Sleeping inside a cave sounds like a story from long ago, yet travelers can still book one today. Across Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Australia, Utah, and Jordan, old rock homes have been turned into places to stay.
Some sit on cliffs above the sea, while others are carved into desert walls or village hillsides. Thick stone walls and underground rooms also make these homes feel very different from a regular hotel.
This list covers 6 Airbnb cave stays, each with its own setting and its own reason to book. Read on to find the one that fits your next trip, and maybe send it to a travel buddy.
Hector Cave House, Santorini, Greece
Few buildings on Santorini have a past as old as this one. Hector Cave House dates back more than 250 years and began as a wine cellar before it was turned into guest rooms.
It is carved into the caldera cliff in Oia, one of the island’s best known villages. That position gives guests classic Aegean views from a high spot above the water.
The interior is whitewashed, which keeps the rooms bright even though they are cut into rock. The original cave shape stays visible, so the stay still feels like part of the cliff and not a modern box added to it.
If you want a Santorini trip with more history than a standard hotel room offers, this one is a strong pick. Book early, since Oia is a popular base for sunset watchers and the best cave homes tend to fill up fast.
Anitya Cave House, Ortahisar, Turkey
Cappadocia is the kind of place where sleeping inside rock is simply normal. Anitya Cave House is a traditional cave home of roughly 90 square meters in the town of Ortahisar.
It comes with a fully equipped kitchen, so you can cook a few meals instead of eating out every time. A scenic terrace gives you a spot to sit outside and look over the surrounding landscape.
The location is a big plus. Ortahisar puts you close to Cappadocia’s valleys, its rock formations, and the skies that fill with hot air balloons.
Choose this stay if you want more room than a standard cave hotel room and a quieter town base. Plan your valley walks and balloon watching around the terrace, and you have a simple, comfortable trip.
Cappadocia Family Cave House, Göreme, Turkey
Some rentals come with a family story, and this one does. The home is inside an original Cappadocian cave connected to the host’s own family history.
The duplex has been updated for modern travelers, yet the rock-carved structure is still there. That balance keeps the stay comfortable without hiding what makes it special.
Up on the terrace, you get views of the fairy-chimney landscape around Göreme. Those tall, odd rock shapes are the reason many people visit Cappadocia in the first place, so having them in view from your own space is a nice bonus.
Göreme is a well known base for exploring the region, which makes planning easy. If you like staying somewhere with a personal link to the place, this duplex is a thoughtful choice.
The Troglo of the Côte Fleurie, Tours, France
Most people picture castles when they plan a Loire Valley trip. Here is a different idea: sleep in a troglodyte dwelling carved into soft limestone.
The region has a long tradition of these homes, cut right into the rock. The Troglo near Tours turns one of those spaces into a cottage-style retreat that is highly rated on Airbnb.
The experience is very different from the area’s famous château hotels. Instead of grand halls and tall towers, you get a small, snug home built into the hillside.
It makes a good option for travelers who want to see the Loire Valley from a less formal angle. Visit the big châteaux during the day, then return to a stay that shows how everyday people lived and built in this region.
Beautiful Cave House, La Roque-Gageac, France
Dordogne villages do not get much more scenic than La Roque-Gageac. This cave house blends right into the rocky landscape around the riverside community.
The listing is still active on Airbnb and has collected hundreds of guest reviews. That track record makes it one of the more established cave stays in France.
The village sits along the Dordogne River, with homes pressed up against the cliff. Staying here puts you in the middle of that setting instead of looking at it from a distance.
If you like a trip that mixes small-village walks with a bit of rock-home history, this is an easy one to consider. A well reviewed rental can take some of the guesswork out of booking a stay that is unusual.
Hanksville Red Rock Cave Home, Utah
This Utah home looks like it belongs on a movie set. It is built directly into a red-rock cliff near Hanksville.
According to its Airbnb listing, local cowboy A.C. Ekker began constructing the residence in the 1980s by digging into the cliff.
That backstory gives the home real character.
The property has since been remodeled and now operates as a vacation rental. It sits in the middle of Utah’s desert scenery, with wide open land all around.
Hanksville is a handy base for travelers exploring the red-rock country of southern Utah. Pack water, plan your drives ahead, and enjoy staying in a home that grew out of one person’s project in the rock.
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