Kaymaklı Underground City and Derinkuyu Underground City are two underground sites in Cappadocia, Turkey. Kaymaklı has detailed information on its rooms, history and opening hours; Derinkuyu’s key practical detail is that it is open on weekends to foreign visitors.
- Kaymaklı: In Kaymaklı, Nevşehir Province; four of its eight levels are lit for visitors.
- Derinkuyu: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism says it is open on weekends to foreign visitors.
- Kaymaklı hours: The Ministry gives daily opening hours of 08:00–17:00, with the ticket office closing at 16:15.
How Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu differ
Kaymaklı has more documented visitor and layout details, while the practical distinction given for Derinkuyu is its weekend access for foreign visitors.
Kaymaklı Underground City
Kaymaklı has eight levels, four of which are lit for visitors. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism describes rooms and halls connected by narrow corridors, as well as wine stores, water cellars, kitchens, food stores, ventilation shafts, wells and a church. Large stone doors could be shut from inside.
The Ministry’s museum listing says the site’s history reaches back to 3000 BCE and describes construction in the Hittite period, followed by enlargement during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
A separate Ministry page dates its construction to the 9th–10th centuries CE and describes it as a place of defense and hiding during the spread of Christianity. The official pages give different dates, so it is worth keeping that distinction in mind when reading about Cappadocia’s rock-cut churches and underground settlements.
Derinkuyu Underground City
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism says Derinkuyu Underground City is open on weekends to foreign visitors. Foreign visitors should plan around that weekend access when comparing it with Kaymaklı.
Planning a visit to Kaymaklı
- Ticket
- office closing at 16:15
Kaymaklı is in Kaymaklı, Nevşehir Province, at Camii Kebir Mah. Eşref Ayhan Cad. No:46.
The Ministry gives the underground city’s hours as 08:00 to 17:00 every day, with ticket-office closing at 16:15. It also says the Turkish citizen Museum Card (MüzeKart) is valid. Hours and ticket arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.
Inside, the site’s connected rooms and narrow corridors link practical spaces such as kitchens, food stores and water cellars with ventilation shafts, wells and a church. The four lit levels give you a defined part of the eight-level underground city to visit.
Planning a visit to Derinkuyu
Foreign visitors can visit Derinkuyu Underground City on weekends, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Because the access detail is specific to weekends, confirm that it suits your plans before setting out. Do not assume Kaymaklı’s hours or ticket arrangements apply at Derinkuyu.
How do you get from Göreme to the underground cities?
Göreme can be reached from Nevşehir by bus, minibus or taxi, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which places Göreme 15 km east of Nevşehir. Center Cave House offers rooms in Göreme.
The Ministry gives Kaymaklı’s distance from Nevşehir as 20 km. For a trip from Göreme, check transport options and current road conditions before choosing how to continue from Nevşehir.
For a wider arrival plan, the guide to getting to Cappadocia from Kayseri Airport covers the airport connection.
FAQs
What is the practical difference between Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu?
Kaymaklı is described as having eight levels, four lit for visitors, and daily opening hours. Foreign visitors can visit Derinkuyu on weekends.
How many levels of Kaymaklı can visitors see?
Kaymaklı has eight levels, and four are lit for visitors.
Can foreign visitors go to Derinkuyu on weekdays?
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism says Derinkuyu is open on weekends to foreign visitors. Check the official site before planning a visit.