cappadocia solo travel

Cappadocia Solo Travel: Tips for Exploring the Region on Your Own

Cappadocia is a wonderful destination for solo travelers looking to explore a unique region with a rich history and culture. Whether you’re interested in hiking, hot air balloon rides, exploring underground cities, or simply wandering around the charming towns, Cappadocia has something to offer for everyone.

Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your solo trip to Cappadocia:

Choose the Right Accommodation: When traveling solo, it’s important to choose accommodation that suits your needs and preferences. Whether you prefer staying in a hostel, hotel, or a guesthouse, there are plenty of options available in Cappadocia. Look for accommodation that is located close to the attractions you’re interested in and has good reviews.

Plan Your Activities: While it’s great to be spontaneous, having a rough plan for your trip can help you make the most out of your time in Cappadocia. Research the attractions and activities that interest you, and plan your itinerary accordingly. Don’t forget to leave some room for flexibility and unplanned adventures!

Join a Tour: I f you’re feeling unsure about exploring the region on your own, consider joining a tour. There are plenty of guided tours available in Cappadocia, ranging from hot air balloon rides to hiking tours. Joining a tour can also be a great way to meet other travelers and make new friends.

Stay Safe: As with any solo travel, it’s important to take extra precautions to stay safe. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid walking alone at night, and always trust your instincts. Keep your valuables in a safe place, and carry only what you need with you when exploring.

Meet the Locals: One of the best parts of traveling solo is the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Strike up a conversation with the locals, try the local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the culture. Cappadocia is known for its warm hospitality, so don’t be shy!

Enjoy Your Own Company: Finally, don’t forget to enjoy your own company. Solo travel can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and Cappadocia is the perfect destination to reconnect with yourself and discover new passions and interests.

With these tips in mind, you’re sure to have a memorable and enjoyable solo trip to Cappadocia. Happy travels!

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Cappadocia Tours for Solo / Single Travelers

62 cappadocia tours for singles / solo travelers with 167 reviews.

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3 Days - Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul

Everything went smoothly from transfer from our Istanbul hotel until arrived back on the third day. Guide in Cappadocia was excellent. The only minor issue was the very poor buffet breakfast at the hotel- no beautiful Turkish bread just boring sliced white bread. Little fruit or western breakfast options like muesli. And basic automatic coffee machine not producing balanced coffees.

5 Days - Istanbul Cappadocia Tour

Had an overall amazing experience. Everything was very organised perhaps the only thing is to make sure checking time is clear before booking flights as we first arrived at around 9 and our check in time was not till 2. Other than that we loved our stay in Istanbul and Cappadocia.

A Tale of Two Marvels: Istanbul & Cappadocia 7 Day Tour

the guıde was excellent.And very professional. I adore the and history. I will come with my friends again.

3 Days Best of Cappadocia Tour from/to Istanbul

Loved this experience . Very professional guides great tour company .

Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia | 6 Days with 1 flight

The trip was amazing and I saw beautiful parts of Turkey. Some things I would like to point out: - the transport-shuttle-drivers were always very helpful, friendly, on time and organized. Event though their English wasnt perfect, which is perfectly ok, they helped out wherever they could. - the hotel Olimpiyat is OK, nothing special, but good location. I was able to change my room as it smelt like "cigarette-smoke" in my bathroom, so I ask if I can change the rooms, as I do have asthma. The carpets in the room are also bit over-used and in combination with smoke, its not the best option to sleep there. Breakfast ist ok, receptionist are friendly, good location. - Capadoccia: a must seen for everyone, beautiful landscapes, beautiful place, would love to go there again, the Cave.Suite Hotel: wonderful people, very familiar, very helpful, personal and lovely. The one thing I was missing from your side, was that it will be so cold, I had not the right clothes with me :) so for the balloon ride- I should have brought more like "mountain-.snowboarding-skiing-clothes" - this would have been a great tipp, if you could have informed me before.. as obviously the weather-temperature forecast is available online but as it really is then, its a different story - my guide in Istanbul: Mustafa, very cool and easy relaxing guide.. He knows a lot about Istanbul, his English is excellent, I would definitely recommend him to as well younger people, young couples, Families, he is super engaged and informed!! Big praise on him!

3 Days-Cappadocia Tour from/to Istanbul

It was nice. The transaction was smooth and the tour and transfers are well planned. Our guide, John, was knowledgeable in the history of the places we went to.The hotel cave we stayed at was very good as well. It was overall a nice tour experience. Worth every penny we paid. ☺️

Istanbul&Cappadocia-4 Days

Istanbul leg of the tour was spot on. Incredibly knowledgeable and fun guide. One guide to to a couple! No following a flag around in a large gaggle. Transfers to airport and flights went like clockwork for the second half in central Turkey.

7 Days Istanbul and Best of Cappadocia Tour

This tour was amazing. Senol, who arranged the tour in Turkey did an amazing job. He made sure that we enjoyed and did not miss anything. I strongly recommend him as he is reliable and honest. He goes an extra mile to make sure that his clients are taken care of. Very pleased with his service.

• Photography

Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia | 7 Days with 1 flight

Had such a great time !! Our tour guide Nadir, was a very caring person, and he was very professional. He had great knowledge about Turkey, thanks to him we learned a lot. Turkey was a very beatiful country, I definitely want to come again. Overall the hotels were clean and comfortable. Highly recommend this tour !

7 Days Best of Istanbul and Best of Cappadocia Package

There was no glitch in the whole trip, including flights, hotel, pick ups, etc. Excellent service.

3 Days Cappadocia & Pamukkale

From start to finish, our tour coordinator was very responsible, efficient with his feedback, very friendly and accommodating with our requests and any changes required during the trip. He made the entire arrangements very seamless and efficient. For the value of money and if you want to maximize your time getting the most of Cappadocia and Pamukale, I highly recommend this tour! There was no single instance that I got frustrated by the level of service. It was top-notch! kudos to Senol who made our lives very comfortable during the entire trip and we were able to get the best of out this tour because of him! Well done!

• Hiking & Trekking

3 Day Highlights of Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul

The three day Cappadocia tour was amazing!! The cave hotel that we stayed at was unique, artistic and so beautiful! Waking up in the morning with the skies overhead filled with colorful hot air balloons was a sight to remember forever! Next time we come we will definitely take a balloon ride. The places that the tour guides took us were very interesting and the guides were extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful (especially Ms Cini!!) The food was absolutely delicious!

Istanbul and Cappadocia 6 Days with 2 flights

We had wonderful guides, couldn't recommend them more highly, and the driver in Cappadocia was also wonderful. Most of the other drivers were quite rude and ignorant though they drive well. Even with a language barrier, it is good manners to smile and boys a greeting rather than just ignore

Cappadocia Short Break

This was a great little trip, and it covered most of the sites of Cappadocia, in a short time. The guides over the two days were very friendly and informative. I would definitely recommend this trip.

Istanbul to Cappadocia 3 Days by Plane

An amazing tour! Both North and South Cappadocia are an amazing one exciting in a lifetime opportunity to see guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, spoke multiple languages and let us have free time at every stop so we could see what we wanted too. Bus driver was amazing, lunch was great (drinks extra) and very accommodating with hotels and transport- either by bus or airline there.

What people love about Cappadocia Solo Tours

All staff excellent. Drivers were punctual and tourist guides knowledgeable, pleasant and polite and no wasted downtime. IGLESIAS tour company excellent, highly recommended.

It was a truly well organised and magical holiday! We had the best time and everything ran like clockwork. Ismail was the most helpful person and kept us up to date at all times. We are so impressed with him and the tour reps in Capadocia . The tour itself was amazing and, considering the short time we were there, we covered so many interesting sites and met lovely people and laughed so much. We will 100% book with you again. Very very happy customers. Soly & Tim ??

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Cappadocia travel guide — the fullest cappadocia tourist guide & cappadocia travel blog for first-timers.

Not only famous for its overwhelming and magnificent mosques, Turkey is also blessed with breathtaking, spectacular natural landscapes. Among the most famous tourist destinations in Turkey must mention to Cappadocia – a land with a scene like straight out from fairy tales. If you love history and love to explore, then Cappadocia in Nevsehir province in central Turkey, 290 km from the capital Ankara is one of the interesting destinations for you. This is a famous natural wonder of Turkey that has been recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage since 1985. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Cappadocia for the first-time? Let’s check out our Cappadocia travel blog (Cappadocia blog) with the fullest Cappadocia travel guide (Cappadocia guide, Cappadocia tourist guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

• Where to go in Cappadocia? — Explore 9 best places to visit in Cappadocia
• Where to stay in Cappadocia? — 8+ Top hotels & best cave hotels in Cappadocia, Turkey
• Cappadocia itinerary — How to spend 3 days in Cappadocia perfectly?
• When is the best time to visit Turkey? — The best, worst, affordable & best season to travel to Turkey
• Top beaches in Turkey — 17+ most beautiful & best beaches in Turkey

Under the brilliant sunset covering the sky of the Cappadocia valley, the hot air balloons with vivid and brilliant colors flying under the sky, making visitors feel like they get lost in a wonderland. Indeed!! It’s not too ostentatious when visitors fondly called Cappadocia is a fairy valley. With thousands of stone pillars (bizarre forms of stone) like chimneys in fairy tales, this place is also known as the “mushroom valley”. Relying on the favor of nature, the people of central Cappadocia have carved and sculptured rocks, caves, mountains into houses, monasteries and churches…

Cappadocia travel guide: Overview of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is located in the central region of the Anatolia peninsula (also known as Asia Minor), in the Nevsehir province in central Turkey. Cappadocia is far from 2 big cities: Istanbul 756 km and Izmir 800 km and 290 km from the capital of Ankara.

About over 50 million years ago, the whole area of ​​Cappadocia was just fissures and craters. Soft rock mountains have formed on that lava bed. After millions of years, thanks to the exogenous effects such as flood water, wind, and rain that make large erosion… have created extremely unique rocky mountains with bizarre stone columns.

Cappadocia is formed from sedimentary rocks and volcanic rocks. Under the influence of external conditions and time, the rock layer gradually eroded and produced unique shapes, sometimes mushrooms, sometimes camels. It is this that has created a fairy scene that is only possible in fairy tales in Cappadocia.

For more details, you can refer to the following Cappadocia tourist map (I have marked attractions, hotels and restaurants):

Cappadocia travel guide: The meaning of the name Cappadocia

The name of Cappadocia has absolutely nothing related with the above-mentioned geological factor, but rather means “the land of beautiful horses”. Since ancient times, when maritime trading was not yet developed, Cappadocia was an important transit point on the legendary of Silk Road.

When the merchants stopped here, they took advantage of trading and choosing horses. And only in Cappadocia there were the best horse breeds that can withstand the “storm and wind” for the long journey over thousands of kilometers to China. The name Cappadocia began to be widely used from then on.

Some interesting facts about Cappadocia:

• Cappadocia once was part of the Roman Empire in the past.
• An estimated 600 churches have been found inside the caves (and this number will increase as there are many more caves yet to be discovered).

Cappadocia travel blog: When should you visit Cappadocia?

According to my Cappadocia travel experience, you should visit here in spring (April – June) or autumn (September – November). These are the 2 best weather periods to both enjoy the beauty of Cappadocia and participate in exploration activities.

Avoid going to Cappadocia in the summer because the temperature at that time can reach 40 degrees Celsius. And because it is a valley, the real feeling will be much more suffocating.

In winter, when snow falls, the whole Cappadocia valley will be like a fairyland. However, if you come in this time, trekking and hot air ballooning activities will be limited.

Cappadocia travel guide: How to get to and getting around Cappadocia?

There are two ways to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia, one is by night bus, the other by plane. I do not recommend you to take the night bus because it takes time (10 – 12 hours) and is not much cheaper (from 60 – 120 TL / one-way). So, we decided to flying. Partly because this is a fairly safe and economical option, and partly because flying to Cappadocia takes exactly 75 minutes, so much faster than taking the bus.

NOTE: To fly to Cappadocia, you can choose to land at Nevsehir or Kayseri airport. But it is more convenient to fly to Nevsehir airport and from Kayseri airport to Goreme town (Central Cappadocia) takes more than 1 hour.

There are 2 airlines operating this Istanbul – Kayseri route: Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines. The price of the two airlines is not much different, but the better and cheaper one is still Turkish Airlines. We took the flight at a good time, so the price was a bit higher (160 TL / round trip). If you willing to fly late at night, it only costs about 98 TL.

Getting from Kayseri Airport to hotel (& vice versa)

You can take the airport shuttle bus or book the hotel transfer service where you will stay. Most tourists often directly book the transfer service of their hotel because the price is very affordable at €10/way with pick-up and drop-off service. If you work hard to deal a little, you will get a little discount, sometimes without pay money. We bought the Balloon Tour + Green Tour + Red Tour of the hotel, so we were offered a free one-way airport shuttle, which helped a lot.

Getting around Cappadocia

The capital of Cappadocia, Goreme which is quite small town, so you can walk around. As for tourist destinations that are quite far apart without public transport, you will have to rent a car with a driver.

You can book a car directly with the hotel (after booking service, the hotel will message you via email or WhatsApp).

Cappadocia travel guide: Where to stay?

Tourists often choose to stay in Goreme town because this is the main capital of Cappadocia, so it gathers many places to eat and drink, convenient for taking tours and also near the hot air balloon launch site. Most of the hotels in Cappadocia are built inside caves, but what is worth the money in each hotel is the balcony area. Because only a hotel with a balcony with a beautiful view can create photos of a lifetime.

The hotel that famous bloggers often stay at is the Sultan Cave Suites ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) , which located on a high hill with a large balcony with a beautiful morning view of hot air balloons. But the hotel does not have a 4-person room and the price is a bit high, so if you have a good budget, please consider to stay. We stayed in the Goreme Palace Cave Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) which also have a virtual living balcony, and it also offer a 4-person room at affordable price that is exactly what we want.

However, not every hotel with a balcony with a nice view can take pictures of the sky filled with hot air balloons. Because wanting to take photos like bloggers did on Instagram depends on the weather and wind direction. When we went to the hotel balcony to take some photos, but because the hot air balloons kept flying to the side, we couldn’t take any pictures.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Aydinli Cave Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Millstone Cave Suites ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Mithra Cave Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Kelebek Special Cave Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Argos In Cappadocia ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )

Check out more top and best hotels in Cappadocia on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Cappadocia travel blog: Where to go, what to do?

Kaymakli Underground City

Cappadocia’s underground cities were first created during the Hittite Bronze Age but they were most famous during the early Byzantine period (6th and 7th centuries) when Catholics chose to live underground to evaded the Arabs and Persian invaders. Kaymakli is Cappadocia’s largest underground city with a labyrinthine system and rooms connected by tunnels that can extend up to eight floors. Exploring the underground city of Kaymakli will be one of your great experiences when traveling to Turkey, when you come here you will feel the raw and mysterious beauty of this thousand-year-old city.

Pigeon Valley

In the olden days pigeons were used as tools to deliver mail, and their waste was used as fertilizer. For the convenience of livestock, people have carved rocks and built nests for thousands of pigeons.

Today, the number of pigeons is not as much as before, but their “nest” is still preserved by local people. And that is also the origin of the name of this famous tourist destination “Pigeon Valley”.

Love Valley

At first, I did not understand why this place was called the Valley of Love, it turned out that there was a reason.

If you imagine, you will see that the stones here are shaped like the “reproductive organ of men”. But anyway, when the hot air balloon flew over this area, I felt like watching a sci-fi movie.

Avanos Village

A small, ancient village where two famous traditional trades are still kept: carpet weaving and ancient ceramics. Shops selling colorful ceramics line the cobbled riverside streets or narrow streets.

Uchisar Castle

Uchisar Castle is a large rock structure that rises high above the terrain. Different from the original thought of a castle, Uchisar has a special shape like a giant anthill, with small black holes. That shape is created from hundreds of small holes that are rooms inside the light rock texture.

Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu is a city built underground, extending to a depth of 60m. The first caves were formed from the 8th – 7th centuries BC and fully developed in the Byzantine period. Form a shelter and protect the locals from Arab attacks. This underground city is large enough to house up to 20,000 people along with their necessities (such as churches, shops, livestock, and public baths).

This area reminds me of Cu Chi tunnels, but the scale is much larger. And you should take the tour to understand more about the meaning of each area in the city. The most obnoxious point in this area is that when tourists go from the outside in or go from the inside, there will be a “choir” inviting to buy souvenirs.

Goreme Open Air Museum

The Goreme Open Air Museum is an ancient monastery built inside stone caves. Inside the caves, there are still exquisite frescos dating from more than 1000 years ago in pretty good condition. Note a bit that inside the cave is not allow to film and take pictures.

The Göreme Open Air Museum is home to a number of churches that medieval Christian monks carved into rock and where you can learn about the Eastern Roman people who created those unique pictures.

Devrent Valley (​​Imagination Valley)

Unlike other areas in Cappadocia, the Dervent valley has never been inhabited. The stones here are not honed by humans but have natural unique shapes.

You can find rocks with all unique shapes, maybe a camel or maybe a dolphin. That’s why Dervent Valley is also known by another name, Imagination Valley.

Cappadocia travel guide: Overview of tours in Cappadocia

There are many places to visit in Cappadocia, but they are very far apart. So for the most convenience, you can buy a tour at the hotel (The hotels here are linked with travel agents). Tours will include shuttle bus, guide, tickets to attractions, water and lunch for guests. The tours are quite strict, the guide always accompany you and they only allow you to take pictures and wandering around within 30 minutes. Made us rush to rush, fortunately we were able to take some nice photos. If you want to be proactive, you can rent a car with a private shuttle driver. The price is also quite reasonable.

There are 4 main tour routes (each tour will be marked with its own color Red, Green, Blue, Yellow) and Hot air balloon tour. The tours prices are very cheap from only 100TL (20€) which including all services (shuttle bus, tour guide, entrance tickets to attractions, water and lunch for guests).

But in short, I still recommend you to buy a tour, because the guide will tell you a lot of useful information about the tourist attractions, feeling like going to join an extra-curricular class. The “teachers” (we call the tour guides in a funny way) joked that before the end of the tour, they would check where we went for the day, if we could not answer, we could not return.

• Taking a tour will have to go to souvenir shops which is very time consuming.
• You can buy a tour through a travel agency or through your own hotel.
• Tour price can be paid in € or TL. You should consider which one is more valuable, then choose. We bought the tour in Euro because the price was 20 TL cheaper per tour.

And below I will also review in detail about the 3 most recommended tours in Cappadocia: Green Tour, Red Tour and Hot air balloon tour.

Hot Air Balloon Tour – A must-try experience in Cappdocia

A hot air balloon tour will include hotel room pick up service (staff knocks on the door and pick you up), breakfast, champagne after landing and a certificate after the tour.

At first, we didn’t know and we thought the hot air balloon operated all day, we could go whenever we wanted, but it turned out that it was only available at dawn (I asked a hotel staff, he answered like that).

Many of you wonder whether should book a hot air balloon tour because the cost is VERY HIGH. But in my opinion, this is the most memorable experience when traveling to Cappadocia. I really have never seen such a beautiful sunrise, the whole sky is full of hot air balloons, like watching a sci-fi movie.

• Duration: 1 – 1:30 hours
• Price: 100 – 200 euros
• Operators: Royal Ballons, Rainbow Ballons, Butterfly Ballons, Turkey Ballons, Sultan Ballons, …

Green Tour – The most recommended tour

Green Tour is the most recommended tour on TripAdvisor, because of going to the best spots in Cappadocia. Among the attractions, I like Derinkuyu Underground City the most, because I understand a lot more about the history and living habits of the ancient Cappadocia residents.

The most regret is the Pigeon Valley, so beautiful but it not include in the tour, instead we must visit a gem shop opposite.

• Duration: 8 hours
• The tour will go to the following spots: Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley hike, Selime Monastery, Pigeon Valley, Göreme Panorama.
• Price: 120 TL

Red Tour – The popular tour inCappadocia

Red Tour will take you visit the main tourist attractions in Cappadocia, with a rather short tour duration, only 6 hours from 9:30AM to 3PM. So the feeling is not satisfied like Green Tour.

But one more boring thing is that the tour only allows to enter to visit the Goreme Open Air Museum while with other places you only just stand from afar to look at.

• Duration: 6 hours
• The tour will go to the following spots: Uçhisar Panorama, Goreme Open Air Museum, Love Valley, Pasabag (Monk’s Valley), Devrent (Imagination Valley), Cavusin.

Cappadocia travel blog: Before you go

• Should wear a bohemian style will be very suitable for the landscape as well as the architecture in Cappadocia. And you must choose a comfortable pair of sports shoes (you will have to “climb” when visiting some tourist attractions in Cappadocia).
• The people of Cappadocia in particular and Turkey in general are extremely friendly and hospitable.Before coming to Cappadocia, I had seen many photos on Instagram and admired the beauty of this place. And when I got there, I was even more impressed. If possible, look forward to returning to Cappadocia in the near future.
• It is recommended to stay in Cappadocia for at least 2 nights to be able to hunt for a beautiful hot air balloon scene from early in the morning (we stayed for 3 nights but it was too windy, so all 4 mornings I couldn’t take photos of the hot air balloon).
• You should book at least 1 night at a hotel with a nice view: Mithra Cave hotel or Sultan Cave Suites (book in advance). The remaining day is spent to experiencing hot air ballooning.
• It is recommended to rent a self-drive car from Kayseri airport (the rental and gas prices in Turkey are extremely cheap), so you can experience more remote spots of Cappadocia such as: the Pasabag valley; Devrent Imagination valley; Red valley (with Ali cafe to watch the beautiful sunset).
• Should experience camel riding tour (you can book a tour at your hotel).
• Don’t forget to take “virtual living” photos with the beautiful rugs (carpets) here: Galeri Ikman carpet shop. You should book an appointment in advance if you want to take pictures with a drone or pay about 10 euros for 15 minutes of self-photography.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Cappadocia you can refer to

• Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia
• Cappadocia Devrent Valley Tour
• Blue Tour Cappadocia
• Green Tour with Trekking in Ihlara Valley
• Historical Cappadocia Red Tour

Are you looking for more top things to do in Cappadocia : Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here . And Turkey here .

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August 30, 2023

Discovering cappadocia solo: your ultimate travel companion.

Embark on a solo adventure to the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, where ancient history meets stunning natural formations. Our 2023 Solo Travel Guide to Cappadocia is your compass to navigating this unique destination. 

Whether you seek breathtaking landscapes, cultural immersion, or peaceful retreats, Solo Adventures has curated the ultimate guide to transform your solo journey into an unforgettable experience.

Solo-Friendly Attractions in Cappadocia:

Hot Air Balloon Ride : Soar above Cappadocia's surreal landscapes at sunrise, a breathtaking experience that offers panoramic views of the region's unique rock formations.

Goreme Open-Air Museum : Immerse yourself in history as you explore cave churches adorned with ancient frescoes, providing insights into the region's rich cultural heritage.

Derinkuyu Underground City : Descend into the depths of an ancient subterranean city, marveling at its intricate architecture and learning about its historical significance.

Rose Valley : Hike through the scenic Rose Valley, where vibrant hues of pink and gold merge with stunning rock formations, creating a picturesque landscape.

Uchisar Castle : Climb to the top of Uchisar Castle for unparalleled panoramic views of Cappadocia's otherworldly beauty, where the horizon stretches endlessly.

Where to stay as a solo traveler in Cappadocia:

Sultan Cave Suites : Experience cave accommodations at their finest, with breathtaking views and personalized service that promises an unforgettable stay.

Mithra Cave Hotel : Enjoy a cozy and authentic Cappadocian stay in a cave hotel equipped with modern amenities and traditional touches.

Kayakapi Premium Caves : Luxuriate in this unique hotel complex, offering a blend of modern comforts within meticulously restored historic cave dwellings.

Where to eat as a solo traveler in Cappadocia:

Dibek Restaurant : Indulge in traditional Anatolian flavors, served with warm hospitality, in a charming atmosphere that captures the essence of Cappadocia.

Ziggy's Shoppe & Café : Savor local delights and international cuisine in a laid-back café, perfect for solo travelers seeking a relaxed dining experience.

Top Deck Cave Restaurant : Relish exquisite meals while gazing at the sweeping Cappadocian vistas from this panoramic restaurant.

Cappadocia , with its otherworldly landscapes and rich history, is your gateway to an unforgettable solo journey. Solo Adventures invites you to uncover the hidden treasures of this mystical region, from its breathtaking balloon rides to its cave accommodations. Secure your 2023 adventure to Cappadocia today and let the enchantment unfold. Don't miss our exclusive discounted rates - reserve your spot now!

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Cappadocia Travel Guide For Turkey (+Map)

Cappadocia Turkey is the most popular hot air ballooning location in the world, and for good reason — the prices are affordable, and you get to see some unique fairytale landscapes.

More than half of the world’s balloon trips happen here. And even if you’re not interested in the famous Cappadocia hot air balloon rides, it’s still worth coming here for the good food, cave hotels, history, and photogenic hiking trails.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Cappadocia Turkey, where to stay, and all the best things to do, complete with a Cappadocia map and everything else you need to know before you go!

Table of Contents show 1) What Is Cappadocia? What Is The History? 2) Where Is Cappadocia Turkey? 3) How To Get To Cappadocia Turkey 4) Where To Stay 5) Best Cappadocia Cave Hotels 6) Cappadocia Map 7) Best Things To Do In Cappadocia 8) How To Get Around Cappadocia 9) Best Cappadocia Tours 10) How Long To Stay 11) Best Time To Visit Cappadocia 12) More Turkey Travel Guides

Don’t miss the famous Cappadocia hot air balloon rides! (© GetYourGuide )

What Is Cappadocia? What Is The History?

The Cappadocia area has been settled by humans since prehistoric times, and over the centuries it’s been occupied by the Hittites, Persians, Romans, early Christians, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks and Ottomans.

Historically, Cappadocia Turkey is probably best known for being a place where Christians settled and sought refuge from the hostile Roman Empire, secretly carving thousands of houses, churches, and caves into the hills.

Most of these rock buildings and underground cities can still be seen today, and they look just like Star Wars movie sets. Supposedly George Lucas wanted to film parts of the original Star Wars movies in Cappadocia, but the Turkish government turned it down.

Cappadocia is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site , and today it’s one of the tourism hotspots of Turkey. It draws millions of tourists every year (3.8 million in 2019!) who come to enjoy the unique landscapes, cave houses, and hot air balloon rides.

Where Is Cappadocia Turkey?

Cappadocia is located in central Turkey, and the nearest major city and airport is Kayseri.

The Cappadocia tourist area includes the small towns of Goreme, Uchisar, and Urgup, but almost everyone bases themselves in Goreme since it has the best hotels and restaurant choices.

How To Get To Cappadocia Turkey

The best way to get to Cappadocia Turkey is to fly domestically from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport (SAW) to the Kayseri airport (ASR).

There are a bunch of flights doing this route every day and it only takes 1.5 hours. A one way ticket can cost as little as 150 Liras ($20 USD)! You can shop for flights to Kayseri at Skyscanner.

After you arrive in Kayseri, you’ll need a van transfer since it’s a 1 hour drive to the Goreme town center in Cappadocia. You can arrange this with your hotel, or book it online.

I recommend pre-booking this top rated Cappadocia shared airport transfer for as low as $7 USD per person. They also have private airport transfers for $30 USD. We’ve used this company ourselves and had a great experience!

Where To Stay

Most Cappadocia hotels are located in the towns of Goreme, Uchisar, or Urgup.

Goreme is generally the best area of Cappadocia to stay in because it has a huge variety of restaurants, tour shops, and cave hotels for all budgets — from backpacker to luxury hotels.

The Cappadocia cave hotels below are some of our top recommendations! You can see more options here .  

Best Cappadocia Cave Hotels

Zara Cave Hotel

Taskonaklar

Panoramic Cave Hotel

Anatolian Houses Cave Hotel

Mithra Cave Hotel

Cappadocia Map

Here’s a Cappadocia map below showing the main towns and some of the top tourist sights (click to enlarge).

The 4 popular tours in Cappadocia are color coded and each one covers a different area. My personal favorites are the Red Tour and Green Tour (more on that later).

Cappadocia map (click to enlarge) showing the color coded tour areas: red, green, blue, and orange.

Best Things To Do In Cappadocia

• cappadocia hot air balloon ride.

You can’t miss the famous Cappadocia hot air balloon rides. More than half a million tourists do this every year. The balloons are fun to watch from the ground, and even more fun to fly in!

You can wait and book your balloon ride once you arrive in Cappadocia, but I would recommend pre-booking online because it’s a very popular activity that can sell out.

Here’s a top rated 1-hour Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride with free hotel pickup starting at $70 USD. We’ve used this company ourselves and had a great experience!

Book Now: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon

The famous Cappadocia Turkey balloon rides (© GetYourGuide )

• Devrent Valley

This is a neat valley with a lot of uniquely shaped natural rock formations.

Some of them look like the typical chimney rocks, while others are shaped like animals or humans. The most popular one is Camel Rock, which has a neck and humps like a camel!

Devrent Valley is part of the Cappadocia Red Tour .

Devrent Valley

The famous Camel Rock at Devrent Valley

• Monks Valley (Pasabag)

This was one of my favorite stops on the Cappadocia Red Tour .

Like the name implies, Monks Valley was inhabited by monks in ancient times who carved their own homes and windows into the steep chimney shaped rocks.

Monks Valley (Pasabag)

This is a historic town just a short distance north of Goreme, and a lot of Cappadocia visitors stop here as part of the historic Red Tour .

Avanos is known for its pottery and artistic plates and mugs, and even if you don’t plan on buying souvenirs it’s definitely worth a visit to see their wares being made. Lots of talent!

Avanos pottery

A fancy plate in Avanos

• Love Valley

This valley gets its name from the natural phallic shaped rocks. There are a bunch of short, easy trails in the valley if you want to do some easy hiking!

Love Valley is part of the Cappadocia Red Tour .

Love Valley

• Goreme Open Air Museum

This area is full of interesting cave churches from the 11th and 12th centuries. You can go inside them, and some of the frescoes on the walls are fantastic.

The Goreme Open Air Museum is part of the Cappadocia Red Tour .

Goreme Open Air Museum

Wall murals

• Uchisar Castle

Uchisar is a town just a short distance southwest of Goreme, and the central landmark is a 60-meter tall ‘castle mountain’ carved into rocks.

It’s the highest point of Cappadocia Turkey, and you can get some amazing panoramic views from the top of the tower.

Uchisar Castle is part of the Cappadocia Red Tour .

Uchisar Castle

The small town of Uchisar

• Derinkuyu Underground City

There are 36 underground cities in Cappadocia and the deepest one is Derinkuyu.

This city is 85 meters deep in the ground, and it has stables, churches, storage rooms, and thousands of ventilation ducts that gave it fresh air when people were living in it. It’s a fascinating place to explore!

Derinkuyu is part of the Cappadocia Green Tour , but some companies go to Kaymakli instead. Kaymakli is the deepest underground city, and Derinkuyu is the widest.

Cappadocia Underground City

• Ihlara Valley

This is a 100 meter deep valley formed by the Melendiz River.

At one time, this valley was home to 80,000 people, and thousands of their cave houses and churches can still be seen in the rock walls. It’s an amazing area that can be seen on a day trip with some light trekking.

The Ihlara Valley trek is part of the Cappadocia Green Tour .

Ihlara Valley

• Melendiz River

This is a peaceful clear river that runs through the Ihlara Valley, and most day tours stop by the river for lunch.

