The Cappadocia Underground Cities, found mostly in the Nevsehir region in central Turkey, are a series of magnificent subterranean cities built by the Troglodytes or ‘cave goers’. Of the almost forty known Cappadocia underground cities, some in Nevshir are open to the public, including Kaymaklı, Derinkuyu, Özkonak, Mazi and Ürgüp.
When the invaders came, Cappadocians knew where to hide: underground, in one of the 250 subterranean safe havens they had carved from pliable volcanic ash rock called tuff.
Now a housing construction project may have unearthed the biggest hiding place ever found in Cappadocia, a region of central Turkey famous for the otherworldly chimney houses, cave churches, and underground cities its residents carved for millennia.
Discovered beneath a Byzantine-era hilltop castle in Nevşehir, the provincial capital, the site dates back at least to early Byzantine times. It is still largely unexplored, but initial studies suggest its size and features may rival those of Derinkuyu, the largest excavated underground city in Cappadocia, which could house 20,000 people.
Going Underground
The soft rock here, with its winding cave systems and series of natural caverns, meant Cappadocia became renowned for its underground cities in medieval times. When marauding armies arrived here, thousands of people would escape and survive below ground, sometimes for months on end.
Spanning 18 floors to a depth of 85 meters, Derinkuyu is one of the largest and deepest subterranean cities in Turkey.
Omer Tosun is a local antiques collector and the owner of Cappadocia's first luxury hotel. He's made it his business to introduce fascinated visitors to every facet of Cappadocian culture, especially Derinkuyu.
"Picture this," he says standing in what was once an underground stable. "People are farming outside and then when an army attacks these people take all of their animals and come inside."
Omer explains that as many as 20,000 people would have hidden in these narrow passages for months at a time when Mongol forces roamed overhead. They would have made use of hundreds of store rooms, living spaces and even communication tunnels through which they could shout messages and relay news of what was happening above ground.
Cappadocia’s Must See Underground Cities
There are more than 200 underground cities in the Cappadocia region. The Underground Cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu the most popular and visited ones.
Kaymakli Underground City in Kaymakli
Kaymakli Underground City is the biggest and deepest underground settlement in the Cappadocia region. Located in the Kaymaki Village, Kaymakli Underground City is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia.
Kaymakli Underground City has 8 levels underground (only 4 are open) carved from the soft volcanic stone that are connected with each other by narrow tunnels. Visitors may visit stalls, stables, stores, refectories, churches, wineries, kitchens and the other sections.
Going for 40 meters under the ground, Kaymakli Underground City has a capacity of 5000 people. It is very exciting to imagine that how people lived here. A visit to Kaymakli Underground City is a must on your Cappadocia holidays.
Derinkuyu Underground City in Derinkuyu
Derinkuyu Underground City is one of the deepest and most fascinating multilevel underground settlements of Cappadocia and also can be considered as an engineering wonder. Located in the Derinkuyu Village, Derinkuyu Underground City is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia.
It is believed that the underground city was built as a shelter that is not to be seen from above, for the Christian community to escape from the pressure of the Roman Empire and Arabs.
Derinkuyu Underground City has 8 levels underground carved from the soft volcanic stone that are connected with each other by narrow tunnels.
Visitors may visit stables, cellars, storage areas, refectories, churches and wineries that all intertwined in an extensive network of tunnels. Also visitors may see the missionary school and study rooms on the second floor.
Mazi Underground City in Mazi
Mazi Underground City is located in Mazi Village, near Urgup. The entrance of the Mazi Underground City is covered with an ornamented huge stone. There are four entry points to the underground city. Travelers may see the stalls, rooms, stores, wineries, kitchens and the other sections of the underground city carved from the soft volcanic stone.
How to visit Derinkuyu and Kaymakli Underground Cities
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli can be reached by regular dolmuş (shared taxi or minibus) services from the nearby city of Nevşehir. If you’re staying in Göreme, take a dolmuş to Nevşehir (around 15-20 minutes) – or, if you have a hire car, you can drive there directly. From Nevşehir, it’s a straightforward journey down a single well-paved road, taking around 20 minutes to Kaymakli and 30 minutes to Derinkuyu.
Entrance fees for each underground city tend to fluctuate slightly year by year but, usually, cost around 60 Turkish lira (£5) for adults. Eight-year-olds and under can enter for free.
