Pamukkale is located quite close to the most popular Turkish resorts, so it is convenient to get here both from the Mediterranean coast (from Antalya, Kemer, Side, etc.) and from the Aegean coast (from Marmaris, Bodrum, Kusadasi, etc.). Numerous travel agencies and guides bring here tourists bored in beach hotels.
Pamukkale means «cotton castle» in Russian — the configuration of this unique formation does indeed resemble a pile of absorbent cotton pieces — or snow drifts. In essence, it is a long white plateau with smooth terraces of travertine — calcium carbonate in the form of hardened chalk. The sight is incredibly beautiful and unusual!
I will tell you why you should go to Pamukkale, how to spend your time interesting, how to get there and where to stay.
What is remarkable about Pamukkale
Pamukkale’s snow-white terraces are formed by geothermal springs. Calcium bicarbonate-rich water with a temperature of 36C has been flowing out of the ground at the foot of Çal Dağı for many thousands of years. This process is still going on today. Once on the surface, the underground water flows down the plateau, cools down, gives off carbon dioxide and leaves a lime sediment — travertine. As a result, it all looks like a waterfall of dazzling white color, the frozen waters of which cascade from one travertine bowl-terrace to another.
The spring flows in the center of the ancient city of Hierapolis, the ruins of which are another great reason to visit this place. The ancient Hellenes valued the healing properties of the local hot springs and it was once a real spa resort. Unlike many other ancient Greek polis, the city managed to survive for quite a long time — until the 12th century AD, when the Seljuk Turks appeared here.
Pamukkale and Hierapolis are now among the most visited tourist sites in Turkey. Both are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What to do in Pamukkale
Pamukkale Nature Park and the ruins of Hierapolis are located in the small village of Pamukkale köyü, which has become a tourist center with parties, stores and restaurants. The village is very compact and you can get around on foot.
I recommend to include the following points in your obligatory program. It is enough to set aside 1—2 days for their inspection.
The lake at the foot of Pamukkale.
A great place for an evening promenade. There are a lot of ducks here, which everyone feeds. It is absolutely free to go to the lake, you don’t have to pay anything. If you arrive in Pamukkale in the evening and plan to go to the travertines in the morning, this walk to the lake will be a great warm up. Bring along a loaf of fresh bread for the feathered birds.
Travertines
There are two ways to get to the travertines: via the «lower» and «upper» roads. Each entrance has its own separate ticket office, tourist center and car parking. We used the «lower» entrance — we climbed up to the plateau on the trail starting at the lake. The climb takes about half an hour at a leisurely pace. The second entrance is next to the Dominican Gate, built back in the 1st century, one of the sights of Hierapolis.
You can’t walk on limestone with shoes on, only barefoot, so be careful: in general, it is quite rough, but there may be some slippery areas. You can dive into the water not everywhere — only in authorized places. There are narrow channels where the water flows from top to bottom in a stream — you can climb into them, resulting in the effect of a whirlpool bath.
The most beautiful travertines cannot be walked on — they can only be viewed from the side. The rules are monitored by security guards.
Park hours of operation:
- April through October: 6:00 to midnight.
- Winter season: 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
There is another very interesting place on the territory of the park — Cleopatra’s Pool, the bottom of which is dotted with the ruins of ancient thermae. This is a body of water where, according to legend, the Egyptian ruler took baths. For an additional fee, anyone can do the same. The temperature of water in the pool is stable 36°C, and the water itself is known for its healing properties in the treatment of cardiovascular, skin diseases, bronchitis, gastritis and rheumatism. However, you should hardly expect a significant effect after one visit.
Cleopatra’s pool area is open from 8:00 to 20:30 every day without weekends, you can enter the pool until 19:45. There is no entrance fee, but if you want to swim, prepare 32 TL for an adult and 13 TL for a child from 6 to 12 years old.
Hierapolis
Despite the fact that the travertines and Hierapolis are in the same place and you need one ticket to visit them, you would like to tell about the ancient city separately, because even its name translates into Russian as «sacred city».
It is now a poorly preserved ruin, but it was once a popular Roman aristocratic spa. People came from all over the empire to visit the thermal springs. The city was repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes, one of which finally destroyed it in 1354.
On the territory of Hierapolis you can see the remains of walls and columns of residential houses, Roman thermae, temples, fountains, arches of aqueducts. The main attractions are the largest ancient necropolis in Turkey and one of the largest ancient theaters.
