There are an enormous number of cave hotels in Cappadocia, which makes it super overwhelming to pick where to stay in Cappadocia. In this post, I want to make this task slightly easier by providing you with hotels in different categories (pool, hot tub, great views, etc.) that’ll make for a beautiful yet comfortable stay.
Imagine this: you wake up in a beautifully carved cave room with soft morning light filtering through the the window. You step out to stunning views of fairy chimneys and hot air balloons dotting the sky. This is the magic of Cappadocia’s cave hotels.
Far from your typical accommodations, these hotels offer a unique and enchanting experience that combines the region’s fascinating rock formations called ‘tuff’ with luxurious modern-day comforts. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a cultural immersion, or simply a one-of-a-kind adventure, Cappadocia’s cave hotels promise an unforgettable stay on your Turkiye trip.
So here are some of the best cave hotels in Cappadocia, where nature, history, modern amenities, and luxury converge to create the perfect escape. They’re all super insta-worthy too!
The best cave hotels in Cappadocia, Turkey: A summary
If you don’t have the time to go through the entire blog post, then here are a few amazing cave hotels for you to quickly choose from:
- Best luxury hotels in Cappadocia: Kayakapi Premium Caves | AJWA Cappadocia | Museum Cave Hotel
- Best for stunning hot-air balloon views: Divan Cave Hotel | Charming Cave Hotel
- Best for a gorgeous pool: Local Cave House Hotel | Aza Cave Cappadocia Adult Hotel
- Best for hot tub views: Seki Cave Suites | Arinna Cappadocia
- Best for sustainability & views: Koza Cave Hotel | Kayakapi Premium Caves
- Best for a fairy chimney stay: Kelebek Special Cave Hotel & Spa
- Budget hotels and hostels: Shoestring Cave House | Homestay Cave Hostel
Note that I may not have personally stayed at all the mentioned hotels. However, I’ve done a lot of research and would’ve picked from among these even for myself. This blog post is written to help you choose one as well.
Which is the best area to stay in Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is a region comprising several towns but you should stay in only a specific few.
Goreme: Most tourists tend to stay in the town of Goreme. Why? This town is closest to most major tourist attractions in Cappadocia. It is the most developed, with the maximum number of hotels, shops, and restaurants, and hot air balloons often fly close. It is the most accessible without renting a car and is easy to get around with tours. Though Goreme can be a bit intense, it is perfect for more pocket-friendly hotels.
Uchisar and Urgup: Uchisar and Urgup are neighbouring towns to Goreme. They are great options if you have a car and want to skip the intensity of Goreme. These towns feel slightly more authentic, less touristy, and have better food, too. Here, you’ll find some nice luxury options.
Suggested Read: 20 Tips For a Dreamy Ride in a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia Turkey
How many days should you spend in Cappadocia?
You should spend at least 2-3 mornings in the summer (June–August), 5-7 days in the winter (December–March), and 3 mornings during the rest of the year to try and increase the chance of seeing or riding hot air balloons in Cappadocia.
Read our 3-day Cappadocia Itinerary to plan your days
What are Cappadocia’s cave hotels?
Cappadocia is famous for its landscape characterised by volcanic rock formations known as “tuff,” which have been shaped by centuries of erosion. This tuff rock is soft and easy to carve. Early Christian communities in Turkey, seeking refuge from Roman persecution, carved out cave churches, monasteries, and homes within these formations for shelter and protection over thousands of years.
These ancient cave dwellings have been preserved, with many converted into modern accommodations which maintain and celebrate the region’s cultural heritage.
Must-knows before booking a cave hotel
- Prices: Accommodation prices are extremely high during peak season from June to August, but usually drop in October. Prices fluctuate a lot depending on season so much so that you might find hotels at a 50% discount in the off-season.
- Not all cave hotels have only cave rooms: Even if a hotel has the word ‘cave’ in its name, not all rooms in the hotel will be cave rooms; some may be stone rooms or have stone walls. So select a room wisely if staying in a cave is important to you. Cave rooms have a plain white wall with dotted protrusions (clearly visible in photos), unlike stone rooms, where you can see the stones laid on top of each other.
