Izmir to Cappadocia: A Direct Flight to Kayseri or Two Days Across Anatolia

From Izmir to Cappadocia, the quick way is a direct flight to Kayseri of about 1 hour and 25 minutes, then an hour’s drive to the valleys. The slow way is 770 kilometers (480 miles) by road across Anatolia, with Sardis, Konya and a Seljuk caravanserai on the way. To break the road in Konya, see our pick of the best hotels in Konya. Both work well after Ephesus or the Aegean coast. Here is how we plan each one.

Is there a direct flight from Izmir to Cappadocia?

Yes, to Kayseri. Pegasus flies direct from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) to Kayseri Erkilet Airport, and the flight takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. The flight days change with the season and are on the airline’s Kayseri page, and we book the flight that fits your route. For a morning flight, stay the last night near the airport or in Izmir itself. Our Izmir, Ephesus and Pergamon tour in 3 days ends on the Aegean, so the flight to Kayseri can follow it.

How far are the valleys from Kayseri Airport?

About an hour by car. The airport lies 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the city of Kayseri, so the drive to Göreme, Uçhisar or Ürgüp heads west across the plain, with the snowy cone of Mount Erciyes behind you. Our Cappadocia airport transfer meets you at arrivals and takes you straight to your cave hotel.

How far is Izmir to Cappadocia by road?

The official road distance is 770 kilometers (480 miles) from central Izmir to Nevşehir. So the drive needs two days, with the night in Konya. Konya lies 563 kilometers (350 miles) from Izmir, and from there Nevşehir is 223 kilometers (139 miles) away. As a result, the second day is short, with time for stops before the fairy chimneys.

What do you see on the way from Izmir to Cappadocia?

On the first morning, stop at Sardis, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) from Izmir on the highway to Ankara. The capital of Lydia is known as the place where coins were first struck, and its Temple of Artemis was one of the grandest Ionic temples.

In Konya, visit the Mevlana Museum, the tomb of Rumi. Then eat at Cemo, which has made etliekmek, Konya’s long flatbread baked with meat, since 1984, and order höşmerim for dessert. The next day, on the road to Aksaray, the Sultanhanı Caravanserai of 1229 shows how traders crossed this plateau.

Which way from Izmir to Cappadocia suits you after Ephesus?

It depends on your days. With little time, fly from Izmir and gain a whole day in Cappadocia. With more time, drive, and the road becomes part of the trip. Our Classic Turkey in 10 days already flies between Cappadocia and Izmir, and the Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale tour in 5 days joins the same regions by air.

Where do you stay and eat when you arrive?

In a cave hotel. Read our guide to the best cave hotels in Cappadocia, from Uçhisar to Ortahisar. For the first dinner, Babayan Evi in İbrahimpaşa, near Ürgüp, serves a single set menu on the terrace of a family house, with produce from its own garden. Book ahead.

Flight, car or both: send us your dates, and we will plan your way from Izmir to Cappadocia.