10 Hotels With Cave Pools That Are Almost Too Good to Be Real

Where to Find the World's Best Hotel Cave Pools

Not all cave pools are created equal. Some are open-air grottos, some are fully subterranean chambers, and some are heated thermal pools set inside centuries-old cisterns that predate most countries. What they all share is that unmistakable feeling of swimming somewhere you probably shouldn’t be allowed to swim, and loving every second of it.

Here are some of our favorite cave pool hotels worth planning a trip around:

Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa — Matera, Italy

Matera is already one of the most surreal cities in Europe, a place where people lived inside cave dwellings for thousands of years before it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So it makes perfect sense that its standout hotel would take the cave concept literally.

The Aquatio's cave pool is the centerpiece of a 500-square-meter underground wellness center, built inside ancient cisterns that date back to the 9th century. The heated indoor infinity pool uses traditional plastering techniques and features built-in hydromassage options, with the original rock walls lit dramatically around you. It's not a pool that's been made to look like a cave. It IS a cave.

Most standard stays include a complimentary 60-minute access pass to the full wellness area, which covers the pool, sauna, hammam, and relaxation corners.

El Bálsamo Hotel Boutique 5 Estrellas — Belmonte, Spain

Tucked into the Cuenca region of Spain, this 5-star boutique hotel occupies a restored 16th-century mansion with one very unusual addition: a thermal cave pool excavated entirely by hand from the bedrock beneath the property.

The pool maintains a year-round temperature of 33°C and uses salt chlorination instead of traditional chemicals, making it gentler on skin and easier to spend a long time in. To keep the experience properly intimate, access is offered on an exclusive hour-by-hour reservation system, so you'll never share the grotto with strangers.

Couples spa treatments, natural oil massages, and the surrounding rustic-chic manor round out the experience.

Aspaki by Art Maisons — Santorini, Greece

Santorini isn’t short on hotels that claim breathtaking views, but Aspaki earns it. Perched in Oia, the property features exclusive cave pools and hot tubs, some heated, cut directly into the caldera cliffside with unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea and the island's famous blue-domed churches.

Guests also get access to a private sunset viewing terrace at the sister property Oia Castle, which is the kind of perk that sounds almost made up until you’re standing there watching the sun drop over the water without the usual Santorini crowds. Add in luxury bath products, gourmet breakfast served in-room or at the restaurant, and architecture so photogenic it does half the work for you, and the whole stay feels designed for a very indulgent kind of escape.

Regnum The Crown — Belek, Turkey

The Regnum The Crown in Belek takes a grander, more theatrical approach to the cave pool concept. The Amber Cave Bar is built around an immersive grotto-style lagoon, complete with in-water seating where you can order drinks without ever leaving the pool. The water is kept at around 30°C, the atmosphere is candlelit and secluded, and the whole setup is primarily reserved for guests staying in the Amber Lagoon Suites.

But the cave pool story doesn't stop there. The Crystal Cove Pool is a separate experience entirely, a rock-encircled pool set beneath a dramatic open skylight, with a waterfall curtain cascading down the cave walls into bright turquoise water below. Unlike the Amber Cave Bar, it's open to all guests, which makes it the more democratic of the two cave experiences. Consider it a bonus.

Outside the cave, the hotel offers direct beachfront access on the Antalya coast, a saltwater swimming pool, lush gardens, and sea-view terraces. It's a strong option if you want cave pool drama paired with full-scale resort amenities.

Leonardo Trulli Resort — Locorotondo, Italy

Italy makes a second appearance on this list, and honestly, it earns it. Locorotondo sits in the Valle d’Itria, a region of whitewashed trulli, the iconic conical-roofed stone houses that dot the Puglian countryside. At Leonardo Trulli Resort, several of these ancient structures have been beautifully restored, with one especially memorable surprise hidden below ground.

