Travelers’ Recommended Cappadocia Cave Hotels
Cappadocia is a region that feels otherworldly, with its surreal landscapes of rock formations. It truly does feel like being on another planet at times. One of the most memorable ways to experience Cappadocia is by staying in a cave hotel, not just for novelty, but for the insight it offers to the land and history. These hotels are carved into the soft volcanic rock, where civilizations lived in caves and underground cities for thousands of years. Staying in a cave hotel is part of the adventure of Cappadocia and is one of the top things to do in itself.
There are many, many cave hotels in Cappadocia. It can be hard to sift through all of them and know which one to choose. That’s why I wrote this, to make it a little easier for you when planning your own trip! I sourced recommendations from other expats living in Türkiye (a local always has different insights than a tourist), my own personal experiences, tips from other travel bloggers, and reviews from other travelers to put this list together.
The hotels are listed roughly by category: luxury, moderate, and budget to give you a starting point. Before you get to the list, make sure to read the paragraphs below on things to watch out for and whether you should use your hotel to book excursions for you.
If you want to read more about planning a trip to Cappadocia, check out these posts: Winter in Cappadocia & Unforgettable Things to do in Cappadocia
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Things to Watch out for with Cave Hotels
When you are looking for a Cappadocia Cave Hotel, almost every hotel will label itself that way but not all the rooms are truly the cave rooms you might be envisioning. Some of the properties have rooms that are truly old, hand-carved caves. You can tell by the chiseling marks in the rock walls and ceiling. Some may even be inside a fairy chimney, which are the rock spires Cappadocia is so famous for. But some of the rooms may be built with stones to mimic the cave look. It makes sense that not every property can be completely built in caves but it might be disappointing if you think you’re getting one thing, and show up and it’s not that.
If being in a true cave room is important to you, look carefully at the pictures to see if the walls look like they have been chiseled or if they are built by stones. You can also verify with the hotel directly that you are getting the type of room you want.
In addition to this, you should also verify that your room has heating if visiting in the winter and air conditioning if visiting in the summer. Not all rooms have this, and it can make for an uncomfortable stay.
Make sure you also know if the hotel has parking available if you will be driving a car. Some of the hotels are up hills on steep, narrow, winding roads. It’s best to know what you are getting yourself into beforehand.
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Which Town to Stay In
Cappadocia is actually a region of Türkiye, not a town. There are several towns in the area that you could choose to stay in. Most of the time I would recommend staying in Göreme. Certainly if this will be your first visit to Cappadocia, Göreme is the most central town with the most access to activities and restaurants. All but one of the properties recommended below are in Göreme.
If you’ve been before or want to try and experience a more quiet area, then you can look for properties in Uçhisar, Ortahisar,, Avanos, and Çavuşin.
Using your Hotel to Book Excursions
One of the most recommended things I see talked about in relation to visiting Cappadocia is booking tours and hot air balloon flights. I would venture to say that every single hotel will offer to book tours and excursions for you. While sometimes this can be helpful, I also want people to be aware that this can sometimes result in paying a higher price because the hotel person is taking a cut of the money by acting as a middleman or booking agent.
We experienced this personally in regards to balloon flights where the price the hotel offered to book us at was higher than when we went to the balloon company directly.
I’m not saying every hotel does this, but it can happen and I think it’s something travelers should be aware of. That said, hotels can be very helpful in bridging language gaps and helping with arranging tours, taxis, and experiences.
You will find many tour companies and operators just by walking around Göreme as well. So use your judgement to decide what is the best way for you.
For balloon flights specifically, I will always recommend booking directly with the balloon company. You will get the best rate that way. Many companies have websites and list a flat rate for flight, some companies are more flexible to negotiate the price.
Read Next: Unforgettable Things to Do in Cappadocia
Cappadocia Cave Hotels List
This list of Cappadocia Cave Hotels comes from real reviews from other expats living in Türkiye and travelers who have visited the area. I also checked the reviews and listings myself to make sure they are properties I could feel good about recommending to you. The two I have personally stayed at are Holiday Cave Hotel and Amber Cave Suites. Both were affordable, included breakfast, had parking, and were in good locations in Göreme. I didn’t include Holiday Cave Hotel in this list because when I checked the room prices, they were significantly higher and I didn’t think the price matched the value. If interested, I would recommend contacting them directly to see if the price would be better.
