At a small regional airport like NAV, the comparison between taxis and pre-booked transfers looks different than it would at a major international hub.
Taxis at NAV
Taxi availability at Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport is inconsistent. When a flight arrives, a handful of taxis usually show up. When flights are delayed or during off-peak seasons, there may be very few or none.
Pricing is negotiated rather than metered. There is no official taxi meter system for airport runs. The driver will quote you a price, and you either accept or try to bargain. If you do not speak Turkish, this negotiation can be frustrating. Typical quotes to Goreme range from TRY 600-1,000, but the price you are offered depends on the driver, the time of day, and how many other passengers are competing for rides.
Vehicles vary in quality. Some are perfectly fine, others are older and less comfortable. You take what is available.
Pre-booked transfers
A transfer booked in advance means a driver is waiting with your name, the price is agreed before you arrive, and the vehicle is typically newer and well-maintained. The driver knows where your specific hotel is, which matters in Goreme where cave hotels can be tucked away on narrow streets that are hard to find.
Pricing for transfers tends to be equal to or slightly below what a taxi driver would quote, with the added benefit of certainty. You can also request a specific vehicle size or child seat.
The key difference at this airport
At a large airport, taxis are always available and the choice is mainly about price and convenience. At NAV, the fundamental issue is reliability. There is no guarantee that a taxi will be waiting when your flight lands. If you arrive from a delayed flight at 23:30 and there are no taxis, you have a problem.
This alone makes pre-booked transfers the safer choice for most visitors. The price difference, if any, is minimal.
What about the shuttle bus
The Havabus shuttle to Nevsehir city center is the cheapest option at around TRY 100-150. But it does not go to Goreme, Uchisar, or Urgup. From Nevsehir, you still need a taxi, which adds cost, time, and another round of negotiation. The shuttle only makes sense if you are staying in Nevsehir itself.
Recommendation
For Cappadocia, a pre-booked transfer is the sensible default. The airport is too small and too remote for taxis to be a reliable option. The cost is reasonable, the convenience is significant, and the driver's local knowledge of those narrow cave hotel streets is genuinely valuable. Save the adventurous spirit for exploring the valleys, not for figuring out transport at a quiet regional airport.