Goreme from Istanbul

The trains are not bad, but you will definitely want a sleeper car (yatakli vagon) rather than a couchette, and not every overnight train has a sleeper car, so check first. Another option would be to take the overnight sleeper train (all yatakli vagon!) to Ankara, then take a bus to Nevsehir--much closer to Goreme. From there you can get a dolmus or taxi to Goreme. The train station and bus stations in Ankara are very close together, so transferring is easy. Train schedules are at www.tcdd.gov.tr.

Don't be too quick to assume that the train is more comfortable than the overnight busses. The busses are by far a smoother and quieter ride, and the reclining seats are nice and big on the long haul busses. Also, you can bus from Istanbul right to Nevsehir, saving you the long and tedious trip from Kayseri. Bus fares are somewhat negotiable--try several companies and haggle a bit. There are websites for a lot of the big companies--Varan, Boss, Ulusoy, Metro Turizm--but not all of the smaller ones, like Nevsehir, for example. The Buyuk Otogar (main bus station) in Istanbul is huge--nearly 200 gates, a shopping center, etc.

One final thought--consider flying. Assuming you book in advance, it's even cheaper than the cost of the sleeper train and it saves you so much time and bodily wear and tear. I've done the Turkish overnight trains and believe me, you won't really sleep much. Unless you're on an extended trip to Turkey, time and energy are your most precious commodities. Onur Air flies from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport into Kayseri for about 60 lira each way (advance purchase); Pegasus Air is cheaper (as low as 30 or 35 lira) but it flies out of the less convenient Sabiha airport from Istanbul. Both have websites you can check out.

Thanks! Always good to get comments from those who have "been on the ground". I'll look into the air option also