- Windows: It is possible that some cave rooms in a hotel have zero windows! Ensure that either you book a room with windows or you’re comfortable in a room without any windows.
- Air-conditioning: Do book a room with air conditioning so there is some circulation of air; otherwise, you will feel very stuffy. One of the rooms we booked had no air conditioning or fan, which made us panic a bit but the hotel provided a table fan, which proved to be sufficient since it doesn’t get very hot inside the cave room even in the summer months.
- May not be appropriate for those with disabilities: Since the hotels have an age-old structure that is preserved, there may be stairs in or on the way to the rooms, uneven ground, low ceilings, etc. So, the cave hotel may not be accessible for those with mobility issues and disabilities. If you do have mobility issues, try and book a room on the ground floor. Either way, don’t worry about your luggage reaching your room; hospitality in Turkey is top-notch so you will get help.
- Hill-top Hotels: Hotels with the best views are usually on top of a hill and i’ve suggested quite a few of those below as well. But do note that if you do not rent a car, you will have to walk all the way up at times and if you do rent a car, then driving and parking at such hotels can be a bit challenging. If you can’t do these things, then rent a hotel that is not on top of a hill. The Booking.com listing usually mentions this.
Also read: How to spend 10 days in Turkiye?
Where to stay in Cappadocia: The best cave hotels
1. AJWA Cappadocia
Town: Urgup
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Ultimate Luxury
Budget: $$$
AJWA Cappadocia is an ultra-luxury 5-star hotel that has 10 cave suites fit for royalty and fantastic facilities, including an indoor pool, a hamam, a ceramics factory, a mini zoo , ice cream shop, a coffee shop, an amazing restaurant and more. This hotel is 14 km from Goreme (20-minute drive) so if you’re staying here, I would advise you to rent a car, even though they do have a shuttle to the neighbouring towns of Urgup and Mustafapsa.
2. Museum Hotel
Town: Uchisar
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Luxury | Stunning Views | Heated Pool
Budget: $$$
This Relais & Chateaux member is an award-winning luxury hotel in Cappadocia that provides a museum-like experience with its authentic cave accommodation furnished with priceless antiques, including museum-certified furniture and objects from the Ottoman and Roman empires, and more. It has a terrace and a heated outdoor pool with panoramic valley views, including those of hot-air balloons in the morning. Certain rooms also include free wine taps!
3. Kayakapi Premium Caves, Cappadocia
Town: Urgup
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Luxurious Boutique Hotel| Hamam |Pool | Views
Budget: $$$
This award-winning luxury cave hotel in Cappadocia has some mega-premium caves, from mansions to suites with private pools set into the cliffs of Göreme National Park. They have an excellent restaurant and a wine cellar. With a beautiful outdoor pool that is open all year, a luxurious onsite spa complete with a hamam, and epic views, this hotel is perfect for luxury seekers or honeymooners who want privacy and tranquility.
4. Koza Cave Hotel
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Sustainability | Hot Air Balloon Watching
Budget: $$
Koza Cave Hotel is a family-run hotel that focuses on stylish, sustainable tourism. It’s 10 cave rooms are made with recycled materials and decorated with local handicrafts- even waste water is put to good use. It is one of the highest hotels in all of Göreme so the views from there are unbelievable. They’ve also done up the roof in the local style with rugs and cushions so it’s the perfect spot for watching hot air balloons in the morning.
5. Aza Cave Cappadocia Adult Hotel
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Stunning Pool| Adults Only Hotel
Budget: $$
Aza Cave Hotel is surrounded by fairy chimneys and the view from the pool is absolutely fabulous; you’ll be dying to take a dip in it, though it is a seasonal pool. It is located away from the hustle and bustle of Göreme on a hill and it has a peaceful garden too. The breakfast is delicious! The hotel also has a Japanese restaurant (a welcome respite after eating too many kebabs), which is fairly priced compared to other restaurants in Goreme and you can get vegetarian options too.
