Kaymakli
4.5
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One of the famous underground cities of Cappadocia, Kaymakli contains over 100 tunnels with low, narrow and sloping passages. Although the structure goes deeper than 100 feet below ground, only the first four floors are open for public viewing.
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Youthful Forest
Singapore, Singapore319 contributions
I'm amazed at the cleverness of people when they are pushed into a corner. These Underground Cities were built by villagers to hide from armies.
You have to get your imagination hard at work to "see" the city. You can pass by several levels including chimney ventilation, wine presses, cooking places (recognised by the black rock all over - because of the soot from the cooking.). The kitchens are usually in the higher levels, and the toilets are usually far below. (We are only allowed on the first 2-3 levels). We can also see huge stones which were used to prevent invaders from entering the "city". There's also a thought-to-be manger on the ground level.
The inhabitants of the city could live there for weeks or months.
I don't admire their lifestyle. But I do admire their creativity.
One word of caution: The air does get thin at the lower levels. Also, not for the claustrophobic.
You have to get your imagination hard at work to "see" the city. You can pass by several levels including chimney ventilation, wine presses, cooking places (recognised by the black rock all over - because of the soot from the cooking.). The kitchens are usually in the higher levels, and the toilets are usually far below. (We are only allowed on the first 2-3 levels). We can also see huge stones which were used to prevent invaders from entering the "city". There's also a thought-to-be manger on the ground level.
The inhabitants of the city could live there for weeks or months.
I don't admire their lifestyle. But I do admire their creativity.
One word of caution: The air does get thin at the lower levels. Also, not for the claustrophobic.
Written 3 February 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guest654321
Massachusetts251 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
This is incredible from historical point of view. How it was designed and built thousands years ago, with water supplies lying underneath and vents to provide air, with all the storage and living spaces. We never felt claustrophobic or that there was not enough air. We visited two underground cities - Kaymakli and Derinkuyu and each one is worth seeing it I would love to say. Yes it is dark in some places and you want to see more, so bring flashlight! Yes it is not for tall people, you have to watch out all the time, but for short people – no problem! If you are overweight you may have problem also, some tunnels are narrow. Lots of stairs in Derinkuyu, as far as I remember, but more spacious.
Derinkuyu was OK, but Kaymakli is like a tourist trap, before you get in you pay for parking 3 TL, pay for bathroom 2 TL and walk thru a street with lots of tables with souvenirs. Pay for entrance (kids under 12 are free!!!), then the guides are coming and ask for more money, we were able to get a guide for 20 TL, some are asking for 40 TL. Crazy!!!
One of the most impressive moments also for us was when we got out of the Kaymakli City was around noon and it was incredible to hear the praying from the mosques surrounding Kaymakli. One imam will pray from one mosque, than the other will continue and so on, it is hard to describe, but it was very interesting experience, like they were competing with each other.
Derinkuyu was OK, but Kaymakli is like a tourist trap, before you get in you pay for parking 3 TL, pay for bathroom 2 TL and walk thru a street with lots of tables with souvenirs. Pay for entrance (kids under 12 are free!!!), then the guides are coming and ask for more money, we were able to get a guide for 20 TL, some are asking for 40 TL. Crazy!!!
One of the most impressive moments also for us was when we got out of the Kaymakli City was around noon and it was incredible to hear the praying from the mosques surrounding Kaymakli. One imam will pray from one mosque, than the other will continue and so on, it is hard to describe, but it was very interesting experience, like they were competing with each other.
Written 6 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio B
Rio de Janeiro, RJ588 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
This is a huge undersgound city. We visit all 5 levels descending around 40 meters. Some tunnels are very narrow and you will have to walk curvely. It is amazing how people used to live here avoiding the enemies. It is worth a visit.
Written 15 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OanaRg
Brasov, Romania2 contributions
This is an inspiring place to visit for christians as the underground cities of Cappadocia were used last by the early christians when they were persecuted.
So, it really shades a new light on things if you stay and think a bit about what they went through for their belief and what are we doing with the freedom to be christians, to believe.
And being in that place, really helps put things in perspective.
There have been discovered over 100 underground cities, but only 18 can be visited. Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are the largest ones.
I did not experience any lack of air problems - the vents are made from the ground down to the water and are very well aired even to the deepest levels. There might be a problem for the claustrophobic persons. Also, there are pasages where you have to crouch to get through, so I would not recommend it for old persons.
So, it really shades a new light on things if you stay and think a bit about what they went through for their belief and what are we doing with the freedom to be christians, to believe.
And being in that place, really helps put things in perspective.
There have been discovered over 100 underground cities, but only 18 can be visited. Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are the largest ones.
I did not experience any lack of air problems - the vents are made from the ground down to the water and are very well aired even to the deepest levels. There might be a problem for the claustrophobic persons. Also, there are pasages where you have to crouch to get through, so I would not recommend it for old persons.
Written 15 October 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorena S
Dubai, United Arab Emirates120 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
You know when you go to any truistic place and you have many tour guides in the entrance who wants to over charge you?..
After not accepting the over charge.. we were surprised by an old gentleman who approached us after we entered the caves.
