Kaymaklı Underground City

Last updated: 2 October 2026 Read time: 3 min

Illuminated tunnel in a Cappadocia underground city

Location Kaymaklı (20km from Göreme)

Hours 08:00–19:00 (summer) 08:00–17:00 (winter) Last entry: 30 minutes before closing

Ticket price from $18

Typical visit 1–1.5 hours

Nearest transport 20-minute drive from Göreme, or Green Tour minibus

Cappadocia Underground City Kaymakli — Kaymaklı Underground City is Cappadocia’s most-visited underground settlement, carved into the rock near the town of Kaymaklı and structured around a network of wide, low tunnels connecting living quarters, stables, churches and storage rooms across multiple levels. Less deep than nearby Derinkuyu, it’s often considered the more manageable of the two for visitors uneasy about tight spaces.

Why visit Kaymaklı Underground City? (Cappadocia Underground City Kaymakli)

Like Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı was likely first carved during the Phrygian period and later substantially expanded by Byzantine Christian communities sheltering from raids, with a network of interconnected rooms serving every function of daily life — kitchens, wineries, stables, storage cellars and churches. Kaymaklı’s layout spreads more horizontally than Derinkuyu’s, with wider passages between rooms, which many visitors find easier to navigate, particularly those wary of narrow, low-ceilinged tunnels. A network of tunnels is believed to have connected Kaymaklı to Derinkuyu roughly 10 kilometers away, allowing movement between the two underground cities without surfacing.

Source: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

What should I know before visiting?

Generally considered less claustrophobic than Derinkuyu thanks to wider horizontal passages.
A guided tour adds context that’s easy to miss navigating independently, since on-site information is limited.
Wear layered clothing — underground temperatures stay cool regardless of the season outside.
Often paired with Ihlara Valley or Derinkuyu on Green Tour minibus circuits.

How much are tickets and what are the hours?

Admission is broadly comparable to Derinkuyu, running approximately $18–24. Open daily, roughly 08:00–19:00 in summer and 08:00–17:00 in winter.

How do I get to Kaymaklı Underground City from Cappadocia center?

Kaymaklı is about a 20-minute drive from Göreme, slightly closer than Derinkuyu, and included on most Green Tour minibus circuits.

Kaymaklı Underground City: Interesting Facts

Cappadocia’s most-visited underground city, with wider, more horizontal passages than Derinkuyu.
Believed to be connected to Derinkuyu by a roughly 10km tunnel network.
Like other Cappadocia underground cities, likely first carved during the Phrygian period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kaymaklı’s wider, more horizontal passages make it the more comfortable choice for visitors concerned about tight or narrow spaces, while Derinkuyu is deeper and offers a more dramatic descent — visiting both on the same day isn’t necessary since they cover similar ground.

No — the site’s stairs, uneven surfaces and narrow sections in places make it inaccessible for wheelchairs or significant mobility limitations.

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