Underground cities of Cappadocia
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The soft volcanic tuff of Cappadocia was cut like bread, and people dug tens of metres down. That is how multi-level refuge cities appeared, with dwellings, stables, wine presses, chapels and wells. Air came through vertical ventilation shafts, and heavy round millstone doors sealed the passages against intruders. Below you will find a table of the three best-known cities and answers to common questions.
The three best-known underground cities of Cappadocia
| City | Depth / levels | Highlight | Near |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derinkuyu Underground City | ~60 m, up to 8 levels | Deepest of the open cities, held up to 20,000 people | Nevşehir |
| Kaymaklı | ~4 levels, broad network | Widest city, an underground tunnel to Derinkuyu of about 8-9 km | Nevşehir |
| Özkonak | ~10 levels, smaller in size | A system of communication holes linking the levels | Avanos, Nevşehir |
Places3
Articles1
FAQ5
Why were the underground cities built at all?
First of all they were hiding places. When armies and raids swept across the region, locals went underground with their livestock and supplies and waited out the danger. Early persecuted Christians valued this protection especially: deep down they could live for weeks, pray in underground chapels and stay unnoticed.
How did people breathe underground without suffocating?
The whole system relied on vertical ventilation shafts that pierced the cities from top to bottom. They drove fresh air down to the lowest levels, and some shafts doubled as wells for drinking water. Thanks to this, breathing stayed easy even tens of metres down, and the temperature remained cool all year round.
Who dug these cities, and when?
There is no exact date, and debate continues. The first cavities were probably cut by the Phrygians, and some trace the origins as far back as the Hittites. Later, in the Byzantine era, Christians greatly expanded these passages and turned them into whole underground settlements with churches. So the cities did not appear all at once but grew over many centuries.
Is it hard for a tourist? Not for the claustrophobic?
Yes, in places it gets tight and low: narrow sloping tunnels lead to some levels, and you have to stoop. It really is tough for people with claustrophobia or bad knees, and at peak season it can get crowded. Still, the visitor routes are prepared and lit, so most people walk through the upper levels without any trouble.
Which underground cities are open to visitors?
Several cities have been made ready for tourists, and the three in our table are the most popular. Derinkuyu amazes with its depth, Kaymaklı with its sprawling web of passages, while the quieter Özkonak lets you explore the underground without the crowds. All three are easy to reach from Göreme or Nevşehir, so they fit neatly into the rest of a Cappadocia trip.