Hattusa tour from Cappadocia: Hittite ruins & Yazilikaya

The Hittites ruled 4,000 years ago, and their capital still stands in ruins across an acropolis.

A full-day guided tour from Cappadocia to Hattusa, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, departing Tuesdays and Fridays year-round. The route covers the open-air sanctuary of Yazilikaya with its rock-carved reliefs, the sprawling ruins of Hattusa itself including the Lions' Gate and a tunnel through the royal walls, and the Bogazkoy archaeology museum with Hittite tablets and bronze tools. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, and an English-speaking guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hittite heritage in Hattusas

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Drive to Yazilikaya sanctuary
• Visit Yazilikaya rock inscriptions
• Tour ancient city of Hattusa
• Visit Bogazkoy archaeology museum
• Drive back to Cappadocia

The experience

The tour leaves your hotel at 08:30 and drives nearly 210 km north into the heart of Hittite civilization. Your first stop is Yazilikaya, an open-air shrine carved into rock walls with reliefs of gods and goddesses that face the morning light. The site sits on fresh water springs and was likely a place of worship. The rock inscriptions are what give it its Turkish name. After this, you continue to Hattusa itself, the sprawling ruins of the empire's capital set on an acropolis.

Walking through Hattusa, you see the Lions' Gate with its magnificent carvings, Sphinx-like figures adorning the entrances, and a tunnel engineered through the royal city walls: examples of construction and ornamentation that have survived millennia. The city's layout and the types of buildings preserved (temples, royal residences, fortifications) show how the Hittites organized their capital. Lunch at a local restaurant breaks the day in the middle.

In the afternoon, the tour visits the Bogazkoy archaeology museum, which holds artifacts from Anatolian civilizations arranged chronologically, with an emphasis on Hittite remains: written tablets, stamps, bronze tools and other objects from Hattusa. You return to Cappadocia by early evening. The minivan is air-conditioned, bottled water and afternoon tea are provided, and the guide is a professionally licensed English speaker.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water and afternoon tea.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Stoneland Travel

Is this one for you?The full day and 210 km drive mean an early 08:30 start and return by evening, so plan the rest of your Cappadocia itinerary around a Tuesday or Friday departure. The tour runs year-round on a fixed schedule, so you book the date that fits your stay.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Yazilikaya and why does the tour stop there first?

Yazilikaya is an open-air ceremonial site with rock-carved reliefs of gods and goddesses cut into the walls. The tour visits it in the morning when sunlight hits the carvings directly, and it sits on fresh water springs that made it a likely place of worship for the Hittites.

What can I see at the ruins of Hattusa itself?

Hattusa shows the Lions' Gate with its rich carvings, Sphinx-like figures at the entrances, royal residences and temples, fortifications, and a tunnel engineered through the royal city walls. The ruins spread across an acropolis and reveal how the Hittites built and organized their capital.

Does the tour include the archaeology museum?

Yes. The Bogazkoy archaeology museum is visited in the afternoon and holds Hittite artifacts including written tablets, stamps and bronze tools arranged in chronological order, with emphasis on remains from Hattusa and the Hittite civilization.

How far is Hattusa from Cappadocia, and how long is the drive?

Hattusa is nearly 210 km north of Cappadocia. The tour departs at 08:30 and returns by early evening, making it a full-day outing with time for stops at Yazilikaya, the ruins, lunch, and the museum.