If you've always wanted to live somewhere a little different, take inspiration from these incredible cave homes. Rustic and unique, as well as perfectly sheltered from the worst of the weather, they have all the creature comforts you'll ever need, with just a little added drama.
Click or scroll to step inside the most beautiful cavernous homes in the world...
The cliffs of Santorini, Greece, are dotted with cave homes and it is exactly this that makes the island so very Instagramable! According to local experts, the area's cave houses, or yposkafa, which translates to 'dug into a rock', were created during a time of great poverty.
Those who couldn't afford to build their houses on top of the hill had to come up with an alternative solution. Building into the rock itself was affordable, but also resulted in incredible homes like this one...
As unique as it is stylish, the Mystagoge Retreat can be found in the village of Vothonas. Sandwiched into the rockface, the pretty property is light-filled and inviting, despite being partly buried below ground.
Highly traditional and yet very modern in design, the Airbnb retreat is ideal for four guests and benefits from a lovely open-plan living space, with a sitting area, dining zone and kitchen, as well as two bedrooms and one bathroom.
This room is perhaps the nicest in the home, with its soaring ceiling, pretty internal windows and tiled floor.
Yet the best thing about the Mystagoge Retreat has to be its private, heated indoor cave pool. The underground oasis has a Jacuzzi, a hammam and even a storage cellar for local vintages.
Lucky guests can take a dip in the pool, or sit outside in the sun, thanks to the home's exterior patio.
This unique cave home can be found 39.4 feet (12m) below a house, on the upper part of a hill close to Mexico City, an area where it’s common to find century-old caves.
The homeowners decided to make use of this natural hollow, by creating an amazing underground living space. For the task, they called in the architects at AMEZCUA. This floorplan highlights the layout of this amazing modern lair.
Of course, a lot of work was needed to turn the vacant cave into a luxurious and habitable space. The first step was to secure the structure. For this, metal lintels and columns were installed – the kind used in coalmines – to hold up the walls of the cave.
The second step was to carve out the roof to create more head height and to physically distribute the weight of the ceilings. In doing this, the architects were able to properly redirect natural water runoffs, to avoid internal flooding or water damage.
The humidity of the cave also needed to be reduced, so AMEZCUA incorporated passive techniques, such as natural air circulation, to aid with this. They also installed a range of equipment to further reduce humidity levels.
These included air injectors, dehumidifiers and two backlit covers made out of Krion, a thermo-formable material that acts as an air purifier and light diffuser. The backlit covers can be seen in this image – floor-to-ceiling white structures that resemble a calla lily.
As for rooms, the cave is divided into five spaces. There's an entrance hall and kitchen, a dining space for up to 12 people and a living room with a curved sofa that reflects the shape of the walls.
Every space is defined by gorgeous exposed rock walls, with their natural layers and textures on display. The rooms are finished with hardwood floors, modern furnishings and plenty of lighting, resulting in cool and atmospheric spaces.
Just like Greece, Spain is home to plenty of cave homes. From Granada to Andalusia, the country is awash with traditional, cavernous dwellings, built into rock faces and caverns.
According to Spain's tourism board, they date back to the 15th century and were crafted by Arab families who lived in Granada. They used these natural structures for storing grain and animals, but during a time of great conflict, the families fled the cities and took refuge in the caves.
The cave homes were perfect for the Arabs, who mostly reared cattle. They were also fantastic for when summer temperatures became too much, keeping both the owners and their animals cool.
This particular one is very historic and is split into three separate dwellings; the Cueva Francesca is perfect for between one and three people, the Cueva Lucia is for two to five people and the Cueva Emilia is for between four and seven, making it the largest of the three.
Spanning 1,324 square feet (123sqm), Cueva Emilia consists of an equipped kitchen, a dining room, a living room, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Inside, the rooms are compact and dimly lit, making them very atmospheric and cosy.
This bedroom features quirky alcoves and raw cave walls, painted white.
Guests of all three of these clandestine properties also get to enjoy access to their own private patio – this one is sheltered under the arch of the cave opening, making it perfect for those seeking shade.
There's also a shared saltwater swimming pool and plenty of spaces for soaking up the sunshine.
