Ihlara is in Aksaray Province, about an hour and a half by road from the main Cappadocian tourist towns of Göreme, Ürgüp, and Nevşehir. The drive from Göreme runs south through Derinkuyu and Güzelyurt and is well signposted.
Most visitors come on an organised day tour from Göreme — the standard "Green Tour" includes the underground city of Derinkuyu, a walk through part of Ihlara, lunch at Belisirma, and Selime monastery on the way back. Tours are reasonably priced and let you walk one-way rather than retracing the gorge. Independent travellers can drive themselves or take a taxi from Aksaray. There is no useful public transport to the valley.