowd is definitely worth it.
Here is an example of baskets for 16 and 20 people, and how they are divided into sections inside.
Where to buy
Online or offline. In Göreme there is a travel agency on every corner, or you can ask at your hotel. The price will be the same as booking directly — the commission is paid by the balloon company. Despite the huge number of balloons, in high season there will not be a single free spot, not even for the next day! Flights are sold out weeks in advance. Booking ahead is a must.
Where to book online
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Aggregators: getyourguide.com, viator.com. You can read real reviews before booking.
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Major balloon operators: butterflyballoons.com, royalballoon.com, kapadokyaballoons.com.
Everywhere requires full prepayment. Nobody is going to put you on the list “on your word.” These are not covid times anymore — there is no shortage of people willing to fly. If the flight is canceled due to weather, you get a refund.
In summer, book a month in advance; for September–October, book one to two weeks ahead.
How much it costs
In season — €250–300 per person. Yes, it used to be much cheaper. The lucky ones were those who flew in covid year 2020 for €60–70. In the off-season, from November to March, prices start at €140, but the risk of cancellations is much higher.
Restrictions
Children under 6 are not allowed to fly. Ages 6 to 12 must be accompanied by adults, and the ticket price is full.
Fly on your first morning
All balloon flights take place once a day, early in the morning at sunrise. I strongly recommend scheduling your flight for your very first morning. If you arrive in Göreme in the evening/night on Wednesday, then fly on Thursday morning. You can catch up on sleep later. If the weather is not flyable, you get a full refund or your flight is moved to the next day — but only if there is space. Priority goes to those who had booked for that day, the rest wait in line. In high season, there will definitely not be enough spots for everyone; in low season, you might get lucky.
What a hot air balloon flight is like
About an hour before sunrise, around 4 a.m., minibuses from the balloon operators pick up clients from their hotels. Warm clothing is recommended any time of year, but don’t overdo it — you’re not flying into the stratosphere.
Next, they take you either straight to the takeoff site or first gather everyone at the office. The takeoff locations are not known in advance and depend on weather conditions. Balloons rise all over the valley.
We were taken to the office, signed some papers, and to keep us from getting bored, everyone was given muffins and bananas. Tea and coffee were off-limits — because, well, where would you go in the balloon if needed?
Groups were formed, handed over to a guide, loaded back into minibuses, and driven somewhere in the dark. It all felt like they were smuggling illegals from Mexico into the U.S. Oh yes, ours was the “bright” flight, taking off 30 minutes after sunrise.
Somewhere in the valley, everyone was unloaded from the vehicles and sent to wander, but not too far. At the same time, a pickup delivered the basket, the gas burners were set up, and the balloon was inflated with warm air so it could rise. The pilot handles this personally; the assistant crew is just there to help.
No boarding ramps are provided. There is a ladder. Pull yourself up, left foot, right foot, and suddenly you’re in the basket under the balloon. If the basket holds many passengers and there’s a choice, I recommend taking a corner spot right at the edge.
Taking off is not scary at all. You don’t feel it. The burner goes “whoosh-whoosh-whoosh,” the balloon slowly lifts off the ground, and rises gently. Nothing shakes, it’s not a plane — no G-forces or unpleasant sensations. The climb is very gradual, and the pilot rotates the basket around its axis, so you can see almost all of Cappadocia from every angle.
The pilot does not steer the balloon. He can only control the altitude. Everything else is up to the wind. Where the balloon goes and where it will land is unknown until it happens.
Why flights are only at sunrise
Atmospheric stability. In the morning, the air is usually more stable. During the day, the sun heats the ground, causing rising and descending thermal currents and turbulence. Since the pilot cannot steer the balloon, these currents could theoretically make you take off in Göreme and land somewhere in Syria.
Temperature gradient. The difference between the air inside the balloon and the surrounding air affects lift. In the morning, when the air is cooler, it takes less energy to heat the air in the balloon to create enough lift.
