Experience the Best Road Trips in Cappadocia with GoTravelDaily

Cappadocia’s combination of dramatic scenery and well-maintained roads makes it a pleasure to explore by car. Driving through this enchanting region allows you to set your own pace and discover less-visited spots that are often unfairly overlooked. Moreover, you can time your arrival at popular sights to avoid crowds, enhancing your experience.

It’s easy to begin your adventure: hire cars can be picked up at the region’s airports and larger cities, and Cappadocia’s roads are kept in pristine condition. Almost all major and minor sights are well-marked—just look for the brown tourist signposts. Although roads are generally not busy, you should be prepared for occasional traffic jams when entering some towns. Additionally, while other road users are mostly considerate, be aware of unpredictable driving behavior at times.

Here are our picks for the best road trips in Cappadocia, encouraging you to get behind the wheel and discover this region of otherworldly beauty.

1. The Göreme Circuit

Best Road Trip for Fairy Chimneys
Göreme – Göreme; 34km (21 miles), allow five hours

This short and easy road trip takes you through the heart of Cappadocia’s bizarre landscapes, showcasing some of the region’s most impressive fairy chimneys. Starting and ending in the town of Göreme, an excellent base for exploring Cappadocia, you embark on a trip that highlights stunning natural formations.

Head north from Göreme, and within minutes, you’ll come across the dramatic rock formations of Güllüdere Vadısı (Rose Valley) on your right. These formations serve as a warm-up for the surreal landscape of Paşabağı, where you can spend time wandering among incredible fairy chimneys. Although there’s an entrance fee, these rocks are among Cappadocia’s best. Continue a bit further down the road to Zelve Open-Air Museum, a captivating cave village that was inhabited until the 1950s. Allow a couple of hours to explore this scenic valley.

From Zelve, it’s a short hop to Devrent Valley, where erosion has sculpted the landscape into oddly recognizable forms—such as a camel-shaped rock formation. Take a brief break to wander among these rocky outcrops and discover other interesting shapes.

End your journey in the town of Ürgüp before returning west to Göreme, passing en route the iconic Three Beauties: a trio of fairy chimneys with distinctive forms.

Planning Tip: Tour groups often visit Devrent Valley and Paşabağı in the afternoon, so timing your visit in the morning can help avoid crowds.

2. Ürgüp to Soğanlı Valley

Best Road Trip for Undiscovered Cappadocia
Ürgüp – Soğanlı; 50km (31 miles), allow four hours

Heading south from Ürgüp unlocks a road trip through Cappadocia’s lesser-visited highlights. Initially, visit the peaceful village of Mustafapaşa, rich with attractive houses and churches that hint at its vibrant Greek heritage.

Proceed south to the ancient city of Sobesos, one of Cappadocia’s rare Roman-era historical sites. Although the ruins are not extensive, they are nestled in a beautiful setting and are likely to be entirely yours to explore.

The final stop is the Soğanlı Valley, a picturesque canyon featuring a remarkable concentration of Byzantine cave churches that see very few visitors. Parking at the visitor center, you can enjoy a one to two-hour walk along well-maintained paths, admiring the hidden frescoes within these remarkable churches.

Detour: Just north of Sobesos, consider stopping at the Seljuk-era Taşkınpaşa madrassah, adorned with intricate stonework, making it worth the brief visit.

3. The Aksaray Loop

Best Road Trip for Cave Monasteries
Aksaray – Aksaray; 91km (56 miles), allow two days

Aksaray is an ideal base for visiting two of Cappadocia’s most impressive valleys. Drive east from Aksaray to Güzelyurt village and park at the entrance to Monastery Valley; from here, enjoy a scenic walk down the valley that features cave churches lining the canyon walls.

Upon returning to your car, take a quick tour of the churches on the outskirts of Güzelyurt. Yüksek Kilise occupies a scenic bluff above a small lake, while Kizil Kilise is built of red stone and stands in a pretty field, inviting exploration.

Spend the night in Güzelyurt, and the following morning, head to Ihlara Valley, one of Cappadocia’s highlights renowned for its richly frescoed cave churches. Park at the trailhead and allow a couple of hours for a leisurely walk along the stunning valley. After reaching the car park at Belisırma, a shuttle taxi can take you back to the trailhead for your vehicle. Make sure to stop by Selime on your return to witness a dramatic cave village chiseled into the fairy chimneys.

4. Göreme to Hacıbektaş

Best Road Trip for Museums
Göreme – Hacıbektaş; 62km (38 miles), allow three hours

This journey begins in Göreme, heading north to Avanos, where you can explore the town’s quirky museums. Highlights include an underground ceramics exhibition at the western edge and the unusual Chez Galip Hair Museum, one of the world’s oddest showcases.

Continuing west from Avanos, make a brief stop in Gülşehir to admire the St Jean Kilise, one of Cappadocia’s most impressive Byzantine cave churches, renowned for its evocative frescoes.

Driving on for a final stretch of 27km (17 miles), reach Hacıbektaş, a long-standing center for dervish pilgrimages, where a fantastic museum offers insights into the dervish faith.

Detour: If time permits, consider visiting Özkonak, where you can explore a small underground city whose ingenious architecture reflects the resourcefulness of its ancient inhabitants.

5. Niğde to Kayseri

Best Road Trip for Nature Lovers
Niğde – Kayseri; 184km (114 miles), allow six hours

Your adventure begins in Niğde, a modern city that offers the outstanding cave monastery of Eski Gümüşler on its outskirts, noted for splendid frescoes.

Heading north brings you to the Sultan Marshes, a vital stop for migratory birds, making it ideal for birdwatchers. From the car park, stroll along the boardwalks or take a relaxing boat ride among the reeds while keeping an eye out for diverse bird species.

As you continue east and then north, the impressive Erciyes Dağı will catch your eye on the left. This majestic mountain, Turkey’s sixth highest, provides an exceptional backdrop as you drive towards Kayseri. You can opt to hike or enjoy winter sports on its slopes, but simply admiring its conical beauty can also be a rewarding experience.