Kayakapi Premium Caves Cappadocia

It’s true; these really are some premium caves. We’ve come a long way since prehistoric times. And even in Cappadocia — which is pretty much the alpha and the omega when it comes to luxurious cave-dwelling — Kayakapi is a standout, twenty-nine beautifully retrofitted rooms carved into the soft stone cliffs of the Kayakapi neighborhood, in Göreme National Park.

The neighborhood where Kayakapi makes its home, high in the hills of Ürgüp, has long been considered a privileged place to lay one’s head. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the area was adorned with the mansions owned by those given the lucrative role of collecting taxes on behalf of the emperor. Today the spirit of the area is a bit more democratic, but it still bears the architectural remnants of its rich history. And although certainly not untouristed, Kayakapi’s broader hometown of Ürgüp is generally considered the quieter alternative to Göreme proper. Here, the ancient streets between the centuries-old churches, mosques and homes offer a bit more ambling room, and the hotels are sprinkled more lightly across the slopes.

In the rooms, the furnishings are rich but lightly applied, an elegant wooden bed and occasional intricately patterned rug going a long way in such striking surroundings — all warm, low light and carved stone. Not that it’s back to the stone age, exactly; underfloor heating, ample wi-fi signals, high-definition LED screens and docks for your iDevices all come standard. Some rooms add deep, natural stone bathtubs and cozy fireplaces, while at the top of the scale there are heated pools and private balconies. The latter are perfect for surveying the region’s strange geological formations, especially when they’re bathed in pastel-hued afternoon light. It’s a different perspective on the rock chimneys, the mountains and valleys, the cave-pocked hills — but still, the view is timeless.

How to get there: 
Kayakapi Premium Caves — Cappadocia is located in Ürgüp, 12 miles east of Nevşehir. Free shuttle service to Ürgüp’s city center is available upon request. The drive from Nevşehir Airport takes about 45 minutes, while the drive from Kayseri Erkilet Airport takes about an hour.