Derinkuyu Underground City is the largest and deepest of the underground cities open to visitors in Cappadocia. Carved into soft volcanic tuff beneath the town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir province, it could shelter thousands of people together with their animals and food stores. Today eight of its levels can be explored on a marked route.
History of Derinkuyu Underground City
No one knows exactly when the digging began. The earliest chambers may go back to the Phrygians in the first millennium BC, and some sources suggest the first hollows are older still, from Hittite times. What is clear is that the city was greatly enlarged in the Byzantine period, when local Christian communities used it as a refuge during the Arab raids of the 7th to 10th centuries.
People did not live underground permanently. They farmed and lived in the town above and retreated below when danger approached, sealing the passages behind them. The tunnels stayed in occasional use for centuries and were rediscovered in 1963, when a resident renovating his house broke through a wall into a hidden passage. The site opened to visitors a few years later and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia.
What you see inside Derinkuyu
The upper levels held the rooms people used every day, while the lower levels were places of last resort. Along the route you pass:
- stables close to the surface, so animals could be brought in quickly
- cellars, storerooms and a winery with pressing areas
- kitchens and a dining hall with soot-darkened ceilings
- sleeping and resting rooms for families
- a large vaulted hall often described as a missionary school, with small study rooms beside it
- a cross-shaped church on one of the lowest levels
- burial chambers
Ventilation shafts and rolling stone doors
The engineering is what stays with most visitors. Vertical ventilation shafts bring fresh air down through the levels, and some of them also served as wells. Heavy round stone doors, rolled into place from the inside, could close off each floor so that attackers could not follow. A long tunnel is said to connect Derinkuyu with the Kaymaklı underground city several kilometres away, but it is not open to visitors.
How to get to Derinkuyu from Göreme and Nevşehir
- By car: Derinkuyu lies on the main road south from Nevşehir towards Niğde, roughly 30 km from Nevşehir town. From Göreme, allow around 45 minutes.
- By public transport: minibuses (dolmuş) run from Nevşehir bus station to Derinkuyu. From Göreme, take a local bus to Nevşehir first and change there.
- On a day tour: most full-day tours of southern Cappadocia, often called the "Green Tour", combine an underground city with a walk in Ihlara Valley.
If you are still shaping your route, our Cappadocia trip ideas and the wider Cappadocia travel guide show how the underground cities fit into two or three days in the region.
Tips for your visit
- Passages are low and narrow in places and you will often need to stoop. The site is not ideal for anyone with claustrophobia, back or knee problems, or limited mobility.
- The steps between levels are steep and uneven, so wear flat shoes with good grip.
- The temperature underground stays cool all year, so bring a light layer even in summer.
- Tour groups tend to arrive mid-morning. Going early or later in the afternoon gives you quieter tunnels.
- Follow the arrows on the marked route; many side tunnels are closed for safety.
- Signs inside are limited, so a guide makes the rooms much easier to understand.
Entrance fees and opening hours change, so check them on the official website before you visit.
Best time to visit Derinkuyu
Because conditions underground barely change, Derinkuyu works in any season. It is a good choice for a hot summer afternoon or a cold, wet winter day, when the open valleys are less inviting. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant months for Cappadocia as a whole, and many visitors pair an early hot-air balloon flight in Cappadocia with an underground city later the same day.
For more on what makes the region special, read our reasons to visit Cappadocia. Many travellers fly in from Istanbul, so it is easy to combine a few days here with our guided Istanbul tours before or after.
Frequently asked questions
How many levels does Derinkuyu Underground City have?
Eight levels are open to visitors today. The city extends deeper than the visitor route, and many side tunnels remain closed for safety.
Who built Derinkuyu Underground City?
The first chambers may date to the Phrygians or even earlier, but the city was greatly expanded in the Byzantine period by Christian communities who used it as a refuge during Arab raids.
Is Derinkuyu suitable for people with claustrophobia?
It can be difficult. Some passages are low and narrow and you have to stoop, so people with claustrophobia or limited mobility may prefer to stay on the upper levels or visit an open-air site instead.
How long does a visit to Derinkuyu take?
Most visitors spend about an hour following the marked route through the levels. Allow extra time on busy days when the narrow tunnels slow down.
Should I visit Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı?
Derinkuyu is deeper and more dramatic, while Kaymaklı is wider and slightly easier to walk. If you only have time for one, Derinkuyu is the better choice for the sense of depth.
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