Sleeping in a Cave Hotel in Cappadocia – Ottoman Cave Suites, Göreme, Turkey

Fancy a trip to Mars but can’t afford it? Cappadocia is your answer.

Cappadocia in Turkey is the land of unusual rock formations that have further been carved into underground cities, churches and cave houses. Some of these rock formations look like mushrooms (or penises lol) and are called “Fairy Chimneys”. Yes, and people actually live in these caves!

Many of the cave houses in Cappadocia have now turned into high-end boutique hotels. Hence, this is one of those few places on earth where you can actually sleep inside a cave. Staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia is surely a must do if you’re visiting this surreal place.

So a few months back, I decided to visit Cappadocia and sleep in a cave. After weeks of research, I finally zeroed out on a hotel where I wanted to stay – Ottoman Cave Suites in Göreme (or Goreme). I came here to sleep in a cave but ended up having one of the most amazing hotel stays of my life. Here’s why:

 

Ottoman Cave Suites Location

While Cappadocia is the most famous tourist area of Turkey, Göreme (or Goreme) is the most popular town of Cappadocia. I usually avoid staying at touristy places but I couldn’t stop obsessing over Göreme after seeing its pictures. Moreover, I was traveling alone and I wanted to stay in a lively area and this is the only part of Cappadocia where you can experience the nightlife.

Ottoman Cave Suites is a minute walk away from Göreme’s main shopping / restaurant area. Also, this hotel is right next to Göreme’s bus stop that makes is easy to reach here by walking if you reach Cappadocia by bus.

Suggested: 10 Reasons to Visit Egypt

Reception and Courtyard

I couldn’t help being wide-eyed as I walked into the reception of this boutique hotel. On my right was the reception desk and on my left was a massive dining area that overlooked the courtyard. Everything was reddish-beige in color… like the rest of Cappadocia. On that beige, a massive wall mural splashed a little color to liven up the aesthetics. Across this courtyard were a few ornate doors, which opened up into luxurious cave suites. One of them was mine for a few days!

Cave Suite

My jaw fell as I entered my “cave” suite. It was massive and super luxurious! Was I in Queen Cersei’s chambers in King’s Landing?

A king size bed, many chairs, a desk, a teakettle, drawers – this room had more than everything that I needed. I quickly heated some water to brew some apple tea and sat on a plush chair at the corner of the room. I felt like a royalty.

Massive Bathroom and Twin Showers for Couples

This has got to be the biggest bathroom that I have ever stepped in. There were two rain showers next to each other – one square and one round. The shower was perfect for couples that like showering together without fighting for water. Oh, and thank God they had a hair dryer. I never travel with one but I always need to use one after I wash my hair.

Spectacular View from the Terrace

Ever seen pictures of legendary sunrise shots of Cappadocia with many hot air balloons around? Well, you can witness one of those sunrises on the terrace here.

Waking up early is not my favorite thing but I woke up at 4:30 am every morning just to see Cappadocia’s epic sunrises. Moreover, the terrace offers spectacular sights at sunset when a lot of caves and chimneys around start lighting up. The terrace also offers a view of the famous Uchisar castle and Kayseri’s Mount Erciyes.

Eat Breakfast Like a King

Do you like coffee, cheese, olives, and salami? You’re gonna love the breakfast here! To add the cherry on the icing, Ottoman Cave Suites offers delicious scrambled eggs, baklavas, juices, and apple tea along with Turkish coffee. I couldn’t help but take a second helping of everything because it was delicious.

Tours

Cappadocia is massive and I highly recommend you sign up for a tour while you’re here to learn more about history and geology of various sites. If you ask at the reception of Ottoman Cave Suites, they will help you pick the right tour for you with their own tour agency – New Göreme Tours. I did a tour with them to check out the underground city with a highly knowledgeable tour guide – Masud. The tour includes free pick-up and drops, water and a lavish lunch. Want more details about my tour? I will write a separate post about it soon.

Staff Always Went an Extra Mile

No matter how fancy a hotel is, the experience can turn sour if the service is not up to the mark. Clearly, the staff at Ottoman Cave Suites was well trained because they always provided more than what I asked for to ensure my comfort. Moreover, they also provided excellent recommendations for places to visit and one of the staff members also took me to a spectacular sunset spot. Being bad with directions, I would have never reached this spot on my own.

Who / What do I recommend this hotel for?

Destination Wedding – Cappadocia offers a perfect backdrop for wedding pictures. Ottoman Cave Suites is massive and can perhaps hold your entire wedding guest party.

Couples – with its charming rooms, views, and couple showers, this hotel is perfect for a honeymoon.

Families – the cave suites are big enough for an entire family. A bachelorette / bachelor party group – An entire group can stay in a single suite by requesting extra beds.

Solo Flashpackers – If you travel solo and love your space and comfort, you’re gonna love this hotel. Moreover, the proximity to the bars and the restaurant area will keep you entertained. I don’t recommend this hotel if you’re traveling on a shoestring budget.

How to book?

Read reviews on TripAdvisor or Compare prices on Hotelscombined.com Price range: $60 – $80 Book Now (deals): Agoda.com or Booking.com or Hotels.com Click here to view the Hotel’s website Disclosure: My stay at Ottoman Cave Suites was complimentary but the opinions are my own. Some of the above links are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a booking.