Beneath the rolling landscapes of Turkey’s Cappadocia region and beyond, an extraordinary hidden world awaits discovery. While the fairy chimneys and cave dwellings that dot the surface attract millions of visitors annually, far fewer travelers venture into the true marvels beneath their feet: elaborate underground cities carved thousands of years ago.
Here is a list of 20 remarkable ancient underground cities across Turkey that remain largely unknown to most international visitors, each offering a fascinating glimpse into humanity’s ingenuity and resilience.
Derinkuyu Underground City
Perhaps the most extensive underground settlement ever discovered, Derinkuyu extends more than 250 feet below the surface with at least 18 distinct levels. This vast complex once housed up to 20,000 people along with their livestock and food stores, featuring sophisticated security systems, including massive stone doors that could be closed from the inside.
The engineering precision is remarkable—ventilation shafts maintain consistent air quality throughout, while a 180-foot well provides secure water access even during extended sieges.
Kaymakli Underground City
Just six miles from Derinkuyu, Kaymakli served as an interconnected but separate underground community with its distinctive architecture and layout. The city features lower ceilings and narrower passages than its neighbor, with eight discovered levels organized around ventilation shafts that double as central plazas.
Archaeological evidence suggests specialized areas for wine production, with large pressing rooms and storage areas for vessels still visible on the third level.
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Özkonak Underground City
Discovered in 1972 by a local farmer, Özkonak remained hidden for centuries thanks to its cleverly concealed entrance. This ten-level complex includes unique defensive features not found elsewhere, including small hollows above passageways where defenders could pour hot oil on invaders.
The settlement also contains evidence of an early communication system—small pipes connecting various levels that residents used to speak between sections without traveling through potentially dangerous corridors during attacks.
Mazi Underground City
Located in Cappadocia’s lesser-visited western region, Mazi remains partially unexplored due to collapsed sections that have proven difficult for archaeologists to access safely. The accessible portions showcase surprisingly refined living quarters with carved niches for oil lamps and storage, suggesting this may have been home to wealthier residents than some other underground settlements.
Recent excavations have uncovered unusually large communal kitchens with multiple hearths and preparation areas, indicating highly organized communal meal systems.
Tatlarin Underground City
Discovered during construction work in 1975, Tatlarin differs from other underground complexes with its emphasis on religious spaces rather than defensive features. Archaeologists have identified multiple rooms that appear to have served as churches and possible training areas for priests, complete with carved altars and religious symbols.
The settlement’s location near ancient trade routes suggests it functioned as an early religious center where traveling Christians could worship safely during periods of persecution.
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Gaziemir Underground City
Near Cappadocia’s eastern edge, Gaziemir remained completely unknown until 2006, when restoration work on a building revealed a small entrance that had been sealed for centuries. Preliminary exploration has uncovered a vast network spanning at least seven levels with unusual circular chambers believed to have served as meeting rooms for community decision-making.
Most intriguingly, the city contains a subterranean creek that flows through specially constructed channels, providing residents with running water—a luxury even many surface dwellings lacked.
Nevşehir Castle Underground City
Discovered accidentally during urban renovation in 2014, this massive complex beneath Nevşehir Castle may ultimately prove to be the largest underground settlement in the region. Initial surveys suggest the city spans over 450,000 square feet with more than 100 entrance points connecting to the surface. The site features unusual artifacts indicating extensive trade connections, including storage areas containing pottery fragments from as far away as Syria and Mesopotamia, suggesting this wasn’t merely a defensive retreat but a thriving commercial center.
Kaymaklı Underground City
Often overlooked despite its historical significance, Kaymaklı’s narrow passageways connect over 100 tunnels spreading across eight subterranean levels. The lowest sections remain closed to visitors due to dangerous carbon dioxide accumulation, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining these ancient engineering marvels.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of sophisticated animal husbandry systems, with specialized areas for different livestock and ingenious waste management solutions that prevented contamination of living spaces.
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Özlüce Underground City
Discovered in 1998 in the Ürgüp district, Özlüce features unusually spacious rooms compared to other underground settlements, suggesting it may have housed fewer people in more comfortable conditions. The complex includes evidence of advanced food storage technology, with cool chambers carved specifically to preserve different types of provisions at optimal temperatures.
Distinctive wine production facilities include grape-crushing basins and fermentation rooms that maintain ideal humidity levels year-round, indicating specialized agricultural knowledge.
Beckham Underground City
Named after the village above it rather than the famous footballer, Beckham’s underground complex remained sealed and perfectly preserved until its discovery in 2001. The settlement features rare intact wooden structures, protected from decay by the constant temperature and dry conditions, offering unprecedented insights into how residents furnished their subterranean homes.