Two suites in particular stand out: Suite Leonardo in Cantina, set inside a 300-year-old wine cellar where grapes were once fermented, and Suite Trullo Rosmarino, where the private cave pool was carved inside an ancient stone rainwater cistern. Both feature exposed rock walls, hydromassage stations, and magnesium salt water. These pools aren't shared amenities; they're private features reserved exclusively for guests staying in those heritage suites.

The property also has a beautiful outdoor shared pool surrounded by Mediterranean gardens for everyone else.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort — Orlando, Florida

For families who want the cave-pool effect without leaving the country, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando is an easy crowd-pleaser. Set on 1,500 acres right next to Walt Disney World, the resort has a huge lagoon-style pool complex with waterfalls, hot tubs, a waterslide, and enough swim-around corners to make it feel like its own little adventure zone.

The grotto experience comes from a series of purpose-built rock caves and swim-through passages connecting the pool areas, with waterfalls cascading around them and a hot tub tucked inside. It’s not a natural geological cave, but it is enclosed, swimmable, and genuinely fun, especially for kids who want to play hide-and-seek through the grottos. Add in the resort’s lake activities, mini-golf, rock climbing wall, splash pad, and nightly poolside movies, and this one feels tailor-made for a cave-pool family escape.

Fox Hotel & Suites — Banff, Canada

Banff earns its reputation as one of the most spectacular natural settings on earth, and the Fox Hotel makes the most of it. Its grotto-inspired hot pool is designed as a nod to the area’s famous Cave and Basin thermal site, where natural hot springs bubble up beneath the Canadian Rockies.

The pool has an open-air ceiling, so you can soak in steamy warmth while looking up at the mountain sky. Rooms and suites range from cozy one-bedroom options to larger two-bedroom stays with fireplaces, kitchenettes, and private balconies. The concierge team can also help book nearly any park activity, from scenic gondola rides to lake days, hikes, and winter adventures.

Château d’Urspelt - Urspelt, Luxembourg

Set in Luxembourg’s peaceful Our Valley, Château d’Urspelt feels like the kind of place you book when you want your hotel to come with a little bit of storybook drama. The property is a restored national monument near Clervaux, surrounded by green fields, quiet villages, and castle-country scenery.

The standout is its underground cave spa, with natural-looking caverns, swimming areas, sauna space, and whirlpool features that make the whole thing feel far more atmospheric than a standard hotel pool. Above ground, there’s also a heated outdoor pool, a garden, and an elegant library with bar service.

Pollicastro Boutique Hotel — Lecce, Italy

For Italy’s third spot on the list, we’re heading south to Lecce, the golden Baroque city in Puglia that’s often called the Florence of the South. Pollicastro Boutique Hotel sits inside a beautifully restored 16th-century palace in the historic center, close enough that you can wander out the door and be surrounded by Lecce’s churches, piazzas, cafés, and honey-colored stone.

The cave pool is the showstopper: an atmospheric underground space that feels tied to the building’s long history rather than added for effect. Above ground, there’s a rooftop garden and terrace for slower mornings and golden-hour views. The hotel requires a 3-night minimum stay during peak season, though between the gourmet breakfast, the setting, and Lecce itself, that may feel less like a rule and more like a very good idea.

Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort — Wailea, Hawaii

Grand Wailea is famous for going big, and its Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is basically a waterpark disguised as a luxury resort amenity. The 2,000-foot pool complex stretches across six levels, with nine connected pools, waterfalls, caves, waterslides, and plenty of tropical drama built right in.

The cave pool moment comes at the swim-up Grotto Bar, which is tucked inside a waterfall-lined cave you actually swim into. There’s in-water seating, tables, and that very specific “yes, I am having a drink inside a pool cave in Maui” feeling. It’s purpose-built rather than naturally formed, but the full resort-pool spectacle still absolutely earns its place on the list.

Why Cave Pool Hotels Are Worth the Splurge

look, though they are undeniably spectacular. Soaking in a heated pool carved from centuries-old stone, floating in a saltwater grotto beneath a Puglian trullo, or sipping a cocktail while shoulder-deep in a Turkish lagoon bar turns a simple swim into something you’ll actually remember.