In the autumn season (mid-October), you can see bright yellow fall colors here.

• Selime Monastery

This is the biggest religious structure in the Cappadocia area, and it’s one of my favorites.

It looks just like a Star Wars set, and you can go inside most of the buildings, which date back to the 8th or 9th centuries.

Selime Monastery is part of the Cappadocia Green Tour .

Selime Monastery

Inside the Selime Monastery

• Pigeon Valley

This is a great hiking valley near Uchisar with lots of easy walking trails that wind through the chimney rocks and cave houses.

Pigeon Valley is part of the Cappadocia Green Tour .

Pigeon Valley

Fall colors at Pigeon Valley

How To Get Around Cappadocia

• Walking: If you’re staying in Goreme and want some exercise, a bunch of nice sights will be in walking distance from your hotel. Some ideas would be Rose Valley, Lovers Hill (sunrise point), and the countless cave houses and churches.
• Horseback: This is another fun way to go sightseeing in Cappadocia. You can find 2-hour horseback riding tours online starting at $50 USD.
• Car + Driver: The most comfortable and efficient way to explore Cappadocia is to hire a private driver . Prices for a 4-8 hour tour start at $60 USD. If you have a couple of friends joining you, this can be very economical. If your group is bigger than 3, you can even hire a private van for even better savings.
• Scooter: As a solo traveler, renting a scooter in Goreme can be cost effective sometimes. Prices run about $30-$40 USD for the whole day.
• ATV: Quad biking can be another fun way to see Cappadocia, and the terrain is perfect for it. You can find Cappadocia ATV tours online starting at $25 USD for 2 hours.
• Group Tour: There are lots of Cappadocia group tours that you can join if you’re a couple or solo traveler. These normally include hotel pickup, lunch, and a full day of sightseeing. Read the section below for some more info on recommended Cappadocia tours!

Best Cappadocia Tours

The 4 popular tours in Cappadocia are color coded (Red, Green, Blue, Orange) and each one covers a different area of Cappadocia. My personal favorites are the Red Tour and Green Tour .

The Red Tour covers sights like Devrent Valley, Monks Valley, Avanos, the Goreme Open Air Museum, and Uchisar Castle. The Green Tour covers Ihlara Valley, Melendiz River, Selime Monastery, Pigeon Valley, and the Derinkuyu Underground City.

The Blue and Orange tours are less popular, and they cover sights like Ortasihar and the Gulsehir Open Air Museum. I didn’t do these tours, but we plan to try them next time we visit Cappadocia.

For the Red and Green tours, you can book them with a tour agency on the street in the Cappadocia, or you can pre-book the same tours online, which is what I did.

GetYourGuide has the Cappadocia Red Tour for $35 USD, or the Green Tour for $55 USD, with free lunch and hotel pickup included. We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.

Book Now: Cappadocia Red Tour / Green Tour

How Long To Stay

At least 2 full days in Cappadocia are needed if you want to do both Red and Green tours and see the highlights of the countryside.

I’m sure you could spend longer too if you want to hit up more of the hiking paths and leave no stone unturned. Besides, Goreme town is a great place to get stuck, with loads of good Turkish restaurants!

If you plan to do the Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon ride, I would add at least 2 extra days to your itinerary in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. The balloon rides can get canceled on windy days, so it’s good to have a little extra time as a safety buffer.

Best Time To Visit Cappadocia

The best time to visit Cappadocia Turkey just depends on what you’re looking for. It’s a nice place all year round, but the temperatures go up and down quite a bit with the seasons.

Cappadocia has hot summers, and cold winters with snow. In either season, the landscapes will be stunning and photogenic, and hotels have air conditioning and heating so you’ll still be comfortable.

I went in the autumn (October) and this seemed just about perfect. The crowds weren’t too bad, and the leaves on the trees were almost at peak color.

Spring would also be a great time to visit, because you’ll get cooler temperatures and less crowds.

Happy travels!

More Turkey Travel Guides

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this Cappadocia Turkey travel guide.

Don’t forget to check out my other Turkey travel guides for more tips, info, and photos!

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Cappadocia Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, See and Eat in Cappadocia

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Table of Contents

Updated: 2/26/2022 | Cappadocia Travel Guide

Disclaimer: We received complimentary tours from Voyager Balloons and Kapadokya Dayim to include in our travel guide. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% our own and honest.

Cappadocia, or Kapadokya, is a World Heritage UNESCO site filled with dreamy, out-of-this-world landscapes. Seeing this Star Wars like destination has been on our bucket list for a very long time. We were so stoked to finally get a chance to see it.

About Cappadocia

Historically, Cappadocia Turkey is known for being the location where Christians settled during the Hittite era (1800 through 1200 B.C.) and sought refuge from the hostile prosecution by the Roman Empire. While seeking refuge in the area, they carved thousands of houses, churches, monasteries, and even pigeon caves into the limestone mountains, thus creating Cappadocia’s fairytale landscape that millions flock to explore each year.

Situated in central Turkey, Cappadocia is unlike any other destination I have been to. Its unique landscape of mushroom-capped fairy chimneys, cave houses, rock castles, pastel-colored valleys, and historic underground cities make it a destination that you will remember for a long time.

Cappadocia refers to an entire region in Turkey. The three most popular towns include Goreme, Uchisar, and Urgup. The entire region also includes the cities of Aksaray, Avanos, Nevsehir, Kirsehir, Nigde, and Kayseri.

What is the best time to visit Cappadocia?

Turkey experiences hot summers and very cold winters. The busiest seasons are in July and August where it is hot during the day and very comfortable in the evenings.

If you want to avoid the crowds, go during less busy months known as the shoulder season, meaning either  Spring or Autumn ( April, May, and mid-September through mid-November).

If you decide to go during the winter season (December through February), here are some things you can expect:

• The air temperature can drop significantly, so make sure to bring really warm clothing with you.
• The winter season means more balloons cancelations. Plan to stay at least 4-5.
• Prices for hotels, flights, restaurants and activities are much cheaper then usual during the low-season.
• Enjoy the main touristic spots without crowds.

What languages are spoken in Turkey?

Turkish people speak Turkish. Many people in the tourism industry will speak both Turkish and English. You will find that many Cappadocia residents do not speak English fluently or at all.

What currency is used in Turkey?

Most Cappadocia establishments will accept credit cards or cash. They will accept USD, Euros, or Turkish Lira (abbreviated as TRY).

 When we visited in July 2021, $1 USD was equivalent to 8 TRY.

How to Get to Cappadocia

If you are coming from Istanbul, you would have to fly into either Kayseri (the main airport) or Nevsehir. From Kayseri, it’s about an hour drive to the majority of cave hotels. Most hotels will help you arrange for a transfer from the airport to your hotel in Cappadocia for 75 Lira per person.

We flew with Pegasus and Turkish Airlines while traveling in and out of Cappadocia. Our flights were very affordable and cost under $50 USD per person.

Do I need a VISA to travel to Turkey?

You will need an e-visa to travel to Turkey. It’s super easy to obtain. Just apply online, pay the fee and you’ll receive a download link to the document as soon as payment is made. only takes a couple of minutes. I did it on the day of departure, but I highly recommend doing it a few days prior in case you run into any mobile connectivity issues.

What Electrical Plug Type is Used in Cappadocia?

Turkey uses a 220V, 50Hz. Socket Type F. It’s the socket that is indented into the wall and accepts plugs with two round prongs.

We highly recommend using this European converter by Tessan . It’s super cheap and has lasted us traveling to Europe and South America multiple times.

What’s the Best Way to get around Cappadocia?

There are many ways to get around Cappadocia. We highly recommend booking a tour or renting your own car to explore Cappadocia at your leisure.

Here are the ways you can explore and get around Cappadocia:

• Walking – If you’re staying in Goreme, you’ll be able to easily access many attractions on foot. You can walk to Rose Valley and Lover’s Hill (a sunrise viewpoint that costs 3 Lira on foot and 10 Lira if you decide to drive up to the viewpoint).
• Rent a Car – You can opt to book a tour or rent a car and do your own tour. We recommend renting one once you are in town. It cost us 300 Lira (30 euros or $37 USD) per day when we booked in town with Hiro Travel Agency. There are also companies that rent out colorful classic cars so that you can drive around Cappadocia in style. If you decide to rent a car, you will need an International Drivers License which can be obtained through AAA.
• Private Driver – The most comfortable and efficient way to explore Cappadocia is to hire a private driver . Prices for a 4-8 hour tour start at $60 USD. If you have a couple of friends joining you, this can be very economical. If your group is larger than 3 persons, you can hire a private van to get around.
• Scooter – Renting a scooter in Goreme can be cost-effective for couples and solo travelers. Rental prices run about $30-$40 USD per day.
• ATV – Quad biking is a fun way to see Cappadocia and the terrain is perfect for it. We recommend booking an ATV tour with HIRO Tour Travel Agency located in Goreme town. We did the sunset ATV tour for only $28 USD. ATV rentals for private use are not permitted. You can only ride an ATV on a guided tour. This rule was implemented due to fatal accidents that occurred in the past.
• Group Tour – There are lots of Cappadocia group tours that you can join. These typically include hotel pickup, lunch, and a full day of sightseeing. We recommend bringing snacks and water on your tour to stay hydrated and comfortable. We took a tour with Hiro Travel Agency for only 40 Euros for the Green Tour .
• Horseback – This is another fun way to go sightseeing in Cappadocia. You can find  2-hour horseback riding tours  online starting at $50 USD.

Sunset ATV Tour with Hiro Travel Agency

Is Cappadocia Safe to Travel To?

Cappadocia is very safe to travel to. We stayed in town late at night and were able to walk around without any problems.

The only thing we found annoying was travel company operators who are male would offer us a free night ATV tour with wine and a bonfire. We agreed to a night tour with a particular company and it ended up being the male operator wanting to party with my friend and me (two female travelers). We were lucky enough to be able to get a ride back to our cave hotel before things got too uncomfortable.

Where to Stay in Capadoccia

We highly recommend staying in a cave hotel in Goreme. Goreme has over 350 cave hotels and has the best view of the balloons. The balloons come closest to the town of Goreme because it’s located in the center of Cappadocia. Goreme is also super walkable and you’ll find plenty of things to do when you’re not exploring the rest of Cappadocia.

We stayed 4 nights in Cappadocia and were able to do everything on our itinerary with a slow day to relax and recharge at a hammam (Turkish bathhouse). 

Another option is to stay in the town of Uchisar. Uchisar is a 10 min drive away and has more luxurious hotels. Uchisar is still stunning nonetheless but the balloons are a further way when they go up at sunrise. You can also split your time staying between two cities to experience both areas.

Regardless of where you stay, you are guaranteed a lodging experience like none other! Almost all the cave hotels are built into fairy chimneys and have the dreamiest backdrops with balloons and pastel-colored mountains. It’s so unreal!

View from Apex Cave Hotel

We also visited Avanos and Urgup but do not recommend them. They do not have interesting cave hotels and these cities start to get pretty slow in the evenings. We do recommend visiting Urgup for cheap souvenirs though. 

Giant pinwheels in Urgup!

Top Ten Cappadocia Hotels

Here are our top 10 hotel picks in Cappadocia. We aimed for centrally located cave hotels in Goreme town with amazing rooftops with plush couches, pillows, breakfast, and more!

We recommend booking one to two months in advance because cave hotels have a limited number of rooms and sell out very quickly.

• Apex Cave Hotel – They have a great balcony with an amazing view of the hot air balloons. We were centrally located in Goreme and it was super easy to access various businesses and establishments within the town. Breakfast was included from 8am-10am.
• Anatolian Houses – This hotel has a hammam and has amazing views of the hot air balloons.
• Antique Terrace Cave Suites – Super cute rooftop with Instagrammable installations.
• Goreme Cave Rooms – Amazing rooftop views and centrally located.
• Koza Cave Hotel – Amazing rooftop views and centrally located.
• Local Cave House Hotel – This hotel is known for its stunning pool area. 
• Lunar Cappadocia Hotel – Amazing rooftop views!
• Milat Cave Hotels – Dreamy rooftop views with super Instagrammable backdrops and installations.
• Mithra Cave Hotel – Super cute rooftop area.
• Sultan Cave Suites – This was our top pick! We wanted to book this but rooms were not available. They have an amazing rooftop area for photos.

We created a list of our favorite Cappadocia hotels here .

Book the Best Cappadocia Hotels

What to Do and See in Capadoccia

Cappadocia is packed with things to see and do. We highly recommend trying both a tour and renting a car to explore on your own so that you get a feel of what both experiences are like.

Cappadocia Tour Packages

Most tour companies will offer tour packages that include the Red and Green tours, which are most popular. There is also the blue and gold tour, but that will require a private driver and are not as popular.

Here is a map that shows you what destinations are included in the different tour packages. We recommend saving this image on Pinterest for referencing later.

#1 Take a Hot Air Balloon ride

If there is one thing you MUST DO, it’s a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. Hot air balloon tours are held 365 days a year when the weather permits. Departure points and routes of the flights may vary depending on the weather and who your balloon conductor is.

If it is too windy, which happened on one of the four days we were in Cappadocia, the balloons will not be permitted to go up. The good thing is that the next day if balloons are permitted to take flight, the sky will be filled with them! This makes for a pretty backdrop on a cave hotel balcony. We had friends who were unable to make their balloon rides because it was too windy throughout their entire trip and all balloons were canceled. We highly recommend staying in Cappadocia for at least 3 days to ensure you can make it up in a hot air balloon.

You’ll be able to see Urgup, Goreme, and Avanos and all the beautiful pastel landscapes from above. The balloon rides are approximately 1 hour long and if you’re lucky, you’ll go up before sunrise. At the end of your ride, you’ll get a champagne toast and hopefully walk away with new friends!

We highly recommend booking with Voyager Balloons . They have the most comfortable baskets and we were the second balloon to go up on the day we took flight.

And if heights aren’t your thing, you can have the best views of the hot air balloons in the town of Goreme. In the summertime, expect to be on the balconies around 5 AM to catch the balloons as they rise into the air around sunrise at 5:30 AM.

Hot air balloon ride with Voyager Balloons

#2 Devrent Valley (Imaginary Valley)

This is a valley with many uniquely shaped natural rock formations. They remind me of Hershey’s Kisses!

Some of them look like the typical chimney rocks, while others are shaped like animals or people. The most popular formation is Camel Rock which gets its name from the two humps shapes that resemble a camel.

Devrent Valley is part of the Cappadocia  Red Tour .

#3 Monks Valley (Pasabag)

As the name implies, Monks Valley was inhabited by monks in ancient times who carved their own homes and windows into the steep chimney-shaped rocks.

This stop is included on the Cappadocia Red Tour .

Pasabag (Monks Valley)

#4 Love Valley

This valley gets its name from the natural penis-shaped rocks. There are a bunch of short and easy trails in the valley if you wish to hike it.

We took a sunset ATV tour and even took some photos on the Instagrammable swings provided by Ask Vadisi Salincak Cafe with the phallic rocks in the background.

#5 Goreme Open Air Museum

This area is full of cave churches from the 11th and 12th centuries. You can go inside them and check out some of the awesome frescoes.

The Goreme Open Air Museum is part of the Cappadocia  Red Tour and you’ll typically have one hour to spend exploring this destination.

#6 Zelve Open Air Museum

Zelve is another open air museum that is typically visited when you see Pasabag because the ticket to Pasabag also includes entry into Zelve.

We recommend going on your own to visit Zelve because it is not part of any tour packages. You can also visit Pasabag for a second time while you’re at it. The cost to enter both sites is 25 Lira.

Zelve Open Air Museum

#7 Uchisar Castle

Uchisar is a town just southwest of Goreme. Its main landmark is a 60-meter tall castle mountain that was carved into the rocks.

It’s the highest point in Cappadocia Turkey and you can get some awesome panoramic views from the top of the tower.

