A Hidden World Beneath Akçakoca: What Is Inside Fakıllı Cave’s “White Room”?

In Akçakoca, most eyes turn towards the sea. Yet a few kilometres inland, another landscape leads you underground. Fakıllı Cave, with formations hanging from its ceiling, stalagmites rising from the floor and galleries extending in different directions, reveals a less familiar side of the district.

What draws your attention here is the variety of shapes stone can take. A slender formation hangs overhead; elsewhere, rippled surfaces seem to fold over one another. As you move through the cave, you begin wondering how water could have created such intricate forms.

Where Is Fakıllı Cave?

Fakıllı Cave is in Fakıllı village, approximately 8 kilometres southeast of Akçakoca in Düzce. It takes its name from the village.

The cave’s total length is 1,017 metres, with approximately 350 metres open to visitors. The route you explore therefore reveals only part of the underground system.

That distinction adds to the curiosity of a visit. Beyond the section you can see lies more of the cave, outside the visitor route.

Stalactites, Stalagmites and the Slow Work of Water

Two words appear frequently in descriptions of caves: stalactites and stalagmites. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, while stalagmites grow upwards from the floor. They develop over time as mineral-bearing water leaves deposits behind.

At Fakıllı, the interest lies both in individual formations and in the patterns they create together. Looking upwards reveals one set of details; studying the walls brings others into view.

Pause to consider the small drops involved in this process. Something so easily overlooked in everyday life can gradually leave a lasting mark on stone. The cave makes that slow passage of time visible.

What Makes the “White Room” Special?

The sections known as the “White Room” are particularly rich in dripstone formations. They are among the features worth looking out for during your visit.

Take time to study their shapes. Lines gather across one surface, while pointed formations extend downwards elsewhere. A change in your viewing angle may reveal a detail you missed moments earlier.

Observe without touching, stay on the visitor route and follow the cave’s rules. These delicate natural formations are best appreciated without disturbing them.

The Cave’s Air and Claims About Asthma

There is a local belief that Fakıllı Cave’s air helps with asthma and breathlessness. This should not be treated as an established medical treatment. If you are considering a visit for health reasons, discuss your individual circumstances with your doctor.

For general visitors, it is useful to know that conditions inside can vary by season. Because the cave lies relatively close to the surface, its temperature and humidity should not be assumed to remain constant throughout the year.

What to Know Before You Go

Wear shoes with a good grip and watch your footing inside. Water can enter the cave during rainy periods, so check whether visits are permitted, particularly after heavy rainfall. Confirm current admission charges and opening hours before setting out.

Adding Fakıllı to an Akçakoca trip shifts your attention from the broad horizon of the coast to much smaller details: a formation overhead, a fold in the stone, the trace left by water. When you emerge, the village will look much as it did before—but you will know a little more about the world beneath it.