Cappadocia is a magical region in central Turkey. Far from Istanbul and the Turkish coast, Cappadocia is a completely unique landscape, culture and history from everywhere else in the country.

Famous for its peculiar rock formations and natural caves, fair house hotels and its unbelievable ancient history, there is plenty to see and explore in this region.

However, Cappadocia is huge, and spans for more than 5000 square kilometers, which makes deciding on where to stay in Cappadocia quite difficult.

But don’t worry, I’m here to help with that. Though it’s a large landscape, many of the top sites and attractions are easily accessible by public transport. But if you have a short time to see it all, you’ll want to know the best neighborhood to stay in close to the attractions you want to see.

Choosing Where to Stay in Cappadocia

There are 5 main areas to stay in Cappadocia that all offer great options for places to stay: the towns of Göreme and Uçhisar are the most popular options and these are our personal favourites as they offer the best views of the sunrise hot air balloons. However, each area in Cappadocia area has its pros and cons and will appeal to different travellers.  

Goreme - Cheap, Cheerful and the Backpackers Hub

Goreme is by far the busiest district for accommodation, mainly because it is home to the main bus station connecting all travellers arriving from places like Istanbul or Pamukkale. As one of the first areas in Cappadocia to embrace tourism, it mainly appeals to budget backpackers although there are luxury cave hotels with modern facilities to choose from as well. Throughout the town, on every street, a restaurant exists and most have international menus although the traditional establishments are worth exploring to taste authentic Turkish cuisine.

Uçhisar – Where to Stay in Cappadocia With Family

Another popular place to stay in Cappadocia is Uçhisar. This village sits at the highest point in Cappadocia, offering amazing views over the fairy chimneys and surrounding landscapes. Besides fantastic views, Uçhisar Castle is a popular attraction in the area, and this is where you will find a lot of luxury resorts and cave hotels that are famous in this region.

While Uçhisar has many resorts and things to do, it is a bit quieter than Göreme, which makes it a good option for travelers looking for family-friendly accommodation in Cappadocia. 

Ürgüp

Home to almost 20 000 inhabitants, Ürgüp is the largest city in Göreme National Park. In fact, it is the only real city. It is located some 5 miles (8 km) east of Göreme in a flat monotonous terrain. Nevertheless, its city center is nice with several rock formations and cave houses.

You will find the Old Town in the center. Its centerpiece is the Temenni Hill with the Tomb of Aslan Gazi. Though it might offer the best shopping facilities, Ürgüp lacks the charm of both Göreme and Uçhisar. On a positive side, you can walk to the beautiful Three Graces Fairy Chimneys.

Ortahisar

Ortahisar is a sleepy and attractive town with only one restaurant and very few hotels (so far). There are no main sights to speak of, other than an 18m high rock that once served as a fortress. It makes for a beautiful centrepiece to the town and is lovely to view whilst enjoying a drink on your hotel terrace. You can easily get a taxi to nearby Urgup or Goreme where there is a broad choice of restaurants. This is definitely the best option for those looking to get away from it all.

Çavuşin

Çavuşin is perfectly located within the Goreme National Park and is right next to the popular launch sites for the sunrise balloons. The small town is home to a few stunning boutique hotels. It is perfect for anyone seeking to stay in a quieter location and within the national park itself, and hiking is easy from the hotels.