Our flight lasted 83 minutes. The landing is just as smooth as the takeoff.
Immediately after landing, a small table is set up with champagne, certificates, and medals celebrating the courage of not “messing your pants.”
Drinking champagne after landing is a tradition started by the Montgolfier brothers after their first successful flight in 1783.
A minibus takes everyone back to their hotels, just in time for breakfast and a couple of hours of sleep.
What to see in Cappadocia
You’ve seen the balloons and even taken a flight. You’re staying in a cave hotel — half the work is already done. Now let’s move on to the fantastic landscapes and underground cities.
For those who like organized tours
In Cappadocia, there are three main sightseeing tours offered to tourists. Each tour lasts about nine hours.
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Green Tour: explores the southern part of the region, including the Derinkuyu underground city, Ihlara Valley canyon, ancient monasteries, popular viewpoints around Göreme, and Pigeon Valley. More details with prices.
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Red Tour: Göreme Open Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle, Paşabağ Valley, panorama of Love Valley. More details with prices.
Or combined Red + Green Tours.
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Blue Tour: approved by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism, but hardly anyone takes it, and it’s not even offered to tourists. This route covers distant and little-known spots in Cappadocia — no Love Valley, no Pigeon Valley, no underground cities.
For those exploring on your own
With a car, you can see everything and even more than these tours offer. Honestly, if you don’t have two full days, at least take one day — rentals are available in both Göreme and Nevsehir airport.
If you insist on going on foot, be ready to walk 20 km a day, and on one of the days you’ll need to take a local bus.
Let’s move on.
Göreme Open Air Museum
Start with a short walk through the Göreme Open Air Museum, located about two kilometers from Göreme.
Entrance is paid. Ticket prices in Turkey are constantly rising, so check the current cost here. No need to buy online — tickets are available at the entrance, and cards are accepted. Plan about an hour and a half to explore.
Don’t be scared by the word “museum” — no dust here, everything is outdoors.
From the 4th to the 13th century, monks and ascetics lived around Göreme, following a monastic, hermit-like lifestyle. Almost every rock had a carved-out church, chapel, or something like a small “apartment.”
Within the small museum area, you can see ancient rock monasteries dating from the 10th to 12th centuries. In my opinion, the most interesting part is the caves themselves, where the monasteries are located, because very little has survived inside. According to the guards, all the frescoes that remain are original.
Photography inside is not allowed — each cave has a guard. Haha… these strange no-photo rules are always annoying, especially for ancient stones.
A separate ticket is required to enter the Dark Church. I didn’t go (saving up for a balloon flight), and in my view, it’s all pretty much the same motif anyway.
Across the road from the Open Air Museum is another church — the Buckle Church — which you can visit with the museum ticket. On the same side, there are several rock formations with caves that you can explore for free.
Underground Cities
Long ago, even before our era, the people of Cappadocia (I don’t know what they were called back then) built entire underground cities. These were not just simple dugouts — the cities went several floors deep and formed complex systems with ventilation shafts, wells, storage rooms, living quarters, churches, and even wineries.
Why build them? Primarily for protection against enemies. Only the inhabitants knew the entrance to the underground city. The intricate network of corridors and fortifications made it nearly impregnable. There may also have been a climatic reason — cold in winter, hot in summer, while underground the temperature stays constant.
Over 200 underground cities are known in Cappadocia, designed to house anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of residents for extended periods.
To get a sense of what an underground city is like, you can choose between Kaymaklı (25 km from Göreme) and Derinkuyu (35 km). Entrance is paid (price in Kaymaklı / Derinkuyu). Pick one — there’s no real point in visiting both.
In Derinkuyu, about eight floors have been excavated downward. Don’t worry — not all floors are open, just a few, and you won’t get lost inside. No guide is needed; follow the arrows.
Derinkuyu was discovered completely by accident. In 1963, a local resident found a hidden passage in his home that led to an underground abyss. Archaeologists were called, and they uncovered this astonishing creation.
