Things to Do in Derinkuyu: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Derinkuyu

• 2 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Nature

While you are in Derinkuyu, you can also see the highlights of Nevşehir province. These places are in other districts.

• Göreme Open-Air Museum — An open-air museum made up of rock-cut monasteries and churches, famous for its Byzantine frescoes of the 10th to 12th centuries; the Dark Church, the Apple Church and the Snake Church are the main buildings.
• Uçhisar Castle — A natural fortress at Uçhisar with hundreds of rooms carved into the rock; it is one of the highest points in Cappadocia, and the whole region can be seen from its summit.
• Kaymaklı Underground City — An underground city at Kaymaklı thought to have eight storeys, four of which are open to visitors; it has been open to visitors since 1964.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum — An abandoned rock village spread across three valleys on the slopes of Aktepe, 5 km from Avanos; it was an important monastic centre in the 9th to 13th centuries, and people lived here until the 1950s.
• Paşabağ (Monks Valley) — On the road to Zelve, one of the most photogenic spots in Cappadocia, with mushroom-shaped, multi-headed fairy chimneys.
• Göreme and Pigeon valleys — The valley full of dovecotes between Göreme and Uçhisar, and the Kılıçlar, Güllüdere and Kızılçukur valleys; they are famous for sunset walks and views of the balloons.

Practical Information for Visiting Derinkuyu

Suggested time

Half a day to 1 day

Best time to visit

All year round (the underground city stays at a constant temperature)

Places to visit

4 places

• 🏺

  Testi Kebabı (clay pot kebab)

  Lamb and vegetables baked in a clay pot. Served in Derinkuyu's traditional restaurants.

• 🥣

  Arabaşı (thick chicken and flour soup)

  A thick soup made from chicken broth and flour, served with butter and red pepper. A traditional winter dish.

• 🍇

  Pekmezli Ceviz (walnuts in grape molasses)

  Strings of walnuts dried after being dipped in grape molasses, known as sucuk, are a traditional winter sweet in Derinkuyu.

• 🍽️

  Derinkuyu Fasulyesi (dried beans)

  Dried beans grown in the district and famous for their flavour. They are a product that attracts attention every year on the District Governorship website.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Derinkuyu

• 🕳️

  Yeraltı Yaşam Kültürü (Underground Life Culture)

  For thousands of years, Derinkuyu's underground city served as a refuge for the people during wars and invasions. With a church, school, wine-making area and animal shelters underground, the structure shows the engineering skill of ancient societies.

• 🍇

  Kapadokya Bağcılık Geleneği (Cappadocian Viticulture Tradition)

  The viticulture tradition around Derinkuyu, practised for thousands of years, stems from the suitability of volcanic soils for growing grapes. The autumn grape harvest (bağ bozumu) and molasses-boiling traditions are still maintained.

Local Products

• Derinkuyu Kuru Fasulyesi (Derinkuyu dried beans) — Derinkuyu Dried Beans were registered as a protected designation of origin (menşe adı) on 22 November 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 952). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Derinkuyu District Governorship.
• Derinkuyu Patatesi (Derinkuyu potatoes) — Derinkuyu potatoes, grown in volcanic soils, are known across Türkiye for their starch content and flavour. It is a product with a geographical indication.
• Derinkuyu Üzümü ve Pekmezi (Derinkuyu grapes and grape molasses) — Grape molasses, şıra (grape must) and walnut sucuk are made from grapes gathered in the vineyards around the district.

Economy

Derinkuyu's economy is based on agriculture and tourism. Potato, grape and grain growing are the main farming activities. Visitors to the underground city bring significant tourism income to the district. Livestock farming is also one of the traditional sources of livelihood.

How to Get to Derinkuyu

Derinkuyu is 30 km from Nevşehir and 10 km from Kaymaklı. Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport is 60 km away and Kayseri Airport is 100 km away.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Nevşehir

Derinkuyu: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Derinkuyu Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Nevşehir The province's 14 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Nevşehir

• Nevşehir Central District 6 places Nevşehir Castle, Damat İbrahim Paşa Complex and Nevşehir Museum
• Acıgöl
• Avanos 9 places Kızılırmak Riverbank, Avanos Pottery Workshops and Zelve Open-Air Museum
• Gülşehir 6 places Açıksaray (Açık Saray) Ruins, Saint John Church (Karşı Kilise, the Church Opposite) and Kızılırmak Valley
• Hacıbektaş 11 places Hacı Bektaş Veli Museum and Complex, Hacıbektaş Archaeology and Ethnography Museum and Hacı Bektaş Veli Tomb
• Kozaklı 4 places Kozaklı Thermal Baths, Kozaklı Castle and Thermal Park and Walking Areas
• Ürgüp