While some cities set the sky as their limit with skyscrapers piercing the clouds, some are quite content to stay… a little more grounded. As in subterranean.

You may have to step down to reach them,  but the labyrinthine tunnels and mysterious passageways of the following underground cities are a true step up for your next vacation destination.

Cooper Pedy, Australia

When you’re living in an area that experiences Australia’s most extreme weather patterns, how do you beat the heat?  You tunnel your way underground, which was the solution that transformed Cooper Pedy into a subterranean refuge for miners, including many of the city’s residents who have resorted to a life below the surface in homes called “dugouts.”  

Earning the title as “the Opal Capital of the World” because it is one of the world’s biggest producers of opals, a visit here is filled with explorations of Cooper Pedy’s opal fields as well as the remote landscapes that were used as backdrops in films like Pitch Black and Ground Zero.  The town also consists of an art gallery, restaurants, hotels and a grassless golf course that are all located underground.

Underground City, Canada

When in Montreal, visitors can experience the best of both worlds — above street level and below.  Although the Underground City does not actually meet the requirements of a full-fledged city, its labyrinth of tunnels that connects Montreal’s movie theaters, bars, restaurants and museums portrays a different image. 

It also conveniently allows pedestrians to commute and hang out underground when the weather becomes a bit unbearable. Nevertheless, since 1962 the Underground City has evolved into the world’s largest subterranean complex with plenty of shopping opportunities and eateries that make one visit here just not enough.

Derinkuyu, Turkey

Although this intricately carved city is no longer a home to a thriving community, it is indeed worthy of rediscovery because its origins still remain a mystery. Since 1963, visitors have been captivated by Cappadocia’s deepest buried city due to its several channels, which is believed to have provided Christians shelter during various attacks, including the Muslim Umayyad and the Romans.

Over the centuries some thousands of people have left behind their legacies, which have been depicted in the different spaces revealing that the ancient people were not only religious, but were intellectuals and business-minded individuals.

Dixia Cheng, China

Tourists are more likely to frequent this unique city since Dixia Cheng never fulfilled its duty as a bomb shelter during the Soviet raids.  Still, what lies beneath the foundations of Beijing is a hidden surprise with dark chambers so secretively constructed no enemy would be able to locate it.

From learning areas to storage spaces for weapons and food, the transition of livelihood was intended to be an easy one for fleeing refugees. And even amongst the remnants of Dixia Cheng’s past, the diligence of its people is never forgotten since this tourist attraction is a constant reminder of the communal effort it took to create this unique destination.

Kaymakli, Turkey

Another city that has made a profound statement beneath Turkey’s historic landscape is Kaymakli, which is also the widest in the area of Cappadocia.  Although it is believed to have been in existence since the Hittites first descended the city, traces of Alexander the Great’s reign have also made a dynamic impact throughout the region. 

Inside this ancient residence, kitchen and storage areas, wineries and spaces dedicated to worship display the lifestyles of the people of Kaymakli.  The city also acted as a refuge where thousands of refugees took shelter during enemy invasions.