Located just outside the city of Denizli, Pamukkale and the adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pamukkale is about a 4-hour drive from Bodrum and a 3-hour drive from Izmir.
Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish; when you visit you will understand the origin of the name. The site consists of beautiful white travertine terraces that were created over the course of thousands of years from natural mineral springs flowing down the side of a hill.
One admission ticket will get you access to both the ruins of Hierapolis and the terraces of Pamukkale. The site is open from 8:00am – 9:00pm from April through September and 8:00am to 5:00pm from October through March. The admission fee is 35TL.
Parts of the travertines are restricted to preserve them, but there is an area where you can walk on the terraces through the mineral water and down to the bottom of the hill. You are not allowed to wear shoes or sandals of any kind when you walk on the travertines so tread carefully: the surface is uneven and slippery. You won’t need to wear a bathing suit to make this walk: just roll up your pants (or wear shorts) – the water level is not very high.
Hierapolis is the ancient Greek / Roman city that is perched on top of the hill above Pamukkale. In ancient times it was used as a thermal spa and many patients came here for treatment. Notable structures to visit today include an impressive amphitheater, a temple to Apollo, and several city gates.
Legend says the mineral waters at Pamukkale will cure all kinds of ailments from high blood pressure to rheumatism; many visitors still flock here today to test out these claims. There are opportunities to bathe in the mineral waters aside from just walking on the terraces. One option is to stay at one of the nearby thermal hotels. Most of these hotels are pretty large operations that cater to tour groups. However, they do have nice pools fed by the springs as well as extensive spa facilities. You can also swim in the mineral waters by visiting the antique pool of Hierapolis. This pool was formed by a 7th century earthquake and gives you a unique opportunity to swim alongside columns and other ancient artifacts. The fee to swim in the pool is 50TL and 13TL for children (this is in addition to the entrance fee to the overall site).
The village of Pamukkale (at the base of the travertine hill) is small and has pretty basic hotel and restaurant options. On my most recent visit I stayed at the Hal-Tur hotel which is small but comfortable and has a nice pool and a great view overlooking the terraces. My parents recently stayed at the Melrose Viewpoint Hotel in Pamukkale and really enjoyed it. The big thermal hotels are located just north of Pamukkale, primarily in Karahayıt, 7 kms away.
The region around Pamukkale (Denizli) is known for its high-quality cotton production. While you are in this area, stop and purchase some sumptuous Turkish towels made from the local cotton: you will find several showrooms on the main highway out of town.