These aren’t just amenities. They’re the kind of hotel experiences that become the story you tell when you get home. If you’ve been doing ordinary pools, it might be time to look for something a little more exciting.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hotels With Cave Pools

What is a cave pool in a hotel?


A cave pool is a swimming or soaking pool built inside, or designed to resemble, a natural cave or rock formation. In heritage hotels like Aquatio in Matera or Leonardo Trulli Resort in Puglia, the pools are often set inside ancient cisterns, carved-stone chambers, or historic underground spaces that existed long before the hotel.

Which country has the most hotels with cave pools?


Italy makes the strongest case, with cave pool hotels in Matera, Locorotondo, and Lecce, many of them built inside authentic historic structures. Turkey is a close second, thanks to Cappadocia’s carved-rock suites and Regnum The Crown’s cave-style pool experiences in Belek. Santorini and Spain are also standouts.

Are cave pools private or shared?


It depends on the hotel. At Leonardo Trulli Resort, cave pools are private and reserved for guests in specific heritage suites. At El Bálsamo in Spain, access runs on an hourly reservation system, so you don’t share the grotto with strangers. At Aquatio in Matera and Grand Wailea in Hawaii, the cave pool is part of a shared wellness or activity complex open to hotel guests.

What temperature are cave pools kept at?


It varies by property. El Bálsamo’s thermal cave pool stays around 91°F year-round, while Regnum The Crown keeps its Amber Cave lagoon around 86°F. Most cave wellness pools are kept warm, since low light, stone walls, and hot water are very much part of the appeal.

Are cave pools at hotels natural or man-made?


Some cave pools are built inside authentic historic spaces, such as ancient cisterns, carved rock rooms, or underground chambers. Others are purpose-built to recreate the feeling of a grotto or cave, using rockwork, waterfalls, low lighting, and enclosed swim-through spaces.

Are cave pools at these hotels safe to swim in?


Yes. These hotel pools are maintained according to standard hospitality safety and sanitation requirements. Many use salt chlorination rather than traditional chlorine-heavy systems, which can feel gentler on the skin.

Are cave pools suitable for families?


Some are, but many of the properties on this list lean romantic. Aspaki in Santorini, Pollicastro in Lecce, and El Bálsamo in Spain are especially well suited to couples. For families, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando is the clear standout, with swim-through rock grottoes, waterfalls, waterslides, a splash pad, and lake activities on the same property. Fox Hotel in Banff is another family-friendly option with a more accessible price point.

What is the difference between a cave pool and a grotto pool?


A cave pool usually refers to a pool inside an enclosed or semi-enclosed cave-like space. A grotto pool often has a more resort-style feel, with artificial rock formations, waterfalls, swim-through passages, and hidden seating areas. In practice, many hotels use the terms interchangeably.

Where can I find hotels with private cave pools?


Private cave pools are most common in romantic or boutique properties, especially in places with historic stone architecture or volcanic landscapes. Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Spain are some of the best places to look for hotels with private cave pools, grotto pools, or cave-style spa suites.

What should I pack for a cave pool hotel stay?


Bring a good swimsuit, sandals or slides, a cover-up or robe, and a phone or camera that handles low light well. Cave pools tend to be dramatically lit and deeply photogenic, but the contrast between dark stone walls and glowing water can be tricky for phone cameras.

Can I visit these hotels just for the cave pool without staying overnight?


Usually, no. Most cave pool hotels reserve their pools for overnight guests, and several, including private suite pools at places like Leonardo Trulli Resort and Pollicastro, are exclusive to specific room categories. It’s always worth checking directly with the hotel, but don’t count on day access.

Are cave pool hotels worth it?


For travelers who love unusual hotels, romantic spa stays, or dramatic design, cave pool hotels can absolutely be worth it. The best ones feel less like a standard hotel amenity and more like a travel experience in themselves, especially when the pool is tied to the building’s history, landscape, or local architecture.