» Infos&Tips » Useful tips for Cappadocia

Best Time to Go: Cappadocia is generally cooler than the coastal areas of the Mediterranean and the Aegean. April to mid June and September to November are the best months for avoiding the intense heat and crowds of summer.

Weather: You can check the weather forecast for Cappadocia before coming to Turkey at www.meteor.gov.tr

This site is available also in English. Enter NEVSEHIR as the city for Cappadocia.

Clothing/Gear: Modest, season appropriate clothes are suggested for visits to Cappadocia. Immodest clothing for women (shorts, short skirts, tank tops and tight fitting clothes) still invites unwanted attention in this conservative region, especially in the less visited villages. Long pants are recommended for those who want to explore cave dwellings as some crawling may be necessary and the tufa surfaces can be quite rough. Be sure to bring a wide brimmed hat, sun tan lotion, comfortable shoes, flash light and rain coat (in spring) with you.

Please do not visit the underground cities if you have the following conditions:

• Claustrophobia
• Asthma or heart diseases

Tipping:

• At various establishments: hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers and hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 10%-15% of the total is common
• Taxi and "dolmus" drivers on the other hand, do not expect tips or even rounded fares

Local time: GMT+3 hours (April-September) GMT+2 hours (October-March)

Same Time period for all of Turkey.

Time Differences: Argentina -5, France -1, Australia +8, Germany -1, Saudi Arabia+1, Austria -1, Greece 0, Sweden -1, Egypt 0, Italy -1, Switzerland -1, England -2, Japan +7, Spain -1, USA -7 (EAST) -10 (WEST)

* These time differences are for the period October-March; however, they may show variances according to each country's own time-saving adjustments.

Transportation:

Turkish Airlines offers frequent domestic flights to major cities within Turkey.

Turkish Maritime Lines connects major ports along the Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean coasts -- it takes about two days to go from Istanbul along the Black Sea to Trabzon via Sinop -- very enjoyable.

There is rail service connecting most European countries to Istanbul, and there's also rail service within Turkey (it's usually slower than bus service).

Express bus service connects many European capitals and large cities with Istanbul on a regular (and fairly inexpensive) basis. Inexpensive buses and minibuses connect most points within the country.

Self and chauffeur-driven cars are also available (an excellent way to visit the country). Driving is on the right. Major highways are in good shape, but beware of slow-moving vehicles and animals. Taxis (shared and metered) are the best way to travel within most cities and towns.

Shared taxis (dolmushes) travel on fixed routes for fixed fares.

Gasoline: Super (premium) - Unleaded - Diesel.

Electricity: 220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.

Water: Although tap water is safe to drink since it is chlorinated, it is recommended to get advice from the concerned authorities of the places resided.

It is not recommended to drink tap water in big cities.

Measurements: (Metric System is used in all Turkey)

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters, 1 centimeter = 0.3937 inches

1 yard = 0,9144 meters, 1 meter = 1.0936 yards

1 mile = 1,6093 kilometers, 1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles

1 pound = 0,4536 kilograms, 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds

1 acres = 0,4047 Hectares, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres

1 UK gallon = 4.546 liters, 1 liter = 0.2199 UK gallons

1 US gallon = 3.7831 liters, 1 liter = 0.2643 US gallons

Newspapers and Magazines: Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big cities and tourist areas. Also there is a daily newspaper, Turkish Daily News, published in English.

In a mosque: Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would in any other house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque during prayer time. Women should cover their heads and arms, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear shorts. (In certain famous mosques, overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed.)