Argos in Cappadocia Review: A Luxury Cave Hotel in Turkey
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Sleeping in a centuries-old cave isn’t something you get to do every day. Nor is waking to dozens of colorful hot air balloons drifting silently past your window!
Thatโs why we made sure to include Cappadocia in our 3-week trip to Turkey. Its fairy chimneys, ancient underground cities and rock-cut churches are unlike anywhere else we’ve been.
Staying at Argos in Cappadocia โ a beautifully restored monastery and ancient cave settlement โ made the experience even more special.
Here’s what it’s like to stay at this boutique cave hotel.
Our Argos in Cappadocia review (at a glance)
Part ancient monastery. Part cave village. Part luxury hotel. Thatโs Argos in Cappadocia.
Highlights
- Best for โ Couples, honeymooners and anyone wanting a romantic luxury cave hotel with history and character.๐
- Rooms โ Many of the individually-designed 71 rooms and suites have fireplaces, terraces, hot tubs or even indoor pools.
- Favorite moment โ Sipping Turkish tea while watching hot air balloons soar in the sky at sunrise.
- Good to know โ The hotel is spread out along steep cobbled lanes, but complimentary golf buggies can whisk you around.
Check rates and availability
Welcome to Argos!
Argos in Cappadocia clings to the edge of the fairy-tale village of Uchisar, the highest point in Cappadocia.
And talk about views!
We couldnโt get enough of gazing over Pigeon Valley, with its honeycombed cliffs and dramatic rock formations stretching into the distance.
Rather than building a hotel from scratch, the owners painstakingly restored a centuries-old monastic settlement. Ancient cave dwellings, chapels and underground tunnels were reimagined as one of Turkey’s most distinctive luxury boutique hotels.
Argos first opened in 2010 and has continued to evolve and expand over the years.
Today, the hotelโs rooms, restaurants and public spaces are scattered about in several stone buildings linked by winding cobbled pathways. It feels like a tiny village, but with a reception desk.
Recently, Argos was awarded two MICHELIN Keys by the MICHELIN Guide. It was also named Turkeyโs โleading heritage hotelโ at the 2025 World Travel Awards (and ranked #12 in Travel + Leisure‘s 2024 list of the โWorld’s 100 Best Hotelsโ).
Because the property is spread across several terraces on the hillside, staff are always happy to shuttle you around in golf buggies whenever needed.
Rooms and suites
You wonโt find any bland hotel box rooms here!
Every room is different โ individually carved from the original caves. Think lots of arches, curved walls, vaulted ceilings and exposed stone walls.
All rooms and suites are decorated with contemporary furnishings, handcrafted pottery, Turkish textiles and woven wool rugs.
Accommodation options include:
- Standard Room (270 to 375 sq. ft.) โ Cozy rooms, some with fireplaces, some windowless.
- Deluxe Room (270 to 485 sq. ft.) โ More spacious than the Standard Rooms. Some with fireplaces and some without windows.
- Junior Suite (590 to 1,130 sq. ft.)ย โ Spacious suites with a fireplace plus either a private balcony or access to a shared courtyard.
- Suite (590 to 1,130 sq. ft.) โ Large cave suites with a separate living room and fireplace.
- Jacuzzi Suite (860 to 1,180 sq. ft.) โ Romantic suites featuring fireplaces and indoor Jacuzzis.
- Splendid Suite (645 to 1,450 sq. ft.) โ Dramatic two-storey cave suites with stone arches, oversized fireplaces and private indoor pools.
- Two-Bedroom Suite (1,075 sq. ft.) โ Ideal for families or friends traveling together.
- Grand Cave Splendid Suite (1,720 sq. ft.) โ The hotel’s showpiece, with a separate living room, fireplace and private indoor pool.
Many rooms also have private balconies or access to shared courtyards, offering panoramic views over Pigeon Valley.