Uchisar Castle is part of the Cappadocia  Red Tour . If you decide to visit this location on your own, we recommend driving up to the plaza and paying for parking, and walking up to see the castle. You’ll have to pay an entry fee to ascend to the top of the castle.

Uchisar Castle

#8 Derinkuyu Underground City

There are 36 underground cities in Cappadocia and the widest one is Derinkuyu.

Derinkuyu is 85 meters deep in the ground and it has stables, storage rooms, churches, a tomb, a wine-making room, and thousands of ventilation ducts that help keep fresh air flowing through the underground city. The city was once home to over 20,000 people along with their livestock. It’s super fun to explore how people lived during that era.

You should exercise caution when visiting. Some tunnels are very narrow and low. If you are claustrophobic, this attraction may not be for you.

Derinkuyu is part of the Cappadocia  Green Tour . Some tour companies may go to Kaymakli underground city instead. Kaymakli is the deepest underground city while Derinkuyu is the widest.

You can also take a local bus from Goreme to Derinkuyu Underground City and includes one transfer and will take approximately 45 minutes.

Derinyuku Underground City

#9 Ihlara Valley

This is a 100-meter deep valley formed by the Melendiz River. It’s a nice day tour where you can leisurely hike and get lunch at the cafe along the river or at the end of the hike when you exit the valley.

At one time, this valley was home to 80,000 people, and thousands of their cave houses and churches can still be visited in the rock walls.

The Ihlara Valley trek is also part of the Cappadocia Green Tour . We recommend visiting in the Fall season (mid-October) where you can see gorgeous gradients of red, orange and yellow fall colors throughout the valley.

Hiking the Ihlara Valley

#10 Selime Monastery

This is the largest religious structure in the Cappadocia area and is reminiscent of a Star Wars set. You can explore the inside of most of the buildings which date back to the 8th or 9th centuries.

The Selime Monastery is part of the Cappadocia Green Tour .

Selime Monastery

#11 Pigeon Valley

This is a great hiking valley near Uchisar with lots of easy walking trails that wind through the chimney rocks and cave houses.

The chimney rocks were carved out by humans and turned into pigeon houses. They used pigeon manure to fertilize the farmlands in Cappadocia. The pigeons would nest in the chimney rocks and their poop would be collected for farming. You can easily spot pigeon rocks by the multiple holes carved into the rocks and looks like Swiss cheese.

#12 Lovers Hill for Sunrise and Sunset

This panoramic viewpoint in Goreme Town is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately, it gets very crowded during both times.

Despite the crowds, it is one of the best spots in Cappadocia to take photos with hot air balloons in the backdrop. You are often above the balloons and can spot Uchisar Castle, Red Valley and panoramic views of Goreme town.

Sunset at Lovers Hill in Goreme

#13 Cavusin Castle

Cavusin Castle is super easy to scale and has an amazing lookout for sunset. We were brave enough to climb some sketchy rocks but it was so worth it. 

We visited the castle on a sunset ATV tour with Hiro Travel Agency. We highly recommend revisiting the castle on your own so that you can enjoy the sunset without having to rush to get back to the tour.

Sunset from Cavusin Castle

Cavusin Castle

#14 Visit the most famous carpet shop in Cappadocia

In the center of Goreme, you’ll find Galerie Ikham, one of the most famous carpet shops in the world! When you walk into the space, you’ll see layers upon layers of beautiful carpets.

Many visitors visit this store for the sole purpose of taking photos against the beautiful carpeted backdrop. There is a cost to take photos with your own equipment. It’s free if you purchase a souvenir.

You can also opt to buy one of their photo packages with a professional photographer or drone camera photos.

#15 ROse Valley

Rose Valley was probably one of my most favorite landmarks. The valley stretches for miles and glows with gradients of pastel pink and reds. We stopped by the valley during our sunset ATV tour.

You can also visit Rose valley as part of the  Green Tour .

What to Eat in Cappadocia

We can’t forget to tell you about our favorite restaurants. We love to travel for awesome sights and bites.

Here are our top restaurant picks in Cappadocia that you MUST try. They are organized by city.

Goreme Restaurants

• Dibek – They offer testi kebab (pottery kebab dish with rice) and mezes. You can dine at one of their tables or opt for plush floor seating. You can also keep warm next to the fireplace. 
• Organic Wine Cave – They offer pottery kebabs (or testi kebab) that are broke open with a miniature hammer. The meat is super tender and flavorful. We highly recommend ending your meal with their rice pudding. They also have an amazing Sangria that is their bartender’s specialty. You can also request a non-alcoholic Sangria. It was so good we came back twice!

Organic Wine Cave testi kebab

• Seten – Enjoy awesome rooftop views complete with a live band during dinner.  They offer a variety of Anatolian and Turkish dishes are prepared from locally sourced ingredients using traditional cooking techniques.  We highly recommend trying yaprak sarma (rice wrapped in vine leaves and cooked in a tandir oven), çiçek dolması (Göreme stuffed squash flowers), and their lamb pot pie. We also loved their non-alcoholic Coconut Kiss mocktail.
• Topdeck Cave Restaurant – This Cappadocia restaurant is super cozy with only ten tables. The food is delicious and affordable.
• Viewpoint Cafe and Bar – Get amazing panoramic views of Goreme. We loved their chicken fajitas and baked sea bream. At the end of our meal, the owner gifted us a Cappadocia magnet!
• Panda Restaurant – We did not dine here, but they have an AWESOME carpet nook that you’ll want to take pictures in and colorful stairs that lead into the restaurant. They serve pizza and pasta dishes and we saw tons of families dining with kids.
• Peking Chinese Restaurant – We enjoyed pickled fish, dumplings, and fried green beans. The portions are huge, so get ready to have leftovers or share with friends!
• Pumpkin Restaurant and Art Gallery – Try their 3-course tasting menu for only 80 TRY (8 euros or 10 USD). This is a small, friendly restaurant with fixed menus from 80 TL per person. The price of the menu is fixed but not always what’s on them – so you might want to call in advance to see what their main dish is.

Panda restaurant!

Avanos Restaurants

• Lezzet Sofrasi – Enjoy classic Turkish dishes in this casual establishment. It’s located along the river and bridge in Avanos.
• Seyyah Han – This is the best spot to dine in Avanos. You can enjoy wonderful views from their terrace. 
• Uranos Sarıkaya Restaurant – This Cappadocian restaurant offers delicious both food and live entertainment during dinner. Enjoy a folk show with alcoholic beverages during dinner. They are known for their testi kebab.

Uchisar Restaurants

• Elai – At this French-meets-Turkish restaurant, set near the stone-carved Uçhisar Castle, all of the tables overlook green valleys and snow-covered peaks.
• Lil’a – Lil’a is an elegantly decorated restaurant with a terrace located in the Museum Hotel. Chef Mustafa Buyukhan crafts a menu that offers modern interpretations of classical Turkish dishes with amazing presentation. You’ll have to dress up when you dine here, so we highly suggest you dine here if you have a special occasion or want a romantic experience. Their menu is extensive, and both the atmosphere and presentation of the food are wonderful. Some of their most popular dishes include pit-roasted duck or lamb shank. They change their menu often and reservations are recommended. And if you’re interested, you can take cooking classes offered by the chef himself!
• Seki Restaurant – This is a great Cappadocian restaurant located inside the Argos Hotel. You’ll also be able to enjoy the view, tasting menu, and even a wine cellar where you can sample wine prior to purchasing. They also offer wine tasting tours if you’ve already had dinner or lunch. It’s important to note that they don’t offer tasting menus late at night. We highly recommend making a reservations if you decide to dine here.
• Saklı Konak ( Hidden Mansion) – The Hidden Mansion is one of the best restaurants in Uçhisar. We recommend going for dinner where you can try their testi kebab (clay pot kebab). Reservations are highly recommended.
• Kadıneli Restaurant – This restaurant offers affordable and delicious Cappadocian dishes. You’ll find local cuisine items which include Turkish dumplings (manti), stuffed grape leaves (yaprak sarma), and pancakes (gozleme). It’s located a short walk from Uchisar square.
• O Agacin Alti – This cafe is famous for its tree-based evil eyes and is a wonderful place to visit to take a coffee break and to take in the beautiful view.

What to Wear in Cappadocia

In the Summer, we recommend wearing breathable and lightweight clothing. You may need a jacket if you’re headed to the balloons early in the AM. I had a Turkish bath towel that kept me warm throughout the morning of our balloon flight.

When riding an ATV, I recommend wearing shorts and a tank top if it’s warm and staying bundled with a jacket and leggings when it’s cold. You will also want to bring a bandanna or face mask, because dust will be in your face the entire time.

If you’re headed there in the Fall or Winter, I highly recommend warm clothing such as a coat and long dresses. You may also want to bring scarves and gloves because it will be chilly.

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ROAD TRIP IDEAS & HIKING INSPIRATION FOR OUTDOORSY TRAVELERS

Solo Backpacking to the Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia, Turkey (& Complete Guide)

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How to make the most out of your solo trip to Cappadocia, Turkey? I spent 3 days in Göreme National Park during a two-week-long backpacking trip to Turkey, and it was one of the must-visit places besides Siberia and the Amazon rainforest that I really wanted to see. Although Turkey is a popular summer destination, I can highly recommend it for those who seek the winter sun as it’s rather warm all year round.

During this trip to Cappadocia, I explored the fairy chimneys and other rock formations, visited an archaeological site, made new friends from around the world, and even rode a hot air balloon!

Related Read: How to travel with a small backpack?

Is it safe to travel as a solo female in Cappadocia?

Turkey is not the easiest country to travel solo, especially if you are a girl, but don’t let it discourage you from exploring it! I hitchhiked and Couchsurfed, and yet here am I. The world is full of wonderful women traveling and hiking alone , and I can assure you you will meet with some of them on your way. But let’s talk about Turkey.

Yes, you will get compliments and invitations (for tea and dates) all the time, both in-person and online. You can politely decline them, nothing to stress about. I’ve read that Cappadocia is a more conservative Muslim region. Still, I found it (at least Göreme) very touristy, and I barely met locals, unlike in Malaysia or Indonesia , where we spent most of our time off the beaten path.

I dressed in long pants and t-shirts (plus had a long shirt with me all the time) to avoid extra, unwanted attention due to my clothing. But you will see people in short skirts and pants a lot too.

Actually, there are so many tourists that you can easily walk near to groups, talk to them, and join them if you feel uncomfortable wandering around alone.

Cappadocia is totally safe for solo females.

Where to stay if you travel solo to Göreme

I took a bus from Ankara and arrived late in the village without having any pre-book accommodation. It was dark, and I was traveling without a smartphone. I didn’t own any at that time (2013).

I only recommend this to pro travelers. If you tend to stress over details of your travel or uncertainty, book your place now! You will find plenty of deals for bookings.

I researched beforehand that there is a popular hostel among backpackers and was hoping for some free beds. Do you want to stay in the same place? Check the current prices !

My choice fell on that property based not only on the recommendations but also on a cave hostel. Actually, most of the hotels and rooms in Göreme are carved (at least partially) into the volcanic tuff that covers the area. And it was a hostel, so I had a chance to socialize with other people and not exploring on my own most of the time.

That time my student budget didn’t let me splurge, but we’ll go back one day and stay in this place . Or at this .

The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia: how were they made?

I was always fascinated by the fairy chimneys, and as I studied geography extensively, I knew the history behind those landforms very well.

These weirdly eroded rocks are common sights in arid basins and badlands. This one is special due to its wide extent.

The Göreme National Park lays on 1000 m above sea level in the center of Turkey, in Central Anatolia, has a limited amount of precipitation, and is surrounded by great volcanos. Let’s see how these miraculous towers are shaped.

Firstly, the nearby volcanos’ fresh lava covered the more porous volcanic pieces and ashes (the tuff). Secondly, it needed time. A lot. Nature started to shape the pinnacles. The lower, softer rocks, the tuffs, are more eroded (mostly by the wind) than the top’s tough ones. The forces carved them into these unusual shapes we can admire nowadays. They are also called hoodoos.

When nature finally deals with the top, hard layer (usually, gravity pulls it down as the neck of the pinnacle becomes too narrow), they slowly erode totally away and disappear.

Not to miss attractions in Göreme National Park – UNESCO World Heritage

Day trip from göreme to the sights near ürgüp and uçhisar.

First, I was planning on hitchhiking around, but due to the short time, I decided on a more efficient way of seeing all the places, as it was on my bucket list for a really long.

I signed up for a day trip exploring the nearby settlements and sights. It was awesome. We traveled by minibus and visited the must-see attractions. Our guide told stories, and we also had time to explore on our own while taking even more photos.

Must-see places on a day trip?

The fairy chimneys at pasabagi (paşabağı), derinkuyu underground city, keslik monastery, the rose valley, the pigeon valley.

The restaurant with the Hungary fan owner/waitress

With the newly made friends from the trip, we decided to go out for dinner. We were invited to the second place we passed by a friendly and funny waiter. Later, it turned out he even lived in Hungary a decade ago (what a coincidence!), and while tasting the local specialties and wines, we were entertained and chatted a lot with him. It was a memorable dinner, probably the only one I still remember from my Turkey trip.

Goreme open-air museum

There is a smaller open-air museum that was interesting yet so crowded that I was not a real fan. You can learn about the region’s history and architecture so you shouldn’t miss it. As I was craving a unique experience, I went on a shorter hike near the town.

Wandering between the chimneys

When I needed some alone time (and photo shooting time), I said goodbye to the others and took 2 hours to walk between the fairy chimneys. It was scorching and had almost no shadows, so make sure you take enough water with you. I only had a similar experience later in the Death Valley in the US.

I met with quad tours, other curious explorers and got offered tea and juice (both that I refused) from sellers in the middle of my walk.

Hot air balloon ride

I have been debating whether to take the trip or not, as the price of it was quite high, but I have to tell you, the views absolutely worth it! If you have similar doubts, and you can actually afford it, don’t skip it!

You can choose between several companies, all having a similar price for the adventure. They will pick you up from your place, offer you a light snack, then, if the weather permits, go to the balloons and enjoy the ride.

It was a very windy morning, and we were on hold for at least an hour (meanwhile, I had breakfast from the tasty bakeries that were offered). I was already prepared that it’ll be postponed to the next morning, but eventually, the weather was kind of us, and we headed to the balloons.

That made me realize again how scared am I even on a ladder. And we will be flying! Standing in a basket with a giant balloon above my head! Am I crazy?!

It didn’t take as much time to inflate the balloons as I expected, or I was just busy with my little panic wave. Soon we were in the air! The sunset colors were gone, but the lights were still low, and I took a few decent pictures.

Take away thoughts

Easy to connect with locals and others on the road, tasty food, and stunning landscapes. Cappadocia is a perfect destination for solo female travelers who want to discover local culture, nature, and dishes.

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About the Author

Katalin Katalin is a Lapland-based outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking, road-tripping, and traveling with her family. She spends her free time far away from civilization in one of the national parks around the world, explores off-the-beaten-path places, or hops on a road trip with her kids in an RV. Read more about her adventures and the blog .

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But outside of seeing the hot air balloon pics splashed across my social media feeds, I have to admit, I really didn’t know what else there was to get up to in Cappadocia when I arrived there.

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Solo Female Travel in Cappadocia

Travel rating.

Based on 3 experiences

Based on our research

Based on safety reports

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Travel index

Safety: Very safe

Transport: Easy

Things to do: Fascinating

Food: Above average

Budget: Moderate

Is cappadocia worth visiting, overall rating.

based on 3 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do, budget-friendly.

