Nevşehir-Kapadokya (Cappadocia) Airport, Turkey
Cappadocia (Kapadokya) has two airports: Kayseri Erkilet (ASR) and Nevşehir-Kapadokya (NAV). Traveling via the Nevşehir-Kapadokya Airport (Nevşehir-Kapadokya Hava Limanı; NAV) is beneficial for a number of reasons.
The ride to and from the airport is easier, faster, prettier, and more characteristic of the Cappadocia moonscape, with rock pinnacles and caves easily visible from the highway. You can start your explorations of Cappadocia right on the way from the airport.
Airlines & Flights
Turkish Airlines, Anadolujet and Pegasus Air all have flights from Istanbul to Nevşehir-Kapadokya Airport, most from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport, but also some from Istanbul New Airport’s (IST). The journey takes 80 minutes.
As of 2022, Anadolujet offers daily direct flights from both Antalya and İzmir (for Ephesus) to Nevşehir-Kapadokya. Additional flights are available to Cappadocia via Kayseri‘s Erkilet Airport.
Ground Transportation
Airport Shuttle Vans
Airport shuttle vans are an easy way to travel between Nevşehir-Kapadokya Airport and any of the towns of Cappadocia. More…
Car Hire/Rental
If you arrive in Cappadocia on a morning flight and are not jet-lagged, you may want to rent a car at NAV and drive to your destination. On the 4-lane road from the airport, signs point the way to Avanos and to Nevşehir, a 30-minute drive. From the center of Nevşehir, signs point the way onward to Ürgüp, Göreme and, a bit farther along this road, to Uçhisar, Ortahisar and other Cappadocian towns.
That having been said, unless you will use the car again on the same day that you receive it at the airport, or if you arrive at Nevşehir-Kapadokya Airport in late afternoon or evening, you may decide to use an airport shuttle van to reach your Cappadocia hotel, settle in, and hire a car on the next morning.
It’s less advisable to rent a car at Cappadocia’s other airport (Kayseri’s Erkilet Airport) because of the need to drive from the airport which is a longer distance and through Kayseri which is a larger city. Nevşehir-Kapadokya Airport is different: no big city, and a pleasant, easy drive to any of Cappadocia’s towns.
If you are in need to assistance for hiring a transfer or book a tour, we recommend Pupa Tourism. This reputable agency is available to make any arrangements for you anywhere in Turkey, and can provide quality guided tours, hotel reservations, car rental, airport pick-up and more. Pupa is one of the best staffed agencies in country with personnel in Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Ephesus.
—by Tom Brosnahan
Here’s full information on how to travel to Cappadocia.
DHMİ Nevşehir-Kapadokya Hava Limanı
Tuzköy, Gülşehir, Nevşehir, Turkey (map)
Tel: +90 (384) 421 4455
Fax: +90 (384) 421 4451
infokapadokya@dhmi.gov.tr