Kaymaklı vs Özkonak: Which Underground City Should You Visit?
Choose Kaymaklı if you want the underground city itself to be one of the major experiences of your Cappadocia trip. Choose Özkonak if you want a smaller, cheaper underground city that fits naturally into an Avanos or northern Cappadocia day.
That is the most useful difference between Kaymaklı vs Özkonak.
Kaymaklı gives you the stronger sense of exploring a large underground settlement: multiple accessible levels, narrow passages, stables, storage rooms, kitchens, wineries and spaces organised around daily life below ground.
Özkonak is more compact, but it has several unusual engineering features of its own and sits around 14 km from Avanos. That makes it much easier to justify when your itinerary is already focused on Avanos, Paşabağ, Zelve or Devrent rather than southern Cappadocia.
I visited Kaymaklı myself during my June 2026 trip. I did not visit Özkonak on that trip, so my firsthand observations in this comparison are specifically about Kaymaklı. For Özkonak, I am using current official site information and practical route planning rather than pretending both sides of this comparison are based on personal experience.
For most first-time visitors, there is no reason to visit both.
Kaymaklı vs Özkonak at a Glance
| Question | Kaymaklı | Özkonak |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A fuller underground-city experience | A compact underground stop near Avanos |
| Foreign ticket in 2026 | €13 | €6 |
| Location | South of Nevşehir | Around 14 km from Avanos |
| Scale | 8 levels, 4 currently open | Smaller, more compact visitor experience |
| Time to allow | Around 60–75 minutes | Around 45–60 minutes |
| Main strength | Scale and everyday underground life | Engineering, defensive features and convenient location |
| Passages | Narrow, low and sloping in places | Also contains narrow underground passages |
| Best itinerary fit | Southern Cappadocia / Green Tour-style day | Avanos / northern Cappadocia |
| Public transport | Possible; I visited independently | Local dolmuş connects Avanos with Özkonak town |
| Best for first trip | Usually Kaymaklı | Better when geography makes sense |
The short version is simple:
Kaymaklı is the stronger destination. Özkonak can be the smarter itinerary choice.
Which Underground City Is Better Overall?
For a first Cappadocia trip, I would generally choose Kaymaklı.
The reason is not that Özkonak is uninteresting.
It is that Kaymaklı gives you a more substantial introduction to what an underground city actually was.
The official site describes Kaymaklı as an eight-level underground settlement, with four levels currently open to visitors. You move through stables, living areas, storage rooms, kitchens, wineries and narrow connecting passages.
When I visited, what stayed with me was the combination of descending levels, enclosed chambers and narrow tunnels. It feels completely different from the valleys, viewpoints and open-air museums above ground.
If you are only going to visit one underground city and have no strong geographical reason to choose another, Kaymaklı is the safer choice.
For my full firsthand guide, see Is Kaymaklı Underground City Worth Visiting?.
Why Choose Özkonak Instead?
Özkonak becomes more attractive when you stop comparing attractions in isolation and start comparing whole travel days.
Its biggest advantage is location.
If you are already exploring Avanos and northern Cappadocia, you can add an underground city without travelling far south towards Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu.
That can save a significant amount of backtracking.
Özkonak is also less than half the individual foreign-ticket price of Kaymaklı.
So the question is not:
Is Özkonak as famous as Kaymaklı?
A better question is:
Do I need to cross Cappadocia for a larger underground city when a good one already fits the route I am planning?
For a detailed look at this option, see Özkonak Underground City: Is It Worth Visiting?.
Kaymaklı: Better for Scale and Underground Daily Life
Kaymaklı’s main advantage is that the underground settlement itself feels like a major sightseeing experience.
The complex has eight known levels, four of which are currently accessible and illuminated for visitors.
Inside, the official route includes spaces associated with:
- stables;
- living quarters;
- kitchens;
- storage;
- wine production;
- religious use;
- ventilation;
- food preparation.
One particularly unusual feature is an andesite stone block with 57 holes, interpreted as being used for grinding or processing food.
But individual archaeological details were not the strongest part of my own visit.
It was the layout.
Moving between different levels makes it easier to imagine an organised community functioning underground rather than simply hiding inside a collection of caves.
What Kaymaklı Felt Like to Me
The passages were narrow in places.
Some sections required moving in a line, and the route involved repeated descending and climbing.
But compared with my experience at Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı felt less defined by extreme vertical depth and more by the organisation of interconnected underground spaces.
That distinction is one reason I think Kaymaklı works particularly well for a first underground-city visit.
If maximum depth is what interests you instead, see my Kaymaklı vs Derinkuyu comparison.
Özkonak: Better for Compact Exploration and Unusual Engineering
Özkonak is smaller, but it should not be treated as simply a reduced version of Kaymaklı.
Its engineering gives it a separate reason to visit.
Official descriptions highlight unusual communication and ventilation holes connecting different levels.
Some of these openings are only around 5 cm wide.
These narrow shafts allowed communication between floors without requiring the main passages to remain open.
Özkonak also contains large rolling stone doors used to seal passages.