United States

Group travel experience

I loved my entire experience in Cappadocia, Turkey (Turkiye). I felt very safe there. I recommend bringing hiking boots and wearing clothes that you are ok with getting dusty at times. I am so happy I stayed in a cave hotel in Cavusin Village, rather than Goreme (which is close) because the hot air balloons took off right by my hotel. The view was spectacular each morning. I loved the family run hotel and the breakfast was wonderful each morning. One of my favorite things I did (outside of the hot air balloon ride) was riding an ATV at sunset. It was one of the coolest experiences chasing the sunset throughout the rugged and unique landscape of Cappadocia. I did day tours as well, so I could visit all of the regions of Cappadocia. I went in September when the weather is perfection in Turkey. Highly recommend buying some bottles of rose oil when there. I didn’t realize Turkey is known for their roses and the oil (for hair, skin and face) is so good! Bring a jacket in September as the temperature is chilly in the morning and in the evenings. I went to Cappadocia with a friend of mine and it was one of the most memorable trips! I loved the small village of Cavusin where I stayed and the local restaurants and shops. Goreme is much larger and packed with many food and shop options. Definitely stay in a cave hotel if you can!

Solo travel experience

I didn't experience any security issues because I went on a tour to Cappadocia. It was a day trip. The balloon tours, which hadn't been done for two months, happened on the day we were there by chance, and it was the most beautiful view of my life. You can explore for an hour with a safari tour, but I didn't participate because it was a bit expensive. Other than that, you can enjoy the aesthetics of a city with unspoiled charm by strolling through the streets of Ürgüp for hours.

Cappadocia is incredibly rich in culture, history, and the food is good. It's easy to get around the city, the people are nice, and most of them speak English. I highly recommend spending 2-3 days in Cappadocia, it's really safe there. I did a hot air balloon ride and it was my favorite part of the trip.

Firts of all i want to say from heart; cappadocia is quite safe area for everyone. Im living here (ürgüp) and evet at 3am i can walk in the street alone. Until now i did not experience any bad situation. For save your money: You can ask different agency for tours. Because same tour can be differences about 10-20 euro.

Upcoming visitors to Cappadocia

I’m a Hungarian girl who would like to explore the whole world.✨🤩 25/195🌍 I’m studying vehicle engineering and my hobbies are reading or scrolling through Skyscanner etc.🤭

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Cappadocia Solo Travel: Your Ultimate Guide to Unforgettable Solo Adventures

If you want to Cappadocia solo travel alone, you are in the right place; the charm of solo travel will envelop you! It's a different type of liberation, a unique adventure where you can truly immerse yourself in the wonders of a new place.

One such place that should definitely be on your bucket list? When it comes to Cappadocia solo travel, you’re in for an experience like no other.

Why is Cappadocia the Perfect Destination for Solo Travelers?

Cappadocia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a blend of historical riches, mesmerizing landscapes, and unique experiences. Here's why Cappadocia solo travel is worth considering:

• Land of fairy chimneys : The breathtaking rock formations are nothing short of magical.
• Hot air balloon rides : Float above the picturesque valleys and behold the panoramic beauty.
• Ancient underground cities : Explore the rich history embedded deep within the earth.
• Warm local hospitality : The people of Cappadocia are known for their welcoming nature, making solo travelers feel right at home.

Is Cappadocia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

A common query among many is: ‘ Is Cappadocia safe for solo female travelers ?’ The answer is a resounding yes. The region has consistently been rated as a safe destination, with locals being respectful and accommodating.

There are, of course, general travel safety guidelines one should follow. But when it comes to whether Cappadocia is safe for solo female travelers, there's little to be concerned about.

Tips for a Successful Cappadocia Solo Travel Experience

• Preparation is essential : Before embarking on your Cappadocia solo travel adventure, have everything packed and a rough itinerary planned.
• Local cuisine is a must-try : Tantalize your taste buds with local Anatolian dishes and the famed Turkish tea.
• Stay connected : While it's great to disconnect, ensure you have a local SIM card to stay connected with loved ones.
• Respect local traditions : While Cappadocia is tourist-friendly, it’s always good to be mindful of local customs and traditions.

Choose Our Company for the Best Cappadocia Solo Travel Experience

Now, here's where we come into play. Our company has curated the best solo travel packages if you're keen on a memorable and hassle-free Cappadocia solo travel experience. We prioritize safety, especially concerning whether Cappadocia is safe for solo female travelers. With us, not only do you get the chance to explore the region's hidden gems, but you also get the peace of mind that you're in capable hands.

If solo travel is your calling and Cappadocia is on your mind, there's no better time than now. Remember, while the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, with us, each step is bound to be memorable.

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A Magical Journey to Cappadocia: Your Ultimate Travel Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to make the most out of your Cappadocia trip ! In this article, we’ll dive into the wonders of this enchanting destination, giving you practical tips and insights on what to do, where to stay, and how to get around. So buckle up and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Discovering the Magic of Cappadocia

A Brief History of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, Turkey, known for its unique fairy chimneys, underground cities, and cave churches. The region’s history dates back thousands of years, with traces of civilizations such as the Hittites, Phrygians, and Persians. The early Christians also found refuge in Cappadocia, carving out elaborate underground settlements to escape persecution.

The Allure of Cappadocia’s Landscapes

Cappadocia’s landscape is characterized by its otherworldly rock formations, which are a result of volcanic activity and erosion over millennia. These captivating formations are not only visually stunning, but they also hold a wealth of history and cultural significance.

Must-Visit Attractions in Cappadocia

Göreme Open-Air Museum

This UNESCO World Heritage site is a must-visit for anyone coming to Cappadocia. The Göreme Open-Air Museum features a collection of ancient cave churches adorned with well-preserved frescoes, providing a glimpse into the lives of early Christians in the region.

Underground Cities

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli are two of the most famous underground cities in Cappadocia. These multi-level subterranean settlements could house thousands of people and were used as hiding places during times of conflict. Explore the labyrinthine corridors, chambers, and tunnels to truly appreciate these remarkable feats of engineering.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

A hot air balloon ride is the quintessential Cappadocia experience. Drift high above the fairy chimneys , valleys, and vineyards, as the sun rises over this magical landscape. It’s an unforgettable adventure that you won’t want to miss.

Practical Tips for Your Cappadocia Trip

Best time to visit.

The best time to visit Cappadocia is during the shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October). The weather is more pleasant during these months, and there are fewer tourists, allowing you to enjoy the region’s beauty without the crowds.

Getting There and Around

The nearest airports to Cappadocia are Kayseri (ASR) and Nevsehir (NAV). Once you arrive, you can rent a car or use public transportation to explore the region. Alternatively, you can also join guided tours to make the most of your trip.

Where to Stay

From cozy cave hotels to luxurious suites, Cappadocia offers a range of unique accommodations. Some popular options include the Kelebek Special Cave Hotel, the Museum Hotel, and the Cappadocia Cave Suites.

Indulging in Cappadocian Cuisine

Must-try dishes.

While in Cappadocia, be sure to try local dishes such as testi kebab, mantı, and gözleme. For a sweet treat, don’t miss out on the region’s famous pumpkin dessert, kabak tatlisi.

Dining Options

Restaurants and cafés to visit.

Cappadocia boasts a variety of dining options to suit every palate. For a memorable meal, consider visiting these popular establishments:

• Ziggy Café: Located in the heart of Ürgüp, this café offers a cozy atmosphere and a menu full of delicious local and international dishes.
• Dibek Traditional Cook: This family-run restaurant in Göreme serves mouthwatering home-cooked meals, including their signature testi kebab.
• Old Cappadocia Café & Restaurant: Enjoy stunning views of the fairy chimneys while savoring traditional Cappadocian dishes at this quaint eatery in Göreme.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How many days should I spend in Cappadocia?

A: A minimum of 3 days is recommended to fully experience the beauty and history of Cappadocia. This allows ample time to explore the main attractions, take a hot air balloon ride, and enjoy the local cuisine.

Q2: Is Cappadocia safe for solo travelers?

A: Yes, Cappadocia is considered safe for solo travelers. The locals are friendly, and the region is well-touristed, making it a comfortable destination for those traveling alone.

Q3: Can I visit Cappadocia’s underground cities without a guide?

A: It is possible to visit the underground cities independently, but hiring a guide is highly recommended. A knowledgeable guide will provide valuable insights into the history and significance of these unique structures.

Q4: What should I wear while visiting Cappadocia?

A: Dressing in layers is advised, as temperatures can vary throughout the day. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as the terrain can be uneven. Additionally, modest clothing is recommended when visiting religious sites, such as cave churches.

Q5: Are there any currency exchange facilities in Cappadocia?

A: Yes, there are currency exchange offices and ATMs in major towns like Göreme, Ürgüp, and Avanos. It is advisable to carry some Turkish Lira (TRY) for smaller transactions and entrance fees.

Cappadocia is a truly magical destination that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. From exploring underground cities and ancient cave churches to indulging in local cuisine and drifting high above the fairy chimneys in a hot air balloon, a trip to Cappadocia promises an unforgettable adventure.

Don’t wait any longer! Start planning your Cappadocia journey today and experience the magic for yourself!

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Cappadocia Solo Travel: Embracing the Adventure Alone

Cappadocia solo travel offers an unparalleled experience for adventurers exploring one of Turkey's most mesmerizing landscapes.

This region, known for its unique geological formations, rich history, and captivating cultural heritage, provides the ideal backdrop for self-discovery and adventure.

The Allure of Cappadocia for the Solo Traveler

Cappadocia solo travel isn’t just a journey through a physical landscape; it's an exploration into the depths of one's independence and courage. The beauty of traveling alone in Cappadocia lies in the freedom and flexibility it offers. You set your own pace, choose your path, and have the opportunity to connect with the place and its people on a much deeper level:

• Unique landscapes and historical sites : As a solo traveler in Cappadocia, you'll be mesmerized by the region's fairy-tale-like terrain. The iconic fairy chimneys, towering rock formations, and ancient cave churches offer a surreal experience that feels like stepping into another world. Don't miss the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can wander through centuries-old cave churches adorned with well-preserved frescoes.
• Hot air balloon rides : No Cappadocia solo travel experience is complete without a hot air balloon ride . Floating over the lunar-like landscape at sunrise offers a sense of tranquility and awe that is hard to replicate. As a solo traveler, you'll find this experience even more profound, allowing you to savor the beauty and silence of the dawn in an intimate and liberating way.
• Local cuisine and cultural experiences : Cappadocia's culinary scene is a delightful exploration of Turkish cuisine with a local twist. As a solo traveler, you have the unique advantage of immersing yourself fully in the local culture. Enjoy traditional dishes like Testi Kebap (pottery kebab) or partake in a cooking class to learn the secrets of Cappadocian cuisine.

Planning Your Cappadocia Solo Adventure

Now that the prospect of Cappadocia solo travel entices you let's delve into the practicalities of planning your trip:

Choosing the right time to visit

Cappadocia experiences distinct seasons, each offering a unique charm. Spring and autumn are trendy, as the mild weather and the landscapes are vibrant. Summers can be scorching, while winters bring a blanket of snow. Consider your preferences and plan accordingly.

Accommodation options

Cappadocia offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. You'll find many choices, from charming boutique hotels in cave dwellings to luxury resorts with panoramic views. Solo travelers can opt for cozy guesthouses to connect with fellow adventurers.

Exploring the highlights

While in Cappadocia, make sure to explore some of its top attractions, including:

• Goreme Open-Air Museum : A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this extraordinary museum is a testament to Cappadocia's rich history and artistic heritage. Within its rocky confines, you'll find a mesmerizing collection of rock-cut churches and monasteries adorned with intricate frescoes that tell the stories of bygone eras.
• Hot air balloon ride : Elevate your Cappadocia experience to new heights with a hot air balloon ride . As you ascend into the sky, you'll be treated to an awe-inspiring, bird's-eye view of the otherworldly landscape. The surreal beauty of Cappadocia, with its fairy chimneys and lunar-like terrain, will leave you breathless and forever etch itself into your memory.
• Hiking trails : Strap on your hiking boots and embark on a journey through the natural wonders of Cappadocia. The well-maintained trails will lead you to hidden gems like the enchanting Love Valley, where whimsical rock formations seem to defy gravity, and Pigeon Valley, named for the thousands of pigeon houses carved into the cliffs.
• Underground cities : Delve into the subterranean mysteries of Cappadocia by descending into the depths of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu . These awe-inspiring underground cities were meticulously carved out of rock centuries ago, serving as ingenious refuges for early Christians and offering a fascinating glimpse into the region's history and ingenuity.
• Local markets : Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of local culture by wandering through the bustling markets of towns like Goreme and Urgup. You can discover various handmade crafts, exquisite textiles, and delectable local cuisine here. Engaging with the friendly locals and sampling their culinary delights is essential to the Cappadocian experience.

Safety and Connectivity in Cappadocia

One of the concerns of Cappadocia solo travel is safety, especially for first-time solo travelers. Fortunately, Cappadocia is known for being safe and welcoming. The locals are friendly and helpful, making it easy for solo travelers to navigate and explore confidently. Additionally, staying connected is not a problem, as most accommodations and cafes offer WiFi, and cellular service is generally reliable throughout the region.

• Accommodation options for every style : Whether you prefer luxury cave hotels or budget-friendly hostels, Cappadocia offers a range of accommodations to suit every solo traveler's needs. Staying in a cave hotel is a unique experience that shouldn't be missed, offering a blend of comfort and history.
• Meeting fellow travelers : One of the joys of Cappadocia solo travel is meeting fellow adventurers worldwide. The region attracts diverse travelers, making it a great place to exchange stories, share experiences, and make new friends.

Cappadocia solo travel is an enriching and unforgettable experience. It offers the perfect blend of adventure, culture, history, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for those exploring alone.

Whether you're seeking solitude, experience, or cultural immersion, Cappadocia provides a safe and welcoming environment for all solo travelers. Embrace the journey, and let Cappadocia reveal its wonders one step at a time.

• Things To Do in Turkey
• What to Wear for Hot Air Balloon Ride Cappadocia? 16-03-2024
• What to Wear in Cappadocia? 16-03-2024
• What to Pack for Cappadocia? 09-03-2024

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3 Best Hostels in Cappadocia – Hot Air Balloons Overlooking Magical Fairy Chimneys

If you’re looking for the best hotels in Cappadocia, we got you covered!

Cappadocia serves as an escape to a magical land in central Turkey. Far from Istanbul and the Turkish coast, Cappadocia is like no other place in the world, with its peculiar rock formations, natural caves, fairy-like cave hostels, and ancient history.

But the area is pretty huge, so it can take effort to figure out where to stay, especially if you’re on a budget. This hostel guide will help you find the best hostels in Cappadocia, located in a perfect neighborhood and providing authenticity, safety, and comfort.

Our favorite hostels in Cappadocia are:

• Diadem Cappadocia Guest House & Hostel - best for Female Solo Travelers
• Homestay Cave Hostel - best for Solo Travelers
• Kamelya Cave Hostel - best for Couples

Money-saving tip : Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com . They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.

1. Diadem Cappadocia Guest House & Hostel

2. Homestay Cave Hostel

3. Kamelya Cave Hostel

If you’re traveling throughout Turkey, chances are you’re also checking out Istanbul and perhaps even Antalya. In this case, let us further help you out. Here are the  best hostels in Turkey , best hostels in Istanbul and the best hostels in Antalya .

This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…

• are tired of crappy hostels!
• want a social Hostel to actually meet people
• are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience

What we cover in this article?

• Introduction
• #1 Diadem Cappadocia Guest House & Hostel
• #2 Homestay Cave Hostel
• #3 Kamelya Cave Hostel
• cheapest hostels in Cappadocia
• best hostels in Cappadocia for solo traveler
• discounts and promo codes

How to book?

• All hostel and sights on a map

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “ Best Hostels In ” here.

Quick Introduction to Cappadocia

Average price for a bed : Hostels in Cappadocia cost $10 – $14 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average price of around $52 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com .

Check-In and Check-Out : The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Cave Hostels: many travelers looking for accommodation in Cappadocia are looking to stay in cave hotels. The good news is that if you’re on a budget, some of the Cappadocia hostels we’re recommending also feature dorms inside caves!

