Cappadocia in Winter
Have you ever considered visiting Cappadocia in winter? If not, I think you will change your mind by the end of this post. After visiting Cappadocia in the fall and then again in late November covered in snow, I can confidently say, there is no bad time to visit this area. There’s some pros and cons to any time of year, so make the best of whatever season you choose.
In winter there were many things that had me loving the area even more than our first visit. The snow covered landscapes are undeniably beautiful and add even more magic to this already enchanting area. We also loved the quiet atmosphere and low crowds in November. We traveled with two other families and always had plenty of room and never felt like we were packed in with a lot of other people.
In this post, I’ll let you know why you should visit Cappadocia in winter, things to do in Cappadocia in winter, what to pack for Cappadocia, and the tips you need to know for your Cappadocia winter trip.
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Cappadocia in winter is much cheaper
Cappadocia is an extremely popular destination and everything here operates off supply and demand. When there are a lot of people visiting, prices for hotels and activities go up and when there aren’t many people, the prices go down. Common sense, right? But let me make it more clear with numbers.
For example, to stay at the same hotel, it was 60€ cheaper per night from October to November.
The hot air balloon prices in October were between 150-180€ per person and in late November they were 50-80€ per person.
Other tours were also discounted in November. This can add up to a lot of savings by planning your trip to Cappadocia in winter. If you are budget conscious, this is the time of year to come!
Cappadocia in winter is less crowded
We could feel a noticeable difference in the amount of people in Cappadocia in the winter. It was easier to find parking spots, the streets were more quiet, and restaurants had plenty of available tables. Even though we had a group of 13, we never had trouble getting a table at a restaurant-even without reservations!
If you come in the high season May-September, you’ll be visiting sites with more people and you will feel the area will be more crowded. Some places in the summer can be loaded with tour bus crowds, but in the winter you may only come across 1 or 2 during your visit.
Driving in Cappadocia is quite easy, I recommend a rental car because it gives you the most flexibility and freedom.
Read this more in-depth post about Things to do in Cappadocia.
Cappadocia winter weather
Visiting in the winter months, November-March, means the temperatures will be cold. Especially in the early mornings when you are either going for a balloon ride or waking up early to watch the balloons. With proper packing, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
I’ll say that with the caveat that people’s perception of cold varies. I am used to being in cold weather after 3 years living in the Alps. If you are coming from a warm climate, it may feel colder to you. Bring warm clothes!
When Cappadocia gets snow, it is not normally a huge blizzard. Most of the time it will be more like a dusting of a couple inches. Just enough to make it look pretty without making things completely inaccessible. Though my pictures have snow, I think we got quite lucky. Cappadocia does not stay snow covered all winter. It comes and goes, maybe only a couple times each winter. It just depends.
What to Pack for Cappadocia in Winter
You should pack proper winter outdoor clothing if you plan to visit Cappadocia in the winter.
We noticed that some restaurants would have the heat really cranked up to make up for the cold outside, and some were still chilly despite the cold weather. This is why dressing in layers is important so you can adjust depending on how it feels.
Packing List for your winter trip to Cappadocia:
Hiking boots/Snow boots-Many of the things to do in Cappadocia are outdoors and it is important to have good shoes for snowy or wet conditions. These hiking boots are a top rated choice to keep your feet warm and dry. I wore boots similar to these, and these are my sturdy snow boots that I have had for over 10 years now.
Warm Hats, Scarves, and Gloves-these items all make a big difference in your warmth. You should bring them all. These are my go-to winter mittens. I like mittens because they keep my hands warmer than gloves. It is a pain for using your phone though so if you don’t want to take them on and off, get some touch screen gloves.
Thermal or Wool Base Layers- These are a must for me in the winter if I will be spending any kind of extended time outdoors. Base layers make a huge difference in your warmth and comfort. The gold standard is to get wool base layers but there are also great (and less expensive) thermal options available.
Wool Socks-My favorite are SmartWool. The best thing about wool socks besides keeping your toes toasty is that you can rewear them and they don’t stink. Just lay them out at night and they will be good the next day. Saves you some room in your suitcase for the inevitable souvenirs that you will want to bring home!
Warm and waterproof jacket-I’ve worn this Columbia parka for 4 winters straight and it is my go-to parka for winter. I suggest something that is at least water resistant because you don’t want your jacket soaking through if you happen to get caught in some rain or snow. When buying a winter parka my requirements are: covers my butt, has a hood, waterproof/resistant, and room for layers underneath. I also bought this parka recently and love it, it’s super warm and cozy.
Sunglasses-if you come in the winter and there’s snow, it can still be quite sunny and bright. Pack your shades! I just got these sunglasses after so many recommendations because they are affordable, polarized, non-slip, and fun colors.
Snow Gear for Kids-I did bring snow pants for my boys because I knew they could not resist playing in the snow. It was a good idea to have those, otherwise they would have been wet and miserable. It’s also a cozy layer to keep them warm.
Hand and Toe Warmers- I like to pack hand warmers and toe warmers in the winter for a little extra assurance that I will be warm. Pop them on your socks, in your pockets or in your mittens.
Combine your trip to Cappadocia with a trip to Istanbul! Here’s a 4 Day Istanbul Itinerary.
Things to Do in Cappadocia in Winter
Everything! Honestly there was no difference in what was available in the winter versus the fall. I will say I saw less people doing ATV tours and horseback riding. Probably because there were less people, and it was colder. Read this post for a more in-depth look at things to do in Cappadocia.
