Ozkonak Underground City tour | Hidden chambers & ancient ventilation tunnels
Uncover the secrets of Özkonak Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s hidden gems, carved deep into volcanic rock. Smaller yet more intimate than Derinkuyu or Kaymakli, Özkonak features a labyrinth of tunnels, stone doors, ventilation shafts, and clever communication holes that once connected its different levels. Guided Özkonak Underground City tours from Cappadocia include hotel transfers, entry tickets, a local guide, and stops at Göreme Open-Air Museum, Avanos, and Devrent Valley — a perfect mix of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Distance from Göreme: 35 km approximately
Travel time: 35–45 minutes by car/transfer
On-site visit duration: 7 hours for a full guided tour
Cost range: €16 (ticket only) to €41 (full-day tour with lunch)
Best season: Spring (Apr–Jun) and autumn (Sep–Oct) for mild weather
Meeting/drop-off point: Any Cappadocia hotel (for guided tours)
What to expect on a Cappadocia to Ozkonak Underground City day trip
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Hotel pickup & morning journey
Begin your tour with hotel pickup from Cappadocia and drive through volcanic valleys to reach Ozkonak Underground City. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of fairy chimneys and the Anatolian countryside.
Explore Ozkonak Underground City
Descend into the ancient underground settlement with your guide. Discover narrow corridors, wine cellars, living quarters, and the site’s unique communication holes, a signature feature not found in other Cappadocian cities. Learn how residents survived invasions while living underground for extended periods.
Goreme Open-Air Museum Visit
Next, explore the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open-Air Museum, home to beautifully preserved rock-cut churches and frescoes that tell stories from the Byzantine era. Your guide will share the history behind these monastic chambers and their spiritual significance.
Lunch & Pottery Experience in Avanos
Stop in Avanos, a riverside town famous for pottery-making traditions that date back to the Hittite era. Watch live demonstrations and try shaping clay on the wheel before enjoying a hearty Turkish lunch at a local restaurant.
Devrent & Fairy Chimney Valleys
Conclude your journey with a walk through Devrent Valley and Pasabag (Monks) Valley, where surreal rock formations and fairy chimneys create picture-perfect scenery. Then, return to your Cappadocia hotel by evening.
Things to know before booking your Ozkonak day tour
Hotel pickup and transfers: Most guided tours include pickup and drop-off from hotels across Cappadocia, making it easy to join directly from Goreme, Urgup, or Avanos.
Tour options: You can choose a full-day guided tour that combines Özkonak Underground City with other highlights like Göreme Open-Air Museum, Avanos pottery workshops, and lunch at a local restaurant.
Walking conditions: Expect to navigate narrow tunnels, steep passages, and uneven stone floors. While the site is well-lit and clearly marked, wearing comfortable walking shoes and keeping your hands free is recommended.
Seasonal comfort: Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer the best weather for exploring both underground and outdoor attractions without the summer heat or winter chill.
Underground temperature: The city maintains a steady cool temperature year-round, averaging 10 to 15°C. Carrying a light jacket or long-sleeved layer is a good idea, even during warmer months.
Photography guidelines: Photography is allowed throughout most of the site, but avoid using flash near ancient wall carvings or frescoes to help preserve them.
Why take a Guided Ozkonak Underground City tour?
Guided Ozkonak Underground City tours from Cappadocia combine comfort and culture with hotel transfers, museum visits, and expert storytelling. It’s the easiest way to experience Cappadocia’s underground heritage without the hassle of planning transport or tickets.
Ozkonak Underground City in pictures
Underground tunnels
Explore the multi-level tunnels that once connected living quarters, kitchens, and stables deep underground.
Popular stops on your Ozkonak Underground City tour
Goreme Open-Air Museum
A UNESCO-listed monastic complex featuring rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into soft volcanic rock. Inside, you’ll find remarkably preserved frescoes depicting biblical scenes, offering insight into Cappadocia’s early Christian heritage and monastic life.
Time required: 1 to 1.5 hours
Avanos
A charming riverside town known for its centuries-old pottery tradition, located along the Kızılırmak River. Visitors can watch artisans shape clay using ancient techniques and even try their hand at the pottery wheel in local workshops. The town also offers quaint cafés and views of the red-hued riverbanks.
