Top 13 'World-Beneath' Ancient Underground Cities to discover for a True Escape from the Crowds in 2025
Tired of shuffling through crowds at the Eiffel Tower or waiting in line for that perfect Colosseum selfie? I get it. The world’s most iconic landmarks are incredible, but the sheer volume of visitors can sometimes dilute the magic. As travel roars back to life, the desire for unique, meaningful, and, let's be honest, less crowded experiences is stronger than ever. So, for 2025, I challenge you to change your perspective. Instead of looking up at towering monuments, let's look down.
Beneath our feet lies a hidden realm of human ingenuity and survival—vast, ancient underground cities. These are not just caves or cellars; they are sprawling subterranean worlds, complete with homes, churches, wineries, and stables, all carved from the very earth. They were built as sanctuaries from invaders, refuges from extreme climates, and testaments to the resilience of the human spirit. Exploring them is less like a typical tourist activity and more like stepping into a historical thriller.
This is your ultimate guide to the 'world-beneath'—a curated list of 13 incredible underground cities that offer a true escape. These destinations promise not just fewer crowds but a profound connection to the past, a sense of awe, and an adventure you won't find on any typical postcard. Let's dig in.
1. Derinkuyu, Turkey
Cappadocia is the undisputed king of underground cities, and Derinkuyu is its crown jewel. This is not just a network of tunnels; it's a multi-level metropolis that plunges an astonishing 85 meters (280 feet) into the volcanic rock. It’s estimated that this subterranean marvel could shelter up to 20,000 people, along with their livestock and food supplies, for months on end.
Wandering through its labyrinthine passages is a mind-bending experience. You’ll see everything a thriving community would need: living quarters, stables, churches with soaring ceilings, wine and oil presses, and even a religious school. The most ingenious features are the massive, rolling stone doors, weighing up to 500 kilograms, that could be sealed from the inside to thwart invaders. The sheer scale and complexity, all achieved with ancient tools, is a humbling sight.
Pro Tip: Go as early in the morning as possible to avoid the tour bus crowds. While you can explore on your own, a local guide is invaluable for bringing the history to life and ensuring you don’t get lost in the maze-like lower levels.
2. Kaymakli, Turkey
Just a short drive from Derinkuyu, Kaymakli offers a different, yet equally fascinating, underground experience. While not as deep as its famous sibling, Kaymakli is wider and more sprawling. Its tunnels are lower and narrower, giving you a more intimate and, for some, more claustrophobic sense of what life was like for the thousands who sought refuge here.
The city is organized around a central ventilation shaft, a masterpiece of ancient engineering that ensured fresh air reached all eight levels (only four of which are open to the public today). The layout feels more like a cozy, interconnected village than a military fortress. You can easily make out the kitchens, blackened with soot from ancient fires, storage cellars filled with massive earthenware jars, and a copper-melting workshop.
Pro Tip: Consider purchasing a Cappadocia Museum Pass if you plan to visit several historical sites in the region, including Derinkuyu and Kaymakli. It can save you both time and money.
3. Naours, France
Deep beneath the rolling hills of Picardy in northern France lies the "Cité Souterraine de Naours," a colossal network of tunnels and chambers that is one of the largest in Europe. Originally limestone quarries dating back to the Gallo-Roman era, this underground world was expanded in the Middle Ages to serve as a refuge for villagers during times of war and invasion.
The sheer size is staggering—over 300 rooms connected by 2 kilometers of galleries. The complex had its own chapels, a town square, stables, and wells. What makes Naours particularly unique is its more modern history; it was rediscovered in the 19th century and later used as a field hospital and resting place for Allied soldiers during World War I. The walls are covered in graffiti left by these soldiers, a poignant and ghostly record of their presence.
Pro Tip: The guided tour is excellent and provides context you'd otherwise miss. Wear a jacket, as the temperature underground remains a cool 9.5°C (49°F) year-round.
4. Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland
While technically a mine, Wieliczka is so much more. This UNESCO World Heritage site near Krakow is a breathtaking underground city carved entirely out of rock salt. For over 700 years, miners didn't just extract salt here; they created a subterranean world of astonishing beauty, artistry, and faith.
