Aksaray is a province in Central Anatolia (İç Anadolu), Turkey, on the southwestern edge of the Cappadocia region. It is best known for the Ihlara Valley, a 14-kilometre canyon lined with Byzantine rock-cut churches and frescoes, the towering Selime Monastery, and the Sultanhanı Caravanserai, the largest Seljuk han in Turkey. With the volcanic cone of Hasan Mountain on the horizon, the salt expanse of Lake Tuz to the north, and Göreme roughly an hour east, Aksaray serves as an uncrowded gateway to Cappadocia.
Aksaray has no commercial passenger airport. Most visitors fly into Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV, about 85 km east) or Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR, about 130 km east), then continue by road. Intercity coaches from Aksaray Otogar (bus terminal) link the city to Ankara, Istanbul, Konya, Nevşehir, and beyond. Within the province, shared dolmuş minibuses connect the city to Ihlara, Güzelyurt, Sultanhanı, and other districts, but the sights are spread across a large area and a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
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- {'from': 'Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV)', 'to': 'Aksaray city centre', 'options': ['Private taxi (~85 km, approx 1h10min, ₺1,200-1,600 / ≈$26-35)', 'Rental car from airport (Avis, Budget, Europcar offices at NAV)', 'Shuttle services run by some Aksaray hotels on request (book in advance)'], 'notes': 'No direct public bus route between NAV and Aksaray; hitch to Nevşehir city then catch an Aksaray-bound coach is possible but slow'}, {'from': 'Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR)', 'to': 'Aksaray city centre', 'options': ['Taxi (~130 km, approx 1h45min, ₺2,000-2,800 / ≈$43-61)', 'Havas airport bus to Kayseri city centre, then intercity coach to Aksaray (₺350-500 total / ≈$8-11; allow 3h+)'], 'notes': 'Car hire from Kayseri airport is a practical option and unlocks the entire Cappadocia-Aksaray region'}, {'from': 'Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB)', 'to': 'Aksaray city centre', 'options': ['Intercity coach from Ankara to Aksaray (about 3h, ₺400-600 / ≈$9-13; Metro Turizm, Nevşehir Seyahat)', 'Rental car from Ankara (~220 km on O-21 and D300 highways)'], 'notes': 'Aksaray is about 3 hours south of Ankara by direct coach from Ankara Otogar (Şehirlerarası Terminal)'}
Local transport
Getting around the city.
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Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
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Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
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- Route
- Istanbul → Aksaray
- Operator
- Metro Turizm, Nevşehir Seyahat, and others
- Duration
- approx 8-9 hours
- Cost
- ₺700-1,200 (≈$15-26)
- Frequency
- Several departures daily from Istanbul Esenler Otogar
- Booking
- Book at otogar.com, obilet.com, or the operator websites
- Route
- Ankara → Aksaray
- Operator
- Metro Turizm, Nevşehir Seyahat, Özkaymak
- Duration
- approx 3 hours
- Cost
- ₺350-550 (≈$8-12)
- Frequency
- Frequent departures throughout the day from Ankara AŞTİ (Şehirlerarası Terminal)
- Booking
- Buy at AŞTİ ticket counters or obilet.com
- Route
- Konya → Aksaray
- Operator
- Metro Turizm, Kontur
- Duration
- approx 2 hours
- Cost
- ₺220-380 (≈$5-8)
- Frequency
- Hourly or more frequently throughout the day
- Booking
- Buy at Konya Otogar or from ticket agents
- Route
- Nevşehir → Aksaray
- Operator
- Nevşehir Seyahat, local minibuses
- Duration
- approx 1.5-2 hours
- Cost
- ₺150-280 (≈$3-6)
- Frequency
- Regular connections; check at Nevşehir otogar
- Booking
- Buy at otogar; some services are dolmuş-style with no advance booking
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Aksaray is reached primarily by road and long-distance bus. Rental car is strongly recommended for independent exploration of the Ihlara Valley, Selime, Sultanhanı, and Lake Tuz.
Airports
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Rent a car at Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) if arriving by air — this unlocks both Cappadocia and Aksaray without transfer hassle
The main road from Aksaray to Ihlara is the D305; follow signs for Güzelyurt/Ihlara from the city
Sultanhanı is on the D300/E-90 highway — easy to reach as a roadside stop en route from Konya
Lake Tuz is accessed from the D750 Ankara highway north of Aksaray; a paved road leads to the southern salt flats
Carry a physical map or download offline maps (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) as mobile signal can be patchy in the Ihlara Valley gorge