Kaymakli Underground City tour | Ancient tunnels & rock-cut dwellings
Step underground to explore Kaymakli, one of Cappadocia’s largest and most fascinating subterranean cities. A maze of tunnels, storerooms, stables, and chapels, the Kaymakli Underground City offers a glimpse into ancient life carved into volcanic rock. Full-day guided tours combine this wonder with other top Cappadocia attractions like Goreme Open-Air Museum, Avanos pottery workshops, and fairy chimney valleys for a complete cultural experience.
Distance from Goreme: ~25 km
Travel time: 30 to 40 minutes by car or transfer
On-site visit duration: 7 hours
Cost: €91 for full-day guided tour with lunch
Best season: April to June & September to October for mild weather and fewer crowds
Meeting/drop-off point: Any Cappadocia hotel (for guided tours)
What to expect on a Cappadocia to Kaymakli Underground City day trip
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Hotel pickup & scenic journey
Begin your day with a comfortable hotel pickup across Cappadocia. As you drive through surreal valleys dotted with fairy chimneys, your guide shares insights about the region’s geology and history.
Explore Kaymakli Underground City
Descend through the multi-level tunnels of Kaymakli, where ancient communities lived, cooked, and worshipped in safety. See kitchens, wineries, stables, and chapels carved into soft volcanic rock as your guide narrates fascinating stories of life underground.
Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum
Continue to one of Cappadocia’s most famous landmarks, the Goreme Open-Air Museum. Explore rock-cut monasteries, frescoed chapels, and cave dwellings that reveal early Christian artistry and devotion.
Stop at the pottery-making town of Avanos, located along the Kızılırmak River. Watch traditional pottery-making demonstrations and try your hand at shaping clay using ancient techniques.
Fairy Chimneys & Devrent Valley
See the iconic fairy chimneys at Devrent Valley and Pasabag, where nature’s sculptures resemble animals and human forms. Capture photos of Cappadocia’s dreamlike landscapes before heading back.
Things to know before booking your Kaymakli day tour
Hotel pickup: Available from all major Cappadocia towns — Goreme, Urgup, Avanos, Uchisar, and Ortahisar.
Tour duration: A full-day guided tour lasts 7 hours, combining Kaymakli, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Avanos, and valley stops.
Walking conditions: Expect uneven surfaces, steep stairs, and narrow tunnels in the underground city. Comfortable footwear is essential.
Weather: Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions for both indoor and outdoor exploration.
Accessibility: Kaymakli Underground City is not wheelchair accessible due to steep and confined passageways.
Meals: Lunch is included in guided tours. Independent visitors should plan their own meals nearby.
Why choose a guided Kaymakli Underground City Cappadocia tour?
Guided tours to Kaymakli Underground City reveal fascinating details hidden in its tunnels and chambers, while combining top Cappadocia sights like Goreme and Avanos, making it the most convenient and enriching way to explore.
Kaymakli Underground City photos
Multi-level network
Discover eight levels of tunnels, only four open to visitors, revealing stables, kitchens, and wine cellars.
Popular stops on the Kaymakli Cappadocia tour
Goreme Open-Air Museum
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Goreme Open-Air Museum is Cappadocia’s most iconic monastic complex. Wander through rock-cut churches, refectories, and monasteries dating back to the 10th to 12th centuries. Admire vivid Byzantine frescoes that depict biblical scenes and learn how early Christians lived, worshipped, and taught here.
Time required: 1 to 1.5 hours
Avanos
Set on the banks of the Kızılırmak River, Avanos is Cappadocia’s pottery capital, famous for its red clay sourced from the riverbed. Visit traditional workshops to see artisans craft ceramics using centuries-old techniques. Many studios invite visitors to try pottery-making on a kick wheel — a hands-on way to connect with this ancient craft.
Time required: 45 to 60 minutes
Devrent & Pasabag Valleys
Known as “Imagination Valley,” Devrent is filled with rock formations resembling animals and human figures, a natural sculpture park shaped by erosion. Nearby Pasabag (Monks Valley) features some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, with double and triple caps that once housed hermit cells and chapels. These stops are perfect for scenic walks and photography.
Time required: 30 to 45 minutes
Your Kaymakli Underground City tour planned perfectly
Morning: Begin your day with a comfortable pickup from your Cappadocia hotel in an AC vehicle. Travel through scenic valleys dotted with fairy chimneys on your way to Kaymakli Underground City. Follow your guide through its maze of tunnels, chapels, kitchens, and storage rooms, and learn how ancient communities lived and took refuge underground.
Midday: Continue to the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO-listed monastic site filled with frescoed churches and cave monasteries carved from volcanic rock. Dive into the spiritual history of early Christians in Cappadocia. Enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant, savoring Turkish dishes amid stunning landscapes.
Afternoon: Head to Avanos, the pottery capital of Cappadocia, to watch artisans shaping red clay from the Kızılırmak River, or even try the potter’s wheel yourself. Conclude the day at Devrent and Pasabag Valleys, where fairy chimneys and rock formations create one of the most photogenic spots in the region. Later, return comfortably to your hotel.
Getting to Kaymakli from Cappadocia
Best for: first-time visitors — includes hotel pickup/drop-off, guide, lunch, and all entry fees.
Duration: 7 hours
Cost: ₺4,455
Pros: No planning required, expert insights
Best tours:Full-Day Guided Tour of Göreme & Kaymakli
Best for: Families, small groups, or travelers who enjoy exploring at their own pace
Duration: Drive 30 to 40 minutes from Göreme. Kaymakli underground city parking is available near the entrance.
