Did you know that you can sleep and stay inside a cave in Cappadocia? But more specifically, inside one of the fairy chimneys of Türkiye? In fact, to complete an unforgettable experience in the surreal landscape, staying in a cave hotel is a must! I’m sure you’re probably thinking of Flintstones right now but don’t worry, these cave rooms are not your typical troglodyte digs.
Scroll down to read where to stay in Cappadocia and what’s it like to stay inside a cave hotel!
Where to stay in Cappadocia
Cave hotels are aplenty, especially in Nevsehir and you only have to choose one based on your budget and where you want to be located. Göreme and Uçhisar are the main towns where you can choose to stay, although Ürgüp and Ortahisar are becoming a popular option nowadays, especially for groups and independent travelers.
Göreme is the most convenient as there are plenty of accommodation and dining options. Most of the tour operators and travel agencies are also located there. There is also a bus terminal in town.
Check for accommodations in Göreme
The village of Uçhisar is isolated compared to Göreme but offers more panoramic views because it is located on a hill. This is also where you’ll find Uçhisar Castle, a tourist attraction and an outcrop that can be seen for miles.
Check for accommodations in Uçhisar
After scouring countless of options and reviews in Booking and Trip Advisor, we finally settled on Artemis Cave Suites. As soon as I booked, I received an email and WhatsApp message from the hotel manager about my inquiry regarding airport to hotel transfer. He also offered tour options.
Arrival and Check-in
Nevsehir’s airport is thankfully small, so when we got out of the arrival area, we immediately spotted our driver with a sign bearing our names. We waited for a bit before being told that we can now board the van. We were dropped off right in front of Artemis Cave Suites.
Check-in was quick enough and they have their own reception room. And after payment was done, we were ushered to our cave suite upstairs.
Cave Suite
Turns out, our cave suit is right inside one of the fairy chimneys! From outside our room, we can see the Goreme Sunset Point or Lover’s Hill.
The room was dark but once we opened all the lights, it was tolerable. Details were carved into the walls and there was a single bed aside from the king bed. We had a really nice sleep because of the bed and fluffy pillows and it was eerily silent at night.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t as cold inside. Now I understand why our ancestors took refuge in caves. And because it was winter, we, of course, did not make use of the air conditioning unit. The temperature inside the cave room stayed constant and the coldness was just enough for us not to sweat or to shiver.
The bathroom was quite spacious, fully stocked, and can probably fit a bed there. Haha! However, the lack of a separate light for the shower space was lamentable. I didn’t like that feeling of showering in the dark.
A bigger or longer mirror aside from the one above the sink would have been a good addition.
Location
Because it is located on a hill, the walk to and from Goreme town centre was a struggle especially at night when it was so cold in winter. So if you are not used to walking uphill and downhill, better just eat at the nearby restaurants or take a short taxi ride to the downtown.
The view at sunrise and sunset was nothing short of amazing though. Aside from the changing colors of the sky for sunrise and sunset, the sky is also littered by the hundreds of balloons in the morning.
Should you want to see and shoot a more panoramic view of Goreme, just walk up the street until you reach the Sunset Point/Lover’s Hill.
Klook.com
Breakfast Buffet
We didn’t get to eat the breakfast buffet on our first morning because, after the hot air balloon ride, we were picked up immediately for our Green tour.
The hotel’s restaurant is also located inside one of the fairy chimneys. Outside seating is available and there’s even a small bridge connecting the rooftops where you can choose to sit and eat.
As it was winter, we, of course, ate inside where it was warm.
The buffet breakfast had good options, a mix of international and Turkish dishes as well as different beverage options.
Property and Staff
The staff especially Reza the manager were nothing short of helpful during our stay. While waiting for our van, you can wait in their luggage room and there’s complimentary tea available. There’s also a toilet on the ground floor.
Although there’s no pool in the property, they have plenty of outside seating (ground and rooftop) for the guests. Some rooms also have a bathtub. Be advised that there are lots of stairs in the property so if you have mobility issues, let the staff know beforehand.
WiFi was fast but there were times it was intermittent. For millennials, there are definitely lots of instagrammable spots in Artemis Cave Suites for you to choose from.
Artemis Cave Suites Information
Check-in: 2:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Room options (28 non-smoking guestrooms): Junior Cave Suite, 2 Bedroom Family Cave Suite, King Cave Suite, Honeymoon Cave Suite with Terrace, Superior Cave Suite
Payment options: Cash and cards accepted
Address: Gaferli Mah. Aydinkiragi Sk. No:22, Goreme 50180, Turkey
Click here for hotel website
Proximity to Nevsehir Airport: around 40 mins or 43 kilometers
Have you stayed in a cave hotel? How was it?
LIKED IT? PIN IT!
