What the city is best for
Cappadocia should be planned by area, travel time and what you actually want to do. It works especially well for nature, balloon, history, hiking and road trip. The main anchors are hot air balloons, Göreme Open-Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle, Red Valley, Love Valley and underground cities, but the value of the trip depends heavily on where you stay and how you structure the days.
The most useful bases are Göreme for easy tours and views, Uçhisar for quieter upscale stays, Ürgüp for restaurants and hotels and Avanos for river and pottery atmosphere. Choose short access to what you will do most, not just the lowest hotel price. For short stays, a better location often saves both time and transport.