Beyond some of those defensive barriers are additional openings associated with defending the complex.
Those details make Özkonak particularly interesting if the engineering and defensive logic of underground settlements interests you.
The comparison I would make is:
Kaymaklı shows you more of how underground life was organised.
Özkonak gives you a compact look at how underground movement, communication and defence could work.
Which One Takes Longer?
Allow around 60–75 minutes for Kaymaklı.
You can move through faster, but rushing defeats part of the point. Narrow passages and other visitors also affect the pace.
Özkonak generally works as a shorter stop.
I would allow approximately 45–60 minutes, depending on crowds and how closely you examine the different spaces.
That difference is useful when building an itinerary.
Kaymaklı works naturally as one of the day’s major stops.
Özkonak is easier to slot between other northern Cappadocia attractions.
Which Is More Claustrophobic?
I would not choose Özkonak solely because somebody online describes it as the non-claustrophobic underground city.
Both are underground archaeological sites.
Both involve confined passages.
At Kaymaklı, I personally encountered low, narrow passages, stairs and sections where movement became more restricted.
Özkonak also contains narrow tunnels and enclosed underground spaces.
The smaller visitor route may make Özkonak feel like a less demanding commitment for some travellers, especially when it is quiet, but that does not make it claustrophobia-free.
If enclosed spaces are a serious problem for you, neither should be treated like a normal museum visit.
Which Is Better If You Have Mobility Problems?
Neither underground city is a strong accessibility choice.
Expect some combination of stairs, uneven rock, low passages, narrow corridors, bending or crouching and restricted movement.
A shorter visit at Özkonak does not automatically make the physical route suitable for someone with significant mobility limitations.
If knee, back, balance or mobility issues are important, check the current access conditions before building your day around either underground city.
Kaymaklı vs Özkonak for Crowds
Kaymaklı is the more established major attraction and fits naturally into many Green Tour-style itineraries.
That means organised groups can have a significant impact on the experience.
Underground crowds are more noticeable than outdoor crowds because everyone has to use the same narrow corridors.
Özkonak also receives organised tours and should not be described as an undiscovered site.
However, it is less central to the standard southern Cappadocia sightseeing circuit.
Your actual experience will depend on the day, time and tour-group arrivals, so I would not choose between the two solely on an assumption that one will be empty.
Which Fits Better into a Northern Cappadocia Itinerary? Avanos, Zelve & Paşabağ
This is where Özkonak becomes the clear logistical winner.
If you are already planning a day around Avanos, Paşabağ, Zelve or Devrent, choosing Özkonak keeps you on the northern side of Cappadocia instead of sending you south for another underground city.
A practical route could be:
Avanos → Özkonak → Devrent
Or Özkonak can simply become one part of a broader northern sightseeing day.
If you are travelling without a car, local dolmuş services connect Avanos with Özkonak town, which makes an independent visit possible without automatically booking a full-day tour.
Do not treat that as a dedicated tourist shuttle directly to the museum entrance. Local schedules and stops can change, so check the current connection in Avanos before travelling.
If you are spending meaningful time in the area, see my Avanos, Cappadocia guide.
This is the strongest argument for Özkonak.
It simply sits in the right place for a northern itinerary.
Which Fits Better into a Southern Cappadocia Route? Göreme & Ihlara Valley
For a southern Cappadocia day, Kaymaklı makes much more sense.
If you are staying in Göreme, Kaymaklı also has a practical advantage: I visited it independently using local public transport, so you do not need a rental car or organised tour simply to reach it.
Public transport in Cappadocia is not designed as a tourist sightseeing network, though. Connections can involve Nevşehir, waiting and coordinating local services. That does not mean the journey works like a direct tourist shuttle — you need to plan local connections in advance.
For the wider car-free strategy, see Cappadocia Without a Car.
Kaymaklı also fits naturally into the geography of a Green Tour-style day, where an underground city may be combined with places farther south such as Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery.
Trying to fit Özkonak into a day already dedicated to Ihlara would send you in the wrong direction and create unnecessary backtracking.
If Ihlara is one of your priorities, see my Ihlara Valley Cappadocia guide before deciding how much of that day should be spent underground.
The route logic is therefore very simple:
Northern Cappadocia: Özkonak.
Southern Cappadocia: Kaymaklı.
Ticket Price: Is Kaymaklı Worth Paying More?
As checked in September 2026:
Kaymaklı: €13
Özkonak: €6
That makes Özkonak less than half the price for somebody buying individual foreign-visitor tickets.
But I would not choose solely on the €7 difference if Kaymaklı fits your route and is the underground city you actually want.
The price difference becomes more persuasive when all three things are true:
- you are already around Avanos;
- you only want one compact underground-city experience;
- you are buying individual tickets rather than using a pass.
If that describes your trip, Özkonak becomes very good value.
What About MuseumPass Cappadocia?
MuseumPass Cappadocia currently costs €65 and is valid for three days from the first museum entry.
Both Kaymaklı and Özkonak are currently listed among covered attractions.
Do not buy the pass for either underground city alone.
