Hot air balloons & fairy chimneys: exploring Cappadocia, Turkey with kids

Cappadocia was a bucket list item, it did not disappoint.

Before this, the only time I got close to a hot air balloon was during my colonoscopy. 🎈🍑😳

Cappadocia, Turkey is an Instagram influencer’s dream—it’s the kind of place that makes you pause and think, wow, maybe we really shouldn’t ruin the planet. Picture a dry, moonlike landscape dotted with giant “fairy chimneys”—lava rock formations shaped by nature and time. Add in ancient cave dwellings, underground cities, and yes, hundreds of colorful hot air balloons floating at sunrise—and you’ve got a bucket list stop that tops the list.

We visited in July—it was hot as balls (90°F), but still manageable as it cools down at night. Due to the heat it’s not as crowded as peak season and prices were surprisingly fair. For a spot that looks out-of-this-world, Cappadocia is refreshingly down-to-earth.

Getting there & where to stay

From Dalaman, we flew to Nevşehir with a layover in Istanbul. Took around 4 hours, and cost $220 per person round trip. 

We split our 4-night stay between two hotels—and in Cappadocia, where you stay is a huge part of the experience:

• Sacred Mansion Hotel ($150/night): Picture fancy grotto spa, unique architecture that blends seamlessly into the natural landscape, killer breakfast, and an epic terrace. Felt like a set from Game of Thrones meets a ritzy spa retreat.

• Niche Cave Hotel ($110/night): We slept in an actual cave, the real deal. The views from the rooftop rivaled what we saw in the air, balloons fa days. Sunrise and sunset were spent on the roof.

Getting around

We rented a car ($40/day), which made things easier with kids. But honestly, you could skip it. Tour buses and taxis are readily available to all the key spots, and there is a ton to do within walking distance.

Ok, the reason we’re all here: hot air balloons in Cappadocia

This is why you come here. We did a sunrise balloon ride over Goreme, Love Valley, Rose Valley, Red Valley, Pigeon Valley, and Sword Valley. Hundreds of balloons launching into the dim dawn sky, gliding over fairy chimneys and cave homes as the sun rose over the valley—it was one of the most breathtaking things I’ve ever seen. My daughter still talks about it.

• Cost: $200 per person (ages 6+).

• Tip: Book it early in your trip in case the flight gets canceled due to weather, it happened to my parents. 

• Vid: Check out my wife’s reel.

Other things worth your time

• Kaymakli Underground City: Miles of tunnels and ancient living quarters carved underground. People lived here until the 1950s!

• Hikes:

  • Sword Valley: Cool gorge, narrow paths, and ladders to climb.

  • Love Valley: Classic fairy chimney hike.

• Vintage E-Bike Tour: Family-friendly, low-effort, high-reward. We cruised around on a pink retro bike and hit all the views. We used Fairy Caves Travel for $60 for 2 hours.

• Avanos Pottery Workshop: The city of Avanos is known for pottery because of the natural red river clay. We met Mahmut and his mom, who gave us tea and taught us how to spin clay like the pros. The kids got hands-on. 

Bucket lists

Most people wait until the end of their life to start checking off their bucket list—because that’s how we’ve structured life: work for decades, then maybe make time for unbelievable experiences. But what if we flipped that script? What if we spent our lives crossing off our bucket lists—month after month?

That’s what Financial Independence (FI) makes possible. You’re not limited by PTO. You’re not stuck waiting for “someday.” You can live the life on your bucket list—now. 

How did we get here? We started with finding our 'why'. 

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.