Karahayit
7 km from Pamukkale is the local spa resort Karahait, famous for its «red water», rich in iron. Not many foreign tourists come here, the main part of visitors are Turks. To get from Pamukkale or Denizli to Karahait you can take the same dolmusha — it goes from Denizli to Karahait via Pamukkale. The temperature of water in the springs of Karahait is much higher than in Pamukkale — 59 ° C, you can bathe in them all year round, but the composition of the water is similar.
How to get to Pamukkale
The nearest town to Pamukkale Köyü is called Denizli. It can be reached by plane, bus or train from different parts of Turkey.
By airplane
Chardak Airport (Cardak) is located 65 km from Denizli. Its official name is Denizli Cardak Airport and its international code is DNZ. It serves only domestic flights, with direct flights only from Istanbul airports. From other cities of Turkey — Ankara, Bodrum, Trabzon, Antalya, Adana, etc. — can be reached by airplane only with a connection in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines fly here.
The city can be reached from the airport by shuttle or cab. The Bay Tur Shuttle is the best option in terms of time and cost. It runs between the airport and Denizli Bus Station for every flight arriving in Chardak. The trip will take about an hour. They can also take you directly to Pamukkale, but this must be arranged in advance.
By train
Denizli can be reached by train from Istanbul via Eskişehir. The train from Eskişehir to Denizli is called Pamukkale Express (Pamukkale Ekspresi) and runs daily. You can check the timetable and buy a ticket here.
You can buy a train ticket from Istanbul here. It is important to enter the name Istanbul with a lowercase «i» when buying a ticket.
By bus
Intercity flights connect Denizli with many major cities in Turkey: Istanbul, Antalya, Kemer, Adana, Gazipasa, Marmaris and others.
Cost of traveling to Denizli from different cities:
- Istanbul — 120—140 TL;
- Antalya — 55 TL;
- Kemer — 70 TL;
- Adana — 120—160 TL;
- Gazipasa — 70—80 TL;
- Marmaris — 40—70 TL;
- Kusadasi — 50 TL.
You can check the schedule and buy a bus ticket here.
From Denizli to Pamukkale
From Denizli Bus Station to Pamukkale there are shuttle buses — dolmushi. They leave from platform 76 on the lower level every 15—20 minutes. The dolmushi can accommodate about 20 people. Travel time is 20—25 minutes and the fare is 5 TL.
Where to stay in Pamukkale
Tourists coming to Pamukkale most often stay directly in Pamukkale Köyü. This option is the most convenient, it allows you not to waste time on unnecessary movements. There is a wide range of accommodation options in terms of cost and comfort — from budget 10—15 € for a double room to luxury spas.
- The optimal option is Sunrise Aya Hotel. It has a great location, a cozy green area with a swimming pool, and the rooms are clean and comfortable. At the same time, the price per night is only about 20 €.
Those who, in addition to sightseeing, wish to supplement their vacation with spa procedures, prefer Karahait, a local thermal resort. There are spa hotels of different levels here.
- For example, Doğa Thermal Health & Spa is an entire spa complex that even has a physiotherapy clinic on its premises. There is also a fitness club, Turkish bath, sauna, spa, massage room and hot tubs, and the rooms have magnificent mountain views. A standard room at this hotel costs around 100 € per night.
It is also possible to stop in Denizli. It is convenient as a stopping point on the way from Pamukkale to other cities.
- I recommend choosing a hotel near the bus station — for example, Kosar Hotel. The cost of a double room with breakfast here is about 25—30 €.
A few lifehacks
- The best time to visit Pamukkale is May or September. At this time it is not as hot as in summer, and the probability of precipitation is minimal. And also a trip in this period will fit perfectly with a vacation on the beach.
- The best time to visit the travertines is early in the morning, when the sun is still low, or in the evening to enjoy the sunset and avoid the crowds of tourists. At sunset, the travertines turn pink and tourists and photographers flock to take pictures.
- Don’t forget to bring sunglasses — the sun’s rays reflect off the snow-white travertines and are very blinding.
- Bring a bag or backpack — only barefoot walking is allowed on the travertines, and you’ll need to stow your shoes somewhere.
- It wouldn’t hurt to have a waterproof bag in which to stash money, documents and other things that are important to keep dry.
- If you plan to take a dip in the water or swim in Cleopatra’s pool, bring a swimsuit or swim trunks.
- Be sure to bring water and something to snack on — there is only one café on the travertines and in Hierapolis that sells overpriced snacks exclusively.
- 3—4 hours is enough time to see the travertines and Hierapolis.
