Trying to work out a few days in Cappadocia without renting a car. Can I get around by bus and do some walks myself, or will I end up booking tours for everything?
Traveler answers
Yep, you can manage without a car. Stay in central Göreme near the bus station: walk to the Open-Air Museum, explore nearby valleys, and use minibuses for Uçhisar and Avanos. You don’t need a tour for every outing. For the underground cities, though, I wouldn’t spend a short holiday messing around with connections in Nevşehir. It’s possible, but I’d join a shared day tour or find a couple of other travellers at your accommodation and split a taxi. Agree the return and waiting time before leaving, and say no shopping stops. Same idea for Ihlara: save your transport money for the distant places. Around Göreme, walk independently with an offline trail map, and check the last minibus back before heading to another town. Miss that and your cheap afternoon suddenly comes with a taxi bill 😅
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