Getting Your Bearings at Kayseri Airport
Kayseri Erkilet Airport (IATA code: ASR) is the larger and busier of the two airports serving Cappadocia. It sits about 5 kilometres north of Kayseri city centre and approximately 75 kilometres east of Göreme, which means your transfer to Cappadocia will be the longer of the two available options — but Kayseri typically has more flight connections than Nevşehir, which is why the majority of visitors to the region arrive here.
The terminal is a single building divided into domestic and international sections. International arrivals use the right side of the building as you face it from the landside; domestic flights come in on the left. Baggage claim takes between 15 and 35 minutes after landing depending on the flight, and customs clearance for international passengers follows immediately after.
Finding Your Transfer Driver
When you exit the arrivals hall, you'll walk through a set of automatic doors into the main reception area. Transfer drivers wait here with name signs. If you've booked with us, your driver will be holding a card with your name clearly visible — look for it immediately as you exit.
It's worth noting that some transfer companies position their drivers further along the building or even outside on the pavement. If you don't see your name immediately, don't panic — walk the full length of the arrivals area before contacting us. We track incoming flights in real time, so if your flight was delayed, your driver will already know and will still be waiting.
Facilities Inside the Terminal
Kayseri Airport has the standard facilities of a medium-sized regional airport: a café and restaurant airside (before customs), currency exchange counters, an ATM, car rental desks, and a small duty-free shop for international arrivals. The airport does not have a left-luggage facility. WiFi is available throughout the building and is free.
If you're arriving on a domestic connection after a long international flight, there are good options for a meal or coffee while waiting for your transfer to be confirmed.
The Drive to Cappadocia from Kayseri Airport
From Kayseri Airport, the shared shuttle follows the D300 highway westward toward Nevşehir, then branches off toward the relevant Cappadocia destination. The drive to Göreme takes approximately 60-75 minutes under normal conditions. To Ürgüp it's around 55-65 minutes; to Uçhisar about 70-80 minutes. Traffic around Kayseri city centre in the late afternoon can add 10-15 minutes in either direction.
The landscape changes noticeably about 40 minutes into the drive as you enter the volcanic plateau: the flat agricultural land gives way to the first fairy chimneys, the rock formations turn from grey limestone to the distinctive cream and terracotta of Cappadocian tuff, and you'll start to understand why people make the journey.
Practical Notes for Arrival
Cash in EUR, USD, or TRY is accepted for shared shuttle payment — you pay the driver directly on arrival at your hotel, so you don't need to have Turkish lira specifically for the transfer. The exchange counters at the airport give rates that are usually reasonable but not exceptional; if you need cash, the ATMs accept most international cards with a small fee.
For night arrivals — flights landing after 22:00 — the airport is quieter and transfers generally move faster. We operate 24/7, so late arrivals are handled exactly as daytime ones.
If you're comparing airports, see our guide to Nevşehir Airport (NAV), which is closer to Cappadocia but has fewer flight options.