You can still do balloon rides, visit one of the underground cave cities, shop, take a hands on mosaic class or pottery making class, visit Uçhisar castle, take a winter hike, visit a hamam, and more! The most popular organized tours are the Green Tour and the Red Tour. Each is a set itinerary that will take you around to some of the best spots in Cappadocia.
This is worth waking up early to see!
Watch the Balloons
One thing I believe is a MUST DO is waking up early to watch the balloons. Even if you go on a hot air balloon flight, you should wake up another morning to watch them fly from the ground. I like this viewpoint (costs 50TL per car) but you can also watch from your hotel balcony, Uçhisar Castle, or Göreme Hill.
You can check this website to see if the balloons have the Green Flag to fly for the next day. You can also ask your hotel, or any of the balloon companies that you walk by if the balloons will fly the next morning.
View from the hot air balloon ride! Photo courtesy of my friends.
Hot Air Balloon Flight
The hot air balloons fly all year long as long as the weather permits! So you can do this in any month. I’ve seen other bloggers say you need to book your balloon flight in advance, but honestly that has not been my experience. It could be different at a very busy time of year but on both our trips we were able to book a flight the day before without any problems.
If you want a specific company like Butterfly Balloons or Royal Balloons then maybe you should book in advance to get the package you want, but if you are looking to go up for the best price, you’ll get that by booking when you get there directly from the balloon company. You can literally walk down the street in Göreme and pass by several balloon operators selling tickets. You can also book through your hotel but the price will be marked up a little bit.
There is always a risk that balloons will be canceled due to weather. If it is too rainy, snowy, windy, or foggy the balloons will not fly. This is a potential pitfall any time of year but potentially more chances for bad weather in the winter. Unfortunately, no one can predict what weather you will get on your exact dates.
The best advice I can give you is to book your balloon flight on your first morning in Cappadocia. This way if it does get canceled, you have the most opportunities to rebook on another day.
Make your own Turkish mosaic lamp to bring home!
Take a Class
Take a break from the chilly weather outside to take a class! We took both a pottery class and a mosaic lamp making class and enjoyed both of them! You’ll get to experience a traditional art form yourself and have something pretty to bring home. If crafts aren’t your thing, you could learn how to make Turkish coffee instead.
From our fall visit to Derinkuyu Cave City.
Visit an Underground City
There are two underground cities located within about an hour drive of Göreme. One is Derinkuyu and the other is Kaymaklı. These are underground labryinths you can explore. Hundreds of years ago these cities were built by Christians who were trying to avoid persecution by invaders. It is astonishing to see the vast network they built and to realize the city could hold up to 20,000 people. They even brought their livestock down there! One note is this isn’t the best activity if you are clausterphobic.
Göreme Open Air Museum is much less crowded in the winter.
Visit an Open Air Museum
There are also two open air museums to choose from: Göreme Open Air Museum and Zelve Open Air Museum. My husband and I have differing opinions on which one is better. Göreme is the more well known one but Zelve includes two sites, the Open Air Museum and Pasabağ Valley (Fairy Chimneys). Göreme has more churches and chapels that are remarkably well preserved. Zelve is has more beautiful natural landscapes.
The benefit of visiting in the winter is you will have much less crowds to contend with no matter which one you choose! You also won’t have the hot sun beating down on you. Win!
Tickets to Göreme 20€
Tickets to Zelve 12€
A snowy walk through Love Valley.
Winter Hiking in Cappadocia
Don’t let the cold weather stop you from enjoying the stunning Cappadocia landscape. Put on some layers and go for a winter walk or winter hike in Cappadocia to marvel at the rock formations and the natural beauty around you. Some places you can hike are:
Love Valley
Pasabağ Valley
Pigeon Valley
Imagination Valley
Red Valley
Cappadocia Hotels
There is a wide range of accommodation options in the area. I think Göreme is the best place to stay because it has the most restaurants, shopping, and tours. You can look in Uçhisar, Avanos, or Ürgüyup to try and find a less expensive place in a more quiet area that is still close to most things. Staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia is on most people’s wishlists. I have to admit it is really cool to stay in a room that is a literal cave. Beware that most hotels call themselves cave hotels but some of them have rooms that are not all cave rooms. So you could end up in a room that is not an actual cave. If this is a deal-breaker for you, make sure you contact the hotel before your arrival.
When you visit Cappadocia in the winter, double check your hotel’s heating. Central heating or floor heating would be the best options for making sure your cave hotel room isn’t chilly.
Here are some Cappadocia Hotel ideas:
Budget:
Moderate:
Luxury:
Travel Quick Tips:
Get your eSIM with Airalo for the easiest way to have data while traveling abroad.
Get your rental car here for the most flexibility in your travel. Driving in these countries is easy and nothing to worry about.
Need a place to store your bags after you check out or before you check in? Find a spot to drop them off while you explore.
No matter what time of year you visit Cappadocia, you will love the gorgeous landscapes, the balloons, and the variety of things to do. Cappadocia in winter is special because you might get to see it with snow, it is less expensive than the summer, and it will be less crowded which always makes for a more enjoyable experience. If you have more questions about Cappadocia in winter, let me know in the comments!
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About Me
Hi! I’m Lindsey, an American expat mom of three who has lived in Turkey, Germany, Georgia (the country), and Ukraine. I love to share all the things I learn through traveling with my family in hopes that it will also help make your travels easier! Glad you’re here, feel free to drop me a line anytime.
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