chelebi cave house — Hotel in Göreme

Nestled literally in the fairy chimneys of Göreme, this gem of a hotel is, as advertised, a home away from home. The 3 brothers who run this quaint boutique hotel make you feel like one of the family from check-in to check-out. I am currently living in Turkey, and I brought my American friends to Cappadocia in April 2025 and then my parents and family in August 2025. At check-in they offer you a welcome drink and discuss possible activities in a very non-pushy way. The rooms are amazing with fine attention to detail. I have now seen 3 rooms and each is uniquely exquisite. They have traditional decorations and beautiful bathrooms with rain shower heads. Some have large jacuzzi baths (the deluxe Mağara Suit and the Superior City View room – see pics) with slippers and bathrobes to boot. Website pictures are 100% accurate. All rooms have water, tea, coffee, and plenty of toiletries and towels. The deluxe Mağara Suit is especially grand, as it is carved into the fairy chimney structure that literally was a room where wine was made back in the day. The breakfasts are wonderful, full of all the tastes of a traditional Turkish breakfast and more! Each day, the friendly cook makes eggs to order and coffee and tea are flowing. The upstairs terrace offers a grand view of downtown Göreme and many fairy chimneys, as well as the hot air balloons at sunrise, where you can take pictures and selfies galore. The only problem we had, had nothing to do with the hotel, but I will note this briefly here (I’ll write a review somewhere else). Cappadocia is hard for people with mobility issues, so my 81-year-old father had to sit out of some of our activities. Also, many things are sold in euros. This is annoying, considering, well, we are in Turkey where the Turkish lira is used. This makes it prohibitive for Turks (it’s expensive) and caters to those who have a stronger currency. In any case, the hospitality we experienced in Chelebı Cave hotel was quintessential Turkish and we will never forget it. The best part of the place, tho, is the three brothers, who go out of their way to welcome everyone with kindness. Tahir seems to be the botanist of the family and offered my mother flower seeds to grow in America. He said, "Be sure to send me a picture! " İsmail honored our every question with kindness and patience when making plans. And Haron took care of us on our Green tour of the area. He stayed with my father whenever we did things on the tour that challenged him. We thank them once again, and I will be back with more family members in the future. Çok teşekkür ederim....

Warm and friendly staffs. During my check in at close to midnight, the staff tried his best to explain things to me using a handphone translator which I deeply appreciate.

They arranged my two-way shuttle bus transfer and also a taxi driver to show me around at a reasonable rate.

The Turkish Breakfast was generous and delicious. I enjoyed my delicious breakfast overlooking a stunning view of the fairy chimney houses in the valley.

I booked a regular room but they offered to upgrade to a cave suite. However, it was the cave suite that I have to give them a 2-star. The staff showed my two suites so that I could choose one. The cave suite was large and authentic. I detected a humid, stale and musky smell. I chose the one with a more pleasant smell but I was so wrong. I probably should have chosen the one without the aromatic smell. I asked the staff about the stale and musky smell and he explained that it was the smell of the cave wall.

After accepting the upgrade, I realised that there were a aroma diffuser with several bottles of scent in bathroom. The stale smell got stronger and there was also a sewage smell coming from the toilet. The diffuser was actually used to mask the bad smell.

The room lighting was bad. It was either I switched on the light to light up the whole room or I switched it off and left it pitch down. I left the towel light on and the room was still bright.

The bed felt plank-like and it was uncomfortable. It was definitely worse than a bed in an average hotel room. Fortunately, I was tired enough to eventually fall asleep and did have a great breakfast the next morning.

Another staff in the morning congratulated me for landing a free upgrade to a cave suite. He reminded me that great saving I was given. Seeing his warm hospitality, I did not bring up the issue about about the bad smell. It was I who accepted the upgrade and also chose the room with the diffuser (because I did not see the diffuser before agreeing to take up the free upgrade).

If you are particular to smell like I did, do not choose Chelebi Cave House. I did read before my trip that the cave rooms in some hotels with a bad smell, but I did not expect Chelebi to be one of them as the ratings was very high at 4.5. I regretted...

I stayed with my family and friends at Chelebi Cave Hotel in Cappadocia , and it was nothing short of magical. From the breathtaking views to the unique cave rooms and the warm Turkish hospitality, every moment felt like a dream – and at the center of it all was the incredible Ismail, who made our experience truly unforgettable.||||The rooms have everything a girl needs!! They have plenty of shampoo, hair cream, body lotion and the BEST blow dryer! Yes girls they have a REAL blow dryer. Not the flimsy ones hotels typically have hooked up to the wall - but a REAL AND VERY GOOD BLOW DRYER!||||They are also located in the heart of Göreme, Chelebi Cave Hotel and offer the perfect mix of tradition and comfort. The rooms, carved into ancient stone, are beautifully decorated with local touches that reflect the rich culture of the region. They were cozy, clean, and incredibly atmospheric – a true cave experience, with all the modern comforts.||||But what truly sets this hotel apart is the people – and especially Ismail.||||From the moment we arrived, Ismail welcomed us like old friends. He took the time to share stories, help us plan our days, and even arranged our hot air balloon ride (which was absolutely surreal at sunrise!). His recommendations for local restaurants, hiking routes through the valleys, and sunset viewpoints were spot on. It’s clear he loves what he does, and he genuinely wants every guest to fall in love with Cappadocia the way he has.||||Every morning, my family and I enjoyed a delicious traditional Turkish breakfast on the terrace, It felt like a scene from a postcard – and one we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.||||Chelebi Cave Hotel isn’t just a place to stay – it’s an experience.||I want to express Endless thanks to Ismail and the wonderful team at Chelebi Cave Hotel – you gave us memories we’ll carry forever. Teşekkür ederiz! ❤️🇹🇷||||Guys this place is a 10/10 a must-visit in Cappadocia. Don’t even think...