Hezen Cave Hotel

Rooms

The guest rooms are carved into the hillside at different levels and no two are the same. They're surprisingly light and airy for caves, and Turkish designer Halide Didem was inspired by the region’s traditional houses to use colourful décor. Green window frames, a yellow door and a glossy red bedstead enlivened the rustic sand-coloured stone walls of our room, while bright embroidered cushions and a throw adorned the large bed. Goosedown duvets and pillows kept things cosy at night.

All Standard Rooms have small seating areas - ours had a pair of contemporary button-backed chairs - and the Suites have a separate living area with plenty of lounging space, TVs and minibars. Some upper floor rooms have private balconies, while most lower rooms have access to a courtyard.

Set slightly apart, the Superior Suites are decorated in a lighter, more contemporary way. One has a signature circular door cut into the soft stone, between the bedroom and sitting area. The latest additions are the Family Superior Suites, which have a double suite (with sitting area) and a separate twin room - ideal for a family of 4.

All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with underfloor heating, marble showers, attractive round basins decorated with Ottoman-style designs, thick white Turkish bath towels, and traditional slippers.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

A buffet breakfast is served in the colourful dining room or on the sun-drenched terraces. We really enjoyed our typical Turkish feast - white cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, freshly baked bread, strong coffee - and there are also fresh pastries, fruit, cereals and cold meats, as well as eggs made to order.

The honesty bar stocks a full range of spirits and beers. Post-sightseeing, relax alfresco or in front of the fire in the lounge with a Turkish tea, a glass of the excellent local wine, or raki, Turkey’s potent anise-flavoured spirit.

Ortahisar has several small restaurants. Süreyya Restaurant near the castle is one of the best, offering traditional Cappadocian cuisine in a cave setting.

Further afield - the hotel has a discounted rate with the local taxi station - try A’laturka in Goreme (3km away), which serves traditional Turkish dishes with a contemporary twist. Ziggy’s in Urgup (6km away) is also a favourite with both visitors and residents, but make sure you book in advance. We loved the Turkish menu, which included 10 mezze plates - smoked aubergine dip and fava bean purée among them - and garlic chicken skewers.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Honesty bar
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and marvel at the beautifully preserved Byzantine frescoes that decorate its many monasteries and churches
  
  
• Don’t miss a sunrise balloon flight and the chance to drift gently over the sculpted landscape, dipping in and out of valleys and over fairy chimneys
  
  
• Remember to duck as you explore the narrow, labyrinthine passageways, wineries and kitchens of the ancient underground cities of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli
  
  
• Take a hike - the terrain is perfect for hiking at all levels and the hotel will provide you with route maps
  
  
• Or go horse riding, mountain biking or quad biking, and play cross-country golf
  
  
• Lose yourself in Ortahisar’s warren of narrow streets, visit its castle and climb to the top of its fortress for panoramic views
  
  
• Be entranced by the Whirling Dervish performances at the historical Saruhan caravanserai; reception can book tickets
  
  
• Barter for carpets, silver jewellery, semi-precious stones, pottery and more in the bazaars of Urgup and Goreme
  
  
• Sample the reds, whites and rosés at Turasan in Urgup, one of the region’s oldest wineries

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Private guided tours
• Quad biking
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children are welcome on request.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The Family Superior Suites are perfect for a family of 4, with a double bed and 2 single beds (or single sofabeds) in a separate or semi-separate room. For a family of 3, one Superior Suite and most of the Suites have a single sofabed, or can fit a rollaway single bed.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hezen Cave Hotel is set in the town of Ortahisar, between Nevsehir and Urgup, in Cappadocia, central Turkey. It is 3km from Goreme Open Air Museum, 6km from Uchisar and 4km from Urgup.

By Air:
Fly into Nevsehir (50km, and a 40-minute drive) or Kayseri (75km, and an hour's drive). There are daily flights to both from Istanbul. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The hotel can book the shuttle bus from either airport for you, or arrange for a private transfer. Enquire when booking.

By Car
If you want to hire a car to explore the area see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Turkey and getting around