Cost: ₺400 to 600/day (car rental + fuel + entry)
Pros: Flexibility; combine with nearby attractions
Cons: Narrow rural roads, limited signs
Best for: Travelers short on time or those who prefer a hassle-free journey
Duration: Taxis from Goreme or Urgup take about 35 minutes.
Cost: ₺600 to 800 round trip + entry
Pros: Comfortable and direct
Cons: Costlier than self-drive/public transport
Best for: Budget-conscious or solo travelers looking for the most economical option
Duration: 60 to 75 minutes each way via Dolmus minibuses from Nevsehir to Kaymakli, which operate several times daily.
Cost: ₺30 to 40 each way
Pros: Budget-friendly
Cons: Limited schedules, less comfort
Helpful tips for your Kaymakli Underground City visit
Go with a guide for context: While you can explore Kaymakli independently, a licensed guide helps you understand the purpose behind each chamber, from stables and kitchens to defense tunnels and hidden churches.
Mind the tunnels: Some passages are low and narrow, you’ll often need to crouch or walk single-file. Keep your hands free and watch your head in the lower levels.
Follow the route markers: The tunnels can feel like a maze, but red arrows guide you down and blue arrows show the way up. Stick to marked paths to avoid confusion.
Temperature difference: The underground city stays cool year-round (around 10 to 15°C), which can feel chilly even in summer. A light layer helps.
Photography etiquette: Flash photography is restricted in some chambers to protect rock surfaces and carvings. Bring a camera with good low-light capability instead.
Crowd flow: The first two levels are usually the busiest. If visiting on a guided tour, you’ll move efficiently through the key sections. Independent travelers should wait for quieter pockets between tour groups.
Frequently asked questions about Kaymakli Underground City
A full-day guided tour typically lasts about 7 hours. It includes visits to Kaymakli Underground City, the Goreme Open-Air Museum, Avanos, and other nearby valleys and viewpoints.
The full-day tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, lunch at a local restaurant, all entry tickets, national park fees, and a pottery-making experience in Avanos.
Yes, you can explore Kaymakli Underground City independently by purchasing entry-only tickets at the site. The visit usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, and you’ll need to arrange your own transportation to and from the location. You can also park your vehicle at the Kaymakli Underground City parking.
Both underground cities are fascinating, but Kaymakli is generally easier to navigate and less crowded than Derinkuyu. It’s slightly shallower, with wider tunnels, making it more comfortable for most visitors.
Yes, the underground city is safe and well-maintained for visitors. The pathways are clearly marked, and lighting is provided throughout. It’s important to follow your guide’s instructions and posted signs for safety, especially in the narrower sections.
The best time to visit Kaymakli Underground City is during spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October), when the weather in Cappadocia is mild and comfortable. Morning visits are generally quieter, allowing you to explore with fewer crowds.
Kaymakli Underground City ticket price is around ₺350 for a regular visitor, with concessions available for students, children, and seniors.
History, culture, geology and easy transfers with lunch included for a convenient and comfortable day trip.
Day out to: Goreme Open-Air Museum, the Kaymaklı or Ozkonak Underground City, and the scenic valleys of Cappadocia, with hotel pickup and drop-off in luxury AC transfers.
You’ll get: A professional English-speaking local guide accompanying you throughout the tour, a complimentary lunch, and a pottery-making session in Avanos.
GoremeOpen-Air Museum: Discover cave churches carved into volcanic stone, adorned with vivid frescoes depicting biblical scenes.
Kaymaklı or Ozkonak Underground City: Explore ancient multi-level cities once used as shelters, featuring stables, kitchens and living quarters.
Inclusions
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Full-day guided tour of Goreme Open-Air Museum and Underground City of Kaymakli or Ozkonak
Expert local English-speaking guide
Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Cappadocia
Small-group tour in a luxury vehicle
Entry to Underground City of Kaymakli or Ozkonak
Entry to Goreme Open-Air Museum
Pottery-making experience in Avanos
Lunch included
National Park fees
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Exclusions
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Personal expenses
Drinks
What to bring
Bring a jacket, as mornings in Cappadocia can be chilly.
Bring a valid photo ID to match the name on your booking, if requested at pickup.
What’s not allowed
Pets, baby strollers, alcohol, and drugs are not permitted on this experience.
Drones are not allowed.
Accessibility
The site features uneven terrain and rugged paths, which may be difficult to navigate for wheelchair users.
Additional information
Ensure you mention your hotel pick-up and drop-off location at the time of booking.
Transfers include hotels across the Cappadocia region, covering Goreme , Urgup, Avanos, Uchisar, Ortahisar, Nevşehir, Çavuşin, Mustafapaşa, and other nearby towns.
The transport vehicle carries a maximum of 15 passengers.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Day Trips
From Cappadocia: Goreme Open-Air Museum & Underground City Full-Day Trip with Lunch
History, culture, geology and easy transfers with lunch included for a convenient and comfortable day trip.
Day out to: Goreme Open-Air Museum, the Kaymaklı or Ozkonak Underground City, and the scenic valleys of Cappadocia, with hotel pickup and drop-off in luxury AC transfers.
You’ll get: A professional English-speaking local guide accompanying you throughout the tour, a complimentary lunch, and a pottery-making session in Avanos.
GoremeOpen-Air Museum: Discover cave churches carved into volcanic stone, adorned with vivid frescoes depicting biblical scenes.
Kaymaklı or Ozkonak Underground City: Explore ancient multi-level cities once used as shelters, featuring stables, kitchens and living quarters.