Antalya to Cappadocia: The Road Over the Taurus Mountains

From Antalya to Cappadocia, the road crosses the Taurus Mountains and the plateau of central Anatolia, about 530 kilometers (330 miles) in all. Before you leave the coast, our Antalya tours cover Kaleiçi, the waterfalls and the Roman cities. It is a full day by car, so the best way is to make the drive part of the trip, with Konya and a Seljuk caravanserai on the way. For a night in Konya, see the best hotels in Konya. If you would rather skip the road, Cappadocia also has two airports.

How far is it from Antalya to Cappadocia?

By road, the town of Nevşehir in Cappadocia lies 533 kilometers (331 miles) from the center of Antalya. From the coast, the road climbs north over the Taurus Mountains. Then it runs across the wide plateau toward Konya. Plan a full day, with a long stop for lunch, rather than one long push.

What is worth seeing in Konya?

Konya lies on the way, so it makes the natural break. The Mevlana Museum is built around the tomb of Rumi, from 1274. The dervish lodge around it closed in 1925 and opened as a museum the next year. Your guide walks you through the tomb and the old lodge rooms.

Where should you stop for lunch in Konya?

Konya has its own dishes, and the old center is the place to try them. Bolu Lokantası has served guests on Aziziye Caddesi since 1964, within walking distance of Mevlana Square. Its house dish is etliekmek, a long, thin flatbread with minced meat, baked over a wood fire. To finish, order sacarası, a syrup-soaked sweet made daily. For more places, read the best restaurants in Konya.

Why stop at Sultanhanı on the way?

East of Konya, the road follows the old caravan route. In the town of Sultanhanı, 42 kilometers (26 miles) west of Aksaray, stands the Sultanhanı Caravanserai. The Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubad built it in 1229, and it was enlarged in 1278. You walk through the carved stone gate into the courtyard and the great covered hall behind it. From here, Cappadocia is the last stretch, and you arrive in the evening.

Can you fly from Antalya to Cappadocia instead?

Yes, if a flight fits your dates. Cappadocia has two airports, Nevşehir Kapadokya (NAV) and Kayseri (ASR), and our Kayseri or Nevşehir guide helps you choose. By road, however, our Cappadocia tour from Antalya turns the day into part of the holiday. It continues with the Göreme Open-Air Museum, sunset at Uçhisar Castle and the Kaymaklı underground city.

Tell us your hotel in Antalya and your dates, and we plan the road to Cappadocia with you.