The Kaymakli Underground City is an ancient, multi-level subterranean settlement carved from volcanic rock in the Nevşehir province of Cappadocia, Turkey. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in May 2026 to reflect the current entry fee of €13 for foreign visitors and the year-round 20:00 evening closing time.
Quick facts about Kaymakli Underground City
| Feature | Details |
| Opening hours | Daily, 08:00 to 20:00 (Last entry: 19:15) |
| Ticket prices | €13 for foreign adult visitors |
| Address | Camii Kebir Mah. Eşref Ayhan Cad. No:46 Kaymaklı/Nevşehir |
| Nearest public transport | Local dolmuş (minibuses) from Nevşehir |
| Typical time needed | 45 to 90 minutes |
Kaymakli Underground City opening hours
The Kaymakli Underground City opening hours are 08:00 to 20:00 every day of the week, with the final visitor entry and ticket sales permitted at 19:15. These operating hours apply year-round, meaning the site does not implement early winter closures or seasonal reductions.
The site operates without any seasonal interruptions, meaning the underground city remains fully accessible on all national and religious public holidays, as well as on weekends. Visitors who arrive after the ticket office closes at 19:15 will be denied entry, regardless of whether they have purchased digital tickets online.
Cappadocia experiences to book in advance
- 🎈 Hot air balloon flight over fairy chimneys on a sunrise ballooning tour
- 🐎 Horseback riding through colourful valleys on a guided valley trail ride
- 🚌 Cappadocia’s most popular sights combined on the full-day Red Tour
- 🌿 Ilhara Valley and Kaymakli Underground City explored on the quieter Green Tour
- 🌀 Whirling Dervishes ceremony inside a historic caravanserai with this evening performance
Kaymakli Underground City ticket prices
The standard Kaymakli Underground City ticket price for foreign adult visitors is €13, which is payable directly at the on-site ticket booth before entry. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026. Payments are accepted in Turkish Lira at the official daily exchange rate, and international credit cards are widely accepted at the turnstiles.
Entry to this historical site is fully included in the Museum Pass Cappadocia, a regional tourist card providing prepaid access to multiple state-run locations. Other major attractions included in this pass are the Göreme Open Air Museum, the Zelve-Paşabağlar Archaeological Site, and Derinkuyu Underground City.
How to get to Kaymakli Underground City
To get to Kaymakli Underground City using public transport, visitors must take a local dolmuş (minibus) from the main bus station in central Nevşehir. The minibus journey takes approximately 30 minutes, dropping passengers in the centre of Kaymaklı town, just a short walk from the museum entrance.
If you are staying in tourist towns like Göreme or Ürgüp without a rental car, you will first need to catch a local bus to Nevşehir before transferring to the Kaymaklı route. Alternatively, many visitors choose to book a half day or full day tour which includes transport to the site.
Parking at Kaymakli Underground City
There is dedicated parking at Kaymakli Underground City located directly outside the main entrance to the archaeological site. This designated, paved parking lot is managed by local attendants, and visitors must pay a fixed parking fee in cash upon arrival.
During the busy summer months and peak mid-morning tour bus arrivals, this central lot frequently reaches maximum capacity. If the main entrance lot is full, visitors can find free, unrestricted street parking along the residential side streets surrounding the town centre, which is a short walk away.
How long to spend at Kaymakli Underground City
Most visitors will spend 45 to 90 minutes at Kaymakli Underground City to explore the four accessible subterranean levels. The exact duration of your visit will depend entirely on your walking pace, your tolerance for navigating cramped spaces, and the volume of other tourist groups.
If you visit during peak hours when large guided groups are inside, you will experience bottlenecks in the narrowest passageways, which will increase your visit time. The exit route is linear and regulated by directional arrows, meaning you must complete the entire circuit to leave the complex.
Accessibility at Kaymakli Underground City
Accessibility at Kaymakli Underground City is highly restricted due to the ancient subterranean architecture and the uneven volcanic rock flooring. The site is entirely inaccessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and walking frames, as entering the complex requires descending steep, uneven stone staircases immediately.
Inside the underground city, visitors must frequently crouch, bend over, and squeeze through low, narrow tunnel passages that connect the excavated chambers. There are no elevators, ramps, or step-free alternatives available anywhere within the complex, making it unsuitable for anyone with mobility issues.
