Nevşehir, Cappadocia, Turkey

Capital of a Cappadocian province of the same name, Nevşehir is mostly a transfer point for tourists.

There's nothing wrong with the city of Nevşehir (NEHV-sheh-heer, "New City," alt. 4134 feet/1260 meters, pop. 95,000). It's mostly modern, having been founded only in late Ottoman times (a mere baby by Anatolian standards!) It's got a fortress on a hill, a nice big museum a few decent hotels, and Cappadocia's major bus terminal.

But there's also not much to hold you. Most people just transfer at the Nevşehir bus terminal on their way to or from towns such as Avanos, Göreme, Uçhisar, Ürgüp, or the Underground Cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu (map).

You could use Nevşehir as a base for visits to Cappadocia and the Göreme Open-Air Museum, but Ürgüp and the town of Göreme are closer and more interesting.

By the way, many bus companies will sell you a ticket "to Göreme" or "to Ürgüp," but what they mean is that your big comfortable bus will go as far as Nevşehir, after which you must transfer to a servis minibus or taxi to be shuttled to the smaller town. (The transfer should be—and usually is—included in your bus fare. The major bus company serving Nevşehir—Nevşehir Turizm—is usually dependable in this regard.) More...

Some less-than-honest bus companies actually just drop you in Nevşehir and let you fend for yourself. Ask the ticket agent specifically how you will be getting to your final destination.

The airport at Tuzköy, near Gülşehir, 30 km (19 miles) northwest of Nevşehir, is called the Nevşehir Airport (NEV).

There are daily flights from Istanbul to Nevşehir, but more daily flights to to Kayseri's Erkilet Airport, making that the more common air route to and from Cappadocia. Airport shuttle vans serve both airports.

The nearest train stations are at Konya and Kayseri. There's direct overnight sleeper train service from Istanbul to Konya, but not to Kayseri.

Nevşehir Transport: Bus & Plane

Excursion to Underground Cities & Ihlara Valley

Towns of Cappadocia

Cappadocia Hotels

Cappadocia Restaurants

Getting to Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Central Anatolia

Above, the modern city of Nevşehir, gateway to the land of fairy chimneys.