If you are thinking of going from Istanbul to Cappadocia, how to get to one of the most popular attractions in Turkey will be your most pressing question. There are several ways to get to the place from the city center. The fastest and most convenient of them, of course, will be air travel. In addition, you can always reach the place by rented car or by intercity bus. The choice is yours, and we will provide you with detailed information on all three options for an independent trip to Cappadocia.
By plane
If you are wondering how to get to Cappadocia in Turkey, you should know that the easiest way to get there is from Istanbul. The nearest locality to the attraction is the village of Goreme, so when viewing the map and forming a route, you should focus on this particular object. Obviously, there is no airport in the village itself, but there are two air harbors near it at once. One of them is located in the town of Nevsehir, about 40 km west of Cappadocia, the second-in the city of Kayseri, 77 km east of the attraction.
How to get there from Kayseri
How to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul? You can do this by plane through the city of Kayseri. Currently, three Turkish airlines operate flights from Istanbul to Kayseri: Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines and Anadolu Jet. The first company operates flights from Ataturk Airport, which is located in the European part of the metropolis, the second and third – from Sabiha Gokcen Airport, located in the Asian part of the city. You can easily get to any of them by metro.
The cost of an Istanbul-Kayseri ticket from Turkish airlines, depending on the departure time, is 100-140 TL one way. The price of a Pegasus Airlines flight is 110-130 TL. Using the services of Anadolu Jet, you will pay 100 TL for a ticket to Cappadocia. The travel time for all three air carriers does not exceed 80-90 minutes.
Now let’s look at how to get to Cappadocia from Kayseri Airport. First you need to get to the central bus station of Kayseri Otogarı. To do this, upon arrival from Istanbul, you will need to find a Havaş bus stop located near the exit of the terminal. From here, you can drive to the city center at intervals of 1-2 hours. The fare is 12 TL. Running through the center of Kayseri, transport stops right at the bus station, where you need to get off.
Every day from the central city bus station to the village of Goreme there are six flights to:
- 09:00
- 11:00
- 18:30
- 19:00
- 21:00
- 22:00.
The fare is 20 TL, and the journey time is approximately 1 hour. In Goreme, the bus arrives at the local bus station, where you can easily take a taxi to the hotel.
However, it is worth noting that by using public transport, you will save only 3 TL. After all, from Kayseri airport, you can take a transfer to Cappadocia for only 35 TL per person. The hotel administration or the relevant websites will help you order a private car (two addresses are given below).
How to get there from Nevsehir
If you are looking for a better way to get to Cappadocia, then you should not lose sight of such a place as Nevsehir. There are several direct flights to the city from Istanbul every day. A larger number of flights are operated by Turkish Airlines: departures are made from both Ataturk Airport and Sabiha Gokcen. The price of a one-way ticket is 120-140 TL, and the journey time is 70-90 minutes.
Anadolu Jet also offers one flight per day (except Saturdays and Mondays). The flight departs from Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The ticket price varies between 100-140 TL, and the flight duration is an average of 70 minutes.
Now, how to get to Cappadocia on your own from Nevsehir Airport. To do this, you will need to find a stop on arrival from Istanbul where dolmushi trains going to the city center will arrive. It is worth noting that the road is long and takes about 30 km. The fare is 15 TL. A bus will take you to the city bus station, and from there you can reach Cappadocia. The distance from the center of Nevsehir to the village of Goreme is only 10 km, the fare is 5 TL.
If you do not want to use public transport, you can get there by transfer, booking a car through your hotel or independently on numerous sites. A private car ride from Nevsehir Airport to Cappadocia costs 30 TL per person. The price difference between the transfer and public transport is only 10 TL, so it makes sense to save time and take advantage of a private trip. You can order a car, for example, here argeus.com/airport-transfers or here www.heliostransfer.com/en.
By car
This article is intended for those who want to know how to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul in Turkey by car. The distance from the metropolis to the village of Goreme is 760 km, and on average the road takes from 8 to 9 hours. You can rent a car directly at the airport in Istanbul: the price tag for an economy class car starts from 80 TL per day.
A liter of gasoline in Turkey in November 2018 costs 6.30 TL. To cover the distance of 760 km, you will need about 45 liters of gasoline, which is approximately 290 TL. Plus 290 TL in the opposite direction, for a total of 580 TL you will spend only on gasoline. Add to this amount 240 TL for renting the most budget car for 3 days and get 820 TL for a trip to Cappadocia and back.
It is clear that it is profitable to go by car on your own only if your group consists of 4-5 people. Otherwise, it will be more economical to get to Cappadocia even by plane, taking into account the transfer costs.
By bus
How to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia by bus? It is quite easy to do this by using the services of transport companies that operate long-distance flights throughout the country. Buses in Turkey are quite comfortable: each seat is equipped with a TV screen and an outlet, Wi-Fi is available in the cabin. A steward serves you throughout the trip, offering tea, coffee, juices, water, and light snacks. Drivers make small stops every 2-3 hours at city bus stations, during which you can visit the restroom. There are also half-hour parking spots for lunch and dinner.
In Turkey, there are several large companies that offer trips to the destination we are interested in. How much to go from Istanbul to Cappadocia by bus, where to buy a ticket and at what price, we will consider in detail below for each company.
METRO
Transportation to Goreme Village departs daily from Esenler Otogarı Bus Station, located in the European part of Istanbul. There are only 4 flights per day: in the morning at 08: 00 and 08: 20 and in the evening at 22: 00 and 22: 20. The cost of the trip is 110 TL. You can reach your destination in 11 hours. As a rule, tourists buy tickets at the ticket offices of the bus station or on the official website of the company www.metroturizm.com.tr/.
KAMIL KOÇ
Every day, three buses of this company leave Esenler Otogarı bus station in the direction Istanbul-Cappadocia: at 05: 00, 20: 00 and 23: 31. The ticket price is 110 TL, the journey takes 12 hours. Pay for your ticket at the ticket offices in Esenler Otogarı or buy a ticket on the company’s website https://www.kamilkoc.com.tr/.
NEVŞEHIR SEYAHAT
Nevşehir Seyahat operates two daily flights to Cappadocia from Esenler Otogarı Bus Station. Both trips start in the evening: at 20: 30 and at 22: 00. The fare is 110 TL. It will take you 12 hours and 15 minutes to reach your destination. You can buy a ticket at the ticket offices of the railway station or on the company’s website nevsehirlilerseyahat.com.tr/.
Now you know how to get to Cappadocia by bus. And to make your trip go smoothly, use the recommendations below.
Useful tips
- When buying a ticket, please note that in Turkey it is customary to seat men and women separately. Therefore, if you are traveling as a couple, be sure to check this information at the ticket office.
- It happens that several identical buses of the same company stop at a train station at the same time. In order not to get lost, it is important to remember the number of your transport.
- Most intercity flights in Turkey offer free Wi-Fi, which you can check with the flight attendant for the password. In general, if you have any questions during your trip, you should ask the steward, not the driver.
- Before leaving the car during a stop, be sure to ask about the length of the parking space. Sometimes it lasts no more than a minute.
- You can purchase tickets on the official websites of companies, but if for some reason the payment on your card does not pass on them, try to repeat the operation on the site www.neredennereye.com.
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Conclusion
If you are traveling from Istanbul to Cappadocia, how to get there and what time it will take will undoubtedly be your first questions. We hope that our article has provided you with comprehensive information about an independent trip to a popular tourist attraction in Turkey, and you will be able to organize an unforgettable trip.
