Heritage

Derinkuyu Underground City

#9of 9 places to visit in GöremeGöreme, Nevşehir Province, Turkey

Also known as Derinkuyu Yeraltı Şehri · Derinkuyu Underground Settlement

Quick answer

Opening hours: 08:00–17:00, last entry 16:15. Entry: €13 for foreign visitors. Allow 1 hr. Best time: 08:00 – 09:30.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 3 min read

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Photo: Nevit Dilmen (talk) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Opening hours: 08:00–17:00; Sources give 08:00-19:00 in summer and 08:00-17:00 in winter. Last entry is about one hour before closing; one source lists a 16:15 last entry. Hours change by season and sources differ, so verify at the official site or entrance.
Entry fee: €13; For foreign visitors
Time needed: 1 hr
Best time of day: 08:00 – 09:30
Best months: Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Address: Derinkuyu Yeraltı Şehri, Merkez, 50700 Derinkuyu, Nevşehir

About Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu Underground City charges €13 for foreign visitors as of 2026, per the Ministry of Culture and Tourism fee schedule, and lies about 30 km south of Nevşehir. Tunnels and rooms are cut into soft volcanic tuff on multiple levels, and visitors currently see 8 of 18 reported levels. Depth figures differ, at roughly 60 to 85 metres depending on the source. Passages are narrow, often requiring visitors to crouch, and the temperature stays cool and stable year-round. The site is roughly 40 minutes by road from Göreme or Nevşehir, so it is usually done as a half-day trip on the southern Green Tour route.

Best time of day: 08:00 – 09:30. Right after opening, to avoid waiting in narrow passages behind tour groups.

Derinkuyu Underground City timings

Derinkuyu Underground City opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00. Those hours hold on Saturday and Sunday too.

Opening hours: 08:00–17:00; Mon–Sun 08:00–17:00; Sources give 08:00-19:00 in summer and 08:00-17:00 in winter. Last entry is about one hour before closing; one source lists a 16:15 last entry. Hours change by season and sources differ, so verify at the official site or entrance.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	08:00–17:00

Good to know: Hours change by season, and sources differ, so verify at the official site or entrance.

Opening hours compiled from muze.gov.tr and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Derinkuyu Underground City ticket price

Entry fees for Derinkuyu Underground City
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket (foreign visitors)	€13
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

As of 2026, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism fee schedule lists €13 for foreign visitors; some sites quote lira figures ranging from about 100 to 600 TRY, which is unreliable, so verify the current rate at the official site or the ticket booth. Museum Pass Türkiye and the regional Cappadocia pass are valid. A child rate was not verified, so the child field of 0 means unconfirmed.

Prices compiled from muze.gov.tr and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Derinkuyu Underground City

Quiet
Moderate
Busy
Very busy

08:00 – 09:30
Opening WindowBest time to go
Passages are clearest and tour groups have not yet arrived.
Quiet
10:00 – 13:00
Green Tour Wave
Day-tour coaches arrive together; narrow tunnels form queues and two-way passing is difficult.
Very busy
13:00 – 16:00
Afternoon Plateau
Steady flow through the tunnels, although queues are shorter than in late morning.
Busy
16:00 – closing
Late Window
Groups thin out; check the last-entry time, which is about one hour before closing.
Moderate

History of Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu Underground City is attributed by some sources to the Phrygians in the 7th to 8th century BC, and to expansion by Christian communities as shelter during conflicts. The dating of the earliest excavation is uncertain and is treated here as a popular attribution, not settled fact. Local Christian communities used the city as shelter, and it was abandoned after the population exchanges of the early 20th century.

A homeowner rediscovered a passage in 1963, according to visitor guides. Tour sources give a historic capacity of about 20,000 people, a figure that comes from operator guides and is not confirmed by an archaeological report. Ventilation shafts, storage rooms and stone doors show how the space was designed for long stays.

Derinkuyu Underground City includes ventilation shafts, storage rooms and round stone doors according to visitor guides, and these features explain how groups could stay underground for long periods. Capacity and dating claims come from tour sources, so read them as estimates and ask a licensed guide for the museum's own account.

Rules & etiquette at Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu Underground City has narrow passages and low ceilings, so wear closed shoes with good grip and expect to crouch. The site is not wheelchair accessible and is unsuitable for people with severe claustrophobia or serious mobility limitations. Follow marked one-way routes and staff directions in the tunnels, since traffic in narrow sections can jam.

Do not touch or lean on carved walls, and do not block the round stone doors. Audio guides were reported as unavailable, so a licensed guide or reading ahead gives context. Advance booking is not required, but waits can build in narrow sections at busy times.

Tips for visiting Derinkuyu Underground City

1
Derinkuyu Underground City is roughly a 40-minute drive from Göreme or Nevşehir, and the Green Tour day trip commonly includes it. Go right after opening to avoid queues in the tight tunnels, and dress in layers because the interior stays cool while the surface can be hot.
2
Museum Pass holders can enter with the pass. Kaymaklı Underground City is a comparable site listed at the same €13 fee, so most visitors choose one rather than both. Allow about an hour underground, plus travel time.

How to reach Derinkuyu Underground City

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Derinkuyu Yeraltı Şehri, Merkez, 50700 Derinkuyu, NevşehirDirections in Google Maps

From Göreme town
37 km · 40–50 min
Taxi or tour price set by operator; as of 2026, verify current rate before booking
From Nevşehir bus terminal
30 km · 35–45 min
Municipal or intercity fare; as of 2026, verify current rate at the terminal
From Kaymaklı Underground City
9 km · 10–15 min
As of 2026, verify current rate locally

Nearest airport

From Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), roughly 40 km; Kayseri Erkilet (ASR) roughly 80 km.

Nearest station

From No railway. Derinkuyu bus terminal is in town, a short walk from the site; Nevşehir is the main regional hub.

Derinkuyu Underground City FAQs

How much is Derinkuyu Underground City entry in 2026?

The official schedule lists €13 for foreign visitors, as of 2026. Some sources quote lira figures that vary widely, so verify at the ticket booth.

How deep is Derinkuyu?

Sources give roughly 60 to 85 metres, and eight of about 18 levels are open to visitors. Depth figures differ, so treat them as approximate.

Is Derinkuyu suitable for claustrophobic visitors?

No, not for people with severe claustrophobia. Passages are narrow and low, often requiring visitors to crouch, and the site is not wheelchair accessible.

Does the Museum Pass cover Derinkuyu?

Yes. Museum Pass Türkiye and the regional Cappadocia pass are valid at Derinkuyu Underground City.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places