Recently the underground cities at Kaymakli Underground City and Derinkuyu Underground City near Nevşehir have been opened up for tourists. These also were early Christian centers and must have housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. They extend downward in the earth for at least eight floors in a maze of tunnels and rooms and were easily defended by blocking the entrance with large rocks.
The sheer mechanics of organization, supply, and administration of such communities are staggering. A short, interesting description of life in such a place can be found in Xenephon’s Anabasis. In relating the retreat of the Greek army of Ten Thousand from Babylon to the Black Sea he describes a village in which they were entertained briefly in the winter:
“The houses here were underground, with a mouth like that of a well, but spacious below; and while entrances were tunnelled down for the beasts of burden, the human inhabitants descended by a ladder… It was here also that the village chief instructed them about wrapping small bags round the feet of their horses and beasts of burden when they were going through the snow; for without these bags the animals would sink in up to their bellies.”
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli,
We went with CEM Tour Travel Agency. The guided tour was excellent.
I absolutely enjoyed exploring the underground city and learning about how they lived and survived. Having a guide was worth it, otherwise it's just a labyrinth of rooms. He explained what each room was for. The caves don't have signs indicating what each section was used for.
If…
But if you are a little older you can still experience something truly special, just take a few precautions. A small flashlight may help you to see some steps a little better.
Do not take a big backpack filled with extra cloths, a small water bottle could be more valuable. The temperature may be cold, but walking the narrow tunnels…
The city is full of narrow stone tunnels and steps that go down. It has a long history, apparently going back 4,000 years, includes some period where it was used by Christians.
If you're claustrophobic, have breathing difficulties, or have related allergies then you won't be able to make it here. Also, if you're tall or heavy-set then you'll have…
This is an amazing sight. Not good for anyone with claustrophobia as you desend many levels into the earth through small tunnels. I hit my head several times in spite of trying to be careful. I recommend that if you are tall, wear a hat. It will help soften the blows! It's an outstanding sight that should not be missed.
When visiting the caves, apart from very early or late, it is difficult to avoid the tour buses. Fortunately they seem to rush through and if you wait patiently they soon pass and it is peaceful again.
Only part of the caves to 50 or so metres are open. Those farther down another 40 metres are considered unsafe, The narrow…
We went on this tour with my three boys who thoroughly enjoyed the day. Fascinating underground city, room after room, tunnel after tunnel, everything very clearly marked with green arrows to show us to keep going down (8 floors) and red arrows directing us to exit. Boys loved the very unusual experience. We went through some low tunnels and my…
The underground city itself is very interesting, the process of visiting it isn't. Lines of tourists, crowded conditions inside and no one to explain the what and why. This site cries out for an introductory video that shows how things were done and can be watched in different languages with earphones. The guides for the tour groups shout to be…
First of all, bring a flashlight as it will allow you to explore some of the hidden nooks and crannies of the underground city (we were able to go several rooms further in but in complete darkness).
This was one of the highlights of our trip. It's hard to imagine that the underground city was carved deep into the rock…
Derinkuyu Underground City was definitely a highlight. Most of the stuff has already been well covered by other reviewers. All I would say is that it's better to go in off peak seasons. There were no crowds and we basically has the whole place to ourselves, which adds to the authenticity and appreciation. I can just imagine what a pain…
The Hittites built the first level and then over the centuries the Byzantines added another ten levels and expanded its width to approximately 4km all to escape religious prosecution. As other reviewers have mentioned it's not a place for those with respiratory or heart problems or for those that are claustrophobic. Some of the passages are quite small and require…