Cappadocia Travel Guide

By franciscogardening April 2, 2021 Asia, Europe 0 Comments

A different Turkey – experience the amazing scenery of Cappadocia. Cappadocia in Turkey is an area in the highlands of Central Anatolia, known for its special rock formations and underground cities.

Cappadocia is a magnificent masterpiece of the forces of nature and the ingenuity of mankind – special earth pillars and dwellings built of volcanic ash are a unique part of Turkey. Cappadocia is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The unique landscapes are charming

Cappadocia is one of the most unique travel destinations in Turkey – the area known for its chimney-shaped rock formations attracts both active tourists and culturally interested travelers.

History is also on display in dozens of underground cities in Cappadocia. It was estimated that 4,000 years ago, functioning cities were built underground. The caves with their churches and kitchens also used to serve as hiding places for early Christians, and not even later Islamic rulers saw the need to destroy churches.

National parks, museums and enchanting hiking trails keep travelers happy in Cappadocia – not to mention local hospitality. Despite the increased tourism, you can still feel the Turkish village atmosphere in the region.

The impressive landscapes of Cappadocia attract tourists from all over the world.

Visit in spring or fall

The best time to travel to Cappadocia is April-May or September-October, because then the climate is most favorable for Finnish tourists, and the destinations are not full of other holidaymakers. The summer months are the most popular time to travel in Turkey, but you shouldn’t head to Cappadocia then: temperatures can be as high as 40 degrees, which is not pleasant in the dry hinterland.

Cappadocia is also congested by popular sporting events. For example, the Cappadocia Marathon and the Cycling Festival are big events during which the feeling of an ordinary traveler quickly becomes a nuisance.

Activities and hiking in Cappadocia

Hot air ballooning is big business in Cappadocia. For safety reasons, hot air balloon flights are only held in the mornings at sunrise, when the air and ground are at the same temperature and unexpected air currents do not cause incidents on the flights. In the mornings, the breathtaking sunrise also spreads over the skyline of Cappadocia.

A hot air balloon ride usually takes a few hours, of which about an hour in the air. In Cappadocia, the price includes pick-up from the hotel and possibly a small breakfast, transfer to a hot air balloon, an actual balloon flight and a return trip to the hotel. Excursions cost about 200 euros per person.

The view is also beautiful when viewed from the ground: the Hot Air Balloons hovering over the rock formations are perhaps the most famous postcard landscape in Cappadocia.

The area is popular with hikers with its wonderful hiking trails. Warm clothing should be reserved for the hike, as there are many temperature fluctuations in the area within a short period of time. Horseback riding trips are also available. Hiking trails can be found all over Cappadocia and the most popular hiking areas are located in the Göreme National Park.

Safe holiday destination

In Cappadocia, the visitor quickly remembers being in a Muslim country: here and there, the minarets of mosques rising from the cityscape look exotic, in addition to which there is a call to prayer five times a day. After the first few times, the call to prayer is hardly even paid attention to, so few travelers find it disturbing.

Islam is the main religion in Turkey, but it hardly affects the daily life of the tourist. In addition to the invitations to prayer, on a Cappadocian holiday, you will notice it almost entirely because there is not exactly pork on the menus of local restaurants.

Especially in the Cappadocia region, it is very typical for toilets to be squats. Usually, large toilets may have one or two booths with traditional porcelain bars, but a tourist visiting Cappadocia should be prepared for a squat toilet. Disabled toilets can also provide a seating area. Toilets are often chargeable, for example on the outskirts of tourist attractions, so it is a good idea to always have lira coins in your pocket for the toilet fee.

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs calls for general caution when traveling in Turkey. In Cappadocia, no special safety practices need to be considered. Local traffic is quite fast-paced, and a pedestrian, for example, should remember that cars must always be avoided.