Derinkuyu Underground City is the deepest of Cappadocia’s many underground cities: a maze of tunnels, rooms and ventilation shafts dug into the volcanic rock beneath the town of Derinkuyu, about 30 km south of Göreme. Together with nearby Kaymaklı, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia”.
Plan your visit to Derinkuyu Underground City
- Entry: about EUR 13 (MuseumPass valid)
- Daily 08:00–19:00 summer, 08:00–17:00 winter
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
History of Derinkuyu Underground City
Nobody knows exactly when digging began; some historians suggest the first chambers go back to the Phrygian period in the first millennium BCE. The city was greatly enlarged in the Byzantine era, when local people sheltered underground during the Arab raids of the 7th–10th centuries.
It reaches roughly 85 m below ground across several levels and could hold thousands of people with their animals and food stores. Huge rolling stone doors could seal each level from the inside. The local Greek Orthodox community still used the tunnels as shelters into the early 20th century. The complex was rediscovered in 1963, when a resident knocking through a wall of his house found a passage, and it opened to visitors in 1969. Only part of it is open today.
Attractions at Derinkuyu Underground City
- Rolling stone doors: Round millstone-like doors that sealed off levels from attackers.
- Ventilation shafts: Deep shafts that brought fresh air down and also served as wells.
- Stables and kitchens: Near the top, where animals were kept and food prepared.
- Chapel and missionary school: A cross-shaped chapel on the lower levels and a large vaulted room thought to have been a school.
- Wine and oil presses, storage rooms: Evidence of daily life underground.
Things to Do at Derinkuyu Underground City
- Go with a guide: There are few signs, and a guide explains what each room was used for.
- Go early or late: Tour groups crowd the tunnels from late morning to mid-afternoon.
- Know your limits: Passages between levels are narrow, low and steep. If you are claustrophobic or have mobility issues, stay on the upper levels.
- Compare with Kaymaklı: About 10 km north, it is wider and less deep, and a good alternative if Derinkuyu feels too tight.
Derinkuyu Underground City – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
Open daily: about 08:00–19:00 from April to October and 08:00–17:00 in winter, with last entry before closing (check the official Türkiye Museums page).
Foreign visitors pay about EUR 13 (check for increases); children under 8 enter free. The MuseumPass Cappadocia and MuseumPass Türkiye are valid.
Tours
- Green Tour (Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley walk, Selime, lunch, option with entry fees): on Klook
Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
How Long to Spend at Derinkuyu Underground City
Allow 1–1.5 hours inside, plus travel time. Many visitors see it on a full-day “Green Tour” that also includes Ihlara Valley.
How to Get There
- By car: About 30–35 km from Göreme via Nevşehir, around 40 minutes.
- By bus: Take a minibus from Göreme to Nevşehir bus station, then a local minibus to Derinkuyu; the entrance is in the town centre.
- On a tour: The “Green Tour” from Göreme combines Derinkuyu with Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery, with transport and entry included.
Flying into Kayseri or Nevşehir? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel in Cappadocia.
Eateries Nearby Derinkuyu Underground City
The town of Derinkuyu has simple local restaurants and cafés around the entrance square serving kebabs, pide and gözleme. Green Tour groups usually lunch at Belisırma in Ihlara Valley.
Other Attractions Nearby Derinkuyu Underground City
- Kaymaklı Underground City: Another large underground city about 10 km to the north.
- Ihlara Valley: A green canyon with rock-cut churches, about 50 km to the south-west.
- Uçhisar Castle: Cappadocia’s highest viewpoint, on the way back to Göreme.
- Göreme Open-Air Museum: Rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Göreme: the best base for day trips to Derinkuyu and Ihlara.
- Get a Turkey eSIM before you land, for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Derinkuyu Underground City is one of Cappadocia’s most memorable sights: a multi-level refuge carved deep into the rock, with rolling stone doors, air shafts and a chapel far below the surface. Go early, wear good shoes and skip the lower levels if tight spaces bother you.
It fits neatly into a day with Ihlara Valley, or a half day before heading back to Uçhisar Castle for sunset.