It only starts to make financial sense when your three-day sightseeing plan includes enough other covered paid sites.
Opening Hours in 2026
As checked in September 2026, both sites were listed with extended seasonal opening:
Kaymaklı Underground City: 08:00–20:00
Özkonak Underground City: 08:00–20:00
Ticket offices close earlier.
Opening times can change seasonally, so check the current Turkish Museums listing shortly before visiting rather than treating a 2026 schedule as permanent.
Do You Need a Tour?
No.
You can visit both independently.
But the value of a tour is different depending on which underground city you choose.
Kaymaklı
A tour can make sense because Kaymaklı often forms part of a geographically scattered southern sightseeing day.
The tour is solving the logistics of combining several distant attractions rather than simply providing access to Kaymaklı.
You can browse Cappadocia tours and experiences on GetYourGuide. If you are looking for a Green Tour, check the actual itinerary and confirm which underground city that specific operator visits.
Do not assume every Green Tour uses Kaymaklı. For the wider organised-tour decision, see Cappadocia Red Tour vs Green Tour.
Özkonak
Özkonak can also appear on organised tours.
But if you are already based around Avanos, using local transport, a taxi or a rental car can make an independent visit relatively straightforward.
Its convenient location is one of the main reasons you may not need to reorganise an entire day around a guided tour.
Should You Visit Both Kaymaklı and Özkonak?
For most travellers, no.
Underground cities are fascinating, but there is still substantial experiential overlap.
Once you have climbed through tunnels, storage spaces, ventilation systems and underground rooms in one major complex, a second city has to offer enough difference to justify the time.
With a short Cappadocia itinerary, I would rather combine:
one underground city + one valley + one open-air historical site
than collect multiple underground cities simply because they exist.
Visit both if underground architecture is a major personal interest.
Otherwise, choose one. If you are still comparing the wider options, see Best Underground Cities in Cappadocia.
Kaymaklı or Özkonak: My Final Choice
If I were choosing for a typical first Cappadocia trip, I would choose Kaymaklı.
I visited it myself and found that the narrow passages, chambers and descending levels gave me a genuinely different experience from everything I had seen above ground in Cappadocia.
But I would choose Özkonak without hesitation for a traveller whose itinerary is already centred on Avanos and northern Cappadocia.
That is the real decision:
Choose Kaymaklı for the underground city itself.
Choose Özkonak for the better route.
Neither choice is wrong.
The mistake is wasting half a day crossing Cappadocia because somebody told you one underground city is universally “better” than another.
Kaymaklı vs Özkonak FAQ
Is Kaymaklı or Özkonak better?
For most first-time visitors, Kaymaklı offers the fuller underground-city experience. Özkonak is the better logistical choice for an Avanos or northern Cappadocia itinerary.
Is Özkonak cheaper than Kaymaklı?
Yes. As checked in September 2026, foreign admission was €6 at Özkonak and €13 at Kaymaklı.
Is Özkonak less claustrophobic than Kaymaklı?
Do not assume so. Özkonak is a more compact visit, but it still contains enclosed underground passages. Travellers with serious claustrophobia should treat both as confined underground attractions.
How much time do you need at Kaymaklı?
Around 60–75 minutes works well for most visitors.
How much time do you need at Özkonak?
Allow approximately 45–60 minutes for a typical visit.
Which underground city is closer to Avanos?
Özkonak. It is approximately 14 km from Avanos, which is one of its biggest practical advantages.
Can you reach Özkonak from Avanos without a car?
Yes. Local dolmuş services connect Avanos with Özkonak town. Check the current departure point and schedule locally because services can change.
Which is better with Ihlara Valley?
Kaymaklı fits much more naturally into a southern Cappadocia itinerary with Ihlara Valley and Selime.
Which is better with Paşabağ and Zelve?
Özkonak makes more geographical sense because it keeps you in northern Cappadocia rather than sending you south.
Can you visit Kaymaklı without a tour?
Yes. I reached Kaymaklı independently using local public transport during my June 2026 trip.
Should you visit both Kaymaklı and Özkonak?
Usually not. One underground city is enough for most first-time Cappadocia itineraries unless underground architecture is a particular interest.
Plan Your Cappadocia Trip
🏨 Where to Stay
Compare Cappadocia hotels and cave stays on Trip.com.
If you are still deciding where to base yourself, remember that your accommodation location can affect which underground city makes the most logistical sense.
🎒 Tours & Activities
Browse Cappadocia tours and experiences on GetYourGuide.
If you are considering a Green Tour, always check the actual stop list before booking. An itinerary described simply as including an “underground city” may use Kaymaklı, Derinkuyu or another site.
✈️ Flights to Cappadocia
Search flights to Nevşehir (NAV) and Kayseri (ASR) on Trip.com.
🚗 Rent a Car in Cappadocia
A rental car is particularly useful if you want to build your own northern or southern sightseeing route rather than following a standard tour.
Compare Cappadocia rental cars with Localrent.
📱 eSIM for Turkey
Use Yesim for mobile data in Turkey.
🛡 Travel Insurance
Check travel insurance for Turkey with EKTA.
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