Not just any regular cave, The Rockhouse Retreat in Worcestershire, UK, was created by hand-sculpting an 800-year-old sandstone escarpment.
Over 70 tonnes of rock was excavated over nine months to complete the construction, which needed a lot of manpower. In fact, it's Britain’s first 21st-century cave house.
Featured on the UK homebuilding TV show Grand Designs, this quirky dwelling was completed in 2015 and is set on three acres (1.2ha) of unspoilt land.
Blending contemporary style and comfort with natural structures, the interior features a number of upgrades that you wouldn't expect to find in a cave.
The owner, Angelo Mastropietro, spent around £179,000 ($232k) on the amazing conversion project, during a two-year labour of love. Angelo's Italian surname means "Master of Stone", he told the BBC in an interview. "It must be in my blood. Well, it's certainly in my lungs now," he joked.
However, the effort and expense were well worth it. The bedroom features a king-size bed, and the shower and dressing room have luxurious underfloor heating for the colder months.
Far from a damp cave, the home is dotted with ambient lighting, giving it a cosy feel. Other amenities include Wi-Fi, a music docking station and an outdoor kitchen terrace with a grill and firepit, where you can dine alfresco.
Nestled in a natural cavern, high within a bluff in the Ozark Mountains, Beckham Creek Cave is described as being "unlike any other place on earth".
Completely remodelled with slick contemporary furnishings, the cave-style home is set within a private 260-acre (105ha) resort and includes a lounge, a kitchen, a dining room, four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The 5,800-square-foot (539 sqm) cave house lies in Parthenon, Arkansas, just minutes from the Buffalo National River. Inside, there are cavernous ceilings that seem to go on forever, walls of rugged rock and even a natural waterfall in the centre of the open-plan living room.
The ultimate living cave, Beckham Creek is full of the sound of rushing water – and you'll still have to dodge a drip or two from a stalactite. There's also a striking kitchen and a gorgeous bathroom, located inside the walls of the cave.
For all its current luxury, the property was originally designed as a fallout shelter. Celestial Tea co-founder, John Hay, purchased the cave in 1983, when the spectre of nuclear war between the USSR and the USA was resurrected following Russia's invasion of Afghanistan.
“We built it out figuring if something was going to happen we’d have a place to go,” he told The New York Times in an interview. Hay believed the cave would make a perfect doomsday shelter and we can't help but agree!
According to a 1988 article in People, Hay purchased the spread for £113,000 ($146k) and went on to spend £1.5 million ($2m) converting the cave which, at the time, included a dance floor inspired by Fred Astaire.
Having changed hands several times since the 1988 renovation, the property is now a luxury holiday rental, known as the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge. Lucky guests not only get to enjoy living in the cave for a few days, but can also head deep inside the natural passageways and caverns of the cave network itself.
This is another of Santorini's cave homes. Known as Demeter Cave House, this gorgeous property is truly jaw-dropping.
Many of Santorini's underground dwellings are more than 1,000 years old yet this one is entirely modern.
The secluded property lies on a hillside in Pyrgos, allowing for unobstructed views over Mount Profitis and the Aegean Sea.
There’s even an outdoor heated Jacuzzi and a panoramic rooftop where you can pull up a chair and soak up the scenery.
Inside, the home boasts rugged, curving walls that have been whitewashed, allowing the modern furnishings to add pops of colour.
There’s an open-plan lounge, a dining room, a kitchen and a king-sized bedroom with beautiful arch-shaped windows and a barrel ceiling.
Yet the home's pièce de résistance might well be its statement bathroom. The luxe space is dark and brooding but also entirely sophisticated.
The room comes with a couple’s rain shower and twin basins, and is available to rent via Coolstays.
Over in the quiet village of El Batan in Tenerife, you'll find this characterful cave home. The property is positioned high in the heart of Anaga Rural Park, a mountainous area formed by a volcanic eruption between seven and nine million years ago.
The area was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015 and we can certainly understand why. The cave home itself is also pretty worthy of protection. Let's take a closer look...
According to the Airbnb listing, a 93-year-old local called Señor Isidro carved the charming caves with his own hands, before selling the property on to be used as a space to store wine production machinery.
Later, it was renovated into the house we see today. A restored antique grape press, which was handmade by the previous owner, now welcomes any guests at the front gate.
