Season guide · Cappadocia · Turkey
Cappadocia in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nevit Dilmen ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Warm, clear days and the grape harvest in September and October; nights turn cold and crowds fall in November. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 13 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 13
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 26°C (79°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 2 | 12.4 h | 5/5 |
| October | 19°C (66°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 5 | 11.1 h | 4/5 |
| November | 12°C (54°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 6 | 10 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 19°C (66°F) against a yearly 17°C (63°F), and 13 of the year's roughly 72 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Grape harvest in the vineyards (usually September–October)
- October: Republic Day celebrations (29 October)
Make the most of the weather
Nature · Uçhisar
Pigeon Valley
A green valley between Uçhisar and Göreme whose cliffs are dotted with dovecotes carved into the rock; farmers once collected pigeon droppings to fertilise vineyards.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Historic site · Avanos
Zelve Open-Air Museum
Bring a torch and sturdy shoes if you want to explore the tunnels connecting some of the dwellings.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
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Historic site · Çavuşin
Çavuşin old village
Above the modern village, a cliff is riddled with abandoned cave houses, and the Church of St John the Baptist, one of the oldest in the region, is carved high in the rock.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Castle · Ortahisar
Ortahisar Castle
Afterwards, walk the village lanes to see the tuff caves where lemons and potatoes are stored.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
Experience · Göreme
Hot-air balloon flight
Dozens of balloons launch from the valleys around Göreme at dawn on calm mornings, drifting over fairy chimneys, vineyards and rock churches for about an hour, often climbing high enough to see Mount Erciyes.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours including pickup
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Day trips in autumn
- Gülşehir (About 35 minutes by car) — A town north of Nevşehir with the Open Palace (Açıksaray), a complex of rock-cut halls and façades, and the two-storey Church of St John, whose 13th-century frescoes are well preserved.
- Kayseri (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car or bus) — A large city at the foot of Mount Erciyes with Seljuk mosques, tombs and medreses, a covered bazaar and a reputation for food, especially pastırma and mantı.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Cappadocia?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warm, clear days and the grape harvest in September and October; nights turn cold and crowds fall in November.
+What is the weather like in Cappadocia in autumn?
Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 13 rainy days over the season.