Kaymakli Underground City Tour from Goreme: 36m Deep

Walk through carved tunnels built centuries underground, then stand where fairy chimneys rise above the valley floor.

A half-day guided tour from Goreme descends into Kaymakli Underground City, one of Cappadocia's best-preserved subterranean settlements, reaching 36 meters below ground. The tour includes a guide in English or Turkish, air-conditioned transport, entrance tickets, and stops at Goreme Panorama and Pigeon Valley. Moderate fitness is required. The tour is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns or pregnancy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Kaymakli Underground City45m · entry included
2. Pigeon Valley20m

Explore Kaymakli Underground City and Views

• Visit Goreme Panorama viewpoint
• Tour Kaymakli Underground City
• Stop at Pigeon Valley viewpoint

The experience

How deep does Kaymakli actually go, and what's it like to walk through tunnels carved into bedrock? The tour starts at Goreme Panorama, where you stand above the village and see the full sweep of fairy chimneys and cave dwellings that honeycomb the valley. From there, the guide takes you down into Kaymakli Underground City itself: 36 meters into the ground, through passages and chambers that residents carved out centuries ago to live safely below. The tunnels are narrow in places and the air stays cool, which is why the underground worked as shelter. You move through at an easy pace with a professional guide who explains the history as you go.

The route includes two hours to three hours total, with the bulk of time spent inside the city and its passages. Your guide speaks English or Turkish, so you follow the commentary directly. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters on the drive between stops. On the way back to Goreme, you stop at Pigeon Valley to see the old abandoned cave homes carved into the rock face and the remains of Greek houses from Uchisar. The vista there is the counterpoint to the underground: you're looking at dwellings built into the cliffs instead of beneath them.

Entrance tickets are included, so there's no line to manage at the gate. The tour works best if you have at least moderate fitness, since the underground passages require walking and some stooping in lower sections. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with a small child.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Turkish.
• air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from Goreme.
• entrance tickets to Kaymakli Underground City.
• stops at Goreme Panorama and Pigeon Valley.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 13:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

AgesAdult (35 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 80 years) · Youth (7 to 34 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Reliable Travel

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Turkish, so you follow the commentary directly without translation delays. Choose this tour if you're comfortable with either language and want to understand the history as you move through the passages.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 34 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How far underground does Kaymakli go?

Kaymakli Underground City reaches approximately 36 meters deep, with passages and chambers carved into the bedrock that you walk through on the tour.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes entrance tickets to Kaymakli, a professional guide in English or Turkish, air-conditioned transport from Goreme, and stops at Goreme Panorama and Pigeon Valley.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs two to three hours total, with the majority of time spent inside the underground city and its tunnels.

Is there a lot of walking and climbing involved?

You walk through underground passages and some sections require stooping or bending, so moderate physical fitness is needed. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What is Pigeon Valley, and why is it on the itinerary?

Pigeon Valley is a dramatic rock formation near Uchisar with abandoned cave homes and old Greek houses carved into the cliffs. It's the return stop on the route and offers a contrasting view of how dwellings were built into the valley walls above ground.