The perfect 2 day Cappadocia itinerary you’ll want to steal

Planning a trip to Cappadocia, Turkey? Follow this 2 day Cappadocia itinerary, and you’ll get a taste of the Turkish culture, food, and landscapes, and you’ll leave craving more!

To be perfectly honest, 2 days is such a short amount of time to visit this magical place.

You could easily spend up to a week hiking, exploring underground cities, outdoor activities and nearby pink lakes.

But if you’re like me and you only have 2 days in Cappadocia, I’ve got you covered with the top things to see on your first trip to the land of fairy chimneys.

In this post, you’ll find everything you need to plan your trip. From where to stay, how to get there to what to experience.

Let’s dig in!

Read next: The ultimate Cappadocia travel guide

The perfect 2 day Cappadocia itinerary

Is 2 days in Cappadocia enough?

While 3 days would be perfect, it’s doable to spend two days in Cappadocia and still experience the highlights.

You’ll need to plan and stay on schedule, though, if you want to see as much as possible.

During a two-day visit, you can see everything on this list. You can explore the open-air museums, take a hot air balloon ride, hike through the main valleys, and discover Göreme.

How to get to Göreme, Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a region, not a city, and you can get there by flight, bus or rental car.

If you’re planning to fly, there are two airports to choose from:

• Kayseri (the bigger airport with more flight options and affordable fares)
• Nevsehir

The best place to stay in Cappadocia is the town of Göreme, which is 45 minutes drive from the airport. Make sure to book your airport transfer in advance for a smooth arrival.

You can easily find great deals online for a shared and private transfer, with prices starting at just $12.50 from both Kayseri airport and Nevsehir airport.

Getting around

Getting around the Cappadocia region is relatively easy, and you’ve got several options. If you’re staying in Göreme or Ürgüp, you’ll have access to restaurants and taxis, so you may only need transportation for exploring the valleys.

1. Hire a driver

The best way to explore the valleys is by hiring a driver or taxi. That’s what we did and it’s more affordable than you might think, plus you get to make your own itinerary.

2. Join a tour

You can also join an organised half day or full day tour to the highlights of Cappadocia. You’ll find lots of tours with activities like ATV, hot air balloon rides, or trips to Cappadocia’s valleys like the popular Green Tour.

3. Rent a scooter

Renting a scooter is another way to get around Cappadocia, with rates typically ranging from 150-200 Turkish Lyra ($30-40 USD) per day.

Best time to visit Cappadocia

The best time to visit Cappadocia is during autumn or spring when temperatures are pleasant and it’s outside of the peak season.

September and October are the best months as the skies are clear, temperatures are around 20-23 degrees Celsius, and the landscape is even more beautiful with the autumn colours. I visited in October.

Where to stay in Cappadocia

In Cappadocia, you have to stay in a cave hotel. It’s part of the experience, trust me on that.

We stayed at Lunar Cappadocia Hotel (⭐ 9.4), which I highly recommend. It has amazing breakfast, great customer service, and spacious rooms. It’s perched on top of a hill, so you’ll get stunning views of the hot air balloons in the morning. Check out the latest prices here.

The perfect 2 day Cappadocia itinerary

Day 1

Fly in a hot air balloon at sunrise

It’s day one and time for the most popular activity in Cappadocia:

Hot air balloon rides at dawn!

From the sky, you’ll see Cappadocia’s famous fairy chimneys – the tall, cone-shaped rock formations that were formed by volcanic eruptions and erosion.

Flying a hot air balloon above Cappadocia is the main reason most people visit, so don’t miss out on this unique experience. This balloon tour is the best rated on Viator with 5/5 stars and 539 positive reviews!

👉 Pro tip: You’ll want to book your balloon tour on your first day! The hot air balloons don’t fly in bad weather so you’ll want to have an extra day in case the trip gets cancelled.

Explore the backstreets of Göreme

After your hot air balloon ride, go for a walk through the town of Göreme.

The old cave-style buildings and narrow streets make for an amazing walk, and they also provide some of the best Instagram spots in the region.

Don’t forget to take your camera or phone with you and capture the beauty of Cappadocia at every turn!

Galerie Ikman or Sultan Carpet

If you’re looking for a true Aladdin atmosphere, Galerie Ikman or Sultan Carpet is where you should go.

Galerie Ikman carpet shop is unlike any other and has become famous for its Instagrammable spots. It’s like something straight out of a movie!

The owner has made a system where you have to pay 12 Euros for 10 minutes to take photos. He’s quite rude, though, but his shop is the most magical.

As an alternative, go to Sultan Carpet, which is just down the road where the owner is much nicer and welcoming.

Red and Rose valley hike

Now, it’s time for a little hiking, and I’ve chosen the best route for you.

Located in the heart of the Göreme National Park, the Rose and Red Valley hike takes you through two of the most beautiful and colourful valleys in the region, known for their distinctive red and rose-colored rocks, rock-hewn churches and other-worldly landscapes.

The hike is easy and takes about 2-3 hours to complete, and the views along the way are simply breathtaking!