Transportation: The best and easiest way to get around is via car. Most of the hostels on our list also feature car rental services. Alternatively, you can also opt for bicycle rentals or public transportation, as some buses run through the area.

Tip: If you’re planning on hiking, we recommend downloading Maps.Me, which is a free app that you can use offline. It also has most of the major hiking trails in and around Cappadocia.

🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:

• How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
• 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
• How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide

The 3 Best Hostels in Cappadocia are …

Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Cappadocia.

• Diadem Cappadocia Guest House & Hostel – best for Female Solo Travelers
• Homestay Cave Hostel – best for Solo Travelers
• Kamelya Cave Hostel – best for Couples

These are our favorite hostels in Cappadocia. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

Diadem Cappadocia Guest House & Hostel  is our top pick for female solo travelers.

On-site, you’ll find:

• Concierge services/ tour desk
• A shared lounge
• A 24/7 reception
• FREE Breakfast

Check prices at: Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

The hostel is social, with plenty of small, cozy places to interact with other guests with. The area around this accommodation is very popular for cycling and hiking. 

You can arrange tours (including hot air balloon rides) with them and rent bicycles or cars.

Location : In the heart of the historical center, next to all of Cappadocia’s major attractions. The hostel is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, traditional stores, and terraces where you can admire the hot air balloons.

The best choice in Cappadocia for

• Female Solo Travelers

Homestay Cave Hostel is our top pick for solo travelers in the city because it has a fantastic staff and a great location.

This Cappadocia hostel has the following facilities:

• A shared kitchen
• A tour desk (they offer a lot of Cappadocia activities, from hot air balloon touring to horseback rides)

Rooms are awesome; they come with a patio and city or mountain views.

The hostel is family-run, and the overall atmosphere is very chill and friendly, promoting social interactions between travelers.

The area is very popular for cycling, and there’s always something to do here. We recommend renting a bicycle from the hostel around sunsets and touring around. Alternatively, you can also ask them to arrange a Turkish cooking class for you!

Location: In the center of Goreme, close to the main viewpoint where people go to check out the balloons. It’s also near hiking routes and a bus stop that is well-linked to various points of interest throughout the town.

A great choice for

• Solo Travelers

Kamelya Cave Hostel  is our top Cappadocia hostel for couples, groups, and families.

Here, you’ll find:

• A terrace (with a great view)
• Some rooms are in ancient renovated caves (including dorms)
• 24/7 Reception (but sometimes they close randomly…)
• FREE Breakfast (varied and very good)

You can also organize many trips throughout the area, including hot air balloon rides.

Note that if you’re staying in the dorms, there are only two shower rooms and toilets, which can get busy in the morning. 

We’re recommending it for groups and couples because we really like their bigger rooms – they’re all in caves and come with private kitchens. 

Location : In Goreme, a minute away from the bus station. It’s close enough to the city center to enable guests to walk around all the major areas. But the general area is quieter than in other places.

This is one of the best hostels in Cappadocia for

• Friend groups

Best Hostels in Cappadocia for Solo Travelers?

The best hostel in Cappadocia for solo travelers has to be Homestay Cave Hostel .

That’s because it has awesome facilities with a 24/7 reception that will come in handy if you run into any issues.

Its location is also great for exploring the area, and we really like the overall familiar and friendly atmosphere.

What about the cheapest hostels in Cappadocia?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Cappadocia.

• Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Cappadocia
• add your dates
• Order the listings by price

Simple as that.

Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels . They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.

Another smart Tip : Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.

Any Discounts?

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.

It is completely free to join!

The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Read : Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Cappadocia best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app .

Download the Hostelworld App here

Need an eSIM Card for Cappadocia?

Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here .

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Our Favorite Hostels in Cappadocia put on a map + sights

Any questions about hostels in Cappadocia? 🤔

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Here we share with you the most asked question:

What are the best hostels in Cappadocia?

The best hostels in Cappadocia are:

What is the best hostel for solo travelers in Cappadocia?

The best hostel for solo travelers in Cappadocia is: Homestay Cave Hostel

What's the best hostel in Goreme?

The best hostel in Goreme is: Diadem Cappadocia Guest House & Hostel

Is Goreme and Cappadocia the same?

Cappadocia is a historical region in Turkey. It encompasses the towns and provinces of Aksaray, Göreme, Avanos, and Kayseri, among others. Goreme was designated as the most important traveling hub of the region.

Which area is best in Cappadocia?

Göreme is the most frequented as it is the most bustling area with the most restaurants and ease of access to the region. Placed among the magical chimneys, Göreme hostels are situated close to the well-known hot air balloon takeoff areas.

Any questions about hostels in Cappadocia?

Flights to cappadocia.

Are you wondering which airport you should fly to if you’re visiting Cappadocia?

There are just two options: Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) and Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR). Of the two, Nevsehir is the closest to the major tourist towns in Cappadocia, where you’ll find the majority of your fellow travelers.

We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.

Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.

More handmade Guides for you

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Cappadocia

Here is another hostel guide if you’re planning on staying in Istanbul as well:

• Best Hostels in Turkey
• Best Hostels in Istanbul + Istanbul budget travel guide
• Best Hostels in Antalya
• Party Hostels in Istanbul

We did the leg work for you and brought you more hostel guides to destinations:

• 3 Best Hostels in Bucharest , Romania
• 3 Best Hostels in Skopje , Macedonia
• best hostels in Jerusalem , Israel
• 3 Best Hostels in Tel Aviv , Israel
• 3 Best Hostels in Yerevan , Armenia
• best hostels in Tbilisi , Georgia
• best hostels in Cairo
• Best Hostels in Baku, Azerbaijan

NEW :  best hostels in Sofia , Bulgaria

You can find all our new and updated articles for  Best Hostels here .

We also created a  huge guide to hostels . Here we cover how to build lifetime  friendships in hostels , the  perfect packing list , and more.

Over to you

Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!

Your question will help us to improve this Cappadocia guide.

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.

Safe travels, The Hostelgeeks

We are 100% Independent: Some links on Hostelgeeks are so-called affiliate links. If you decide to book through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you . Your support allows us to keep producing high-quality, independent content free of influence from hostels or external advertisers. Learn more here . 🙏

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Extraordinary travel experiences for ordinary people.

Solo Female Travel In Cappadocia – Is It Safe And Should You Go?

• By Katie Mac
• July 10, 2018

18 Comments

UPDATED FEB 2020. It’s understandable that planning a visit to Turkey might come with some uncertainty about safety. We are going to delve into it today, specifically solo female travel in Cappadocia. Whether you’ve got no friends, your friends can’t travel with you, or you just like to travel alone, I’ve got all the safety tips to set you up for a fun and memorable trip.

There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.

Is it safe for a woman to travel alone in Cappadocia?

I think this is the hardest question to answer for any place I visit because I really just think ‘is anywhere safe’?

For me, America has been the place where I encountered the worst and most intrusive treatment from men, but it’s not like I would call it unsafe for solo female travelers. I would certainly visit again.

For solo female travel in Cappadocia, I’d say yes it is absolutely possible to have a safe and fun visit.

However, like anywhere, you need to take precautions, be aware of your surroundings, and use common sense when it comes to your safety. Here’s my guide on solo female travel safety tips for the basics.

What to wear

Turkey is a place that you are going to want to dress conservatively, meaning cover yourself from shoulders to knees.

I’ve talked about this in my Egypt and Morocco posts, but it’s important because it shows respect for the local culture which has different dress code standards for women.

It also helps to avoid attracting extra unwanted attention.

When you dress skimpy in conservative countries there is a different and specific message you send to those around you.

It gives off a message that you are, let’s say, easy and want that sort of attention, and that is what you will attract.

Did I see people in skimpier clothing? Yes. Did they probably have a great holiday? Maybe.

Would I want to roll the dice like that with my own safety and attract unwanted attention? Absolutely not.

Common sense safety tips

These are really obvious tips but you are going to want to use a lot of common sense when it comes to your safety.

Don’t walk around alone late at night, get written off drunk or accept drinks from strangers.

Keep an eye on your belongings while you are out and don’t have things filling your pockets that could be stolen easily.

Don’t feel bad for saying ‘no’ – firmly if you have to, or for not smiling enough.

Your safety is most important.

It’s important to remember the basics of taking care of yourself so you don’t add extra risk to your travel adventures.

Should you hire a guide?

If you are feeling unsure, then joining a tour or hiring a guide can be a great way to ease any solo travel anxieties you may have.

I love to join a tour experience for at least one day in each place I visit. It’s a good way to see the sights and I always learn more than I would if I visited them by myself. I try to take tours to places that would otherwise be tricky to visit without a car.

For Cappadocia, I took the red tour and green tour which were both a great way to see more of the landscapes and learn about history.

Both tours were only about €30 for the whole day including lunch and hotel pick up and drop off.

My tour guide was Guiding Cappadocia .

Attention from men

The people I met were overwhelmingly kind, hospitable, and friendly, but you should be aware that you might experience a fair amount of catcalling, particularly if you are in a busier area like Göreme.

You should also be aware that friendliness on your part may be taken as an invitation for more.

As with places like Morocco and Egypt, if you are getting advances from males while you are walking around and you don’t want to encourage it, it’s best practice to put on a resting bitch face and just keep walking.

Wearing sunglasses can help as well.

If you’re in a situation where you’re already talking to someone, such as buying something in a store, and the man is getting too friendly or flirty, just keep it civil but not overly friendly.

It might be different from what it’s like wherever you’re from, but be aware that your friendliness is sending a message.

I personally didn’t experience it too much in Cappadocia, and to me, it seemed like a quiet and welcoming place to visit, but keep it in mind if you are experiencing unwanted attention or moving on to a bigger city like Istanbul afterward.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Katie McIntosh (@katieshowblog) on Jun 26, 2018 at 11:03am PDT

Where to stay in Cappadocia

I stayed at Rox Cappadocia and I highly recommend it as a great accommodation option for a solo female traveler.

The rooms are amazing, the staff are helpful, and there’s an epic rooftop with incredible views.

That’s all a cool bonus but it’s also in a quiet area and walking distance to some markets, stores, and restaurants which is all helpful for someone traveling alone.

For more information, check out my full review on where to stay in Cappadocia .

Should you go to Cappadocia alone?

Cappadocia is truly a magical place.

The food is delicious, the people are for the most part friendly and hospitable, the landscapes are epic and there’s a lot to see and do.

In my opinion, as long as you keep some of these tips in mind, it’s definitely do-able for a solo female traveler to visit and stay safe.

If you’ve never traveled solo before, then I wouldn’t recommend it because I think it’s best to start somewhere with a little less culture shock, but otherwise, I think you can have an extraordinary adventure there.

I certainly did and hope you will too.

Other guides to help you plan your visit

Cappadocia Travel Tips And A Real Talk Travel Planning Guide

Green Tour In Cappadocia And Other Unmissable Things To See And Do

What To Wear In Conservative Countries If You Are A Female Traveler

If you found this useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram !

I really REALLY want to go to Cappadocia. I suggested it to a friend (female) whom I’m traveling with later this year, but she did not want to travel there alone just two girls. I might get lucky and be able to go there with my boyfriend next year. Really hope so! Thanks for sharing this!

Fingers crossed, I really hope you get to go there! Cappadocia, particularly Uchisar where I stayed, is a really laid back & welcoming place. Goreme is a little more intense, so if your friend changes her mind or you get the chance to go alone, I defs recommend there 😀

Hello there, im planning to go to cappadocia in april and was wondering if i could book a hotel once i get there?

You might be able to but probably best to book prior to avoid getting stuck.

I’m planning to go to Cappadocia for 1 week by December this year. Anyone want to join me☺️

HI ! How did you travel to Capadoccia from Istanbul? Did you fly or take the bus? I am also going solo in April, and Im confused as to the most efficient way to get there. Are there tours for 2 nights in Capadoccia that are arranged from Istanbul?

Hi Nena! I flew from Istanbul to Cappadocia which was the easiest and fastest for me. I flew with Turkish Airlines if that helps. I’m not sure about tours from Istanbul though, sorry.

You’re great. I love your photo.

Hi I will be travelling solo too I was wondering if the pickup for hot air balloon ride from the hotel to the site be safe early in the morning will there be other people in bus too

Yeah, I’d assume they’d do a mass pick up and get everyone in one trip – but best to check with the company you book with to be sure.

Appreciated this! Really want to do a balloon trip. Looking to go on my own.

Hope you have an awesome time!

Any interest in meeting up there together next month? I am also planning to travel there solo, but haven’t booked anything yet. Definitely doing the balloon as well! 🙂

Hi girls, is someone going in October?

Hi I fell in love with Cappadocia as I travelled there in 2019 on my own and met two other lovely travellers. I stayed too long in Istanbul and only 4 nights in Cappadocia. I would kike to go back and do some extensive walking amongst the rock formations. I also intend to go over to Avanos to see to ceramic studios. Can you let me know your thoughts on walking alone near the formations. If there are any local guides you could recommend. Unfortunately I’m going from 12th Oct 2022 and all the group walks have ended. I am a single female traveller and a very youthful over 45.

Check out @guidingcappadocia on Instagram. I took a tour with her and she was fantastic! If she’s not running tours at the moment, she might be able to point you in the right direction. Hope you have an awesome trip!

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As if plucked from a whimsical fairytale and set down upon the stark Anatolian plains, Cappadocia is a geological oddity of honeycombed hills and towering boulders of otherworldly beauty. The fantastical topography is matched by the human history here. People have long utilised the region's soft stone, seeking shelter underground and leaving the countryside scattered with fascinating cavern architecture. The fresco-adorned rock-cut churches of Göreme Open-Air Museum and the subterranean refuges of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı are the most famous sights, while simply bedding down in one of Cappadocia's cave hotels is an experience in 21st-century cave living.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real Cappadocia. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Güllüdere (Rose) Valley

The trails that loop around Güllüdere Vadısı (Rose Valley) are easily accessible to all levels of walkers and provide some of the finest fairy-chimney…

Dark Church

The highlight of Göreme Open-Air Museum is the stunning and fully restored Dark Church, famed for the vivid colours and excellent preservation of its…

Göreme Open-Air Museum

This Unesco World Heritage site is an essential stop on any Cappadocian itinerary. First thought to be a Byzantine monastic settlement that housed some 20…

Zelve Open-Air Museum

The road between Çavuşin and Avanos passes a turn-off to the Zelve Open-Air Museum, where three valleys of crumbling cave-habitations and churches…

Kaymaklı Underground City

Kaymaklı underground city features a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep into the earth, though only four are open to the public. The…

Eski Gümüşler Monastery

Some of Cappadocia's best-preserved and most captivating frescoes are hidden within this rarely visited rock-hewn monastery that was only rediscovered in…

Kızılçukur Viewpoint

One of the best views of Kızılçukur (Red) Valley's fang-like rock cones and wavy cliff ridges is from this lookout point, signposted off the highway,…

Buckle Church

The Buckle Church is 50m back down the hill towards Göreme and across the road from the main Open-Air Museum complex, but is covered by the same entrance…

Top picks from our travel experts

The 9 best experiences in cappadocia.

Sultan Marshes

This Ramsar-listed wetland area encompasses over 24,000 hectares of marshland and is one of Turkey's most important birdwatching sites. A major resting…

Museum of Seljuk Civilisation

This excellent museum is set in the restored Çifte Medrese, a 13th-century twin hospital and seminary built at the bequest of Seljuk sultan Keyhüsrev I…

Mahperi Hunat Hatun Complex

The austere and stately Mahperi Hunat Hatun complex is one of Kayseri's finest Seljuk monuments, built in the 13th century during the reign of Sultan…

Ihlara Valley

Rimmed by high cliffs that hide rock-cut churches, the lush Ihlara Valley is one of Cappadocia's most popular hiking destinations. Most visitors arrive on…

Yılanlı Kilise

Many of the frescoes are damaged, but it's possible to make out the one outlining the punishments for sinners, especially the three-headed snake with a…

Kayseri Castle

The monumental black-basalt walls of Kayseri castle were first constructed under Roman emperor Gordian III and rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justinian…

Devrent Valley

Look: it's a camel rock! Nicknamed 'Imagination Valley' locally, Devrent Valley's rock formations are some of the best formed and most thickly clustered…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

Cappadocia promises incredible natural sights, ancient cultures and wonderful hikes – where to begin? With our round-up of the 9 best things to do there.

