Kaymakli Underground City

About Kaymakli Underground City

Kaymakli Underground City is one of several multi-level subterranean settlements carved into the soft volcanic rock of Cappadocia, in central Turkiye. People dug into this rock for centuries, hollowing out rooms, tunnels, and storage spaces below the village of Kaymakli, and over time the network grew into a full underground community that could shelter thousands. It sits in the town of Kaymakli, in the Nevsehir area, and is usually visited as part of a wider tour of the southern side of the region.

The layout runs down through several levels connected by low, narrow passages, some of which mean stooping or shuffling to get through. Along the way you make out what the tunnels were built for: living quarters, kitchens with soot still on the ceilings, storage rooms, stables, wine and oil presses, and communal areas, all linked by ventilation shafts that pulled fresh air down from the surface. Large circular stone doors could be rolled across passages from the inside to seal off sections against intruders. Not every level is open to visitors, but the sections you can walk through give a clear sense of how a whole population lived, worked, and hid underground.

Most guided visits spend under an hour here, since the underground portion is compact even if the full network is large. It pairs naturally with other stops on Cappadocia's green-tour route, including Pigeon Valley, the rock formations near Uchisar Castle, and the old village of Cavusin. Wear shoes with grip, as the floors can be uneven and worn smooth, and bring a light layer since it stays cool below ground year-round. Anyone who is claustrophobic or has trouble with tight, low spaces should know the passages are genuinely cramped in places. Entry to the site requires a separate ticket, which some tours include and others do not, so it is worth checking what your booking covers.