There are two airports for Cappadocia: Nevşehir Cappadocia (NAV) and Kayseri Erkilet (ASR). Both serve Göreme, Uçhisar and Ürgüp; the difference is distance and choice of flights.
At a glance
| Nevşehir Cappadocia (NAV) | Kayseri Erkilet (ASR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to Göreme | about 40 km | about 80 km |
| Drive to Göreme | 40 min | 1 h 10 min |
| Flights | fewer, mostly from Istanbul | more flights and times |
| Best for | staying closest to the valleys | cheaper fares, better times, skiing at Erciyes |
Nevşehir Cappadocia Airport
The closest airport to the valleys: cave hotels in Göreme and Uçhisar are about 40 minutes away. Flights are limited, so fares and times are not always convenient.
Kayseri Airport
Most flights to Cappadocia land here, and there are usually more flights and times to choose from. The drive to Göreme is a little over an hour. In winter it is also the nearest airport to Erciyes Ski Resort.
Getting from the airport to your hotel
- Shared shuttle: runs to flight times and stops at several hotels in turn. Cheap, but with waiting and detours.
- Taxi: Kayseri to Göreme is a long ride and can be expensive; agree the price first.
- Private transfer: your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and takes you straight to your hotel, and waits if your flight is late. See prices for Kayseri Airport to Göreme and Cappadocia Airport to Göreme.
Which should you choose?
If fares and times are similar, pick Nevşehir; if not, Kayseri is a good choice, and the difference is only half an hour on the road. If your balloon flight is early the next morning, choose a flight that lands in the evening so you can rest. Everything about the balloons is in Cappadocia balloon ride price.