Cappadocia is one of the best places to travel in Turkey, and for good reason. Many people know it as the place to see (or be seen in) hot air balloons, but did you know that there’s way more to Cappadocia than hot air balloons?
Before I traveled to Cappadocia, I had so many questions: How do I get to Cappadocia? When do the hot air balloons fly in Cappadocia? Where are the best spots to see the hot air balloons? And so on… I had more questions than answers, which is why I came up with these 5 quick and simple Cappadocia travel tips. Let’s check them out!
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Cappadocia Isn’t What You Think It Is
Cappadocia isn’t the name of the city where the balloons fly – it’s actually the region! If you’re planning to visit Cappadocia, chances are you’ll probably fly into one of the two main airports: Kayseri or Nevşehir. There are dozens of flights every day from airlines like Turkish Airlines or Pegasus, which makes traveling from Istanbul to Cappadocia a breeze.
If you’re planning to travel to Cappadocia, I recommend staying in any of the following cities: Göreme, Ürgüp, Ortahisar, or Avanos.
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The Hot Air Balloons Fly Every Day
(Even in the winter!)
What a surprise, right?
When I first saw a photo of the hot air balloons in Cappadocia, I thought it was from a festival that only happened once a year. I was so wrong!
In fact, the hot air balloons in Cappadocia fly every day as long as the weather is suitable for flying. The first day we didn’t see any balloons due to high winds but were lucky enough to catch a glimpse on the second day (right before our flight back to Istanbul!)
Book your Cappadocia Balloon Ride with Champagne Breakfast here!
Tip: If you’re planning to be in Cappdocia for more than one day, book your hot air balloon flight for the first day. That way, if there are any delays or cancellations, your company can reschedule for another day.
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The Best Views Can be Found at…
Most higher-end hotels in Cappadocia have a “viewing terrace” just for the sole purpose of hot air balloon watching (and, let’s be real, taking photos for the ‘gram 
If you want one of the best views of the balloons in Cappadocia, we stayed at the Ottoman Caves Suites. The hotel had a cozy rooftop “photo zone” set up, with comfortable pillows, traditional carpets, and even a breakfast table. (However, don’t eat those olives – they’re just a prop for photos!)
You can find a variety of hotels with views of the balloons in Cappadocia for any budget, whether you’re looking for a budget friendly, mid-range, or luxurious hotel. Here are my top picks:
• Budget-friendly: Sakura Cave Hotel or Caravanserai Inn Hotel
• Mid-range: Cappadocia Cave Suites or Travel Inn Cave Hotel
• Luxurious: Museum Hotel or Sultan Cave Suites (each room has its own balloon-viewing terrace!)
If you don’t want to splurge on a rooftop terrace, here are a few other places where to watch the hot air balloons in Cappadocia:
• Uchisar castle
• Sunset Point in Goreme
• Ortahisar Castle
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…But You’ll have to Wake Up Early
If you’re a chronic oversleeper like me, you’ll need to train yourself to wake up a little earlier than noon. 
It depends on the season, but hot air balloons in Cappadocia usually launch around 5 AM. My tip is to ask the hotel employees the night before and they’ll be able to tell you the exact time the balloons plan to launch the following day (or if there are any cancellations due to weather).
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Cappadocia isn’t *just* hot air balloons
Cappadocia has gotten a stereotype of being the place to watch and/or fly in a hot air balloon, but I can promise you that it’s much more than that!
Take any tour through Cappadocia and you’ll see majestic fairy chimneys, whimsical trees with evil eye decorations, sprawling valleys, cute locals (donkeys!), underground cities, cheerful locals, and more.
To make it easier, local tour companies have color-coded their tours based on the route they take. Here’s a quick and simple guide to figuring out which tour to take:
• Typical red tour stops: Uçhisar Castle, Love Valley, Open Air Museum, Paşabağ Valley, Devrent Valley, Pottery Store
• Typical green tour stops: Göreme Panorama, Underground City, Güvercinlik Valley, Ortahisar Rum Village, Red Valley, Kaledibi Monastery
• Typical blue tour stops: Soğanlı Valley, Mustafapaşa Old Greek Village, Underground City, Şahinefendi Ancient City, Keşlik Monastery, Ürgüp Fairy Chimneys
We took the red tour since we only had one full day and felt like it had a good overview of the area. However, any of the tours in Cappadocia are great – feel free to combine any of the colored tours to get the most out of your trip to Cappadocia!
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That’s all for today! Are you planning to travel to Cappadocia (or have you been already)?
Did any of the tips surprise you? Let me know in the comments below, and see you in the next post!