Picolo recommends · Cave hotel in Uçhisar
Cappadocia cave hotels: sleep inside the rock as the balloons rise
In Cappadocia your room is carved out of volcanic rock, and your alarm clock is the roar of burners from a hundred hot air balloons. Here are three cave hotels we would choose.
The balloons
A hundred balloons over Cappadocia at sunrise.
It is still dark when you hear them. A deep whoosh, then another, and when you step onto the terrace with a blanket round your shoulders, the first hot air balloons are lifting off the valley floor. Below you lies a landscape of pointed rock pillars, and the room you just slept in is carved straight into the hillside.
Cappadocia in central Turkey is one of the few places on earth where a cave hotel is the norm rather than the gimmick. People have dug homes, churches and storerooms into the soft volcanic rock for centuries, and many of the best hotels today are built into exactly those old caves and stone houses. The rooms stay cool in summer and snug in winter, and the silence is the kind concrete never manages.
We have picked three Cappadocia cave hotels, each with its own character: one for the view, one for the art and one for the classic balloon terrace. The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to choose a cave hotel in Cappadocia
Uçhisar sits highest and has the widest views over the valleys. Quieter than Göreme.
Göreme is the hub for balloon flights and close to the open-air museum. Livelier, with more restaurants.
Want balloons from your bed? Ask for a room with a terrace facing east or towards the Göreme valley.
Real cave or stone house? Many hotels mix both. Cave rooms often have few or small windows, so choose one with a terrace if you want daylight.
The pool
On the edge, overlooking the valleys.
Uçhisar
The hotel climbs down the slope below the rock castle.
The lounge
Big windows facing the valley.
The cave lounge
A fireplace under vaulted stone.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we like Argos
Argos is built into old stone houses and caves in Uçhisar, right below the rock castle. The paths run through gardens and stairways, so it feels more like living in a village than in a hotel.
What you remember is the terraces. The pool sits on the edge above the valleys, and in the morning the balloons drift past at eye level. Choose a room with its own terrace.
Göreme
The village lights up between the rocks at night.
Argos in Cappadocia: the view you will not want to leave
Argos sits in the village of Uçhisar, just below the old rock castle, and is built into a cluster of old stone houses and caves stepping down the slope. The paths between rooms wind through gardens and stairways, so it feels more like living in a village than staying in a hotel.
What stays with you is the terraces. The pool sits right on the edge above the valleys, and in the morning you sit with your coffee watching balloons drift past at eye level. Choose a room with its own terrace and you will not have to share the sunrise with anyone.
Book your stay: See rooms at Argos in Cappadocia
Book your stay
Argos in Cappadocia in Uçhisar
Rooms in the caves and old stone houses, many with a private terrace facing the valleys.
Fairy chimneys
Volcanic rock shaped by wind and water.
The balloons: what you should know
Cappadocia balloons take off just after sunrise, but only when the wind and weather allow. Flights can be cancelled at short notice, so stay at least three nights to improve your chances, both of flying yourself and of watching from the terrace. In high season, book your balloon flight early.
When is the best time to visit Cappadocia?
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for walking in the valleys. Summer is dry and busy. Winter is quiet, and snow on the rock pillars is a sight few expect in Turkey. The nearest airports are Kayseri and Nevşehir. Read more in our Turkey travel guide.
When should you book?
April to June and September to October: book a room with a terrace several months ahead.
Winter: fewer visitors and often easier to get the best rooms.
Balloon flight: book it together with the hotel and early in your stay, so you have spare mornings if it is cancelled.
Alternatives
Would you rather stay somewhere else?
Two other cave hotels in Cappadocia, chosen for different reasons.
Frequently asked questions about Cappadocia cave hotels
What is a cave hotel in Cappadocia?
A cave hotel is a hotel where the rooms are carved into the soft volcanic rock, often in old homes and storerooms used for centuries. Many hotels mix caves and stone houses, and the rooms keep an even temperature all year.
Where should I stay in Cappadocia?
Stay in Uçhisar for peace and wide views, or in Göreme to be close to the balloons, restaurants and the open-air museum. Argos in Cappadocia and Museum Hotel are in Uçhisar, Sultan Cave Suites is in Göreme.
Can I see the balloons from my hotel?
Yes, from most hotels with a terrace facing the valleys you will see the balloons at sunrise when they fly. Ask for a room with a terrace when you book, and remember that flights depend on the weather.
How many nights should I spend in Cappadocia?
Three nights is a good minimum. That gives you time to hike the valleys, see the Göreme open-air museum and several mornings to try for the balloons.
Are cave rooms dark?
Some are, because the windows are small. Choose a room with a terrace or large openings onto the valley if you want daylight.