Thirty-four cave and stone rooms beneath Uçhisar Castle, furnished with registered antiquities from four empires.
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Overview
The World’s First Museum Hotel
The only Relais & Châteaux member in Türkiye, perched under the highest point in Cappadocia.
The Museum Hotel has been operating since 2003 as the world’s first museum-concept hotel, and the description is literal: hundreds of historical artefacts from the Hittite, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman periods are placed through the property, all registered with the Nevšehir Museum. Thirty-four cave and traditional stone rooms are hewn from the region’s own rock and combined with modern architecture. It is perched on the slopes beneath Uçhisar Castle, the highest geographical point in Cappadocia, and is the only Relais & Châteaux member in the country.
The balloons pass your terrace. The hotel’s position above the valleys means the sunrise balloons rise in front of the property rather than somewhere you have to drive to. Mount Erciyes closes the horizon behind them.
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Cave & Stone Rooms
2003
Year It Opened
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Relais & Châteaux Member in Türkiye
4
Empires Represented in the Collection
Rooms
Hewn From the Rock
Prehistoric caves and traditional stone rooms, furnished with invaluable antiques.
Cave Suite — Museum Hotel
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Cave RoomsCut into the volcanic tuff of the region, with high ceilings and simple elegance.
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Registered AntiquitiesRooms are furnished with numerous and invaluable antiques, registered with the Nevšehir Museum.
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Private JacuzzisSelect suites include a private jacuzzi with the valleys spread out below.
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Views to Mount ErciyesThe property looks over the fairy chimneys, the valleys and the distant volcano.
Experiences
Balloons, and Underground Cities
The valleys, the rock churches and the cities carved eight levels into the ground.
Signature
The Sunrise Balloon
Rising over the fairy chimneys as the sun breaks, with a hundred other balloons around you.
Heritage
Göreme Open-Air Museum
A UNESCO site of rock-cut churches with frescoes painted directly onto the tuff from the 10th century.
Underground
Kaymaklı & Derinkuyu
Whole cities carved eight levels into the rock by early Christians sheltering from invaders.
Valleys
Love Valley & Pasabag
The tallest chimneys and the mushroom-capped formations of Monks Valley.
Viewpoint
Uçhisar Castle
The highest geographical point in Cappadocia, immediately above the hotel.
On Site
The Pool & Gardens
A warm pool and gardens with resident tortoises, which guests notice and remember.
Dining
Lil'a, Forgotten Dishes
The only Relais & Châteaux restaurant in Cappadocia, selected by the Michelin Guide.
01Lil'a, serving forgotten Cappadocian dishes alongside modern Turkish cooking
02The terrace, for dinner as the valleys go dark
03Breakfast served rather than buffeted, from produce grown on site
04A local wine list drawn from Cappadocian vineyards
Lil'a Restaurant — Museum Hotel
Location
Uçhisar, Cappadocia
On the slopes beneath the highest point in the region.
Perched on the slopes under Uçhisar Castle, the highest geographical point in Cappadocia.
Looking over the fairy chimneys, the valleys and Mount Erciyes in the distance.
The world’s first museum-concept hotel, open since 2003.
Roughly an hour and twenty minutes by air from Istanbul, then a short transfer.
Fly
A domestic flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia, about an hour and twenty minutes.
Drive
A private transfer up to Uçhisar.
Arrive
Check in, then dinner in a cave restaurant before an early start.
Cappadocia
Sleep Inside the Collection
Thirty-four cave rooms, registered antiquities, and the balloons at your terrace.