Massive underground city extending 60 meters deep with 8 levels, built to shelter up to 20,000 people from invasions. Explore the fascinating network of tunnels, rooms, wine cellars, stables, and ventilation shafts carved entirely from rock, with ingenious circular stone doors for defense.
Derinkuyu Underground City is the largest of Cappadocia's underground cities, located beneath the town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir province, central Turkey. Extending to a depth of approximately 60 metres across eight or more levels, the city could reportedly shelter up to 20,000 people along with their livestock, food supplies, and equipment. Originally carved by the Phrygians around 800 BC and later expanded by early Christians fleeing Roman and then Arab persecution, the city became a subterranean refuge community that remained in use into the Byzantine period.
Visitors descend via a series of narrow staircases and ramps connecting successive levels. The tour route passes through rooms identified as stables (with tethering rings carved into the stone), wine and olive oil presses, storage chambers, a large cruciform church on the third level, a school room, and an armoury. The most technically impressive feature is the system of circular stone doors — millstone-shaped granite wheels up to half a metre thick — that could be rolled from the inside to block tunnel passages during attack, creating a series of defensible chokepoints.
The ventilation shaft system is equally remarkable: a central shaft drops 55 metres to provide air circulation throughout all levels, connecting to a network of smaller ventilation channels carved through the rock. Analysis has shown that air quality would remain viable for extended underground habitation through this system alone.
Only a portion of the estimated 18 levels has been opened to visitors; the accessible route covers levels one through eight. Passage height varies from full standing to sections requiring significant bending, and the narrowest tunnels — some barely 70 cm wide — require single-file passage. The interior temperature remains a constant 13°C year-round, and the low lighting creates a dramatic, somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere that visitors with enclosed-space sensitivity should consider before descending.
Visiting takes 60 to 90 minutes. The Kaymaklı Underground City, 10 kilometres away, makes a natural companion visit.
Good to know
- Hours
- 8:00-19:00 (summer), 8:00-17:00 (winter)
- Best for
- history, adventure, families, archaeology
Location
Derinkuyu, Nevşehir
38.3736, 34.7347 View on map
Highlights
- Eight accessible levels descending 60 metres, with rooms for stabling, wine pressing, worship, and storage
- Circular millstone doors that rolled to block tunnels from inside during invasion
- 55-metre central ventilation shaft providing fresh air to all levels simultaneously
- Cruciform Byzantine church carved into the third level, used by early Christian communities
- Constant 13°C underground temperature — a natural cool escape in Cappadocia's summer heat
Tips for visiting
- Not recommended for claustrophobics - tight passages
- Wear comfortable shoes - can be slippery
- Cool inside - bring light jacket
- Kaymaklı Underground City nearby if you want to visit two
When to visit
The underground city is open year-round and maintains a constant temperature of 13°C regardless of season, making it an excellent summer cooldown activity. Midday in summer is a good time to visit as tour buses from Göreme typically arrive in the morning.
Accessibility
Derinkuyu Underground City is not accessible for wheelchair users. The descent and ascent involve steep staircases, narrow passages (some requiring stooping), and uneven rock surfaces. Visitors with mobility limitations, respiratory conditions, or claustrophobia should assess the route carefully before purchasing a ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Is Derinkuyu Underground City claustrophobic?
Some sections involve narrow tunnels of 70 cm width and low ceilings requiring bending. The space is dimly lit and enclosed. Visitors with claustrophobia or anxiety in confined spaces should check the route description before descending.
How long does a visit take?
The standard visitor route through the accessible levels takes 60 to 90 minutes. Moving at a comfortable pace allows time to examine the carved features and read the information signs without feeling rushed.
How is Derinkuyu different from Kaymaklı Underground City?
Derinkuyu is deeper and extends further, while Kaymaklı has a wider tunnel network at shallower levels. Visiting both in a day is feasible — they are 10 km apart and together give a comprehensive picture of Cappadocian underground life.
Is photography allowed inside Derinkuyu?
Photography is permitted throughout the accessible areas. A small torch or phone light is useful for examining carved details in the darker side chambers beyond the main lighting system.