His name, Mustafa.
His age, 81 years old.
He, was the very first person as tour guide in this place.
He used to have this Underground area as his childhood playing area. He knows his place like that palm of his hands.
Although I felt a bit claustrophobic at some point, his stories were very appealing and it kept bringing my concentration to al his stories.
Meanwhile, my husband was involved deeply in all the stories as well as feeling the incredible energy of this place. He felt the kids roaming around.
I mean, .. since before Christ until 1964. ... people living there and using this underground city as storage area!! incredible!
Is one of this places in the world that you MUST see ..
I mean, during summer they would stay underground as it was 18 degrees.
During the rough winters of -20 , they would stay underground as it was cool and nice with 18 degrees.
The level of technology and complicated systems, are wonderful to study.
Worth the visit!
After not accepting the over charge.. we were surprised by an old gentleman who approached us after we entered the caves.
His name, Mustafa.
His age, 81 years old.
He, was the very first person as tour guide in this place.
He used to have this Underground area as his childhood playing area. He knows his place like that palm of his hands.
Although I felt a bit claustrophobic at some point, his stories were very appealing and it kept bringing my concentration to al his stories.
Meanwhile, my husband was involved deeply in all the stories as well as feeling the incredible energy of this place. He felt the kids roaming around.
I mean, .. since before Christ until 1964. ... people living there and using this underground city as storage area!! incredible!
Is one of this places in the world that you MUST see ..
I mean, during summer they would stay underground as it was 18 degrees.
During the rough winters of -20 , they would stay underground as it was cool and nice with 18 degrees.
The level of technology and complicated systems, are wonderful to study.
Worth the visit!
Written 28 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ma J
Brussels, Belgium8 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
If you are in Cappadocia, it is surely a good experience to spend an hour at the underground city of Kaymakli, where thousands of people used to live hidden in war time. My strongest recommendation is to pay for a guided tour; many guides will approach you at the entrance and they are right: without a guide you will only see tunnels, stones and dark rooms without understanding the organization of this underground city (which is pretty amazing by the way).
Written 16 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
born2travelit
Cesena, Italy17,164 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
15 TL the entrance, the only bad thing, maybe a bit overpriced but it's worthwhile the visit. pay attention if u are claustrophobic cos some rooms may scary you. we have been lucky cos we have visited it far from the huge groups of torists, a massive one enetered just after our exit, in this way we have lived it more intesevely. amazing experience.
Written 7 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Venkat G
Mumbai, India204 contributions
Nov 2012 • Family
If you visit the Cappadocia region in Turkey, the Kaymakli Underground city should definitely be on your iternary. These are centuries old undergound dwelling carved out of the volcanic soft rock. It is fascinating to view the living quarters, grannaries, even a wine cellar. But be warned that this tour requires you to be physically flexible and bend and walk in narrow tunnels. So if you are think you are overweight or not able to withstand claustrophobic environment then this might not be a pleasant place to visit
Written 18 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ccurtis18
Los Angeles, CA16 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
We toured this site with Uygar ( Flo USA travel agency) in Sept. 2012. He customized the tour for those of us could deal with the narrow tunnels and those who could visit the first floors comfortably. Each of us walked away from the with a deeper understanding of the of the people and the skills in creating this underground environment. This was our second trip to Turkey, but first to this region. Capadocia has so much to offer.....we will return.
Written 15 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Puneet Dhar
Rishikesh, India143 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
Superb and unmissable! First instinct was to think of damp smells, bats and insects!
Amazingly clean and excellent preservation of this underground site which goes down several floors, but only a sampler of floors is permitted! NO Insects and lots of foto-op cave carve outs!!
Amazingly clean and excellent preservation of this underground site which goes down several floors, but only a sampler of floors is permitted! NO Insects and lots of foto-op cave carve outs!!
Written 10 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. How much would a local English speaking guide from the entrance to Kaymakli, charge a group of 3 people?
Thanks
Written 10 May 2018
Hello! Do you have any more information about the tour guide? We will be a group of university students going to Cappadocia this weekend and will be visiting Kaymakli. What are the usual tour prices and how do we found a guide once we arrive there? Will they be waiting at the entrance?
Written 10 March 2017
Hi Zifa6,
We actually took a guide - Ibrahim - from Aydinli Cave Hotel (where we stayed) in Cappadocia and he took us to all the places by his car for a fixed rate for 3 days. It included all the entrance fees.
The day we went to Kaymakli was Sekar Bayrami, so a lot of guides were not there, but Ibrahim knew the Mohammed (or Mustafa, can't remember the name), who was the first guide at Kaymakli ever and he showed us around. He was an excellent guide, but is elderly and I think he does it only for friends and family now.
You do get guides outside and it is an amazing place to visit. If you like you can contact Aydinli Cave Hotel people by email and ask them as well. They are really nice people and helped us plan the whole trip. Ask for Ibrahim if you can.
Written 16 March 2017
Esta ciudad subterránea puede ser visitada por gente mayor? Tiene escaleras muy escarpadas?
Written 22 June 2015
50 Turkish Lira. approximately 15-20 usd
Written 14 October 2016
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