The journey takes you 135 meters (443 feet) below ground through a 3-kilometer route. You’ll pass saline lakes, intricate timber constructions, and dozens of statues, all sculpted from salt. The undisputed highlight is the Chapel of St. Kinga, a massive underground church where everything—from the chandeliers and altarpieces to the floor tiles—is made of salt. On a trip I, Goh Ling Yong, took a few years back, the moment I stepped into that glittering cathedral, I was left utterly speechless.
Pro Tip: Book your tickets online in advance, as it’s an incredibly popular destination. Opt for the "Miner's Route" tour if you want a more hands-on, adventurous experience away from the main tourist trail.
5. Orvieto Underground, Italy
The beautiful cliff-top town of Orvieto in Umbria has a secret. Beneath its charming medieval streets lies a hidden, parallel city—a 2,500-year-old labyrinth of over 1,200 caves, tunnels, and wells carved into the volcanic tuff rock. This subterranean world tells the story of Orvieto from its Etruscan origins to the Middle Ages.
These caves weren't just for hiding; they were integral to daily life. You can see the remains of ancient olive presses, where the constant cool temperature was perfect for producing high-quality oil. You'll also find "columbariums," rooms with countless niches carved into the walls, which were used for raising pigeons—a primary food source. The tour reveals a practical and ingenious side of history that is completely invisible from the sun-drenched piazza above.
Pro Tip: The tours are small and intimate, so it's a great way to escape the midday heat and crowds. The entrance is conveniently located right next to the Duomo.
6. Pilsen Historical Underground, Czech Republic
For beer lovers, this one's a pilgrimage. The city of Pilsen, the birthplace of the iconic Pilsner lager, sits atop an extensive network of historic cellars and tunnels. Stretching over 20 kilometers, this 14th-century underground system was vital for the city's main industry: brewing beer.
The cool, stable temperature of the cellars was perfect for fermenting and storing beer in large wooden barrels. A tour of the underground takes you through winding passages, past old wells and ice cellars, and reveals the medieval foundations of the city. Of course, no tour of Pilsen would be complete without a taste of the final product.
Pro Tip: The tour concludes with a voucher for a glass of unpasteurized, unfiltered Pilsner Urquell, drawn directly from an oak barrel in a historic pub. It’s the freshest pint you’ll ever have.
7. Matera, Italy
While not entirely "underground," the Sassi di Matera in southern Italy absolutely belongs on this list. It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with a history stretching back over 9,000 years. The "Sassi" are ancient cave dwellings dug into the sides of a dramatic ravine.
For centuries, these caves were homes, churches, and monasteries, forming a dense, stone-carved cityscape. Walking through Matera feels like stepping onto a biblical film set (and it has been, many times). The experience is of a world built from the earth, not just on top of it. After being known as the "shame of Italy" due to poor living conditions in the mid-20th century, the Sassi has been reborn as a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site.
Pro Tip: Stay in one of the many "cave hotels" for a truly immersive experience. Waking up in a beautifully restored Sasso is an unforgettable memory.
8. Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain
This remarkable town in Andalusia, Spain, took a different approach to subterranean living. Instead of digging down, the town’s founders built up into the narrow gorge of the Rio Trejo, using the massive rock overhangs as the roofs for their houses.
Walking through the main streets, like Cuevas del Sol ("Caves of the Sun") and Cuevas de la Sombra ("Caves of the Shade"), is a surreal experience. You are literally walking under a mountain. The rock-roofed homes and cafes provide natural insulation, keeping them cool in the sweltering Andalusian summer and warm in the winter. It's a stunning example of architecture harmonizing with nature.
Pro Tip: Visit a tapas bar built directly into the rock. Enjoying a glass of local wine and some jamón while sitting under tons of ancient stone is the quintessential Setenil experience.
9. Montreal's RESO (Underground City), Canada
Jumping from the ancient to the modern, Montreal's RESO is a testament to how the underground city concept has evolved. This vast network, also known as La Ville Souterraine, is one of the largest of its kind in the world, stretching for over 32 kilometers (20 miles) beneath the downtown core.