Standard amenities include air conditioning, complimentary WiFi, a Nespresso machine, pillow menu, nightly turndown service with a sweet treat and, in most rooms, king-size beds.
Room tip
Ask for a room in the original section of the hotel.
These older cave rooms overlook Pigeon Valley and its fairy-tale landscape, while some of the newer accommodations face the more developed part of Uchisar town.
Dining with a view
Argos has two excellent restaurants.
We enjoyed dinner on the terrace at Seki, where the sweeping views of Uchisar Castle and Pigeon Valley are almost as memorable as the food.
The menu blends Turkish and international flavors. Perhaps start with the artichoke salad with sour cherries and green apple, then move on to the melt-in-your-mouth, slow-cooked lamb shoulder with peach confit.
And, if itโs on the menu, try the traditional quince dessert, served with clotted cream.
Itโs made with โ believe it or not โ minced meat. It may not sound appealing, but we found it surprisingly delicious. Quince is a tart fruit, and the tiny bits of ground meat add a crumbly texture to the flavors. It actually reminded us a little of apple crumble.
The hotel’s second restaurant, Nahita, celebrates the flavors of Anatolia. The culinary team sources many ingredients from within about 20 miles of the hotel.
Signature dishes include marinated grilled beef kulbastฤฑ with potato purรฉe and sautรฉed wild herbs, along with lamb shoulder (ecri) served with creamy almond bulgur pilaf.
Wine experiences
One of Argosโs most fascinating spaces lies underground.
Beneath the hotel are atmospheric ancient wine cellars, where more than 25,000 bottles are stored, including wines made from grapes grown in Cappadocia’s volcanic soils.
Ask the concierge for a tour.
Wandering through the candlelit tunnels gives you a glimpse of what Cappadocia’s underground cities must have felt like centuries ago. (Cappadocia has some 150 to 200 underground cave cities, which sheltered early Christians seeking refuge from persecution.)
And if you enjoy wine, don’t miss one of the sommelier-led tastings! Held in an intimate setting overlooking the valley, they’re paired with local cheeses and regional specialties
Ahhhโฆ Spa
Hidden within another labyrinth of restored caves, the spa is one of Argos’ newest additions (which opened in 2024).
Facilities include:
- Indoor cave swimming pool
- Traditional Turkish hammam
- Sauna and steam room
- Seven treatment rooms
- Pilates studio
- Wellness and fitness spaces
Would we stay here again?
Absolutely! Argos in Cappadocia isn’t just a place to sleep. It’s a destination in its own right.
It’s the kind of hotel you’ll want to linger in โ savoring the views, wandering its ancient passageways and enjoying a leisurely meal on the terrace โ rather than simply using as a base for exploring Cappadocia.
We’d happily return now that its latest renovations are complete and the dust has finally settled.
For more reviews, rates and availability, check
- Booking.com โ Where Argos has an โExceptionalโ 9.6/10 rating
- Expedia โ Where itโs also rated an โExceptionalโ 9.6/10
Looking for a more affordable cave hotel in Cappadocia?
We also stayed at Esbelli Evi in Urgup. It’s family-run, overflowing with heart and hospitality, and offers a wonderfully authentic Cappadocia experience without the luxury price tag.
See our other travel guides on Turkey
- Esbelli Evi Cave Hotel: Fairytale Charm in Cappadocia
- 2 Weeks in Turkey: Luxury Trip Itinerary
- Guide to Visiting Ephesus
- Best Boutique Hotels in Istanbul
- Hot-Air Ballooning in Cappadocia
- Top Istanbul Hammams
- Macakizi Hotel: Glam Beach Hotel in Bodrum
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Our top travel tips and resources
โ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
โ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a โwowโ hotel โ or at least a decent one โ often at lower rates than the hotelโs own website. (We especially like Booking.comโs flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
โ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
โ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
โ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
โ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
โ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
โ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
โ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
โ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 3, 4 ยฉ Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Other photos Argos in Cappadocia (except 5)
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