Inside / what to see at Kaymakli Underground City
Visitors exploring the underground city will descend through a multi-level maze of tunnels carved directly into soft volcanic rock. The historical site consists of eight distinct subterranean levels, but only the top four floors are currently excavated, structurally secured, and open to the public.
The first level primarily features former stables, showcasing how ancient inhabitants kept their livestock underground for protection during times of surface conflict. From here, narrow descending corridors lead deeper into the earth, forcing visitors to walk single-file through passages historically secured by heavy, circular rolling stone doors.
The second and third levels contain the core living quarters, where you can see rock-cut bedrooms, communal seating areas, and a central church featuring a barrel-vaulted ceiling. These floors also display extensive storage rooms, deep ventilation shafts that still provide fresh air, and communal kitchens with visible smoke-blackened ceilings.
On the fourth level, visitors can observe the remains of ancient wineries, oil presses, and large hollowed-out storage areas used for keeping grain supplies. Throughout the entire complex, designated red arrows guide visitors downward into the depths, while blue arrows indicate the specific pathways leading back up to the surface exit.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip Category | Visitor Advice |
| Timing | Arrive exactly at 08:00 to explore the narrow tunnels before the large tourist buses arrive mid-morning. |
| Crowds | The confined underground spaces amplify noise and become uncomfortably warm when large tour groups occupy the same small chambers. |
| Layout | You must follow the colour-coded arrows painted on the walls to ensure you do not get lost in the complex tunnel network. |
| Entry process | There are no extensive security checks, but you must scan your physical ticket or digital pass at the entrance turnstiles. |
| On-site logistics | Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes to safely navigate the slippery, uneven volcanic rock floors and steep staircases. |
Frequently asked questions about Kaymakli Underground City
| Question | Answer |
| Is Kaymakli Underground City suitable for children? | Yes, but they must be able to walk independently, as pushchairs are banned and carrying a child in the low tunnels is difficult. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Kaymakli Underground City? | No, standard admission tickets can be purchased directly at the official ticket booth upon arrival. |
| Is Kaymakli Underground City open on Sundays? | Yes, the archaeological site operates seven days a week, including all Sundays and national holidays. |
| Are bags allowed at Kaymakli Underground City? | Small daypacks are permitted, but large backpacks are heavily discouraged as they will scrape against the narrow tunnel walls. |
| Is Kaymakli Underground City suitable for claustrophobic visitors? | No, the incredibly tight spaces, low ceilings, and deep underground location make it unsuitable for anyone with claustrophobia. |
Things to do near Kaymakli Underground City
- Göreme Open Air Museum: A large monastic complex featuring numerous rock-cut churches covered in preserved Byzantine frescoes.
- Uçhisar Castle: A natural volcanic rock formation riddled with ancient tunnels that provides panoramic views across the Cappadocian landscape.
- Pigeon Valley: A linear hiking trail connecting Uçhisar and Göreme, named after the historical pigeon houses carved into the cliffs.
- Devrent Valley: A natural landscape known for its uniquely shaped pink rock formations that closely resemble animals.
- Avanos Pottery Workshops: A historic riverside town where local artisans continue a tradition of crafting red clay pottery using foot-powered wheels.
What to visit tomorrow
- Derinkuyu Underground City: The deepest excavated underground city in Turkey, extending up to 85 metres below the surface with complex ventilation systems.
- Özkonak Underground City: A smaller subterranean settlement featuring unique defensive pipe systems historically used to pour hot oil on invaders.
- Mazı Underground City: An ancient multi-level complex hidden within a steep valley, known for its numerous animal stalls and dual defensive entrances.
- Tatlarin Underground City: A hillside subterranean site featuring spacious chambers, large rock-cut churches, and deep storage pits used by ancient communities.
- Ihlara Valley: A 14-kilometre-long river gorge flanked by vertical cliffs and dozens of hidden, rock-carved cave churches.
More Turkey travel
Other Turkey travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- The best time to visit the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus.
- Getting the fear while quad biking in Cappadocia.
- Exploring Cappadocia’s highlights – from balloon rides to weird castles.
- Cappadocia red tour vs green tour: Which should you choose if you can only pick one?
- Practical guide to visiting Galata Tower in Istanbul.
