Kismet Cave House

One of the fairy chimneys for which the region is famous rises from one side of the hotel, and rooms are carved into its chalky depths. The property is accessed through wooden double doors set in a hand-carved stone entry, which lead into a small courtyard with a bohemian arrangement of potted plants. The hand-selected artwork and rich rugs here are indicative of what is to come inside; this property stands out for its personalized touches. Inside the cluttered little lobby, the owner's personal collection of Turkish and Afghan kilims adorn the walls, chests, and wood floors. 

The hotel is on the north end of town near the central square, within walking distance of many restaurants and souvenir shops selling finely woven kilim rugs and tapestries. The stunning rock-carved Goreme Open Air Museum is right down the street and popular ballooning excursion points are also within walking distance. The medieval 11th-century El Nazar Church is just five minutes southeast by car. The underground cities of Kaymakli, Ozkonak, and Derinkuyu are within a 50-minute drive. Two airports serve the area: Nevsehir Kapadokya is about an hour’s drive northwest while Kayseri is a bit more than 90 minutes east by car. 

Kismet Cave House's eight rooms are individually decorated with local furnishings and Turkish antiques. The room numbers emblazoned on the dark wooden doors of each guest space are composed of tiny, hand-painted flowers -- a colorful decorative theme that can be seen throughout the hotel, on headboards and walls. (The rooms are all named after different flowers.) All units have carved wooden furniture, including small desks, and richly colored rugs and tapestries. Not all rooms are caves; those within the more traditional section of the house have wood floors and ceilings as well as a stone block construction. Bathrooms are each unique, some with walk-in showers and others with jetted shower/tub combos set into stone floors. Mini-fridges and electric tea pots are provided or available on request, but there are no coffeemakers.

Breakfast is the only meal served daily and is included in the rate, but homemade dinners can also be arranged with the staff ahead of time. The Turkish breakfast spread includes eggs, fresh bread, homemade cheese, local honey, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables, all served buffet style in a charming open-air room or the adjacent rooftop terrace with views of fairy chimneys. Downstairs, guests can relax in the little outdoor courtyard or puff on a hookah in a corner seating area. The hotel operates an area shuttle for a fee and also picks guests up at the airport for free with a minimum three-night stay.