Comparison · Cappadocia vs Petra · Turkey / Jordan
Cappadocia vs Petra
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Cappadocia for Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and free sights; choose Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq, a milder winter and a short break. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 926 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 926 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Cappadocia
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Petra
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Cappadocia | Petra | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Turkey | Jordan |
| Known for | Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and Cave hotels | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and The Monastery (Ad Deir) |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 2 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$250 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 4°C (39°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 1 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | ASR, NAV | AMM, AQJ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cappadocia for…
Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and free sights. 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…
Choose Petra for…
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq, a milder winter and a short break. Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, a trading people who carved temples and tombs into the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan from around the 1st century BC. Visitors enter through the Siq, a 1.2 km gorge that ends at the facade of the Treasury…
Top sights compared
| # | Cappadocia | Petra |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot-air balloon flight | The Siq |
| 2 | Göreme Open-Air Museum | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) |
| 3 | Derinkuyu Underground City | Street of Facades and the Theatre |
| 4 | Kaymaklı Underground City | Royal Tombs |
| 5 | Uçhisar Castle | Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint |
Food compared
| Cappadocia | Petra |
|---|---|
| Pottery kebab | Mansaf |
| Kayseri mantı | Maqluba |
| Pastırma | Zarb |
| Gözleme | Galayet bandora |
Which is cheaper?
Cappadocia and Petra cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $120–$250 in Cappadocia and $130–$250 in Petra (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cappadocia on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 926 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 7 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cappadocia or Petra cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $120–$250 in Cappadocia and $130–$250 in Petra (estimates).
+Is Cappadocia or Petra better for a first trip?
Pick Cappadocia for Hot-air balloons, Fairy chimneys and free sights, or Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq, a milder winter and a short break.
+How far is Cappadocia from Petra?
About 926 km in a straight line.