Things to Know

From how long to stay to how to stay safe, here are the key things to know before you go to Cappadocia.

Transportation

Cappadocia enjoys good transport options by car, taxi and dolmus (van) – check out these tips for getting around Türkiye's dreamiest region.

Money and Costs

From off-season travel to finding cheap food, these money-saving tips can help you stretch your budget further in Cappadocia

Best Road Trips

Cappadocia’s combination of dramatic scenery and well-maintained roads makes it a pleasure to explore by car.

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Travel | ed perkins on travel: solo travel – difficult but improving.

Travel is geared mainly to serve customers as couples. But for a variety of reasons, lots of travelers are not in a coupled relationship. In my case, I’m a widower; others include the never married, the divorced or separated, and even couples with diverse interests. Over the years, the travel business has given short shrift to these travelers, but suppliers have recently taken a closer look at what they see as a big potential source of business.

For years, some tour operators and cruise lines have been positioning themselves as “singles travel” specialists, but mostly their approach has been to match up singles into couples. True solo travel is different—true solo travelers do not what to share accommodations with strangers or even with friends who they might want to consider. They want sole occupancy of whatever arrangement they make.

If you’re traveled at all, you’ve seen that a lot of pricing is based on “per person, double occupancy,” or PPDO:

Most modern hotel rooms are designed to accommodate at least two people with two single, double, or queen beds; hotels charge the same rate for either one or two occupants.

Similarly, the vast majority of cruise cabins are set up to accommodate up to four people – two comfortably in separate small beds, combinable into a double, and two more uncomfortably in pull-down bunk beds.

Railroads charge each traveler the same for basic rail fare, but for compartments on overnight trains such as Amtrak’s long-distance trains, the price is the same for one as for two.

Although not promoted as such, rental cars are de facto PPDO: Adding a second passenger (or more) adds nothing to the daily or weekly rent.

Even with the prevalence of PPDO pricing, solo travelers have reasonable options:

Hotels. Although most new or recent hotels are designed for couples, small, older hotels in Europe often have single rooms designed for just one occupant, as do small Japanese business hotels. Daily rates are usually substantially less than but more than half the double-room rates. On my recent trips, I’ve found comfortable single rooms at small family-owned hotels in Brussels, Grindelwald, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, as well as in Japan. But most of the time, I have to settle for the usual double rate.

Tours. Despite a growing number of self-styled “Solo” tour operators, most fall back on the formula that “we’ll match you with a suitable roommate, and we won’t charge extra if we can’t find one.” But if you really want accommodations by yourself, you pay a single supplement. What may be close to everybody’s favorite tour operator, Road Scholar ( roadscholar.org/); formerly Elderhostel but open to travelers of any age) posts a pull-down options menu that includes “solo travelers only” filter. The choices are limited, but they’re genuinely for solo travelers. Google “solo travel” to find other outfits worth a look.

Cruise. For a long time, cruise lines ignored the solo traveler, relying instead on stiff single supplements for double cabins. But some of the newer liners feature cabins designed for one person. The good folks at Cruise Critic have compiled and posted a list ( cruisecritic.com/articles/which-ships-have-solo-cabins ) of cruise lines and cruise ships with true single cabins. Norwegian leads the pack in number of rooms and number of cabins per ships, but the other lines are catching up. Carnival, the biggest player, seems to be lagging the trend, but it does have a few on Cunard. Unfortunately, other than Cunard, no high-end lines yet make the list.

Trains. I don’t know any way to hack PPDO compartment prices on Amtrak, and Amtrak seldom puts them on sale. Sorry.

No Supplement Deals. Historically, tour operators and cruise lines have charged solo travelers the dreaded “single supplement” to occupy an accommodation designed for a couple. The supplement usually ranges from 50 percent more to double the PPDO rate. They’ve catered to solo travelers mainly through occasional “no single supplement” promotions, often for departures they believe are not likely to sell out – which means the best deals are last-minute deals. You can still find those.

(Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at [email protected]. Also, check out Ed’s new rail travel website at www.rail-guru.com.)

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4-Day Russia Itinerary With Cost Breakdown | From My Turkey-Russia Solo Trip

• Post author: dantravels
• Post published: July 16, 2019
• Post category: Backpacking / Itinerary
• Post comments: 6 Comments

By DAN FORTEZA

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase something through that link, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Think of it as buying a cup of coffee for me on someone else. Thanks & enjoy!

Russia, the largest country in the world, occupies one-tenth of all the land on earth. Thus for many travelers, it’s often difficult to decide where to start and where to go for such huge countries like Russia. But no worries, to help you with your Russia itinerary, I’ll be sharing the list of places I’ve visited during my 4-day stay in Russia. I will also include the breakdown of cost during my trip for your reference.

Although I have only visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, starting off your journey in either of these two megacities will for sure bring the best of Russia in you!

NOTE : I stayed for 3 days in Turkey before flying to Russia. If you want to know the places I’ve visited in Turkey, here is my 3-day my itinerary in Turkey with cost breakdown.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines .

NOTE : For Philippine Passport holders, visiting Russia requires a visa . If you are just on your way to getting your Russian visa, read my blog on how to get your Russian Tourist Visa (click HERE ).

• Manila (MNL) to Dubai (DXB) via Cebu Pacific – 6,499 PHP
• Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (SAW) via Pegasus – 8,904 PHP
• Istanbul (SAW) to Moscow (DME) via Pegasus –  6,072 PHP
• Moscow to St. Petersburg via Russian Rail – 3,530 PHP (68 USD)
• St Petersburg (LED) to Moscow (SVO) via Aeroflot – 4,084 PHP
• Moscow (SVO) to Dubai (DXB) via Aeroflot – 10,914 PHP
• Dubai (DXB) to Manila (MNL) via Cebu Pacific – 2,160 PHP

NOTE : For Philippine Passport holders who will go through flight transfer at Dubai International airport (DXB), you DO NOT need any sort of UAE visa as long as you stay within the airside area of the airport. Even if your next flight is on another terminal, you can transfer with ease using DXB’s terminal-to-terminal transport buses.

Language: Russian Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB) Exchange rate: 1 USD = 52 PHP = 62.8 RUB Prefer mode of transportation: Subway / Trains Int’l Airports in this trip: DME , SVO , LED Time Zone: GMT + 3

It was a 3-hour flight from Istanbul to Moscow. I arrived at Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME) at around 3:30 PM. Russia was the 16th country I’ve visited – not that I’m counting!

The first thing I looked for at the airport was an ATM to withdraw some Ruble cash and then I bought a sim card for internet connection. See Day 1 expenses below to see sim card cost.

TIP : Some backpackers do not appreciate buying a sim card. But I always recommend buying one even if you’re just staying for a few days. Googling every thing is a life saver!

MY 4D/3N RUSSIA ITINERARY with COST BREAKDOWN

Day 1 photo gallery.

DAY 1 RUSSIA ITINERARY:

• Transport from Airport to Hostel . I took the Aerotrain to get to downtown Moscow and it could take up to 2 hours from DME airport. I believe that was the most convenient way of transport for backpackers new to Moscow. The arrival station is Paveletskiy Railway Sation. Then I took the Metro subway from Pavelestskiy station to Avtozavodskaya station where my hostel is located.
• Hostel name: Hostels Rus – Avtozavodskaya, now Zen Hostel (click here to book)
• Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
• Hostel rate: Refer to Day 1 expenses below.

TIP : When booking your hotel/hostel, look it up on Google Maps first and ensure that it is not too far from a subway/train station.

• Tour around Red Square . The Red Square, the main central square or plaza in Moscow is located in the heart of Moscow and is surrounded by all the major streets and highways.

I was tired but definitely ready to see and explore Moscow. On that day, I got a chance to meet a Couchsurfer named  Dimitry living in Moscow . We took the metro subway from Avtozavodskaya  station to Teatral’naya  station to get to the Red Square.

TIP : Buy your own three-day unlimited metro pass to get you anywhere around Moscow for 3 days! I’m telling you, it’s absolutely worth it!

We arrived at Red Square at around 6:00 PM and it was crowded! Here are some notable places we visited at the Red Square:

• The Iberian Gate
• The State History Museum
• St. Basil Cathedral.
• Kazan Cathedral
• Lenin Mausoleum
• The Kremlin
• Get a good view of Moscow from the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. We took a stroll along some Moscow streets to reach this bridge. It is a concrete arch bridge that spans the Moskva River in Moscow immediately east of the Moscow Kremlin.

NOTE : It was summer when I visited Moscow and thus the length of day time is way longer than the night. The sun rises as early as 4:00 AM while sets at 9:00 PM.

DAY 1 EXPENSES:

• Sim card ( MegaFon )- 1,000 RUB
• Aero Express train from DME Airport to Paveliskaya Railway station – 500 RUB
• Metro Subway from Paveliskaya  station to Avtozavodskaya  station – 55 RUB
• Food (slow-cooked chicken with sauce) at  Teremok – 220 RUB
• 3-day unlimited metro subway pass – 415 RUB
• Food (Pancake, soup, tea) at Teremok – 190 RUB

TIP : Bring yourself some home biscuits (I brought some Oreo biscuits with me back from the Philippines) prior to flying to Russia. This should fill your hunger while doing long walks and of course SAVE you some bucks.

DAY 1 TOTAL: 2380 RUB = 38 USD = 1970 PHP

DAY 2 Photo Gallery

DAY 2 RUSSIA ITINERARY:

• Return to Red Square . On my second day in Moscow, I went back to the Red Square at around 6:00 AM! And yes, just what I was expecting – no crowd at all ! Perfect to take more good photos.
• Visit the fabulous GUM . I met another Russian friend in Red Square. His name is Valeriy and he took me to GUM just a short walk from the Red Square. G lavny Universalny Magazin or just GUM is a famous shopping center. The shopping center is well known for its exclusive stores that carry well-known western brand names.
• Climb up to Sparrow Hills . Sparrow Hills is one of the highest points in Moscow and offers a panoramic view of the city! I even took a selfie with the 2018 FIFA stadium from this hill. To get here, we took a 25-minute walk from the nearest metro – Vorobyovy gory station.
• Appreciate the beauty of Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystv a ( VDNKh ). Valeriy and I next headed to VDNKh – a nice amusement park in Moscow. To get here, we took the subway and get off at VDNKh  station. Valeriy and I parted ways at VDNkh .
• Visit Kolomensko e Museum-Reserve  . The Church of the Ascension located at Kolomenskoye is one particle UNESCO heritage site I’d like to visit. I met another two Russians (I knew one of them named Alex through Couchsurfing) on my way to Kolomenskoe and they were kind enough to show me around.
• Visit Tsaritsyno Palace & Museum-Reserve . We then headed to Tsaritsyno. It is a palace museum and park reserve filled with lush green spaces. Initially built to showcase the grandeur of the Russian Empire, Tsaritsyno offers an idyllic getaway without leaving the city. Located in southern Moscow, it is just a short walk from Tsaritsyno metro station.
• See the Ruined Tower . Next, we walked by a Ruined Tower of Tsaritsyno , its observation deck offers scenic panoramic views of the park. The staircase leading to the site was called devil’s hill : for it was easy to climb, but it is not easy to go down.

DAY 2 EXPENSES:

• Ice cream – 100 RUB
• Food (Big mac, fries, coke) at McDonald’s – 261 RUB
• Food (Chicken with rice) at Chinese Restaurant – 330 RUB

DAY 2 TOTAL: 691 RUB = 11 USD = 572 PHP

DAY 3 Photo Gallery

DAY 3 RUSSIA ITINERARY:

• Get a good morning rest . I needed this after those seemingly endless days of strolling around Moscow. And I tell you it’s also fun to stay at hostel as you’ll meet some other tourist with different cultural backgrounds and with incredible stories to tell!
• Get a good view of the Skyscrapers in Moscow . In the afternoon, I went looking for a good panoramic view of those huge buildings in Moscow’s business district. Finally, I found a good spot at Prichal Kutuzovkiy (just beside Moskva river). To get there, I took the subway and get off at Stantsiya “Kutuzovo” Mtsk  station.
• Take a night train to St. Petersburg. I packed my things up and headed to Leningradsky railway station to catch my train going to St. Petersburg! I heard a lot of good things about St. Petersburg and I can’t wait to explore this city first thing in the morning.

NOTE : Night trains have bunk beds and are comfortable enough for sleeping.

DAY 3 EXPENSES:

• Food (Burger and drink) at KFC – 199 RUB
• Bread – 50 RUB
• Fanta soft drink – 50 RUB
• Food (Chicken with rice) – 330 RUB
• Toilet fee – 50 RUB
• Food (Burgers) at KFC train terminal – 216 RUB

DAY 3 TOTAL: 895 RUB = 14.25 USD = 741 PHP

DAY 4 Photo Gallery

DAY 4 RUSSIA ITINERARY:

I arrived at Moscovsky (St. Petersburg Main Railway station) at around 5:30 in the morning and it was already bright outside. My flight back to Moscow was basically the same day at 10:00 in the evening. So I need to make the most out of the day to see everything I could in St. Petersburg.

I took the metro subway from Moskovkaya station to Admiraltiskaya station. Admiraltiskaya station is located in the city center and is the stop for tourist destinations like the Hermitage Museum, St. Issac’s Cathedral and other notable museums in St. Petersburg.

•  Go down to the deepest subway station in Russia . In St. Petersburg’s subway, getting from the street to the trains can take up to five minutes. Or at least it does at Admiralteyskaya station, the deepest subway station in Russia and among the five deepest metro stations in the world. Admiralteyskaya is 282 feet deep. For some perspective, this is about a fifth of the height of the Empire State Building in New York City.
• Stroll around downtown St. Petersburg . St. Petersburg is beautiful! It has plenty of classical and baroque architecture. I haven’t been to other European cities but I believe this city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Almost any building in the central core, for example, can be considered as a tourist attraction.

Many of the tourist attractions are concentrated within the center so it’s fairly easy to walk from one attraction to another. Here are the notable places I’ve visited:

• Hermitage Museum
• Palace Square
• Walk Along Nevsky Prospekt
• St Isaac Cathedral
• The Church of the Spilt Blood
•   Visit Peter and Paul Fortress . I met another Dimitry (Dima for short) but this time in St. Petersburg along with his girlfriend, Lena. From Admiraltiskaya, we went for a 30-minute to reach Peter and Paul Fortress located at Zayachy Island. It houses this yellow-colored cathedral where it was said to be a former prison. I’m sure history buffs will love it!
• See the Cruiser Aurora warship . Just 15-minute walk from the Fortress, we went to see the Cruiser Aurora – a 20th-century warship currently preserved as a museum ship in Saint Petersburg floating along the Bolshaya Nevka River.  Then we continue heading towards the Ploschad’Lenina metro station. We parted ways at this station.
• Be amazed by the Peterhof  Grand Palaces . Peterhof is a large complex outside of St. Petersburg that contains grand palaces, gardens, fountains, and other amenities. It is a marvelous example of eighteenth-century Russian architecture. From  Ploschad’Lenina station, I took the subway to Avtovo station then took a bus going to Peterhof complex.

