With its increadible cone-shaped rock formations named fairy chimneys, cave houses, stone carved churches, Cappadocia is one of the most magical places to visit in Turkey and on planet earth. It is a place to go every season; it is beautiful when covered with snow and also beautiful in summer. It is also one of the best places to take hot air balloon and it also offers unique cave hotel experience and a lot of good food and nice Turkish wine.
Cappadocia's infamous landscape is shaped 2 million years ago by many once active volcanoes, most famous one being nearby Erciyes Mountain. These volcanoes covered the surface by 150 meter deep volcanic ashes and later wind and water patiently carved the landscape you see today.
The word "Cappadocia" is probaby derived from Khepatukha, which means "The Subjects of Hepat God" or from Persian Katpatuka which means "the land of beautiful horses". The area is a very important place inhabited almost last 4,000 years. In Roman times, early Christians escaping from persecution sought refugee here. The incredible cave churches and large underground cities from early Christians are must see.
How to go to Cappadocia? You can take a bus from Istanbul or Izmir (12 hours), Antalya (9 hours) or Ankara (5 hours) but it is better to fly to Kayseri and then rent a car or take a short bus/minibus ride to Cappadocia. The area is quite large and the sightseeing places are quite far away from each other so renting a car in Cappadocia is a very good idea to explore it well.
Let's come to the where to stay in Cappadocia question. In this post, we will not give individual hotel recommendations but introduce the most popular areas in Cappadocia to stay. But where ever you stay, we strongly reccomend you to stay in a Cappadocia cave hotel. Although some are quite primitive, cave hotel does not mean that you will live like a caveman. These are luxurious rooms with all the comfort of the regular hotel rooms in their range. But stay in a real cave room, one which is carved in rock, not in one which is in a building next to cave rooms.
Warning : Cave hotel rooms are authentic and once-in-a-lifetime experience but they are probably not suitable for people with breathing and lung related problems. They are also quite humid so if you are not well protected, you can easily get sick in one of them.
Urgup
Urgup is the hearth and center of Cappadocia and is the most developed town in the area. With its shops, restaurants, bars and accomodation, it offers a very convenient place to stay in Cappadocia. Its night life and transportation alternatives are also best in the area. If you do not know where to stay in Cappadocia or new to the area, we suggest you to stay in Urgup. The town is also very accessible from the airport and a short distance to most places to see in Cappadocia.
In the last decade, with the increasing popularity of Cappadocia among Turkish and international tourists, almost all stone town house and cave available are converted to a type of hotel. You can find all types of accommodation in the area but most of the luxurious Cappadocia hotels are also located here. If you are in the night life, this also the place to stay.
For hotels in Urgup, with details like room rates and guest ratings, you can check Cappadocia Urgup hotels page.
Goreme
Some of the best Fairy Chimney formations are in Goreme and it is as famous as Urgup. Goreme is a small town and can easily be explored on foot. So if you are looking for some action, you cannot find in this small town. There are around 200 hotels and motels here and in fact Goreme now looks like a place composed of only hotels, restaurants, small shops and travel agencies.
Goreme also offers a lot of nice cave hotel but there are also other types of accommodation here. Historic town houses are also quite nice places to stay.
Given its size, you would expect Goreme to be a calm town but unfortunately it is not. If you are looking for a calm place to stay in Cappadocia, you would need to head to Cavusin (belongs to Avanos), 4 km to Goreme.
For a list of hotels in Goreme, you can check Cappadocia Goreme hotels page.
Uchisar
Uchisar is the highest point in Cappadocia and is famous with its castle and the incredible Cappadocia view from here. Uchisar is also famous with its nice restaurants and local food.
For a list of hotels in Uchisar, you can check Cappadocia Uchisar hotels page.
Avanos
Avanos is not as amous as Urgup, Goreme and Uchisar but is a calm place and has some nice food and hotels. Here is less tourist oriented compared to other towns. For hotels here, take a look at Cappadocia Avanos hotels.
Cappadocia's infamous landscape is shaped 2 million years ago by many once active volcanoes, most famous one being nearby Erciyes Mountain. These volcanoes covered the surface by 150 meter deep volcanic ashes and later wind and water patiently carved the landscape you see today.
The word "Cappadocia" is probaby derived from Khepatukha, which means "The Subjects of Hepat God" or from Persian Katpatuka which means "the land of beautiful horses". The area is a very important place inhabited almost last 4,000 years. In Roman times, early Christians escaping from persecution sought refugee here. The incredible cave churches and large underground cities from early Christians are must see.
How to go to Cappadocia? You can take a bus from Istanbul or Izmir (12 hours), Antalya (9 hours) or Ankara (5 hours) but it is better to fly to Kayseri and then rent a car or take a short bus/minibus ride to Cappadocia. The area is quite large and the sightseeing places are quite far away from each other so renting a car in Cappadocia is a very good idea to explore it well.
Let's come to the where to stay in Cappadocia question. In this post, we will not give individual hotel recommendations but introduce the most popular areas in Cappadocia to stay. But where ever you stay, we strongly reccomend you to stay in a Cappadocia cave hotel. Although some are quite primitive, cave hotel does not mean that you will live like a caveman. These are luxurious rooms with all the comfort of the regular hotel rooms in their range. But stay in a real cave room, one which is carved in rock, not in one which is in a building next to cave rooms.
Warning : Cave hotel rooms are authentic and once-in-a-lifetime experience but they are probably not suitable for people with breathing and lung related problems. They are also quite humid so if you are not well protected, you can easily get sick in one of them.
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| Map of Cappadocia and the location of Cappadocia. |
Urgup is the hearth and center of Cappadocia and is the most developed town in the area. With its shops, restaurants, bars and accomodation, it offers a very convenient place to stay in Cappadocia. Its night life and transportation alternatives are also best in the area. If you do not know where to stay in Cappadocia or new to the area, we suggest you to stay in Urgup. The town is also very accessible from the airport and a short distance to most places to see in Cappadocia.
In the last decade, with the increasing popularity of Cappadocia among Turkish and international tourists, almost all stone town house and cave available are converted to a type of hotel. You can find all types of accommodation in the area but most of the luxurious Cappadocia hotels are also located here. If you are in the night life, this also the place to stay.
For hotels in Urgup, with details like room rates and guest ratings, you can check Cappadocia Urgup hotels page.
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| Cave hotels are the most authentic places to stay in Cappadocia but not all rooms in cave hotels are not in caves. Photo - Elkep Evi |
Some of the best Fairy Chimney formations are in Goreme and it is as famous as Urgup. Goreme is a small town and can easily be explored on foot. So if you are looking for some action, you cannot find in this small town. There are around 200 hotels and motels here and in fact Goreme now looks like a place composed of only hotels, restaurants, small shops and travel agencies.
Goreme also offers a lot of nice cave hotel but there are also other types of accommodation here. Historic town houses are also quite nice places to stay.
Given its size, you would expect Goreme to be a calm town but unfortunately it is not. If you are looking for a calm place to stay in Cappadocia, you would need to head to Cavusin (belongs to Avanos), 4 km to Goreme.
For a list of hotels in Goreme, you can check Cappadocia Goreme hotels page.
Uchisar
Uchisar is the highest point in Cappadocia and is famous with its castle and the incredible Cappadocia view from here. Uchisar is also famous with its nice restaurants and local food.
For a list of hotels in Uchisar, you can check Cappadocia Uchisar hotels page.
Avanos
Avanos is not as amous as Urgup, Goreme and Uchisar but is a calm place and has some nice food and hotels. Here is less tourist oriented compared to other towns. For hotels here, take a look at Cappadocia Avanos hotels.
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