Clay tablets discovered in a small chamber suggest the city may have housed an archive or educational facility, with evidence of writing instruction and document storage.
Avanos Underground City
Beneath the famous pottery-making town of Avanos, this recently explored underground settlement connects directly to the Kızılırmak River through a series of tunnels, providing a secure water source during times of conflict. The complex features an unusual number of kilns and firing chambers, suggesting residents continued their famous ceramic production even while sheltering underground.
Archaeologists have uncovered numerous intact pottery pieces with distinctive red clay designs that connect the ancient inhabitants to modern Avanos traditions.
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Gökçetoprak Underground City
Discovered in 2014 in a region not previously known for subterranean architecture, Gökçetoprak suggests underground settlements were more widespread across Turkey than previously believed. The complex features distinctive honeycomb-style living quarters arranged around central ventilation shafts, maximizing space efficiency while maintaining air circulation.
Unlike many other sites that show evidence of temporary occupation, this settlement contains infrastructure indicating permanent residence, including sophisticated waste management systems and dedicated areas for different seasons.
Seratlisuyu Underground City
Located near modern Aksaray, this lesser-known complex extends horizontally rather than vertically, spreading through natural cave systems that were expanded and connected by human engineers. The site features unusual acoustic properties, with certain chambers designed to amplify sound—possibly for communication or ceremonial purposes—while other sections remain remarkably sound-isolated.
Water management systems include collection basins that gather condensation from walls, supplementing well water during dry periods.
Aşağı Underground City
Discovered during highway construction in 2002, Aşağı remains partially excavated but has already yielded surprising findings that challenge existing timelines. Carbon dating of wooden support beams suggests portions of this settlement may predate other Cappadocian complexes by several centuries.
The architecture shows evidence of multiple expansion phases, with newer sections featuring more sophisticated construction techniques, including carved stone columns supporting larger chambers than previously thought possible in underground structures.
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Ovaören Underground City
Archaeologists recently discovered a vast underground complex beneath the ancient Hitite settlement of Ovaören. The complex appears to have been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years.
The city shows evidence of at least four distinct architectural periods, with each culture adapting and expanding the underground spaces according to its specific needs. Most remarkably, researchers have identified what appears to be an underground school with seating carved for students and instructional areas where teachers could demonstrate skills to groups.
Bağlıdere Underground City
Hidden in central Anatolia, Bağlıdere’s underground settlement remained completely unknown until a severe storm caused a partial collapse in 2017, revealing chambers that had been sealed for centuries. Preliminary exploration has uncovered evidence of sophisticated metal working facilities, including small forges with ventilation systems that prevented smoke buildup, suggesting residents maintained complex manufacturing capabilities even while sheltering belowground.
Doğala Underground City
Recently opened to visitors after decades of excavation, Doğala’s underground complex features rare examples of intact furniture carved directly from the bedrock, including benches, tables, and sleeping platforms that provide unprecedented insights into daily life. The settlement contains evidence of a highly organized society with specialized chambers for different activities, including a possible council room with seating arranged in a circle.
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Kızören Underground City
Discovered in 2018 near Konya, Kızören upended archaeological understanding by revealing sophisticated underground architecture outside Cappadocia, suggesting these building techniques were more widespread than previously believed. The settlement features unusually elaborate water filtration systems using layers of sand and charcoal to purify collected rainwater before storage.
Melikgazi Underground City
Located in Kayseri Province, Melikgazi combines underground chambers with above-ground structures in a hybrid settlement that allowed residents to move between environments as needed. The complex includes subterranean stables large enough for hundreds of animals, suggesting residents may have managed substantial herds using the underground sections primarily for nighttime shelter.
Mazıköy Underground City
Among the most recently discovered complexes, Mazıköy was found in 2020 when ground-penetrating radar revealed extensive hollow spaces beneath a seemingly ordinary hillside. Early exploration has uncovered a settlement with at least five levels connected by sloping corridors rather than stairs, possibly to allow easier movement of goods and animals between levels.
Particularly noteworthy are specialized storage chambers with different temperature and humidity levels apparently designed for preserving specific types of food, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of conservation techniques.
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Beneath the Surface: Turkey’s Hidden Heritage
These remarkable underground cities represent an extraordinary chapter in human adaptation and ingenuity that remains surprisingly unknown to most visitors. As excavation and preservation efforts continue, more of these subterranean marvels become accessible each year, offering glimpses into ancient lives lived beneath the earth.
Beyond their archaeological significance, these sites remind us how communities throughout history have responded creatively to challenges—carving livable spaces from solid rock when surface dwelling became untenable. In a world increasingly concerned with sustainable and resilient architecture, these ancient examples of human adaptability may offer unexpected inspiration for future building approaches.
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