Derinkuyu Underground City

Origins and development

The first chambers were likely dug by the Phrygians in the 8th–7th centuries BCE, exploiting the soft yet stable volcanic tuff of Cappadocia. Over centuries, later civilizations—including Byzantine Christians—expanded the labyrinth, adding chapels, storage areas, stables, and defensive structures. During the Arab–Byzantine Wars (7th–12th centuries CE) the city served as a refuge for entire communities escaping invasion and religious persecution.

Architecture and engineering

Derinkuyu’s network spans at least 18 levels connected by narrow tunnels and steep stairways. Upper floors contained livestock areas and food presses, while lower sections held living quarters, kitchens, and a cruciform church. More than 50 ventilation shafts and deep wells ensured air and water circulation. Circular “millstone” doors—up to 1.5 m wide and 500 kg in weight—sealed corridors from within, forming an effective defensive system.

Discovery and modern study

The complex was rediscovered in 1963 when a local resident uncovered hidden tunnels behind his basement wall. Subsequent excavations revealed hundreds of entrances across the village. Archaeological surveys confirmed its use from the Phrygian era through Byzantine and Ottoman times, until abandonment in 1923 after the Greco-Turkish population exchange. 

Visiting today

Now administered by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Derinkuyu is open year-round with guided access to its upper levels. The site lies ~35 km south of Göreme and is reachable by bus or car. Visitors can explore up to eight levels (about 85 m deep), encountering stone doors, churches, and ventilation shafts that illustrate Cappadocia’s extraordinary underground heritage.

Key facts

• Location: Derinkuyu, Nevşehir Province, Türkiye

• Depth: ~85 m; 18 known levels

• Capacity: Up to 20 000 inhabitants

• First built: ca. 8th–7th century BCE (Phrygian period)

• Rediscovered: 1963 during a home renovation