One of Turkey’s most famous regions, Cappadocia mesmerizes tourists from all over the world with its picture-perfect landscapes and colorful balloons. With alien looking shapes of volcanic rock and human settlements and frescoed churches carved in the hillsides, this region has a fantastic appeal to romantic adventurers and regular tourists alike.

The stars of the region are of course the centuries old villages carved into the rock walls, with their Byzantine era rock-cut churches and the labyrinth of underground cities which once hid the early Christians from invaders. It’s no wonder why Cappadocia is considered a magical land, a place full of history and situated deep – literally – into the heart of nature.

Photographer or not, the surreal valleys of Cappadocia are like a dream come true. Add in the myriad colors on the sky when the hot air balloon season is full on and you’ve got a place so unique that you’ve got to visit at least once in your lifetime.

The hills and cliff ridges, with their waves carved into the rock by the wind and the water since millions of years ago, also offer astonishing sights to those who make the effort to hike Cappadocia’s superb trails. Not to mention taking a hot air balloon ride.

If you finally decide to turn your dreams into reality, make sure you reserve at least a few nights into a cave hotel in Cappadocia. We’ve done that and can’t recommend it enough. Our first pick was the gorgeous Imperial Cave Hotel, an extraordinary retreat, nestled right in the heart of Göreme.

First Impression

Restored to the highest standards and preserving all the original details and cultural traditions, the superb Imperial Cave Hotel is more than meets the eye. It has a special vibe to it, a sophistication that feels homely and warm.

When we arrived here, the hotel’s wonderful staff made a very good first impression with their friendliness and willingness to provide us with everything we needed, from information on the region to organizing our entire stay. We said organizing because there are plenty of activities you could do while there. If only we had more time to try everything.

Hiking the undulating trails in the superb valleys, visiting the impressive Byzantine churches or relaxing in the local hammam (Turkish bath), taking a hot air balloon trip or wandering around in the local markets. There’s plenty of stuff to do. Not to mention taking a ton of photos and exploring all the nearby villages as well.

Accommodation

Imperial Cave Hotel offers eight beautiful deluxe rooms and four elegant suites, all of them boasting luxurious antique furnishings enriched with warm colors tones and en suite bathrooms. Beyond the stunning interior decor which blends the rich Ottoman architecture heritage with the well known golden Cappadocian stone, the rooms come with all the modern amenities you’d want.

From Jacuzzi baths and natural air conditioning to romantic fireplaces and a soothing atmosphere, every single room is special and unique.

During our stay there, we’ve had the pleasure to try the massive Imperial Suite, which is the hotel’s most spacious option, with its 65 square meters. The room itself is a superb arched cave with surprisingly high ceilings, comfy beds, a surprisingly big bath as well and an amazing decor all around. And you’re in the middle of Cappadocia’s most impressive village, so that means a lot as well.

Eating & Drinking

But this wonderful cave hotel offers more than just a unique place to spend a few nights, while enjoying the dreamy sights of Cappadocia. In terms of eating and drinking, the hotel has a cozy restaurant where you could serve breakfast. The options were a little bit limited but everything was delicious. And you can have extras if you desire more.

We also enjoyed the hotel’s terrace, which is a nice place to sit back and relax during the evening while enjoying a glass of wine or a cocktail. And make sure you catch a sunrise there, the view over the town is simply mesmerizing, with all the balloons flying above those little nice looking chimneys.

Final Thoughts

Goreme is the heart of all the action in Cappadocia and the lovely Imperial Cave Hotel is situated in a perfect location, just a 3 minute walk away from the center of this town. And it’s even closer to Sunset Point. Waking up in the early morning and rushing to that viewpoint to see the sky full of hot air balloons taking off at sunrise will be an unforgettable sight.

The hotel in itself is one of the best we’ve tried in Turkey. It’s super quiet and the wonderful room decor, with the combination of stone and rock is worth all the money. Cleanliness is at home there and our nice suite made every day end up in a very relaxing manner.

The views from the hotel’s terrace are simply astonishing. The staff was always there to help us, always smiling and friendly, and even gave us a quick tour of the other rooms, and all the info we needed to make the most from our trip to Cappadocia. We left the hotel with a promise that we have to come back one day.

Where: Imperial Cave Hotel
Gaferli Mahallesi,, Aydinkiragi Mevkii, No:34, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir, Turkey
Phone: +90 384 271 20 56
Website: www.imperialcavehotel.com