Hiking Through the Valleys
The most popular valleys are Love, White, Honey, Pigeon, Rose, and Swords. Love, White, and Honey Valleys are essentially one valley — Bağlıdere — differentiated only by the color of the rocks.
On Wikiloc, there is an excellent circular hiking route from Göreme through five valleys plus the town of Uçhisar. The total distance is 20 km, about 6 hours — a brisk full-day walk.
Or you can drive to the start of the trail in Love Valley, walk for half an hour, be amazed by what you see, return to the car, and continue to the next spot. You can also see Pigeon Valley from above, and so on… Personally, I’m not a big fan of wandering in nature all day. In the city, I can walk for hours or even a full day, but in nature, not so much.
Love Valley
If you search for Love Valley on Google Maps, it will show this viewpoint, not the start of the trail. The viewpoint has photo spots — swings, a camel, juice, and water.
If you don’t want the full Wikiloc route but just a portion:
Drive or walk here. Spend an hour or two walking to the first “wonder rocks” and back. Or, following Wikiloc, you can continue to Uçhisar.
From Uçhisar, the trail through Love Valley starts at the Özler Center Artisanal shop, then follows the path toward the juice and cigarette vendor at the fork (he’s not always there), and then down into the valley.
These oddly shaped rock formations are called “Fairy Chimneys.” Fairy Chimneys, Carl! Not giant penises! Well… everyone sees what they want. There’s even a local tradition — if you hire a Turkish guide for the Valley, as a bonus at the end you might get a dick pic in your inbox.
Why the rocks have such strange shapes
A million years ago, due to volcanic activity, all of Cappadocia was covered with volcanic deposits. Over time, they turned into rock, mostly tuff, with a layer of basalt on top. This formed a single massif with rivers flowing through it. Through erosion and wind, the tuff — being softer — wore away faster than the basalt, creating a “stem” and a wider “cap.” Another million years, and the tuff will wear down completely, leaving only small caps scattered around. So you need to go see it now!
For those who are really too lazy to walk, lots of dicks fairy chimneys in one place, not far from the parking lot — here: Pasabag Valley. There are also rocks that look like mushrooms. Entrance: €12.
Why it’s called Pigeon Valley
Local residents used pigeons for various purposes, including collecting pigeon droppings to fertilize vineyards and other crops.
Special pigeon houses were carved into the rocks — small niches and caves where the birds could nest.
If you have a car, you can see the valley from above and then go down into it here, not far from Uçhisar.
Uçhisar
A town five kilometers from Göreme. Some tourists stay in Uçhisar hotels, but I personally prefer Göreme. The main attraction is Uçhisar Castle — a huge rock with numerous caves and tunnels. Not just in the castle, but throughout the town, you can find rocks with carved-out ancient apartments.
From the viewpoint near Uçhisar Castle, there’s a stunning view of Göreme. I recommend it as another sunset viewpoint. In general, if you have a car, you can stop anywhere along the Uçhisar–Göreme road at sunset — beautiful valley views are guaranteed.
Other places to visit in the area
Ürgüp
Wineries — I recommend Mahzen Şarap Evi; a nicely styled medieval-themed restaurant – Barbarian Medieval Tavern; several mosques; and the “Three Beauties” viewpoint — mushroom-shaped rocks, not all phallic formations.
Avanos
Visit pottery workshops, for example this one. Or see modern and ancient ceramic works in the underground museum, which also has an upscale shop for ceramic enthusiasts.
Göreme
So, what to do in Göreme itself?
It’s a fully touristy town — restaurants, souvenir shops, carpets, travel agencies, hotels. I like Göreme more in the evening, when all the colorful lights are on, garlands hang on rocks and buildings, and the signs glow beautifully. After dinner, stroll around and enjoy the restaurants, souvenir shops, carpets, travel agencies, and hotels.
Phew. Well. I hope you’re not too tired from all the photos in this post.
Alright, alright, last one.
Goodbye, Göreme!
