The Kayaşehir underground city is a vast subterranean settlement discovered in 2014 beneath the castle hill in central Nevşehir, the provincial capital of Cappadocia in Turkey. Archaeologists believe it may be the largest underground city ever found in the region — potentially bigger than the famous Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı — but most of it is still being excavated, so it is not yet a fully ticketed visitor attraction like those two sites.
If you came here planning to walk through Kayaşehir today, the honest answer is: not yet, and not the way you tour Derinkuyu. Below we explain what the site actually is, what you can realistically see in Nevşehir, and the easy alternative underground cities you can tour right now.
What is the Kayaşehir underground city?
Kayaşehir (literally "rock city") is the underground complex revealed during an urban-renewal project around Nevşehir Castle hill in 2014. As demolition crews cleared old houses on the slopes below the fortress, they exposed tunnels, rock-cut rooms and passages spreading out under the modern town.
Like Cappadocia's other underground cities, it was carved into soft volcanic tuff — the same easily-worked stone that created the region's fairy chimneys. Early surveys suggest a multi-level network with living quarters, storage areas, water channels, ventilation shafts, wineries, chapels and the tunnels that linked them. Researchers estimate the complex could stretch for several kilometres, which is why it has been described as possibly the most extensive underground city discovered in Cappadocia.
- Location: beneath the castle hill in central Nevşehir, the provincial capital — not in a village like Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı.
- Discovered: 2014, during a housing-redevelopment project around the fortress.
- Material: hand-carved into volcanic tuff rock, like all Cappadocian underground cities.
- Significance: widely reported as potentially the largest such complex in the region, though excavation is ongoing.
- Status: an active archaeological site, not (yet) a standard guided-tour attraction.
Who built it, and why underground?
Cappadocia's underground cities were dug and expanded over many centuries. The region was inhabited from Hittite and Phrygian times, but the deep, multi-level cities were heavily used in the Byzantine era, when early Christian communities sheltered from raids and invasions. People retreated below ground for days or weeks at a time, sealing entrances with large round stone doors.
The engineering is the reason these places still impress visitors. Vertical ventilation shafts kept air fresh dozens of metres down; communal kitchens, wine and oil presses, stables and chapels meant whole communities could live self-sufficiently underground. Kayaşehir appears to follow the same pattern, on a remarkably large scale.
These were not hiding holes — they were planned cities with ventilation, water management and food production, built to keep hundreds of people alive without ever surfacing.
Can you actually visit Kayaşehir right now?
As of 2026, Kayaşehir is not open as a routine, ticketed underground-city tour. It remains an active excavation and conservation project, and access to the tunnels themselves is restricted. Opening timelines for these sites change, so before travelling specifically for it, confirm the current status locally or with your hotel rather than assuming a full walkthrough is available.
You can, however, build a worthwhile half-day around Nevşehir itself. The castle area and old town sit directly above the complex, and the views over the city from the fortress hill are excellent. Pairing Nevşehir with a fully-open underground city nearby gives you the underground experience plus the context of where the big discovery was made.
Underground cities you can tour today
If your real goal is to descend into a Cappadocian underground city, head to one of these instead — all are open, lit, ticketed and easy to combine with Nevşehir in a single outing:
- Derinkuyu Underground City — the deepest open to visitors, reaching roughly 60 metres over eight accessible levels; entry €13. About 30 km south of central Nevşehir.
- Kaymaklı Underground City — wider and more horizontal than Derinkuyu, with broad low tunnels; entry €13. Roughly 20 km south of Nevşehir and often paired with Derinkuyu on the same trip.
- Özkonak Underground City — a quieter, less-crowded option near Avanos; entry €3. Good if you want the experience without the tour-bus traffic.
For a wider day-trip plan that strings several of these together, our Cappadocia travel guide hub maps out the practical routes and timings.
How to get to Nevşehir and the underground cities
Nevşehir is the central hub of Cappadocia, well connected to the tourist villages of Göreme, Ürgüp, Avanos and Uçhisar. The two airports that serve the region are Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), about 30 km from the city, and the larger Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), roughly 70–75 km away. From either, a private transfer or taxi is the simplest way to reach your hotel and the underground sites, especially the village-located ones that have limited public transport.
Because Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı sit south of Nevşehir away from the main cave-hotel villages, many travellers visit them by private car or taxi rather than relying on buses. Fares depend on your pickup point, the number of stops and the season, so for an exact, up-to-date quote use the Cappadocia taxi price calculator instead of relying on a fixed figure. If you are arriving from the larger airport, our Kayseri to Cappadocia airport transfer page covers that leg in detail.
Practical tips for underground-city visits
- Wear sturdy, grippy shoes. Stairs and ramps are steep, uneven and can be damp underfoot.
- Mind the low ceilings. Some passages force you to stoop or crouch — tall visitors especially should take it slowly.
- Know your limits with tight spaces. The deeper tunnels are narrow; if you are claustrophobic, stick to the upper levels.
- Bring a layer. It stays cool underground year-round even in summer heat.
- Go early or late. Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı get crowded with tour groups mid-morning; arriving at opening or late afternoon is calmer.
- Consider a guide. The history and engineering make far more sense with someone explaining the shafts, stone doors and wineries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kayaşehir underground city open to visitors?
As of 2026 the Kayaşehir underground city in Nevşehir is an active archaeological site and is not open as a standard ticketed tour like Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı. Much of the complex is still being excavated. Travellers who want to walk through a Cappadocian underground city today should visit Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı or Özkonak instead, all of which are fully open.
Where exactly is the Kayaşehir underground city?
It lies beneath the castle hill in central Nevşehir, the provincial capital of the Cappadocia region in central Turkey. It was discovered in 2014 during a housing-redevelopment project on the slopes below Nevşehir Castle, which makes it unusual among Cappadocia's underground cities, most of which sit under villages rather than a city centre.
Is Kayaşehir really the largest underground city in Cappadocia?
Early surveys suggest Kayaşehir could be the most extensive underground city found in Cappadocia, possibly larger than Derinkuyu, with tunnels estimated to spread for several kilometres. However, excavation is ongoing and these are preliminary findings, so its full size has not been confirmed.
Which underground city should I visit if I only have time for one?
Derinkuyu is the most impressive single choice: it is the deepest open to visitors, reaching about 60 metres across eight accessible levels, with entry of €13. If you prefer wider, less-vertical passages or want to combine two sites, pair it with nearby Kaymaklı, which is about 10 km away on the same road south of Nevşehir.
How do I get from Nevşehir to Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı?
Both sites lie south of central Nevşehir — Kaymaklı around 20 km away and Derinkuyu about 30 km — on the same route, so they are easy to visit together. Public transport is limited and infrequent, so a private taxi or transfer is the most flexible option. For a current fare based on your pickup point and number of stops, check the Cappadocia taxi price calculator.
