Kelebek Special Cave Hotel

Kelebek, which means butterfly, is the hotel that helped put Göreme's cave hotels on the map, and it remains one of the most popular and best-value places to stay in Cappadocia. Its story is a local one: it was built in 1993 as the home of owner Ali Yavuz and started as a guest house with four rooms; over the years he combined it with neighbouring houses and restored the buildings himself, and today it has 35 rooms run as a family business. Some rooms are carved into the caves, a few of which the hotel says were first cut in the eighth century by early Christians, while others are in restored stone houses and fairy chimneys. Expect stone vaults, niches, kilims, comfortable beds and modern bathrooms, with categories from standard rooms to junior suites and a presidential room. The hotel sits above Göreme village inside the national park, about five minutes' walk from the centre, and many rooms and the terraces look over the village to the valleys where the balloons fly. Facilities are better than its prices suggest: a seasonal outdoor pool and children's pool, a cave Turkish bath and sauna, a spa with massages and facials, a garden with terraces and an à la carte restaurant. Expedia lists a free breakfast buffet. The Kelebek family also runs an organic farm nearby where guests can join activities such as the grape harvest and cooking classes. The Göreme Open-Air Museum is within walking distance.

Location and getting around: Kelebek is in the Aydınlı district on the hillside above Göreme, a short walk from the village centre's restaurants, tour agencies and bus station. Free parking is available nearby, though most guests do not need a car in Göreme: tours and balloon operators collect from the door, and walking trails into the Love, Rose and Red Valleys start close by. Taxis and local buses link Göreme with Uçhisar, Ürgüp, Avanos and Nevşehir.

Rooms and who it suits: Kelebek suits couples, friends and families who want an authentic cave hotel with real character and good facilities at a mid-range price. Rooms vary in size, shape and outlook, as in every cave hotel, so it is worth reading the category descriptions and asking for a view or a terrace if you want one. Some rooms are reached by steps and steep paths, so mention any mobility needs when you book. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and staff are known for helping guests plan their days.

Good to know: the outdoor pool is seasonal, so in November you will be relying on the cave hammam and sauna rather than a swim. The garden terraces are a fine place to watch the balloons at sunrise without the crowds of the most famous rooftops. Ask about the farm activities and the breakfast in the valley that the hotel organises, and book balloon flights through reception if you want help with weather-related changes.