Worth a Journey

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The World’s 100 Best Show Caves

Gilindire Cave

Aydıncık, Turkey

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST SHOW CAVES WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 17 2026

No. 1 in the Middle East

Gilindire Cave

A stalactite and stalagmite cave on a cliff above the Mediterranean, with columns, bats and a still underground lake at the bottom. Visitors buy a ticket and walk down long stairways alone to view Mirror Lake, then climb back up.

Highlights

  • Aynalıgöl (Mirror Lake)
  • Stalactites, stalagmites and columns
  • Sea view from entrance

Good to know

  • Cash only, no museum cards
  • Hot and humid inside, bring water
  • Hundreds of steps down and back

Also in Turkey

  1. Gökgöl Cave N° 53 Gökgöl Cave Zonguldak Dripstone cave
  2. Sarıkaya Cave N° 60 Sarıkaya Cave Yığılca Dripstone cave