This ancient underground city in Cappadocia extends eight floors deep, with a maze of tunnels connecting living quarters, storage rooms, and ventilation shafts from 3000 BCE.
Descend into Kaymaklı Underground City in Cappadocia, where narrow tunnels lead to ancient churches with preserved frescoes, communal kitchens with intact millstones, and wine cellars carved into volcanic rock. This subterranean maze, dating to the 7th century BC, extends eight floors deep into the earth, with four levels you can explore today. You'll find the city 19 kilometers from Nevşehir, where local residents still use parts of the upper levels for food storage.
Layout of the Underground City
The underground complex reaches eight floors down, with four levels open to visitors. You'll navigate through narrow tunnels that slope more steeply than other underground cities in the region. Each level connects to central ventilation shafts that channel fresh air to the deepest sections.
First and Second Floor Exploration
Walk through the first floor to find a stable and several family living quarters with high ceilings. A large stone door rolls aside to reveal a church. The second floor contains a two-apse church where you can see the original baptismal font and stone seating platforms along the walls. Look for ancient inscriptions near the church that match tombstones in the nearby graveyard.
Storage and Daily Life Areas
The third floor functioned as the city's marketplace, with food storage chambers, wine and oil pressing rooms, and shared kitchen spaces. Look for the decorated andesite block with carved reliefs. On the fourth floor, you'll walk through more storage areas, private kitchen spaces, and rooms that once held earthenware jars.
Visiting Times and Tips
Arrive at 8 AM or after 5 PM to avoid crowds. Set aside two hours to explore the complex. Consider hiring a local guide who can explain how people lived in these underground spaces. Opening hours run from 8 AM to 7 PM (April-October) and 8 AM to 5 PM (October-April).
Transportation and Access
Drive 30 minutes from Goreme to reach Kaymaklı. Take a dolmuş (shared minibus) from Nevşehir's central station, running every 30 minutes between 7:30 AM and 7:10 PM. From Kayseri, the drive takes 90 minutes.
Historical Background
The underground network expanded in the 4th century when early Christians sought refuge from Roman persecution. During the Arab-Byzantine wars (780-1180), the complex grew larger as more people needed shelter. An 8-9 kilometer tunnel connects Kaymaklı to the nearby Derinkuyu underground city, forming part of Cappadocia's subterranean network.
