Cappadocia and The Best 5 Festivals of This Magical Land

If we had only one single word to describe Cappadocia’s beauty, the word would have been “fairytale”. People have long utilised the region’s soft stone, seeking shelter underground and leaving the countryside scattered with fascinating cavern architecture. The fresco-adorned rock-cut churches of Göreme Open-Air Museum and the subterranean refuges of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı are the most-famous sights. While simply bedding down in one of Cappadocia’s cave hotels is an experience in 21st-century cave living. Cappadocia is now driving this interest to a living culture by hosting great festivals.

The Best 5 International Festivals in Cappadocia

1- Cappadox Festival

Cappadox is a progressive multi-disciplinary cultural festival. The festival brings a host of international and local contemporary art, great music, gastronomy, nature and outdoor programs together. This alternative festival ranks among the world’s top festivals.

2- Runfire Cappadocia

Runfire Cappadocia Ultra Marathon is an international, high challenge sports organization. Moreover, it is the second multi-stage ultra-marathon of Turkey being held after the Lycian Way Ultra Marathon.

3- Cappadocia Cycling Festival

Cappadocia Cycling Festival is a 5-day event being held in Cappadocia. Furthermore, Cycling festival brings bicycle fans from all over the world together. You must be one of the participants in this sporting festival.

4- Cappadocia Ultra Trail

It is an Ultra-Trail World Tour event, passing through natural towers, magical chimneys, high plateaus and valleys of Cappadocia to run it from one side to the other.

5- Cappadocia Music Festival

The sweet sounds of classical music are in the air in Cappadocia. This music festival brings together professional musicians with talented young people. What’s more, the unique settings for the concerts, including caves, hidden courtyards, a Selcuk caravanserai, and Byzantine churches are notable.

How Can I Go to Cappadocia?

You can whether prefer airway or highway to come to Cappadocia. For those who are willing to travel to Cappadocia, Nevşehir and Kayseri airports are preferable. Airway takes 1 hour and 25 minutes from Istanbul to Nevşehir Airport (mostly known as Cappadocia Airport). But unfortunately, there are no direct buses from the airport to the centre, you can use shuttles instead which averagely costs TRY 20.  In case of using Kayseri Airport, then you will arrive in Kayseri from Istanbul in 52 minutes. But, the destination from Kayseri to Nevşehir is 100 km.

However, the highway is another option, as well. Travellers may arrive in Nevşehir from Istanbul in 9 hours more or less, thereby the destination is 740 km. Bus companies vary on a wide range from not only big cities but also other small cities. So it is possible to find a bus ticket averagely TRY 100.

If you are one of those who like to travel by train and enjoy nostalgic transportation, you may consider the train as another option. But, we must point out that you can only go to Kayseri from Istanbul and Ankara terminals. Fortunately, you will have a lot of different buses once you arrive in Kayseri. Additionally, it is 80 km from Kayseri to Nevşehir.

Finally, you should definitely join one of these festivals (or all of them) to have an unforgettable story to tell your descendants. Have fun!

Local Events in Cappadocia

You are lucky if you coincide with an event or a festival on your trip to Cappadocia. Because the region is one of the most diverse geographies in the world. Besides, there are many events and festivals in Cappadocia entertain and thereby, you can enrich your time.

We listed some different events and festivals below in addition to our “The Best 5” list;

• • Kaymakli Cream Festival
  • Aksalur Cherry Feast
  • Cappadocia Annual International Mountainbike Stage Race and Festival
  • International Art Camp in Cappadocia

• Goreme Local Food Contest (Forgotten Flavours of Goreme)
• Urgup Grape Harvest Festival
• Avanos International Tourism and Handicrafts Festival
• Haci Bektas Veli Commemoration Ceremony
• Raidlight Aladaglar Sky Trail
• Urgup International Wine Competition and Vintage Festival
• Cappadocia Culture and Tourism Festival