There are at least three ways to get from Antalya to Cappadocia (Goreme):
- By plane
- By bus
- And as part of an organized tour group.
Antalya. Karaalioglu Park.
In this article, I will talk about each of them in turn. But first, let’s look at the basic concepts. So…
Cappadocia is a fairly large region, so your route from Antalya will largely depend on where you decide to settle. The largest cities in Cappadocia are Kayseri and Nevsehir. But they are usually used only as a transit point. As a rule, such small towns as Goreme, Urgup and Uchkhisar are considered the “heart” of this region. It is here that tourists most often come to stay in cave hotels or see the famous balloons.
I myself lived in Goreme, so there will be more information about it in this article. The easiest way to get here is, since it is in this village that the bus station is located, where buses from Antalya arrive. As for Urgup, Uchhisar and other tourist towns, the easiest way to get here from Goreme is by taxi. The distances there are small.
- Goreme – Chavushin 4 km.
- Goreme – Uchhisar 5 km
Rock fortress in Uchhisar
- Goreme – Ortahisar 6 km.
- Goreme – Urgup is 9 km away.
The fare usually ranges around 5 euros. I think it’s a small amount.
How to get from Antalya to Cappadocia by bus?
Antalya Bus Station
Several flights to Goreme depart from Antalya Central Station every day. Most of the buses travel at night and arrive in Cappadocia early in the morning.
Travel time is 9-10 hours.
Fare – from 13 to 20 euros (depending on the specific company).
You can view the schedule, check the prices and buy a ticket on the websiteObilet.com .
Next, I will make some explanations that will be useful to you when planning your trip.
- All buses in Turkey are very comfortable. There are usually monitors in the seats, and on the way passengers are often offered tea, water or even ice cream.
- It is most convenient to travel by buses of the “2+1” class. They have two chairs on the left side of the aisle and another on the right. It is not so spacious in ordinary buses of the “2+2” class.
- Before the trip, be sure to stock up on warm clothes. Antalya and Cappadocia have different climates. Temperature differences often reach 10-12 degrees.
How to get to Cappadocia by plane?
Balloons in the sky over Goreme
Several times a week flights fly from Antalya to Kayseri Airport. As I said at the beginning of the article, this is the largest city in Turkish Cappadocia. The cost of tickets is not static and varies depending on many factors. But they are usually inexpensive. It is absolutely possible to catch a ticket for 30-50 euros here.
You can check the schedule and find out the exact cost of the flight here.
In my opinion, a plane to Kayseri is the most comfortable way to get from Antalya to Cappadocia. If you are traveling with young children, then I recommend that you choose exactlythis option, rather than trudging in Goreme for 9-10 hours on a night bus.
The flight duration is 1 hour and 15 minutes. The flights are operated by SunExpress, but during the peak season, offers from other companies appear in the schedule (for example, Anadolujet).
Kayseri Airport itself is the largest airport in Cappadocia. From here you can go directly to Goreme, Urgup, Uchkhisar and other tourist centers of the region. You can do this by booking a group transfer. At the time of publication of the article, it costs 14 euros per person.
It all looks like this.
A driver with a sign will be waiting for you at the exit of the terminal. First, he collects all the passengers, checks the names on the list, and then one by one delivers them to specific hotels.
You can order a group transfer and read the details here.
That’s how I got to Goreme myself.
Another way to leave Kayseri Airport is to order a taxi. It costs more, but in this case, the driver with the sign will be waiting only for you. You can order an individual transfer and check the current prices here. Please note that for large companies, this option may be even more profitable.
Guided tour
If the idea of an independent trip scares you, then go to Cappadocia as part of an organized tour group. Tours to this region are offered by many companies in Antalya. The average price is 55 euros per trip. This amount includes:
- Travel;
- Power supply;
- Overnight at the hotel;
- As well as various excursions to the valleys, cave towns and observation decks of Cappadocia.
You can read all the details by clicking on the window below.
I would like to add that such a tour will cost you almost as much as an independent trip (or maybe even cheaper). But at the same time, all organizational formalities will be taken over by the company’s employees. If you do not want to search for tickets on your own, book a hotel and understand the geography of Cappadocia, then a trip with an excursion will be the best solution for you.
Our hotel, excursions, balloons and navigation tips
The hotel. During our trip, we stayed in this hotel in the center of Goreme. And I can only say good things about him. There are delicious breakfasts, nice rooms and a cozy terrace where we had dinner in the evenings, looking at the night lights and the bizarre cliffs of Cappadocia.
If you have not yet decided where you will live, you can start your search from this hotel.
Navigation. In order not to get lost among the rocks and valleys, we used the navigator MAPS.me . It’s free. Just don’t forget to download it to your phone before you start your trip.
Excursions. As I said at the very beginning of the article, Cappadocia is a fairly large region. Yes, many valleys, fortresses and observation decks can be reached on foot. But you will have to walk a lot. Most often tourists buy excursions and ride around the region on ATVs, jeeps or horses. There are a lot of routes, so most of them are marked with certain colors. I have collected the most inexpensive tours in the selection below.
Balloons. As for hot air balloon flights, I have a separate article about this. Read it if you want to find out what they are and why they often stand in different ways.
Well, if you are too lazy to read, then just check the prices of these two companies:
- Option No.1.
- Option No.2.
They are very similar. But they constantly compete with each other in terms of prices. Therefore, there is a high probability that some of them will definitely offer their flights at a discount.
With these words, let’s say goodbye. If you still have questions about how to get from Antalya to Cappadocia, ask them in the comments below the post. I will try to respond promptly.