The amazing property is divided into four caverns – one that houses the living room and kitchen, and three that harbour bedrooms. Contemporary and filled with natural light, the interior allows the cave’s natural curves and edges to take centre stage when it comes to design.
For example, in the main bedroom, an exposed section of the cave wall acts as the ultimate headboard.
Highlights include the home’s cosy lounge and gorgeous bathroom – which boasts an infrared sauna, according to the listing on Airbnb. Outside, there’s also a lovely balcony that enjoys uninterrupted views across the surrounding parklands.
With endless kerb appeal and a truly stunning interior, this could well be the world's most beautiful cave house. Designed by Spanish architectural firm, Ummo Estudio, Casa Tierra was built directly into the limestone wall, on the site of a former quarry.
The quarry itself dates back to the Roman era, meaning the property itself is the perfect blend of old and new. Let's head inside...
According to the property's Airbnb listing, Casa Tierra is the only cave home in Córdoba, making it one of the most exclusive pieces of real estate in Andalusia.
The interior of the residence is far more luxurious than you might expect, with polished concrete floors, whitewashed elements, modern furniture and, of course, plenty of exposed natural stone.
Inside, you'll find an open-plan living area, a dining zone, a chic kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom. The bathroom actually opens directly onto the garden and outdoor terrace, which is surrounded by a 32,000-square-foot (2,973sqm) circular garden, complete with a swimming pool.
Throughout you'll find a harmonious combination of stone, marble, steel, glass and concrete, resulting in modern and high-end living spaces that feel entirely inviting.
The underground position of this cleverly hidden home also means it maintains an ambient temperature all year round, making it highly sustainable.
In fact, even during the height of summer, the interior will get no hotter than 20ºC (68ºF). We don't know about you, but we're totally sold!
Kostas Mauromatis and his wife Nantia Kakaounaki certainly know how to turn lemons into lemonade, or rather, a WWII bunker beneath their Crete home into a luxurious Airbnb.
The couple initially converted the bunker, which dates back to 1850, into a cool-down room where they could escape during hot Greek summers, but quickly discovered that they had created "the perfect spot for a romantic getaway", the hosts told British newspaper, The Sun.
Now listed among the top Airbnbs in Greece, the 650-square-foot (60.4sqm) bunker no doubt regularly leaves guests speechless. The studio space comes with a canopied double bed, sofa, bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and terrace, with furnishings nestled neatly into alcoves created by the natural rock walls of the cave.
However, just because you’re staying in a cave doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice modern luxuries – guests will still be able to enjoy WiFi, TV and even air-conditioning during their stay.
Nantia told The Sun that her husband’s inspiration for the project was “a childhood image, his great-grandmother sleeping on a small wooden bed in a corner of the cave to cool down during the hot summer months – so we thought, 'why not?'"
The cave had previously been used as a storage facility for things like hay and oil, and later as a local fallout shelter during WWII bombings.
The cave home also boasts an unbeatable location, situated in the postcard-perfect village of Kaliviani, and provides stunning ocean views from its terrace.
It offers guests a truly unique experience, enabling them to enjoy a peaceful, cool retreat in a history-packed, natural environment. Really, what more could you ask for?
The Cappadocia region of Turkey is famous for its hot air balloon displays, but also for its Bronze Age homes, which were carved into valley walls by troglodytes, or cave dwellers. It is in this region of the country that you can find this stunning traditional home.
Sandwiched into a tight plot, the house benefits from enchanting views of the Balkan valley.
The front door opens into a cosy living space with a sitting area. There's also a kitchen, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Designed for seven guests, this cave home is surprisingly spacious.
Sadly we don't know exactly when the cave home was crafted, or by who, by according to Go Türkiye, many were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Far from leaving the cave walls blank, whoever constructed this home decided to carve out delicate patterns and motifs into the walls and ceilings.
In the master bedroom, a beautiful lotus flower mural acts as a unique headboard. In another of the bedrooms, you'll find a stunning carved dome in the ceiling.
The cave walls have also been turned into alcoves, shelves and built-in furnishings, such as tables. Plus, outside there's a tranquil courtyard, where guests of this Airbnb can pull up a seat and take in lovely views of Cappadocia.
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