Underground Cities Guide
Updated January 15, 2026
17 min read
Cappadocia Travel Experts
Ready to Book?
Start planning your Cappadocia adventure with our curated recommendations.
0% complete
Start planning your Cappadocia adventure with our curated recommendations.
Cappadocia's underground cities are engineering marvels—multi-level subterranean complexes where 20,000 people once lived beneath the earth. This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, the two most famous underground cities.
Derinkuyu (Most Popular) ⭐ - Deepest: 8 levels, 60 meters (200 feet) deep, Largest: Could shelter 20,000 people, More impressive: Feels more extensive, On Green Tour: Included in standard itinerary, Best for: First-time visitors
Kaymaklı (Alternative) - Smaller: 4 levels open (8 total), 40 meters (130 feet) deep, More intimate: Less crowded, Narrower passages: Feels more claustrophobic, Best for: Return visitors, those who want less crowds
Bottom line: Visit Derinkuyu if it's your first time. It's the most impressive.
Basic Information: Depth: 60 meters (200 feet) / 8 levels, Population capacity: 20,000 people + livestock, Total area: Unknown (much still unexplored), Levels open: 8 levels (some sections closed), UNESCO Status: World Heritage Site (part of Cappadocia)
Location: 40 km south of Göreme (45-minute drive), Village: Derinkuyu, On Green Tour route
Opening Hours: 8:00am - 7:00pm (April-October), 8:00am - 5:00pm (November-March), Open daily
Entrance Fee: ₺300 (~€9), Included in Green Tour price
Level 1-2 (Shallow Levels): Living quarters: Carved bedrooms, sleeping alcoves, Communal areas: Gathering spaces, Entrance hall: Large open area, Ventilation shafts: 52 shafts going to surface
Level 3 (Storage Level): Wine cellars: Carved stone wine presses, Food storage: Grain silos, dried fruit rooms, Water wells: Deep wells reaching underground water, Oil lamps: Carved niches for lighting
Level 4 (Church Level): Church with cross ceiling: Cruciform layout carved in rock, Baptismal font: Stone basin for baptisms, Meeting hall: Religious gatherings, Confessional: Small carved booth
Level 5 (School/Study Level): Educational spaces: Where children learned, Study rooms: Monk cells for scripture study, Library area: Scroll storage (artifacts removed)
1. Rolling Stone Doors (⭐ Highlight) - Massive circular millstone wheels (1-1.5 meters diameter), Could seal passages from inside, Weighed 200-500 kg (440-1,100 lbs), Rolled into place during attacks, You can still see them in original positions!
2. Ventilation System - 52 vertical shafts bringing fresh air, Go from surface to Level 8, Ingenious engineering (no fans, just natural airflow), You can see shafts in ceilings
3. Communication Tubes - Small holes connecting levels, Used to talk between floors, Warning system during raids, Guide will demonstrate (you can speak through them!)
Physical Requirements: Stairs: Lots of climbing up and down, Low ceilings: Duck through doorways (1.5m / 5ft in places), Narrow passages: Single-file sections, Crouching: Some areas require bending over, Total distance: ~1 km underground walking
Is It Claustrophobic? Honestly: It can be for some people. Main passages are spacious (2-3 meters wide), But connecting tunnels are narrow, Temperature: Cool (13-15°C / 55-59°F year-round), Lighting: Modern electric lights installed, Air quality: Good (ventilation system still works!)
If You're Claustrophobic: ⚠️ Consider skipping, ⚠️ OR go to Level 2-3 only, then exit, ⚠️ Tell your guide beforehand, ⚠️ Stay near exits, ⚠️ Focus on breathing
Basic Information: Depth: 40 meters (130 feet) / 4 levels open (8 total exist), Population capacity: 3,000-5,000 people, Smaller than Derinkuyu but better preserved in some areas, Narrower passages: More intimate, more claustrophobic, Less crowded: Fewer tour groups
Location: 20 km south of Göreme (25-minute drive), Between Göreme and Derinkuyu, Sometimes on Green Tour (instead of Derinkuyu)
Kaymaklı vs. Derinkuyu Comparison: Depth: Derinkuyu 60m (8 levels) vs Kaymaklı 40m (4 levels open), Capacity: Derinkuyu 20,000 vs Kaymaklı 3,000-5,000, Passages: Derinkuyu wider, more spacious vs Kaymaklı narrower, tighter, Crowds: Derinkuyu higher vs Kaymaklı lower, Claustrophobia: Derinkuyu moderate vs Kaymaklı higher (narrower), Best For: Derinkuyu first-timers vs Kaymaklı return visitors
Derinkuyu Underground City is included in the standard Green Tour itinerary. See how the underground city fits into the full day tour.
Another must-see cultural attraction. Göreme Museum covers cave churches above ground, underground cities cover refuge below ground.
Plan your visit to underground cities as part of your complete Cappadocia itinerary. Green Tour on Day 3 is perfect.
Experience staying in a cave hotel - modern version of cave dwelling. See how modern cave hotels differ from ancient underground cities.
Göreme is the best base for visiting underground cities (45-minute drive to Derinkuyu). All tours include transport.
Underground cities are part of Green Tour, which requires 3+ days to fit into your itinerary. Plan accordingly.
Join 10,000+ travelers planning their Cappadocia trip.
Join 10,000+ travelers planning their Cappadocia trip
Share your experiences, ask questions, and get expert advice from our community.