Time required: 45 to 60 minutes
Devrent & Pasabag Valleys
Devrent Valley, often called “Imagination Valley,” is filled with rock formations resembling animals and abstract shapes, making it a photographer’s favorite. Nearby Pasabag (Monks Valley) features striking fairy chimneys with double and triple rock caps, once used as hermit cells by monks. Together, they offer short scenic walks and iconic Cappadocia landscapes.
Time required: 30 to 45 minutes
Your day planned perfectly
Morning: Get picked up from your Cappadocia hotel and drive to Özkonak Underground City. Explore the tunnels, ventilation shafts, and defense structures with your guide while learning how ancient inhabitants lived underground.
Midday: Head to Goreme Open-Air Museum for a tour of its ancient churches and monasteries. Stop in Avanos for lunch and a hands-on pottery experience.
Afternoon: Conclude your tour with a walk through Devrent and Pasabag Valleys, taking in Cappadocia’s signature fairy chimneys before returning to your hotel.
Getting to Ozkonak from Cappadocia
Duration: 7 hours round trip
Cost: ₺4,449
Best for: History lovers, small groups, first-time visitors
Pros: Hassle-free, all-inclusive, great storytelling
Recommended tour:Guided Tour of Göreme Open-Air Museum & Underground City
Duration: Drive about 35–40 minutes from Goreme via Avanos. Parking available near the entrance.
Cost: ₺400–600/day (rental + fuel + entry)
Best for: Independent travelers or families wanting flexibility
Pros: Combine with nearby Avanos or Pasabag
Cons: Narrow roads, limited signage
Duration: Taxis from Goreme or Urgup take around 35 minutes each way. Cost: ₺700 to 900 round trip + entry Best for: Short stays or travelers preferring comfort Pros: Direct and private Cons: Costlier than public transport
Duration: 60 to 75 minutes each way (including transfer)
Cost: ₺30 to 50 each way
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers
Pros: Affordable and local
Cons: Less frequent, may require transfers
Helpful tips for your Ozkonak Underground City visit
Dress comfortably: Wear sturdy shoes with good grip, as the pathways can be uneven or slightly sloped. Even in summer, the underground chambers remain cool (around 10 to 15°C), so a light jacket or sweater helps.
Mind your head and pace: Ceilings can be low in several passages. Move slowly and watch for sudden drops or narrow turns.
Notice the ventilation and communication holes: Ozkonak is unique for its sophisticated air shafts and “communication holes” that connected different levels.
Spot the defense systems: Look for the large circular stone doors once used to seal tunnels against invaders. Some still rest in place and give a sense of how residents protected themselves centuries ago.
Combine nearby attractions: If visiting independently, pair your trip with nearby Avanos for a pottery workshop or Devrent Valley for scenic photo stops, both are within a short drive.
Stay oriented: Follow the marked arrows. Red leads deeper underground, and blue marks the exit route. It’s easy to get turned around without them.
Avoid visiting late in the day: The underground city closes before sunset, and exploring in dimming light can reduce visibility and photo quality.
Frequently asked questions about Ozkonak Underground City tours
A full-day guided tour lasts about 7 hours, covering Goreme Open-Air Museum, Ozkonak Underground City, Avanos, and Devrent Valley.
Hotel transfers, professional guide, Goreme Open-Air Museum and Ozkonak Underground City entry fees, lunch, national park fees, Avanos pottery experience, and all taxes are included.
Yes. Entry-only tickets let you explore independently for 1.5 to 2 hours. Transportation and meals are not included.
The tunnels are narrow and uneven, so it’s not ideal for visitors with mobility issues or claustrophobia.
It’s recommended to book the tour at least two weeks ahead, especially during spring and autumn when tours are popular.
Yes, lunch is included on the full-day guided tour. Ticket-only visitors must arrange meals separately.
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Ozkonak underground city tours
Expert local guides
Carefully curated routes
Personalized experience
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.
Guided Tours
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Full-Day Guided Tour of Goreme Open-Air Museum & Underground City Cappadocia
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.