Did you ever dream about a cotton castle when you were a kid? You may not believe it, but that dream has become a reality in Turkey!
Pamukkale – literally, cotton castle in Turkish – is a beautiful formation of white terraces that’s made up of a carbonate mineral left by the flowing thermal water. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and even has incredible-looking terraced pools of hot springs, so if you’re a traveler who likes visiting natural beauties, it’s a must-visit in Turkey! With that in mind, this Pamukkale travel guide will help you plan a day trip to this incredible site.
Page Content:
- How To Get To Pamukkale?
- What Is The Best Month To Visit Pamukkale?
- Pamukkale Entrance Fees In 2024
- Things To Do In Pamukkale
- Conclusion
Pamukkale Travel Guide
If you’re wondering how to get to Pamukkale, when to visit, or what to do there, I’ve answered all these questions in this guide, so let’s get started!
But before we get into the Pamukkale travel guide, have you ever thought about learning Turkish for your trip? By using the Ling app, you can learn useful everyday Turkish phrases that will help you get by in Turkey and connect with locals. You can download it from the Play Store or App Store and get a FREE 7-day trial!
How To Get To Pamukkale?
Pamukkale is located in the city of Denizli, in western Turkey. The distance from Istanbul to Denizli is 580 km, which is an 8-hour drive. If you’re not a fan of long car rides, the good news is that you can also get there by plane, landing at Denizli Airport. There is a bus station near the airport, so you can take the bus and get to Pamukkale in an hour. As an alternative, you can take a taxi or rent a car.
At the bus station, you can also look for the dolmuş shuttle at peron (gate) 76. The dolmuş (a type of minibus) will take you to Pamukkale for a cheaper price in 30 minutes. However, you should tell the driver where you want to get off, since there are no bus stops in the town of Pamukkale.
What Is The Best Month To Visit Pamukkale?
In my opinion, the best time to visit Pamukkale is from May to October. I wouldn’t recommend visiting in the summer months (July-August) because the weather can be scorching hot. I was in Pamukkale in May last year, and the temperature was already at 35° C!
What’s more, if you want to take cool photos and videos without the crowds, you should visit as soon as it opens, at 8:00 AM. And keep in mind that the closing time is 7:00 PM.
Pamukkale Entrance Fees In 2024
The entrance fee for Pamukkale Travertines is 400 TL, which is equal to $12.80. Since Hierapolis Ancient City is located in the same region as Pamukkale, you don’t need to pay an additional entrance fee.
However, if you have a MuseumPass card, you can visit Pamukkale for free without paying anything at the entrance. Additionally, you can visit many historical places and museums for free. This is a much cheaper option.
The MuseumPass The Aegean E-card costs $73.70 and is only available for historical sites in the Aegean region. On the other hand, the MusemPass Türkiye E-card costs $128.20, and you can use it to visit historical sites all over the country for free. To purchase the MuseumPass for foreigners, you can check out the official website!
Things To Do In Pamukkale
If you’re curious about things to do in Pamukkale, here are the best suggestions from a local!
Visit Pamukkale Thermal Pools
The Pamukkale travertines shine bright in their whiteness; it’s a unique view that not many people have seen before. These thermal pools are the main attraction, and you can reach them in 10 minutes by walking from the South entrance.
When you get to the pools, you should take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the travertine terraces. However, be careful and make sure to walk slowly, as some areas can hurt to walk on and may be slippery.
You’ll see many people bathing in the thermal pools and even applying mud onto their faces. That’s because it’s said that it can help with skin issues such as wrinkles, cellulite, and acne.
See The Ancient City Hierapolis
Hierapolis used to be an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. As a lover of ancient cities, I was excited to explore the ancient ruins when I visited. Once there, you’ll see tour guides as soon as you enter from the South Entrance.
If you don’t want to walk around the city for a long time under the heat, I recommend you join a tour via a golf cart accompanied by a guide. The tour guide will take you to various spots in the ancient city, such as the tombs, the bazaar, and the ancient theater, which is the most popular site to visit.
Visit Hierapolis Archaeology Museum
For me, an ancient city tour isn’t complete without seeing the archaeological artifacts. Luckily, Hierapolis has a small Archaeology Museum located in the historical site. In the museum, which used to be a former Roman bath, you’ll be able to see lots of tombs, sarcophagi, statues, and small artifacts.
Swim In Cleopatra’s Antique Pool
You must have swum in lots of different beaches and pools, but I bet you haven’t swum in an antique pool with ruins under the water. I’m talking about Cleopatra’s Antique Pool!
Cleopatra’s Antique Pool is located very close to the museum. Swimming in this thermal pool will give you a relaxing and healing experience as if you were at a spa. Also, this is a unique experience since there are ancient marble columns beneath the pool that are believed to have fallen from the Temple of Apollo during an earthquake.
Want to know why this pool is named after Cleopatra? That’s because it’s believed she used to swim here. By visiting Pamukkale, you can swim in the same pool as Cleopatra did and show off to your friends! I’m sure they won’t believe it!
Ready To Visit Pamukkale?
Pamukkale is not as well known among foreign travelers as Cappadocia or Istanbul. But it’s worth visiting! It’s one of the many UNESCO World Heritages in Turkey. Whether you walk barefoot in the white travertines, swim in Cleopatra’s pool, or join a tour of the ancient city Hierapolis, you’ll definitely remember Pamukkale’s unique experiences.
