Museum Hotel

Rooms

Each of the 34 cave rooms and suites is carved into the tuff of the surrounding cliff face. The exposed rock of what were once dwellings and animal shelters is now covered with tasteful artwork, and antique kilims line the floors to keep things cosy.

No two rooms are the same size or shape, and they are spread over several floors, but all are stunning, so you'll be happy wherever you end up. One has ancient dovecotes peppering its walls, another has a historical spinning wheel, the top suites have a private plunge pool and living area enclosed within the cave. All are atmospherically lit, with comfortable queen- or kingsize beds, marble bathrooms (most with jacuzzi tubs) and valuable artefacts throughout.

Cheapest, but still spacious and luxurious, are the Deluxe Rooms. Upgrade to a Deluxe Suite for a bit more space and a sofa or soft leather armchairs. Superior Suites are larger still, and most have magnificent views. Next come the Prime Suites with their incredibly large ensuites and spoiling tubs, and the enormous Imperial Suites. One of these, the magnificent Sultan’s Cave Suite, has a wine cellar for tastings, a 16th-century Cardinal’s altar, 2 bathrooms, and a stargazing window in its ceiling. The top three, aimed squarely at honeymooners, come with private plunge pools and perhaps a marbled steam room, private garden or sauna.

Our Superior Suite, Catalkaya, was super spacious, and had a separate living area with a soft leather sofa in front of a roaring fire. The huge bathroom had a double jacuzzi, a walk-in rain shower and fluffy white bathrobes. In the morning, we woke to see hot-air balloons drifting past the window, and we watched their progress from our small patch of garden, and later, the tub.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The award-winning, fine-dining restaurant, Lil’a, is open every evening. It’s a candlelit room-with-a-view, with wooden floors and ceilings, pale stone walls adorned with rare textiles, and ornate wooden cabinets holding antique kaftans and exquisite jewellery.

As well as international fare such as steak, and more typical Turkish dishes, Lil'a offers a range of traditional Cappadocian home-cooked dishes that are getting harder to find elsewhere. Vegetables and herbs are from the hotel’s organic garden, and served with a great selection of Anatolian wine. We loved the lentil soup, the meze of baby dolmades and the Nevsehir Tava, a recipe created by a native of Nevsehir at the beginning of the 1900s: lamb, pepper, garlic and tomato are cooked in a traditional casserole in a brick oven and served with rice pilaf.

Picnics and romantic dinners à deux in the valley can be catered for, while the alfresco bar is perfect for a sunset cocktail or stargazing around the firepit.

Buffet breakfasts are served in the light-filled dining room or on the sunlit terrace, with tables piled high with cheese, cold meats, cereals, fruit and pastries. We rounded off with tasty omelettes - the chef came over with a small gas burner and prepared them at our table.

If you venture out, try sophisticated Elai in the shadow of the fortress. We took in the views from the terrace with a glass of local wine before feasting on tandir (lamb shanks) and Turkish crème brulée.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Sightsee from a hot-air balloon at sunrise - it’s the best way to see Cappadocia’s incredible landscape and historical sites
  
  
• Climb to the top of Uchisar’s natural rock citadel for spectacular panoramic views - it’s the tallest point in Cappadocia and can be seen from miles around
  
  
• Don’t miss the Unesco World Heritage Site of Goreme Open Air Museum, with its rock-hewn churches covered in exquisite Byzantine frescoes
  
  
• Take a walking tour of the surrounding area, go horse riding or mountain biking along valleys, or hike in the Ihlara Canyon, which is filled with cave monasteries, churches, pigeon houses and 1,000-year-old cave dwellings
  
  
• Take a traditional cooking lesson with the hotel chefs, or indulge in an alfresco massage using oils and herbs from Cappadocia
  
  
• Play cross-country golf, an unusual and eco-friendly alternative to traditional golf pioneered by the hotel
  
  
• Take a day trip to explore the maze-like passageways of the ancient subterranean cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, constructed by persecuted Christians
  
  
• Taste local wines in Urgup, at Turasan and Kocabag, 2 of the region’s most famous wineries
  
  
• Barter for handicrafts, jewellery, carpets, kilims and textiles at Uchisar’s small market, and in Urgup and Goreme’s many boutiques
  
  
• Watch a traditional Whirling Dervish Sema ceremony at Saruhan, an atmospheric former Silk Road caravanserai; reception can arrange

Activities on site or nearby include:

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

Kids

The hotel welcomes families with children over 12 and has extra beds and connecting rooms.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Oriental Cave is recommended for families. Junior Superior Suites, Superior Suites and Imperial Suites can all fit 1 rollaway bed; some can fit 2. Some rooms interconnect; please ask when booking

Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Museum Hotel is set in the small town of Uchisar, on the highest peak of Cappadocia, in central Turkey. It's 25km from Nevsehir and 15km from Urgup.

By Air:
Fly into Nevsehir (40km away, and a 30-minute drive) or Kayseri (73km away, and a 50-minute 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'd like to hire a car to explore the area then 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