Comparison · Antalya vs Cappadocia · Turkey
Antalya vs Cappadocia
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Esginmurat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Antalya for Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian's Gate, lower day-to-day costs and beaches; choose Cappadocia for Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and a short break. Antalya is generally less expensive, and the two are about 411 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 411 km
- Less expensive
- Antalya
- Best time for Antalya
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Cappadocia
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Antalya | Cappadocia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Turkey | Turkey |
| Known for | Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian's Gate and Konyaaltı and Lara beaches | Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and Cave hotels |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$180 | $120–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 34°C (93°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 4°C (39°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | Konyaaltı Beach | — |
| Airports | AYT | ASR, NAV |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Antalya for…
Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian's Gate, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Antalya is the largest city on Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the gateway to the Turquoise Coast. Its historic core, Kaleiçi, is a walled quarter of Ottoman houses and lanes on cliffs above a Roman harbour, entered through the triple-arched Hadrian's Gate…
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Choose Cappadocia for…
Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and a short break. Cappadocia is a region of central Anatolia where volcanic ash, eroded over millions of years, formed valleys of cones, pillars and 'fairy chimneys'. People carved homes, dovecotes, churches and whole underground cities into the soft tuff, and Byzantine monks…
Top sights compared
| # | Antalya | Cappadocia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaleiçi old town | Hot-air balloon flight |
| 2 | Hadrian's Gate | Göreme Open-Air Museum |
| 3 | Yivli Minaret | Derinkuyu Underground City |
| 4 | Antalya Museum | Kaymaklı Underground City |
| 5 | Old harbour boat trip | Uçhisar Castle |
Food compared
| Antalya | Cappadocia |
|---|---|
| Antalya-style piyaz | Pottery kebab |
| Şiş köfte | Kayseri mantı |
| Hibeş | Pastırma |
| Gözleme | Gözleme |
Which is cheaper?
Antalya is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$180 per person there, against $120–$250 in Cappadocia (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Antalya on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Antalya and Cappadocia are about 411 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 6 days in Antalya and 4 in Cappadocia.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Antalya or Cappadocia cheaper?
Antalya is usually less expensive: about $90–$180 a day mid-range against $120–$250 (estimates).
+Is Antalya or Cappadocia better for a first trip?
Pick Antalya for Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian's Gate, lower day-to-day costs and beaches, or Cappadocia for Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and a short break.
+How far is Antalya from Cappadocia?
About 411 km in a straight line.