Cappadocia is famous for its fairy chimneys and valleys, but one of its most astonishing features lies beneath the surface. The underground cities of Cappadocia reveal how ancient civilizations created vast subterranean settlements to survive invasions, harsh climates, and unstable periods throughout history.

Today, these underground cities offer visitors a rare chance to explore a hidden world carved deep into volcanic rock, showcasing extraordinary engineering and survival skills.

What Are the Underground Cities of Cappadocia?

The underground cities of Cappadocia are multi-level subterranean settlements carved into soft volcanic tuff. They were used primarily as refuges, not permanent cities, allowing communities to live underground for days or even weeks when necessary.

These cities include:

• Living quarters
• Storage rooms and wineries
• Kitchens and ventilation shafts
• Churches and chapels
• Defensive stone doors and narrow tunnels

More than 200 underground settlements have been identified in Cappadocia, though only a few are open to visitors today.

Why Were Underground Cities Built?

Underground cities were constructed to protect inhabitants from:

• Foreign invasions
• Religious persecution
• Harsh weather conditions
• Political instability

Their complex layouts made it difficult for enemies to enter, while advanced ventilation systems ensured fresh air even deep underground.

Most Famous Underground Cities in Cappadocia

Derinkuyu Underground City Cappadocia: The Deepest Underground City in the World

Derinkuyu Underground City is the deepest and one of the most impressive underground cities in Cappadocia, descending nearly 60 meters (200 feet) below the surface. Capable of sheltering thousands of people, Derinkuyu is a masterpiece of ancient engineering, designed for survival, defense, and community life beneath the earth.

Exploring Derinkuyu is not just sightseeing — it is a journey into how civilizations adapted, protected themselves, and lived underground for extended periods.

What Is Derinkuyu Underground City?

Derinkuyu Underground City is a multi-level subterranean settlement carved into Cappadocia’s soft volcanic rock. It consists of up to 18 levels, although only a portion is open to visitors today for safety reasons.

Inside the city, you will find:

• Living quarters
• Storage rooms and kitchens
• Wineries and food cellars
• Churches and chapels
• Ventilation shafts and water wells
• Massive stone doors for defense

Everything was carefully designed to allow entire communities to survive underground during times of danger.

History of Derinkuyu Underground City

The origins of Derinkuyu are believed to date back to the Hittite period (around 1200 BCE), with major expansions during the Roman and Byzantine eras.

During periods of invasion and religious persecution, early Christians used Derinkuyu as a safe haven, sometimes staying underground for weeks or even months. The city was connected to nearby underground settlements through hidden tunnels, allowing safe movement without surfacing.

Derinkuyu remained largely hidden until its rediscovery in the 20th century, revealing one of the most astonishing underground structures in the world.

Derinkuyu Underground City Visit & Reservation

Derinkuyu is the most dramatic underground experience in Cappadocia, offering unmatched depth, history, and atmosphere.

Contact us via WhatsApp to book a Cappadocia tour that includes Derinkuyu Underground City, with small groups, VIP Mercedes Sprinter vehicles, expert guides, best price guarantee, and satisfaction assured.

Kaymaklı Underground City Cappadocia: The Largest Underground Settlement in the Region

Kaymaklı Underground City is one of the largest and most complex underground cities in Cappadocia, offering a detailed look into how ancient communities organized daily life beneath the earth.
Unlike Derinkuyu, which is famous for its depth, Kaymaklı stands out for its horizontal spread, interconnected chambers, and highly organized living spaces.

Exploring Kaymaklı feels like walking through a hidden underground neighborhood, carefully designed for long-term survival.

What Is Kaymaklı Underground City?

Kaymaklı Underground City is a multi-level subterranean settlement carved into Cappadocia’s soft volcanic rock. It consists of at least 8 levels, with 4 levels currently open to visitors.

Inside the city, you will find:

• Living rooms and family quarters
• Kitchens and food preparation areas
• Storage rooms and wineries
• Stables for animals
• Ventilation shafts and wells
• Defensive stone doors

The layout shows that Kaymaklı was not just a shelter, but a fully functional underground living space.

History of Kaymaklı Underground City

The origins of Kaymaklı date back to the Hittite period (around 1200 BCE), with significant expansions during the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Kaymaklı was used extensively during times of invasion, allowing residents to remain underground for extended periods. Historical evidence suggests that Kaymaklı was connected to Derinkuyu Underground City through underground tunnels, enabling safe movement between settlements.

The city was rediscovered in the 1960s and later opened to visitors as one of Cappadocia’s most important archaeological sites.

Kaymaklı Underground City Visit & Reservation

Kaymaklı Underground City offers the most realistic picture of underground daily life in Cappadocia, making it an essential stop for history and culture lovers.

👉 Contact us via WhatsApp to book a Cappadocia tour that includes Kaymaklı Underground City, with small groups, VIP Mercedes Sprinter vehicles, expert guides, best price guarantee, and satisfaction assured.

Özkonak Underground City Cappadocia: A Masterpiece of Defense and Strategy

Özkonak Underground City is one of the most strategically designed underground cities in Cappadocia. While Derinkuyu is known for its depth and Kaymaklı for its wide layout, Özkonak stands out for its advanced defensive systems and compact, highly controlled structure.

Visiting Özkonak feels like stepping into a carefully engineered underground fortress, built not only to shelter people, but to actively defend them against intruders.

What Is Özkonak Underground City?

Özkonak Underground City is a multi-level subterranean settlement carved into Cappadocia’s soft volcanic rock. It consists of several underground levels connected by narrow corridors, steep passages, and defense-controlled access points.

