Beneath the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia lie more than 200 underground cities carved into soft volcanic rock, the largest of which — Derinkuyu — descends 85 metres across 11 levels and once sheltered up to 20,000 people. Built starting in the 8th–7th century BCE and expanded for over a thousand years, these cities let entire communities disappear underground whenever empires, raiders, or religious persecution threatened the surface world.

What Are Cappadocia’s Underground Cities?

Cappadocia’s underground cities are multi-level settlements carved into tuff, a soft volcanic rock formed by ancient eruptions in the region. Over 200 have been identified between Kayseri and Nevşehir, with around 40 reaching at least three levels deep. Far from simple tunnels, they functioned as complete cities — with stables, kitchens, wine presses, churches, schools, and ventilation systems built to support long-term underground living.

Who Built Them, and Why?

The earliest chambers are credited to the Phrygians, who began carving living spaces into the rock around the 8th–7th century BCE. Centuries later, early Christians fleeing Roman persecution expanded these spaces dramatically, and during the Byzantine era (7th–10th century CE), communities retreated underground for months at a time to escape Arab raids sweeping through Anatolia. Each generation added new rooms and levels, turning modest shelters into sprawling subterranean towns capable of hiding thousands of people — and their livestock — from empires passing overhead.

Derinkuyu: The Deepest City in the World

Derinkuyu is the deepest underground city ever opened to visitors anywhere on Earth, reaching roughly 85 metres below the surface across 11 levels (8 of which are open today). At its peak, it may have housed up to 20,000 people along with their livestock and food stores. Its most remarkable feature is a 55-metre central ventilation shaft that supplied fresh air to every level simultaneously — an engineering feat that let a small underground population survive comfortably for extended periods without ever surfacing.

Kaymaklı: The Widest Underground Settlement

Ten kilometres north of Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı takes a different approach: rather than depth, it maximizes width, with four expansive levels open to the public. Its tunnels are lower and more steeply inclined, and its rooms are still organized around ventilation shafts today. Kaymaklı is particularly known for its wine production — the cool, humid underground climate turned out to be ideal for fermenting grapes, and multiple wine presses have been found throughout the complex, a tradition Cappadocia is still known for.

How Did They Survive Down There?

These weren’t just hiding spots — they were engineered for survival:

  • Ventilation: Dozens of shafts brought fresh air to every level, even the deepest ones.
  • Water: Independent well and cistern systems kept drinking water separate from waste.
  • Food: Storage rooms, stables (placed near the surface to vent animal gases), and wine presses supported months of self-sufficiency.
  • Security: Massive circular millstone doors could seal off entire sections from the inside, blocking invaders at chokepoints.

Visiting Cappadocia’s Underground Cities Today

Both Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı are UNESCO-recognized sites and easily combined in a single day, typically as part of Cappadocia’s popular Green Tour alongside the Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery. Most travelers find half a day sufficient to explore either site comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep is Derinkuyu underground city?
Derinkuyu descends approximately 85 metres (280 feet) below the surface across 11 levels, making it the deepest underground city in the world open to visitors.

How many underground cities are there in Cappadocia?
Archaeologists have identified more than 200 underground cities in the Cappadocia region, though only a handful — chiefly Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı — are developed for visitors.

Which is better to visit, Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı?
Derinkuyu offers more depth and drama for travelers who want the “deepest city in the world” experience, while Kaymaklı’s wider, better-lit levels make it easier to explore and photograph. Many Cappadocia tours visit both in a single day.