DAY 4 EXPENSES:

• Metro subway Moskovkaya station to Admiraltiskaya station – 45 RUB
• Food (burger, fries, drink) at KFC  – 283 RUB
• Toilet fee – 40 RUB
• Food (burger and drink) at KFC – 199 RUB
• Two bottled water – 100 RUB
• Metro subway from Ploschad’Lenina station to Avtovo  station – 45 RUB
• Bus fare from Avtovo to Petergof – 80 RUB
• Bus fare from Petergof to Avtovo/Lenin station – 60 RUB
• Metro subway  Lenin Prospek station to Moskovkaya station – 45 RUB
• Coke – 44 RUB
• Bread – 37 RUB
• Metro Subway from Moscow station to Aeroport “Pulkovo-1”   (St. Petersburg Airport) – 40 RUB
• Fanta drink at Airport – 104 RUB
• Bread at Airport – 54 RUB

DAY 4 EXPENSES (BACK IN MOSCOW):

• Key chains – 70 RUB
• Coke – 100 RUB
• Choco bread – 70 RUB

DAY 4 TOTAL: 1,416 RUB = 62.6 USD = 3,265.6 PHP

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

• Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com . Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well.  Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
• Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

• TRIP. All of my flight bookings are all from TRIP.com. Trip is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Trip (click HERE ) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

• Russian Railway (click HERE to book)
• Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding and booking the best travel experiences worldwide.

Click here to find the best Viator deals in Russia.

So there you have it!

Russia is definitely an adventure of its own. Those people I’ve met were very helpful and incredibly accommodating that made my Russia itinerary a memorable one. They made an Asian dude felt at home in their home country.

I hope that by the guides and tips in this blog I’ve shared, you’d be able to create your own Russia itinerary and I know it’s going to be an amazing journey! Spasiba !

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This post has 6 comments.

hey Dan! did you get a Dubai Visa in Transiting Dubai?

No, I didn’t. Transit Visa in Dubai is not required as long as you stay within the transit area of the DXB airport.

In general, you can check out this blog I made where you can check if you need a visa for transiting a country .

ooh. good to hear. so, the moment u went out of the plane you proceeded to the terminal of your next destination, correct? and how did you get your boarding pass on your next trip? do they have check in counters on the transit area, without passing by the immigration?

thank you, Dan.

Upon arrival, you have to find the transit help desk / check-in counters within DXB’s airside. No need to pass through immigration/passport control.

There’s some sort of check-in counters at the transit side of the airport. You can get your boarding pass there.

If your terminal of arrival is different from your terminal of departure, you can transfer with ease using DXB’s terminal-to-terminal transport buses (without again going through the immigration.) Because that’s what happened in my case.

Hope this helps.

thank you, Dan. Last question, what if I have luggage with me? will I be able to get them without passing by the immigration?

thank you so much, Dan.

Yes, you can. There is this airport baggage service of Marhaba . For more info, visit their site or better if you call your airline to know how they will handle and coordinate your check-in baggage in Dubai airport without exiting through immigration. 🙂

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REOPENED! Summer 2024 King Center Research Project "Identifying health-threats of Toxic metal-containing particulate matter from coal-fired brick kilns in Bangladesh" (No Travel)

The King Center on Global Development's  Summer Undergraduate Full-Time Research Assistant Program  offers opportunities for fieldwork and research experience to matriculated, Stanford, undergraduates interested in global poverty and development across all academic disciplines.

When Stanford University travel policies allow, selected students spend up to 12 weeks in a low- or middle-income country conducting full-time research for a  King Center faculty affiliate . Each research assistant receives a stipend of approximately $7,500 that covers most associated costs including travel, lodging, and incidental expenses. Should travel not be permitted and the research is conducted remotely (from within the US), the base stipend will be approximately $5,500. Financial aid of up to $1,500 is also awarded to students who qualify.

Students are welcome to apply to multiple opportunities but must apply to each faculty research project separately.  Students may only accept one project if they are offered multiple opportunities.

If you have problems submitting your application, please report issues through the SOLO platform with a screenshot that includes the URL and the full page.  Please email [email protected] to also let us know of your issue(s). 

RESEARCH PROJECT SUMMARY:

Coal-fired brick kilns are major contributors to the high concentration of airborne PM2.5 within Bangladesh and pose detrimental health risks to local communities, particularly to young children. The health threats of PM2.5 formed during coal combustion in brick kilns are determined by their chemical and structural properties, which are largely unknown. The proposed project aims to 1) determine the metal content of PM2.5, 2) Quantitatively identify PM2.5 particle chemical and structural properties, and 3) Assess the health risks associated with toxic metals in the fine PM2.5. Samples have been collected from feed materials and coal-fired exhaust of brick kilns in Bangladesh. We will interrogate the particles using advanced techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM).  The results of this project will advance our understanding of the health impacts imposed by brick kilns distributed throughout Bangladesh, and they will inform targeted policies and interventions for mitigating the health risks to local communities.

Research mentor: Professor Scott Fendorf 

Dates : A minimum of ten consecutive weeks during summer quarter 2024.

• Sample preparation including drying, crushing, and sieving
• Bulk characteristic measurements including XRF and XRD
• Brick kiln simulated heating experiments using characterized coal samples in a muffle furnace
• Preparing sample for TEM and ICP-MS analysis
• Reviewing and analyzing data, then presenting data in conferences
• Stanford undergraduate students in good academic standing, and planning to return to Stanford in autumn 2024, are eligible to apply (co-terms in graduate tuition status are ineligible)
• All majors are welcome
• A background in chemistry and material characterization is helpful but not required.

Time Commitment:  

• All research assistants are required to work full time, i.e., 35-40 hours per week for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks during the summer quarter

Along with the application, applicants are asked to submit a resume or CV, and a Stanford transcript.

For questions regarding this opportunity, please contact:

[email protected]

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Is It Safe in Moscow?

Stanislav Solntsev / Getty Images

When you visit Moscow , Russia, you’re seeing one of the world’s largest, and most expensive, capital cities . While there is a history of violent crime against foreign journalists and aid personnel in Russia, a trip to Moscow is usually safe for mainstream travelers. Most tourists in Moscow only face potential issues with petty crime, though terrorism is also a concern. Visitors should stick to the principal tourist areas and abide by the local security advice.

Travel Advisories

• The U.S. Department of State urges travelers to avoid travel to Russia because of COVID-19 and to "exercise increased caution due to terrorism, harassment, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws."  
• Anyone exploring more of Russia should avoid "The North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, due to terrorism, kidnapping,   and   risk of civil unrest." Also, travelers should stay away from "Crimea due to Russia’s occupation of the Ukrainian territory   and   abuses by its occupying authorities."  
• Canada states travelers should use a high degree of caution in Russia due to the threat of terrorism and crime.  

Is Moscow Dangerous?

The Moscow city center is typically safe. In general, the closer you are to the Kremlin , the better. Travelers mainly need to be aware of their surroundings and look out for petty crime. Be especially careful in tourist areas such as Arbat Street and crowded places like the Moscow Metro transit system. The suburbs are also generally fine, though it is advised to stay away from Maryino and Perovo districts.

Terrorism has occurred in the Moscow area, leading authorities to increase security measures. Be more careful at tourist and transportation hubs, places of worship, government buildings, schools, airports, crowds, open markets, and additional tourist sites.

Pickpockets and purse snatching happen often in Russia, perpetrated by groups of children and teenagers who distract tourists to get their wallets and credit cards. Beware of people asking you for help, who then trick you into their scheme. Don’t expect a backpack to be a safe bag bet; instead, invest in something that you can clutch close to your body or purchase a money belt . Always diversify, storing some money in a separate location so that if you are pickpocketed, you'll have cash elsewhere. Keep an eye out for thieves in public transportation, underground walkways, tourist spots, restaurants, hotel rooms and homes, restaurants, and markets.

Is Moscow Safe for Solo Travelers?

Large cities like Moscow in Russia are overall fairly safe if you are traveling alone, and the Moscow Metro public transit is a secure and easy way to get around. But it is still a good idea to follow basic precautions as in any destination. Avoid exploring alone at night, especially in bad areas. You may want to learn some basic Russian phrases or bring a dictionary, as many locals don't speak English. However, in case you need any help, there are tourist police that speak English. Also, exploring with other trusted travelers and locals or on professional tours is often a good way to feel safe.

Is Moscow Safe for Female Travelers?

Catcalling and street harassment are infrequent in Moscow and the rest of Russia and females traveling alone don't usually have problems. There are plenty of police officers on the streets as well. Still, it serves to stick to Moscow's well-lit, public areas, avoid solo night walks, and use your instincts. Women frequenting bars may take receive some friendly attention. Females can wear whatever they want, but those entering Orthodox churches will be required to cover up. Though women in Russia are independent, domestic violence and other inequality issues take place regularly.

Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers

Russia is not known as a gay-friendly country. However, Moscow is one of the more welcoming cities with a blooming LGBTQ+ community and many friendly restaurants, bars, clubs, and other venues. Hate crimes in Russia have increased since the 2013 anti-gay propaganda law. Openly LGBTQ+ tourists in this conservative country may experience homophobic remarks, discrimination, or even violence, especially if traveling with a partner. Also, while women hold hands or hug publicly—whether romantically involved or not—men should avoid public displays of affection to prevent being insulted or other issues.

Safety Tips for BIPOC Travelers

Moscow  and other big cities in Russia have sizable populations of various cultures, so discrimination against BIPOC travelers is rarer than in other parts of the country where it can become dangerous. Some people living in Russia who are Black, Asian, Jewish, and from other backgrounds have experienced racial discrimination and violence. Tourists won't usually experience overt racism but may be the recipients of some stares. If anyone should bother you, be polite and resist being taunted into physically defending yourself.

Safety Tips for Travelers

Travelers should consider the following general tips when visiting:

• It's best not to drink the tap water. If you do, boil it before drinking, though showering is safe and the amount used to brush teeth is generally not harmful. Mineral water is widely drunk, especially at restaurants, and if you prefer not to have it carbonated ask for “ voda byez gaz” (water without gas).
• If you need emergency assistance in case of fire, terrorism, medical issues, or more, dial 112 in Russia for bilingual operators.
• Be judicious about taking photographs, especially of police or officials. This can potentially bring unwanted attention to yourself by members of law enforcement who won’t mind asking to see your passport. Also avoid snapping photos of official-looking buildings, such as embassies and government headquarters.
• Carry your passport in as secure a manner as possible. If you get stopped for any reason by the police, they can fine or arrest you if you don't have the document with you. Also, keep photocopies of your passport, the page on which your travel visa appears, and any other documents that relate to your stay in Russia.
• Use official taxis only and steer clear of illegal taxi companies, especially at night. Ask your hotel to call a reputable taxi company.

U.S. Department of State. " Russia Travel Advisory ." August 6, 2020.

Government of Canada. " Official Global Travel Advisories ." November 19, 2020.

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How to Fly Your Kid Solo, Free of Stress

By Alexander Nazaryan

For many parents and guardians, putting a child on a flight alone may seem terrifying. Belligerent passengers, delays, turbulence: All loom large in a caregiver’s imagination.

Life sometimes leaves no other option. Hudson Crites , 17, of Marshall, Va., was 10 when he started flying unaccompanied to visit his father in Kansas and later Georgia, said his mother, Chelsea Tippett. But the extra attention from airline staff made Hudson “feel special,” Ms. Tippett recalls. Other than a single tarmac delay, he has had no problems.

On rare occasions, children have had troubling experiences. In December, Spirit Airlines accidentally flew a 6-year-old to Orlando, Fla., instead of the intended destination of Fort Myers. Spirit apologized, fired the gate agent responsible and offered reimbursement to the boy’s grandmother for her travel to Orlando. But while the boy was unharmed, his grandmother expressed worry that he had been kidnapped .

If you decide to fly your child unaccompanied, you’ll discover that each airline has its own procedures, fees and routes open to children. While some may find the process complicated, flying alone may be exciting for your child, instilling some independence. Here’s what you need to know.

Before you book, know the process

Regardless of the airline or route, flying an unaccompanied minor differs from an adult or a family catching a flight. Airlines require a trusted pre-authorized adult to be at the departure and arrival gates, and will ask you at booking to provide contact information for those adults. They will also need to present identification at the terminals.

The journey begins at the originating airport’s airline ticket counter. There, airline staff will check your identification and check in the child, perhaps handing them a lanyard or wristband to wear. The agents will provide you with a pass to get through security with your child. You will accompany them to the gate, where you will hand them off to a gate agent. You must stay at the gate until the plane takes off.

In the air, the flight crew will keep watch — but will not babysit, or sit with, your child. If the flight has a connection, a crew member will walk your child off the plane and a gate agent will take him or her to the next gate.

At the arrival airport, the child will be handed off by staff to the authorized guardian or parent who should have already checked in at the ticket counter with proper identification, gone through security with their gate pass and be waiting at the gate.

To learn more about this process, read the Department of Transportation’s online guide, “When Kids Fly Alone,” followed by the website of your selected carrier.

Choosing an airline and paying an extra fee

Before purchasing a ticket, experts advise you to consider an airline’s on-time performance. “Solid on-time performance is hard-earned, and signals a carrier that has tight control of its operation,” said the Ask the Pilot author, Patrick Smith. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has those numbers.

Booking procedures vary. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines require you to call. United Airlines allows bookings online. JetBlue Airways does online bookings, too, but asks for three printed copies of its forms upon arrival at the airport.

International flights may call for a notarized consent letter describing where the child is traveling, with whom they’ll stay and how long they’ll be there.

On top of the ticket fare, flying an unaccompanied minor can be pricey.

Southwest Airlines charges $100 one way for each child, regardless of distance. Alaska Airlines charges $50 per child if the flight is nonstop; a connection adds $25. On Delta, one $150 fee will cover up to four children, and American’s $150 covers all siblings, with no cap on number. United charges $150 for one child, or two children flying together.

Restrictions: There are plenty

U.S. carriers allow children to fly as unaccompanied minors once they turn 5 and before they turn 18. But regardless of your child’s age, make sure he or she is ready by discussing the trip details and your expectations of their behavior. No policy can replace your judgment.

The low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air don’t allow unaccompanied minors, Other airlines have restrictions that, in the broadest terms, differentiate between young children and teenagers. American and Delta restrict children under 8 from routes requiring connections. Both airlines allow children between 8 and 14 to take some connecting flights.

On American, no unaccompanied minor is allowed to take an overnight flight requiring a connection, or a flight that includes a connection on its final leg that also happens to be the last such flight that day (“unless it’s the only flight,” the company adds). Minors are not allowed on code-share flights.

United and Delta have similar rules. Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit don’t allow unaccompanied minors on connecting flights.

JetBlue prohibits minors from flying to Europe, and limits the number of unaccompanied minors in one party to three. Spirit does not allow children on flights to Central or South America. Southwest doesn’t allow children on any international flights. American, United and Delta let minors fly abroad, but restrictions on connections, code-shares and overnights limit options.

American and Delta allow children to opt out of flying as unaccompanied minors once they turn 15 — that is, the child can fly without the assistance of airline personnel. JetBlue ends unaccompanied minor service at 14, while Alaska has an opt-out option at 13. Southwest boasts the lowest opt-out age: 12.

However, you should be able to accompany your child to the gate even if they’re not flying unaccompanied. American requires that you do so for teens between the ages of 15 and 17, even if they’ve opted out.

What to pack

Have a plan to head off your child’s hunger, boredom and thirst. If they are older, make sure they have emergency money and a charged phone.

When her two daughters, then 9 and 11, flew to Denver, Joey Conover of Charlottesville, Va., had a long list for their carry-ons.

“Pack a backpack with iPad, headphones, lightweight book to read, a pad of paper and colored pencils (markers might smear), a small travel game, water bottle (bring empty and fill in airport), snacks, some kind of surprise fidget or animals to play with, hoodie, and a lovey,” she wrote in an email.

“Write your name and phone number on the inside of their arm in Sharpie and put a parent’s business card in a luggage tag on both suitcase and backpack,” Ms. Conover said. (A sheet of paper with all their identification, and their guardian’s contact information, also works. Simply stick in an easy-to-access pocket.)

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

• United Arab Emirates
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• The Netherlands
• Puerto Rico
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• ➨ Choose from World Map
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Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in  my post about finding cheap flights  that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

READ OUR CHEAT SHEET

Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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