Unlike larger underground cities, Özkonak was designed with a strong focus on security, making every section easy to defend while remaining functional for daily life.

Inside Özkonak, you will find:

• Living rooms and family spaces
• Storage rooms and food cellars
• Ventilation shafts
• Defensive corridors and stone doors
• Communication holes between levels

History of Özkonak Underground City

The origins of Özkonak Underground City are believed to date back to the Hittite period, with later expansions during the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Özkonak was primarily used as a temporary but highly secure refuge during times of invasion. Its location and design allowed residents to quickly retreat underground and seal off the city from attackers.

The underground city was rediscovered in 1972 and later opened to visitors, revealing one of Cappadocia’s most militarily intelligent underground structures.

Is Özkonak Included in Cappadocia Tours?

Yes. Özkonak is commonly included in:

• Cappadocia Mix Tour
• Private Cappadocia Tours

It is often combined with:

• Paşabağ (Monks Valley)
• Devrent Valley
• Avanos Pottery Workshops
• Göreme Panorama

Özkonak Underground City Visit & Reservation

Özkonak Underground City offers one of the most intellectually impressive underground experiences in Cappadocia, especially for visitors interested in military history, engineering, and strategy.

Contact us via WhatsApp to book a Cappadocia tour that includes Özkonak Underground City, with small groups, VIP Mercedes Sprinter vehicles, expert guides, best price guarantee, and satisfaction assured.

Mazı Underground City Cappadocia: The Most Authentic and Least Crowded Underground City

Mazı Underground City is one of the oldest and most authentic underground cities in Cappadocia, offering a quieter and more atmospheric alternative to the region’s larger underground complexes.
Located near Ürgüp, Mazı is ideal for travelers who want to experience Cappadocia’s underground history without crowds, in a setting that feels raw, original, and deeply historical.

Exploring Mazı feels less like visiting a museum and more like discovering a hidden refuge frozen in time.

What Is Mazı Underground City?

Mazı Underground City is a multi-level subterranean settlement carved into Cappadocia’s volcanic rock. Unlike the more developed underground cities, Mazı has preserved a simpler and more original layout, reflecting its early origins.

Inside the city, visitors can see:

• Living chambers and family rooms
• Storage areas for food and supplies
• Ventilation shafts
• Stone rolling doors
• Narrow tunnels connecting different sections

Mazı’s structure shows that it was designed primarily as a secure refuge, rather than a long-term underground metropolis.

History of Mazı Underground City

Mazı Underground City is believed to date back to the Roman period, with continued use during the Byzantine era. It was used mainly as a shelter during invasions and periods of instability, allowing local communities to retreat underground temporarily.

Unlike Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı, which expanded massively over time, Mazı remained smaller and more contained, preserving its original character.

This makes Mazı especially valuable for understanding the earliest phases of underground living in Cappadocia.

Is Mazı Included in Cappadocia Tours?

Mazı Underground City is not usually included in standard group tours, which makes it special.

It is most commonly visited through:

• Private Cappadocia Tours
• Customized itineraries
• Alternative Green or cultural routes

Mazı is often combined with:

• Ürgüp area sightseeing
• Local villages
• Lesser-known valleys

Mazı Underground City Visit & Reservation

Mazı Underground City is perfect for travelers who value authenticity, calm, and historical atmosphere over size and crowds.

👉 Contact us via WhatsApp to book a private or customized Cappadocia tour that includes Mazı Underground City, with expert guides, VIP Mercedes Sprinter vehicles, best price guarantee, and satisfaction assured.

Nevşehir Kayasehir Underground City: The Hidden City Beneath Modern Cappadocia

Nevşehir Kayasehir is one of the largest and most recently discovered underground city complexes in Cappadocia.
What makes Kayasehir truly unique is that it is not only an underground refuge, but a vast urban system built directly beneath the modern city of Nevşehir, seamlessly connected to rock-cut houses, tunnels, churches, and living spaces.

Kayasehir reveals that Cappadocia’s underground life was not limited to emergency shelters — it was part of a long-term, integrated urban lifestyle.

What Is Nevşehir Kayasehir?

Nevşehir Kayasehir is a massive underground settlement network extending beneath Nevşehir city center. Unlike other underground cities that were mainly used during times of danger, Kayasehir represents a continuously inhabited underground urban zone, connected with surface-level rock-cut dwellings.

Archaeological studies show that Kayasehir covers several square kilometers, making it one of the largest underground city systems in the world.

Discovery & History of Kayasehir

Kayasehir was rediscovered during urban development projects in the early 2010s, when extensive underground tunnels and chambers were uncovered beneath Nevşehir.

Historical layers indicate continuous use from:

• Roman period
• Byzantine era
• Seljuk period
• Ottoman era

This uninterrupted use over centuries makes Kayasehir unique among Cappadocia’s underground cities.

Is Kayasehir Included in Cappadocia Tours?

Kayasehir is increasingly included in:

• Cultural & archaeological Cappadocia tours
• Private Cappadocia Tours
• Alternative sightseeing routes

It is ideal for travelers interested in:

• Urban history
• Archaeology
• Lesser-known Cappadocia sites

Nevşehir Kayasehir Visit & Reservation

Nevşehir Kayasehir is one of the most groundbreaking archaeological discoveries in Cappadocia, revealing a hidden city beneath modern life.

👉 Contact us via WhatsApp to book a private or cultural Cappadocia tour that includes Nevşehir Kayasehir, with expert guides, VIP Mercedes Sprinter vehicles, best price guarantee, and satisfaction assured.