From Ankara to Cappadocia, Turkey

There are no non-stop flights to make the 285-km (177-mile) trip between Ankara and Cappadocia, the trains (see below) are slow and run mostly at inconvenient times, so the best way to go is by road: bus or car.

By Bus
Nevtur buses depart Ankara's ASTI main bus terminal about every two hours for Nevsehir (and vice-versa). The journey takes 4 hours, including a 25-minute stop about 1-1/4 hours into the journey to stretch your legs, use the toilet, have a glass of tea, a meal or a smoke (no smoking on the bus). The fare is YTL20.

When you arrive at Nevsehir's bus terminal, you'll be transferred to a shuttle minibus (servis) for the final part of your journey to one of Cappadocia's towns such as Göreme, Uçhisar or Ürgüp. The cost of the minibus trip is usually included in your bus ticket fare.

Buy your ticket at Nevtur, ASTI ticket counter no. 50. It's best to buy yor ticket in advance if you can, but most of the time you can just show up at ASTI, buy your ticket, and be on your way on the next bus. (That's what I do.)

If you're going to travel during a national holiday or religious holiday period, you should reserve your bus seat in advance to avoid delay or disappointment.

By Car
Fight your way through Ankara traffic to the E-90 highway south, following signs for Aksaray, 219 km (136 miles, 3 hours). At Aksaray, turn left (east) following signs for Nevsehir, 73 km (45 miles, 1 hour).

Just at the junction of E-90 and the Nevsehir highway in Aksaray is the Orhan Agaçli Tesisleri, an elaborate commercial highway rest stop with a motel, restaurant, cafeteria, snack stands, toilets, souvenir shops, fuel and service stations, even a small mosque.

By Train
The main railway line runs from Ankara to Kayseri, then splits, one line running east to Sivas, the other south to Nigde, Karaman and Adana, skirting Cappadocia to the east and south.

Express trains take about seven hours to cover the distance between Ankara and Kayseri. (Compare this to the bus's four hours from Ankara to Nevsehir.)

Erzurum Ekspresi leaves Ankara in early afternoon and arrives at Kayseri in the evening. Güney Ekspresi departs Ankara early in the morning, and arrives at Kayseri in mid-afteroon. Çukurova Mavi Tren and Dogu Ekspresi depart Ankara in the evening and arrive at Kayseri in the middle of the night.

A taxi between Ankara Gar (railway station) and ASTI (main bus terminal) takes about 10 minutes in light traffic, and costs about YTL10.

Getting to Cappadocia

Towns of Cappadocia

Cappadocia Hotels

Cappadocia Restaurants

Cappadocia Region

Cappadocia Region Map

Central Anatolia

Where to Go

Cappadocian cave houses.

Above, view from a cave room in Ürgüp.
Below, ASTI Bus Terminal, Ankara.