8 Best places to stay in Cappadocia

If Cappadocia’s fantasy landscapes stoke your appetite for the outlandish and sumptuous, look no further than this striking, if slightly mad, Urgup hotel.

Within the townhouse you’ll discover a hallucinatory vision of full-on exotica, with interiors inspired by history, myth, Gothic fairy tale and dream. Lose yourself amidst antique tiles, marble altar pieces, chandeliers, medieval headboards, gilt mirrors, forests of candelabra, brass bathtubs and richly swagged hangings. There’s a spa and indoor pool decorated in similarly over-the-top style.

Tucked away on Urgup’s quiet backstreets, Sacred House is well placed for exploring the local town and the wider region. It’s an amazing place, though entirely inward-looking, without any views over Cappadocia.

This charming boutique B&B has a dramatic location – overlooking the high cave-riddled rock mass that dominates Ortahisar. This hillside above the Balkan Valley is in an authentically Anatolian setting on a steep and dusty lane, among barns, poplar trees and dilapidated stone houses.

The town isn’t so geared towards tourists as neighbouring Uchisar – less coach tours, more local kids flying kites – and authenticity is the reward for a pronounced lack of facilities in the immediate vicinity.

An excellent choice for old Cappadocia hands and independent hikers, not least for its proximity to the Balkan Valley, with a small but engaging staff.

A very small, beautifully owner-managed hotel in Urgup’s prime Esbelli district.

What also distinguishes the Serinn is the modern styling of the hotel – no old kilims and period artefacts here but sharp lines, bright pastel colours and the like of state-of-the-art reading lights – too often a failing of Cappadocian hotels.

Here, there are good-sized rooms, pin-clean, great breakfasts and exceptional hospitality, even by Turkish standards. The spacious terrace is excellent for outdoor lounging.

The location, the Esbelli district, is well-placed for downhill (10-minute) walks to central Urgup’s restaurants and other attractions.

Many of Cappadocia’s more recent hotels may have outspent the region’s original boutique hotel, but few have quite caught its exceptional feel and character.

This discreet, delightful collection of ten stone houses – each with its own entrance and private garden or terrace – is set in walled grounds. The impeccable interiors exude an uncluttered period style. It’s self-catering, with each house fully equipped with a kitchen area.

The property is in a convenient Urgup location, an easy ten-minute stroll from the centre of town, with its wide range of restaurants, cafes and other facilities.

A meticulous restoration of caves, buildings and ruins has created a startling luxury hotel situated on the upper slopes of Uchisar town.

The hotel’s name derives from the abundance of original architectural features such as ornate carved fireplaces, and is richly decorated with period carpets, ceramics and antique figurines.

There’s a beautifully-sited swimming pool, and some of the rooms (all in classic Cappadocian cave style) have their own pools or jacuzzis. The fine a la carte restaurant is supplied by the hotel’s own nearby vegetable garden; guests can join the head chef for cookery demonstrations.

A real favourite, Kale Konak stands out for its wonderful location, atmosphere and for the personality of its splendid owner/manager Abdullah (Apo).

Set just beneath the castle on the upper lanes of Uchisar town, with wonderful views over Cappadocia to Erciyes Dag (Mount Argaeus) volcano, the konak (mansion) is a wonderful warren of 19th-century cave rooms.

There are terraces for sitting out in the summer, and a cosy lounge with an open fire for winter visitors, and the hotel also has its own hamam. The best views are from the breakfast room where evening meals can also be served on arrangement.

Occupying the slopes above the renowned Pigeon Valley, this sublimely sited luxury hotel has some of the best views in Cappadocia.

From terraces, the Seki Lounge and many of the rooms the panorama is magnificent. It’s also exceptionally good-looking, with lots of wood and glass to complement Cappadocia’s statutory bare stone interiors.

Prolific decks, patios and courtyards, as well as the light-flooded Seki Lounge, make this as much a resort hotel as a mere B&B base.

There’s an impressive range of rooms, some with their own pools, all in cave style, but with plenty of natural light.

Located right on a valley rim, with exceptional views, this striking design hotel is set amidst tranquil gardens in a country setting.

It’s minimal and modern, partially built into the local stone, partially above ground. The overall feel is light and uncluttered, though some of the detailing such as the gold taps may be a little glitzy for some tastes.

The views are stupendous views, even by Cappadocia’s high standards, well admired from the lobby, restaurant and lovely, outdoor landscaped terraces with subtly lit seating areas.

The hotel occupies a prime patch of rural Cappadocia which it has all to itself. It’s quiet, discreet and rural. It’s hidden away off the Uchisar-Goreme road, where footpaths lead to both towns and into the nearby valleys. Both towns are well served with restaurants, cafes, carpet and jewellery shops.