The Best Time to Visit Cappadocia

The magical town of Cappadocia has long been mesmerizing its visitors and locals alike. From the otherworldly geological formations to subterranean refuges, Cappadocia is a town of two worlds; above and below the ground. So what is the best time to visit and explore what Cappadocia has to offer?

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The weather in Cappadocia

The weather in Cappadocia is fairly hot during the summer months (up to 40 degrees Celsius), and it can make exploring the historical sights unbearable. Those interested in hiking and walking tours should aim for Spring and Autumn months (ideally September, October, mid-April, May). Although, April is the wettest month in Cappadocia.

Winter in Cappadocia is a less popular time, yet the landscape is covered in a blanket of snow and is especially serene and idyllic. If you catch a sunny day during your visit, you might even be able to see the spectacular views from the hot air balloons.

Cappadocia in Autumn

Cappadocia in Autumn is beautiful, still sunny yet not as hot as summer as the weather gradually gets colder. Cappadocia is still warm throughout September, but hiking is much more bearable and you need warm clothes at night. It occasionally rains in Cappadocia in autumn, but you're more likely to have sunny days than rainy days in October and November.

Things to do in Cappadocia in Autumn

No matter which month it is, there are must-see places in Cappadocia, such as:

Göreme Open-Air Museum
Üçhisar Castle, Isaac Castle
Zelve Open-Air Museum
Çavuşin Village
Derinkuyu Underground City and Museum
Kaymaklı Underground City
Cave churches and monasteries, just to name a few; Dark Church, Buckle Church, Ayios Konstantinos-Eleni Church (Hotel), Çavuşin Church, St John the Baptist Church
For hiking fans; Love Valley, Pigeon Valley, Rose Valley
Hot air balloon ride
Go wine-tasting (The second week of September Ürgüp Grape Harvest Festival is celebrated)

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You can choose how you want to explore the unique geography; either by foot or from a bird’s eye view. Cappadocia is incredibly special at night too, and we recommend staying at a cave hotel to get the full experience of its views.

Cappadocia in Winter

Cappadocia in Winter will still not be horribly cold, and you can experience both sunshine and snow. And luckily, the snow is not so thick that it prevents you from hiking and visiting underground cities, caves or churches. The powdered sugar look in winter months starts around late December through to mid-February. So if you want to catch the snow, plan your trip around these times.

Things to do in Cappadocia in Winter

The good thing about winter is that you are burning even more calories when your body is trying to heat itself up, which means you can eat more! Apart from the things to do in autumn we mentioned above, we recommend the following things to do in Cappadocia in winter:

Make sure to pick a cave hotel with spa services for a luxurious stay
Try Ürgüp cuisine specials such as kebab cooked in a clay pot, quince dolma and Ürgüp meatballs and more.
Visit the St Nicholas Monastery (especially around Christmas)

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