Luxury Hotels in Cappadocia
Built in what used to be a monastery, this property is the epitome of luxury and charm. What’s really unique about this Cappadocia Cave Hotel is that some of the rooms are accessed via underground tunnels. The on-site restaurant Seki features indoor and outdoor seating and serves local cuisine as well as international dishes. Argos also has an outdoor heated pool which can be used year round, a feature particularly nice for families with children.
There is no better choice for someone looking to experience Cappadocia in a refined, elegant, but down to earth setting.
Aza Cave Hotel (Only children over 12 can stay), Göreme
This hotel has modern finishings with antique touches. Aza Cave Hotel features features a spa, swimming pool with a view, and a terrace. Free parking and bike hire are available for guests as well. With over 1,000 reviews and an excellent rating, you are sure to enjoy your stay here.
This is one of the most recommended properties in the area. Kelebek features not only cave rooms but also rooms inside fairy chimneys, the pointed rock spires you see all over Cappadocia. It also has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, traditional Turkish bath, sauna, and availability to book massages. The suites have fireplaces and private balconies.
This is a gorgeous property perched on top of Aydinli Hill amongst the fairy chimneys. The views are outstanding and the onsite restaurant Seten is an approachable fine dining restaurant. I can personally vouch for the restaurant, I ate there with my family and it was a lovely experience. I recommend enjoying a meal or a drink on the terrace. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the hotel will happily help you arrange anything you need.
Moderate Hotels in Cappadocia
Arinna is another great, centrally located option with a wonderful view of the balloons from their terrace. The hotel has outdoor hot tubs and some rooms feature a private indoor hot tub as well. Buffet Turkish breakfast is included in the room price, and this property has many wonderful reviews.
This beautiful property not only offers sophisticated cave rooms, but also boasts many other amenities. Guests have access to spa facilities, a sauna, indoor swimming pool, and sun terrace. Carus Cappadocia also includes a fitness center, outdoor fireplace, and free parking. The indoor pool will also give you the cave feeling and looks really unique. Rooms are moderately priced but big families may end up needing to book 2 separate rooms.
Divan Cave house features hand-carved cave rooms, traditional Turkish breakfast, and an open terrace to watch the balloons flying overhead. Families will enjoy staying in the multilevel deluxe family room with plenty of space for everyone and an inground mosaic tub.
This hotel has a family room which is not always easy to find in this area. The mosaic pool and multiple terraces for balloon or sunset watching are some of the highlights of this property. The property has a 9.5 rating on Booking with almost 1200 reviews.
Budget Hotels in Cappadocia
Vineyard Cave Hotel is in the heart of the area in the most central town of Göreme. The property features a panoramic terrace for viewing balloons early in the morning, free parking, and breakfast included. There are a variety of room options available, including family sized rooms.
Artemis Cave Suites (Adults Only), Göreme
If you’re without kids, consider this property that might give you some more peace and tranquility without any little ones running around. Artemis Cave Suites has some rooms that are truly hand-carved caves and some that are built from stone to give you the cave feeling. The hotel also has an underground Turkish bath & spa and an onsite restaurant.
A snowy view of Göreme from the terrace at Amber Cave Suites.
I personally stayed here with two of my friends. The hotel is set amongst fairy chimneys and the breakfast room has an excellent view over Göreme. They offer a free pickup service from the bus station and also have free parking available. The front desk staff is available to help arrange taxis, tours, and anything you might need.
If you’re looking to maximize your travel dollars but still stay in a highly reviewed property, this is a good option. Rooms are small, better for couples or small families, but even if you had to book two rooms you’d still be saving a lot of money. There is still a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and breakfast included with your room reservation.
Staying in a Cappadocia cave hotel is truly a unique experience that shouldn’t be missed when visiting the area. With these tips and recommendations, you’ll be able to pick the perfect cave hotel for you and your group. When you’re ready to continue your planning you can read Unforgettable Things to Do in Cappadocia and Winter in Cappadocia for more ideas and inspiration.
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