6. Divan Cave House
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: No
Best for: Hot Air Balloon Watching
Budget: $$
Divan Cave House has comfortable rooms with authentic decor, a cosy atmosphere, well-maintained facilities and attentive and friendly staff. The hotel has an excellent location as it is located in the upper part of Goreme, close enough to the town but with scenic views from the terrace and maybe even your room, depending on the room location. The superior king room with it’s jacuzzu by the balcony is perfect for a honeymoon stay.
7. Luvi Cave Hotel
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: No
Best for: Hospitality | Pet-friendly | Views
Budget: $$
Luvi Cave Hotel is located in a prime location with splendid views of hot air balloons. The rooms are done up in a very minimalist and modern fashion, unlike most in Cappadocia and the customer service is exceptional. The hotel is pet-friendly with its adorable resident dog, Max.
8. Charming Cave Hotel
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: No
Best for: Hospitality | Hot Air Balloon Watching
Budget: $$
We stayed at this family-run hotel with incredible hospitality but it is mostly famous for the hot-air balloon views from its rooftop since it is located on one of the highest points in Goreme. They were ready to help with anything and everything and very prompt in responding to queries, even on the booking platform. Their breakfast is extensive and you can also eat on the terrace if you like. A nice experience overall!
9. Seki Cave Suites
Town: Cavusin
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Balloon views while soaking in a hot tub
Budget: $$
Seki Cave Suites is not located in Goreme but 5 km from it in the little village called Cavusin. It is, in fact, one of the only few hotels in Cavusin and offers stunning views of the surrounding region as well as hot air balloons. It might be the perfect hotel for wintertime. It has a fireplace in the rooms for a cosy winter day and a jacuzzi on the roof to see balloons fly by while having a hot soak.
10. Local Cave House Hotel
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: No
Best for: Temperature-controlled pool| Gorgeous Hotel | Great for all budgets
Budget: $-$$
This hotel is surrounded by not one, not two, but seven fairy chimneys! It has several terraces and a heated outdoor pool with the most perfect view of them. It also has really cute, well-done-up spaces throughout the hotel, right from the moment you enter. Additionally, it’s centrally located in Goreme so it’s just a few minutes walk to the town centre. While you don’t get the typical hot air balloon views, you can still see a gorgeous hot air balloon sunrise. While the hospitality isn’t the best here, we think it’s an absolutely fab cave hotel in Cappadocia and very good value for money.
11. Goreme Cave Lodge
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: No
Best for: Incredible reviews | Pool
Budget: $$
A 9.9 on Booking.com, this family-run hotel has glowing reviews, with no one rating it less than 7/10. People especially love the breakfast spread, Turkish coffee, location and super friendly and helpful hosts. They have a seasonal swimming pool and you can see hot air balloons from the roof! Sounds perfect to me!
12. Kelebek Special Cave Hotel & Spa
Town: Goreme
Onsite Restaurant: Yes
Best for: Fairy Chimney Stay Option | Great Food | Pool | Hamam
Budget: $$
This hotel is located up the hill in Goreme so it has breathtaking views of the surrounding area and hot air balloons in the morning. The spacious cave rooms are tastefully done up with a blend of modern amenities and traditional design—hand-carved furnishings and locally-made fabrics. The food here is fantastic, and the staff is exceptionally helpful. The hamam (Turkish bath) and pool are an absolute delight, along with the garden, which you won’t find in a lot of places in Cappadocia. Also, this hotel is the sister property of the famous Sultan Cave Suites.
Low-Budget Cave Hotels in Cappadocia
Cave hotels (and cave rooms) are generally a more expensive option compared to regular hotels and regular stone rooms. However, there are a few options that are priced reasonably that you could opt for!
- Shoestring Cave House: Has typical cave rooms and a pool on a budget
- Homestay Cave Hostel: Extremely low-budget hotel, great if you’re travelling alone!
Tip: Cave hotels can be incredibly hard to book, especially during the summer months when everything is sold out. So book as early as possible!
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