Cappadocia’s Underground Cities: A Guide to Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı

A World Carved Beneath the Valleys

Long before the balloons rose over Cappadocia at dawn, generations were quietly carving cities into the rock beneath their feet. The same soft volcanic stone that shaped the famous fairy chimneys above ground proved just as easy to hollow out below it. The result is one of the region’s most remarkable sights — entire subterranean settlements complete with homes, kitchens, chapels and stables.

Two of these underground cities stand out for travellers today: Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı. Both are open to visitors, well lit and signposted, and together they offer the clearest picture of how people lived — and survived — beneath the surface.

A Refuge Through the Centuries

The underground cities were, above all, places of shelter. Cappadocia sat along ancient routes that armies and raiders crossed for centuries, and when danger came, whole communities could retreat below ground and seal themselves in. The tunnels were not meant for daily life so much as for waiting out a threat in safety.

Early Christian communities are especially associated with these refuges, using the deeper levels to gather, worship and hide during periods of persecution. The carved chapels you can still see today are a quiet reminder of that history.

How Deep, and How They Worked

What surprises most visitors is the sheer scale. The cities descend through many levels, reaching well below the surface and able to shelter large numbers of people along with their animals and food stores. Narrow staircases and sloping passages connect one floor to the next.

Living so far underground meant solving real problems — fresh air, water and security — and the builders did so with striking ingenuity, as the next section shows.

Ingenious Engineering Below Ground

• Ventilation shafts: tall vertical channels drew fresh air down to the lowest levels, keeping the deep chambers breathable.
• Wells: protected sources gave residents water without ever surfacing, and could be sealed off from intruders above.
• Churches and chapels: carved worship spaces, some with simple decoration, served the communities sheltering below.
• Stables: lower or near-surface rooms kept livestock close and safe during a siege.
• Rolling stone doors: huge circular stones could be rolled across passages from the inside, sealing a level off and stopping anyone from following.
• Communal spaces: kitchens with soot-darkened ceilings, storage rooms and shared areas show this was a true community, not just a hiding place.

What to Expect on a Visit

A visit means heading downward through narrow, sometimes low passages that open into larger chambers. Expect to stoop in places and to take the stairs slowly. The air is cool and still year-round, which is a welcome relief on a warm Cappadocian afternoon.

Derinkuyu is known for the depth and drama of its descent, while Kaymaklı tends to feel wider and more horizontal. Many travellers enjoy seeing both, as each has its own character.

Practical Tips Before You Go

• Claustrophobia: a few passages are tight and dimly lit. If close spaces worry you, stay near the entrance levels — you can still get a real sense of the place without going to the very bottom.
• Comfortable shoes: floors can be uneven, sloped and worn smooth, so wear sturdy, flat footwear with good grip.
• A light layer: it stays cool underground even in summer, so bring something to throw on.
• Go with a guide: a knowledgeable guide turns a maze of rooms into a story, points out features you would otherwise miss, and helps you navigate the route with ease.
• Take your time: the passages are quieter early or later in the day, away from the busiest midday hours.

A Perfect Complement to Your Balloon Flight

Our balloon flights lift off at sunrise, when the air is calmest, and they run only with licensed operators when the weather and civil-aviation authorities allow. If a flight is grounded for weather, your booking is refunded in full — so the morning stays stress-free either way.

That early start leaves the rest of the day wide open, and the underground cities make an ideal next stop. Having drifted high above the valleys at dawn, descending into the rock that same afternoon completes the picture of Cappadocia — a landscape shaped, lived in and marvelled at both above and below the surface.