Things to do in Cappadocia: the drive from Istanbul, Göreme, Uçhisar and the underground cities

Short answer: Cappadocia (Göreme) is about 720 km from Istanbul by car, roughly 7 hours without traffic; plan on 8.5–9 hours with stops. The route goes via Ankara. Once you arrive, everything is close: Uçhisar, Paşabağları, Avanos and Ürgüp are about 10 minutes from Göreme, and the underground cities about half an hour.

Which road do you take from Istanbul to Cappadocia?

• Istanbul → Ankara: take the Northern Marmara Motorway, join the Anatolian Motorway and continue via Bolu to Ankara.
• Ankara → Nevşehir: from the Ankara ring road, take the Ankara–Niğde Motorway; the last section follows a main road to Nevşehir and down to Göreme.

The bridge and motorways are tolled. Our rental cars carry an HGS toll tag; tolls are charged separately at the end of the rental. For checks before a long drive, see what to watch for on a long drive.

Where to stop, and what to watch for in winter

A short break about every two hours is a good habit on a long drive; on this route the Bolu area and the service areas after Ankara are natural stops. Cappadocia sits on the Central Anatolian plateau: in winter there can be snow and ice on the Bolu Mountain pass and in the region. Between November and March, check the weather and road conditions before setting off and limit driving after dark.

How far is it from Göreme?

Things to see in Cappadocia

• Göreme Open-Air Museum: the region's signature stop, with churches carved into the rock and their frescoes. "Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia" is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Uçhisar Castle: a huge rock-cut castle and one of the highest points in the area, so you look down over the valleys and fairy chimneys. It gets busy at sunset.
• Paşabağları and the fairy chimneys: one of the most photographed valleys of multi-capped fairy chimneys, between Göreme and Avanos.
• Avanos: a town on the Kızılırmak river, known for its pottery workshops.
• Ürgüp: with its stone mansions and vineyards, one of the region's main places to stay.
• Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu: underground cities that descend floor by floor into the earth. They are about 10 km apart and fit into one half-day; inside it is narrow and cool, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer.
• Ihlara Valley: a walking valley along the Melendiz stream, known for its rock-cut churches. It is on the Aksaray side, so it is easier to give it a separate day.

Early-morning balloon flights are the symbol of the region; they depend on wind and weather and can be cancelled, so don't rely on a single morning.

Driving around Cappadocia

• Parking: Göreme's streets are narrow; there are car parks at the Open-Air Museum, Uçhisar and the underground cities, so leave the car there.
• Roads: the roads between valleys are paved, but some viewpoints are reached by dirt tracks; do not take a rental car onto dirt or off-road tracks.
• Which car: a compact car is enough for two people; for families and the long motorway drive, a saloon or SUV with a large boot is more comfortable, and an automatic reduces fatigue. See the models on our rental cars page.

Driving to Cappadocia in a rental car from Istanbul

Otofilorent's pick-up points are in Istanbul: you collect the car at one of our 18 points and return it in Istanbul. On rentals of 3 days or more we deliver the car to your address in Istanbul free of charge. Mention your long-distance plan when booking; the terms of your rental are shown on the booking screen and in your contract. 24/7 roadside assistance is included, and 0850 305 00 45 is open around the clock.

Frequently asked questions