Taste testi kebab

Kebab is a staple in Turkish cuisine, and in Göreme there’s a regional kebab dish called testi kebab. You’ll get the best at Dibek – a local restaurant!

Testi is a slow-cooked kebab with veggies and nuts, all simmering together in a clay pot that’s sealed shut.

When it’s ready, the waiter breaks open the pot with a hammer right in front of you. Sometimes, they even put on a little fire show.

Read next: 20 best Turkish dishes you should try

Sunset ATV tour

If you’re looking for an adventurous way to end your fist day in Cappadocia, go for an ATV tour.

During the tour, you’ll get to see some of the most beautiful valleys in the region and even visit some of the more remote and less crowded areas that you can’t visit by car.

So if you’re up for an adventure and want to see Cappadocia in a whole new way, book this ATV tour (⭐5/5) which has 1211 positive reviews.

Day 2

Watch the balloons in the morning

Begin your day early and go to the balcony of your cave hotel. If you’re not staying at one of the cave hotels, you can see the hot air balloon flight from the ground at the balloon viewpoint.

We stayed at a really cool cave hotel (⭐ 9.4) and took this photo from the balcony.

Cappadocia valleys

Today, it’s time to visit more of Cappadocia’s valleys.

Cappadocia has over 200 valleys to explore, but I’ve picked the best ones on this list of the top 10 valleys. Each of them has something special to offer, like cool rock formations, old rock-cut churches, hiking trails, and ancient cave dwellings.

While you won’t have time to visit all 10 in one day, you can visit the ones in this post.

Exploring the valleys is a must-do experience in Cappadocia, and you can easily spend 2-3 days doing so.

🔥 How to explore the valleys: You can either join a day tour or hire a personal driver, which is what we did. You just give the driver your itinerary, and he’ll take care of everything. Our driver even had some suggestions on what to see, which was super helpful.

Love Valley

Love Valley is one of the most iconic valleys in Cappadocia and it’s 100% worth a visit!

The valley is famous for its phallic-shaped fairy chimneys that reach up to 40 meters in height. You can explore the valley from above and enjoy the stunning views or get up close with the fairy chimneys from below in the valley.

Personally, I preferred the valley from below because I could get a better look at the rock formations. Plus, there are fewer people down at the valley floor.

Read next: A complete guide to the Love Valley hike

Devrent valley

Devrent Valley is also known as Imagination Valley.

The valley is famous for its peculiar rock formations that look like animals and objects. You can spot a lion, a camel, a snake, seals, kissing birds, and even a dolphin. It’s pretty cool to see!

To be honest, though, Devrent valley felt touristy and the most crowded of all the valleys. But it’s still worth a visit if you’re interested in seeing the unique rock formations.

Zelve Open Air Museum

Zelve Open Air Museum is a whole city with rock churches and ancient cave houses.

We explored the valley in a loop, starting on the right side and making our way to the left and back.

It was really cool to see the empty cave town and the churches that had been carved into the hillside by the early christians.

While Goreme open-air museum is often touted as a top attraction in Cappadocia, I personally preferred Zelve Open Air Museum.

It felt more authentic and gave me a better sense of the region’s history and culture.

Uchisar castle

Uçhisar castle is another must-visit in Cappadocia.

At 60 meters high, the castle once housed 1,000 people. But what’s really amazing is the view from the top, which is the highest point in the region.

You can see the entire region and the fairy chimneys from there.

The climb to the top can be a bit steep, but it’s worth it for the best views. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot some local wildlife along the way.

Pigeon valley

Pigeon Valley is home to a swarm of pigeons and pigeon houses that have been carved into the rock formations.

It’s pretty amazing to see how they fit so perfectly into the landscape.

At the top of the valley, you’ll find a tree with lots of little trinkets hanging from its branches. It’s called the Evil Eye Tree and locals believe it protects against evil spirits.

Relax in a traditional hammam

Once you’re done exploring the best Cappadocia valleys, you’ll need to unwind and relax, and I’ve got just the place for you: a traditional Turkish hammam (spa)!

A hammam experience will typically include a body scrub, a Turkish bath and foam massage based on traditional Turkish techniques.

Simply download your ticket to your phone and show it when you get to this 5-star hammam experience 👉 Check rates and availability here.

Relax at the sunset spot

The perfect way to end your 2 days in Cappadocia is at the best sunset spot in the town of Goreme.

If you’ve already been to Red Valley during the day (which you totally should), you’ll be amazed at how different it looks in the evening.

The golden glow completely transforms the fairy chimneys and rock formations in the valley.

Read next: How to visit the best sunset viewpoint in Cappadocia

FAQ

Have you seen my other posts from Cappadocia?

• The best valleys: 10 best Cappadocia valleys you should visit
• Red valley: A complete guide to Red Valley Cappadocia
• Love valley: A complete guide to the Love Valley hike, Cappadocia
• Safety: Is Cappadocia safe to visit? Latest safety advice
• The ultimate travel guide: Cappadocia travel guide: 10 best tips
• Great itinerary and travel route: The ultimate Istanbul Cappadocia Pamukkale itinerary
• 22 interesting Turkey facts (the country)

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