Born from the need to escape Montreal's frigid winters, the RESO connects shopping malls, metro stations, hotels, universities, and museums. It's a fully functioning, climate-controlled city-beneath-a-city. While it lacks the historical mystique of Derinkuyu, it's a fascinating look at modern urban planning and a lifesaver for locals during a snowstorm.
Pro Tip: Use the RESO to navigate the city on a rainy or snowy day. It’s a practical way to get around and you’ll stumble upon art installations, food courts, and shops you wouldn’t have found otherwise.
10. Coober Pedy, Australia
In the heart of the scorching Australian Outback lies Coober Pedy, the "opal capital of the world." Here, summer temperatures regularly soar past 45°C (113°F). To survive, the early opal miners went underground, and the tradition continues today. More than half the town's population lives in subterranean homes called "dugouts."
These are not damp, dark caves; they are comfortable, spacious homes carved into the stable sandstone, complete with all modern amenities. Visiting Coober Pedy allows you to see this unique lifestyle firsthand. You can tour underground homes, stay in an underground hotel, and even visit underground churches and art galleries. It’s a quirky and practical solution to one of the world's harshest environments.
Pro Tip: Don't miss the Serbian Orthodox Church, an ornate and beautiful church carved entirely underground. Its vaulted ceilings and intricate rock carvings are truly impressive.
11. Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea), Italy
Beneath the vibrant, chaotic streets of Naples lies a sprawling subterranean world that reflects the city's layered history. The journey begins 40 meters down, in a Greco-Roman aqueduct system that supplied the city with water for over 2,300 years.
During World War II, these ancient cisterns were repurposed as air-raid shelters, saving thousands of lives. The tour takes you through vast caverns and claustrophobically narrow passages, where you can still see personal effects and graffiti left by those who took refuge here. As a travel writer, I always tell people on my blog, Goh Ling Yong, that history feels most potent in places like this, where you can almost hear the echoes of the past.
Pro Tip: The tour includes a thrilling (and optional) squeeze through a very narrow candlelit passageway that was once part of the aqueduct. It’s a memorable part of the experience, but not for those with severe claustrophobia.
12. Dixia Cheng, China
While its public access has been sporadic in recent years, Beijing's "Dixia Cheng" is a fascinating piece of Cold War history. This vast underground bomb shelter, often called the "Underground Great Wall," was built in the 1970s in anticipation of a nuclear attack during the Sino-Soviet border conflict.
Designed to house up to a million people for months, the complex reportedly included everything a city would need: restaurants, clinics, schools, theaters, and even a roller-skating rink. It was connected by a network of tunnels to major government buildings. Though much of it is now closed, its existence is a chilling reminder of a tense period in modern history and a monumental feat of civil defense engineering.
Pro Tip: Before planning a visit, check the latest information on its accessibility. Local tour operators may have the most up-to-date details on whether any sections are open to the public.
13. Petra, Jordan
The magnificent Rose City of Petra is famous for its grand facades, like the Treasury and the Monastery, carved directly into the pink sandstone cliffs. But to truly understand Petra, you must think of it as a city that is as much "underground" as it is above ground.
The experience begins as you walk through the Siq, a narrow, kilometer-long gorge with towering rock walls that feels like a grand subterranean entrance to a hidden world. Inside, you'll find hundreds of tombs, temples, and homes hewn from the rock. These weren't just facades; they were intricate interior spaces carved deep into the mountainside. Exploring these rock-cut tombs and dwellings gives you a real sense of Petra's "world-beneath" character.
Pro Tip: To escape the biggest crowds, visit the Monastery (Ad-Deir). It requires a strenuous 800-step climb, but you'll be rewarded with a monument as grand as the Treasury, with a fraction of the visitors.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
Exploring these subterranean wonders is more than just a novelty; it's a journey into the heart of human history, resilience, and ingenuity. It’s a way to connect with the past on a visceral level, to stand in the spaces where people lived, worshipped, and survived against all odds. Best of all, it’s a genuine opportunity to escape the well-trodden path and discover a world that most tourists will never see.
So, as you plan your travels for 2025, think about adding a vertical dimension to your itinerary. Look down, go deep, and uncover the stories hidden just beneath the surface.
Which of these subterranean wonders is calling your name for 2025? Have you explored an underground city that didn't make my list? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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