Neither site is an easy fit for everyone. If you have knee pain, balance concerns or claustrophobia, consider how you handle stairs and tight spaces before choosing. Bring shoes with grip and move at your own pace. A child who is comfortable exploring but needs to be carried may make narrow sections awkward; ask the site or tour operator about the current visitor route before deciding.
What Kaymaklı is like
Kaymaklı lies beneath and around the present village of the same name. The Ministry describes the settlement as connected with a large number of tunnels, with villagers still using some spaces as cellars, storerooms and stables. For visitors, four excavated levels are currently open. Rooms include storage spaces, kitchens and wineries, organized around ventilation shafts.
The official page is unusually clear about the physical layout: the passages are low, narrow and sloping. It says the first level contains stables and describes a church area on the second; significant storage and food-preparation spaces are on the third. The fourth open level is part of the visitor route, but the broader underground settlement extends beyond the excavated section. Do not picture an open, wide museum gallery. You move through connected spaces and passages.
Expect stairs and changes in ceiling height. Some visitors will naturally bend or duck through lower sections, and it is sensible to keep a hand free for balance. If your knees dislike stairs, take a shorter visit if the site permits and do not hurry to keep up with someone ahead. A day tour guide can explain context, but they cannot alter the architecture or make a passage step-free.
Full route, pickup details and what is included: Cappadocia Green Tour (Small Group) — Ihlara Valley & Kaymaklı.
What Özkonak is like
Özkonak is near Avanos. The Ministry describes it as built into thick volcanic tuff layers on the northern slopes of İdiş Mountain. Its official page says galleries spread over a wide area and connect through tunnels; it also notes that the underground city has not yet been fully cleared. That gives a visitor a different sense of scale and excavation from the four visitor levels documented at Kaymaklı.
The official current page does not provide a detailed visitor route, count the floors open to visitors or make a claim about exact passage dimensions. Avoid treating informal claims about Özkonak’s air holes or layout as a reliable measure of how comfortable you will feel. The site remains an underground environment. Check current conditions before travel, especially if a narrow passage or stairs could be a problem for you.
The question is not simply which one is larger or more impressive. Think about what you want around the visit. The South tour pairs Özkonak with a climb to old Çavuşin and the Pigeon Valley and Ortahisar viewpoints. You spend part of the day above ground in village and valley settings. The underground visit is one piece of a mixed route.
Crowds and moving through narrow spaces
I could not verify a dependable crowding comparison between Kaymaklı and Özkonak from official sources. Visitor numbers change with season, time of day, tour arrivals and site operations. A quieter looking place on one date can be busy on another. If you are visiting independently, ask at your accommodation about the conditions that morning and check the official site information before setting out.
In either city, give people room to use narrow passages. Avoid stopping in a pinch point to take a photo, and keep children close where a corridor narrows or stairs begin. Follow the marked route and staff instructions rather than trying to pass other visitors. A small bag is easier to manage than a backpack packed for the whole trip.
If crowds worsen claustrophobia, pause in an open room or return along the route if staff permit. Let your guide know before entering that you may turn around. Do not feel obliged to complete every section. A short, calm visit can be more worthwhile than pushing through discomfort. Ask your travel companion to agree in advance on a meeting point in case one of you chooses to wait outside.
Knees, mobility and children
Both sites are underground archaeological spaces rather than accessible visitor centres. Kaymaklı’s page mentions low, narrow and sloping corridors; stairs and uneven surfaces may tire sore knees or unsteady balance. If mobility is a concern, ask the site about the open visitor section and whether you can turn back.
For children, preparation matters more than age alone. Explain that some sections are dark or low and that everyone must walk slowly. Children who like caves may enjoy the sense of exploring, but an adult should stay close on stairs and narrow passages. A stroller is not useful inside. If you are carrying a toddler, the tight turns and uneven footing can make the visit impractical; one adult may prefer to wait outside with them.
For a family, also consider how the underground visit sits within the rest of the day. Green adds an Ihlara Valley walk and Selime; South includes outdoor paths around the valley and Çavuşin. If one traveller needs a shorter walking day, compare those full itineraries rather than deciding only by the underground city. A private version gives more flexibility to discuss pace, but cannot remove site stairs or passage constraints. Our Cappadocia with kids guide compares the three day tours for families.
Kaymaklı on Green, Özkonak on South
The shared Green itinerary visits Kaymaklı, Ihlara Valley and Selime. It combines the underground visit with a longer drive and a valley walk. Choose it when Kaymaklı and Ihlara are both high on your list and you can manage a day with mixed walking and transport. The tour includes a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, lunch and the listed tickets for Ihlara Valley, Selime and Kaymaklı.
The shared South itinerary visits Özkonak after the climb to old Çavuşin, then lunch and the Pigeon Valley and Ortahisar viewpoints. Choose South if you want an underground city on a day that also spends time near the central accommodation towns. Its route includes a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, lunch and the Özkonak entrance ticket.
Both shared tours pick up between 09:30 and 10:20 from hotels in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ürgüp and Avanos. Private versions of Green and South are available, with their own tour pages describing the private guide and vehicle. The Green Tour and South Tour itinerary pages are the right place to compare all included stops.
Fees and independent visits
The Ministry’s official 2026 foreign-visitor tariff lists Kaymaklı at €13 and Özkonak at €6. The same tariff lists Derinkuyu at €13. It is a third independent option if you have time and transport, but neither Green nor South visits it.
Check the live tariff and individual site page before an independent visit. Opening hours, ticketing rules and visitor access may change, and the fee page can be updated after a guide is published. If you choose a tour, read which admissions are included on that product page rather than assuming one underground-city ticket covers another site.
An independent visit gives you control over how long to stay, but you need to arrange transport and navigate the site yourself. A guided day tour connects the underground city with other stops and lunch. Make the choice based on the whole day, not only the ticket amount. If you are comparing two cities, it is usually better to visit one properly than rush between both and lose time at the places around them.
Practical preparation for the visit
Wear closed shoes or secure walking shoes with grip. The underground passages may be dusty or uneven, and stair edges can be awkward. Keep your hands free and leave large bags behind. A light layer can be useful after time outdoors, but you do not need special equipment. If you wear glasses, secure them before bending through a low doorway.
Eat and drink normally before leaving, and carry any medication you might need. Tour lunch is included, but drinks with meals are not listed as included. If a passage makes you feel unwell, tell your companion or guide and move toward an open area or exit according to the marked route. Do not enter a tight section to test your tolerance if you are already panicking.
You can skip an underground site even after choosing a tour route. Tell the guide in advance and agree where to wait safely. The surface itinerary may still suit you, but the operator needs to know if anyone will not enter the site. For a private tour, discuss that adjustment when you request it so the day plan is clear.
