Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu reaches about 85 metres underground, yet only around a tenth of it is open to visitors. Even so, that tenth spans several levels of tunnels, chambers and stairs, some so low you have to bend nearly in half. The public has been allowed in since 1965, and the ticket for foreign visitors is €13. The town is roughly 30 km south of Goreme, on the route most Green Tours take.

Key details

Background

Cappadocia's soft volcanic tuff carves easily, and people have dug refuges into it since very ancient times; the oldest levels may date to the first millennium BC. The city reached its greatest size in the Byzantine era, when Christian communities sheltered here from Arab raids between the 7th and 10th centuries. Thousands of people, along with livestock and food supplies, could live below ground for weeks. It was last used as a hiding place in the 20th century. The story goes that a local resident found the entrance again in 1963 while doing work on his house, and visitors were let in two years later.

Inside

• Stables near the top, where animals were easiest to lead in.
• Kitchens and presses for wine or grapes, their ceilings still blackened by soot.
• Rolling stone doors, circular slabs as wide as a metre that people inside could roll across to block a passage.
• The air shaft, around 55 metres deep, which doubled as a well.
• A chapel in the shape of a cross and a room believed to have served as a school, both on the lower levels.
• The lowest room open to visitors, at the end of long, steep flights of steps. Climbing back out is the toughest part.

Who may want to avoid it

Derinkuyu does not suit every visitor. Corridors are tight and low, and they can fill with groups heading both ways. If you have claustrophobia, back or knee trouble, a heart condition, or simply dislike confined spaces, think it over, or limit yourself to the upper levels. Wheelchairs and pushchairs cannot be used. Tall people will be stooping for much of the visit.

Derinkuyu vs Kaymakli

Kaymakli lies 10 km to the north. It is broader and shallower, has fewer steep stairs and is often quieter. Derinkuyu is deeper and more striking. Most tours choose one of them; if your schedule and knees allow, visiting both shows how much they differ. The two are thought to have been joined by tunnels, but that link is closed to the public.

When to go

Come early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Between about 10:00 and 14:00, tour groups form single-file queues in the tight corridors. It stays cool underground in every season, which makes Derinkuyu a good pick on a hot summer afternoon.

Our Cappadocia Green Tour with Guide & Lunch visits Derinkuyu, walks the Ihlara Valley and stops at Selime Monastery in a seven-hour day with lunch, with pick-up at your Cappadocia hotel. Coming from Istanbul, the 3-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul with Flights combines the Red and Green Tours with two nights in a hotel.

Practical tips

• Choose flat shoes with grip; the stone steps are polished by wear and can be wet.
• Bring only a small bag, since a big backpack rubs against the walls and holds you up.
• Stick to the arrows. Ropes block side tunnels for a reason.
• Phones lose signal on the lower levels, so set a meeting point above ground.
• Above, the town has a big car park and souvenir stands, with the entrance to the underground city right beside them.

Plan the rest of your trip with our Cappadocia destination page.

Common questions