Pamukkale is home to the famous white travertine thermal pools that have been the staple tourist attraction in this part of the world since the 2nd century BC. More than 2,000 years! Let that sink in for a bit.
There is a good reason why Pamukkale is beloved by travelers from all centuries. Being able to bathe in these brightly white pools full of turquoise blue water is one of the greatest privileges to have for travelers from all walks of life, ever since it was first built in the 2nd century BC.
The sight of seeing an entire hill covered in these white terrace thermal pools is quite behold, but not just that. There are many other things you can do in Pamukkale, and that is what we will highlight in this travel guide.
Without further ado, here is a complete travel guide to Pamukkale with all the information you need to plan a great trip here. First, let's take a look at all the tourist attractions in Pamukkale, all laid out on a map below:
- Pamukkale Things to Do Itinerary Map
- Quick Summary: Things to do in Pamukkale
- 6 Best Things to Do in Pamukkale
- More Pamukkale Activities
- Where to Stay in Pamukkale, Turkey?
- Turkey Travel Video
- When to Visit the Pamukkale, Turkey?
- How to Get to Pamukkale, Turkey?
- How to Get Around Pamukkale, Turkey?
- How Many Days To Spend in Pamukkale, Turkey?
- How Much Money Do I Need For Pamukkale, Turkey?
- Pamukkale Opening Hours
- Pamukkale Entrance Fee
- Is it Safe in Pamukkale, Turkey?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Turkey?
- What to Pack for Pamukkale, Turkey?
- Further Reading for Turkey
Pamukkale Things to Do Itinerary Map
Quick Summary: Things to do in Pamukkale
- Hotel Pamukkale (Budget)
- Venus Suite (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Pamukkale Whiteheaven Suite Hotel (High-End)
- Private Tour to Salda Lake, Pamukkale, Hierapolis Ancient City, Kaklik Cave (8 to 16 hours)
- Private Tour to Salda Lake, Pamukkale, Hierapolis Ancient City (8 to 16 hours)
- Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon w/Flight Certificates,Champagne Toast & Hotel Transfer (2 hours)
6 Best Things to Do in Pamukkale
1. Bathed in the White Travertine Pools
The Travertines of Pamukkale is probably one of the main reasons why you are visiting Pamukkale in the first place, and it is likely one of the coolest tourist attractions you will see in Turkey.
People from all walks of life have bathed in these thermal pools for centuries. Due to its unique chemical composition, which gives it its bright white colors as well as the turquoise blue water, the thermal pools around the travertines never fail to amaze travelers.
There is also a legend behind the travertines that explains the magical effect you get from bathing in the pool. They say that once there was a girl who was unable to find the love of her life to get married, so she decided to throw herself off the travertines to commit suicide.
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She fell into the pool instead, survived, and the water turned her into a beautiful woman, which in turn caught the attention of one of the lords of Denizli. Finally, she found the love of her life and lived happily ever after.
Very Disney-movie-like ending, I'll tell you, but that explains why it is customary for travelers to bathe in these thermal pools when they visit Pamukkale, and it would be a shame if you made it all the way here and didn't do the same 😉.
The upper level of the travertines can get really crowded, so if you are looking for a quieter place to bathe at the travertines, I highly recommend walking down a little to the lower level. You should be far enough from the crowds to actually enjoy the place.
The travertines open from 6:30 AM to 8 PM every day during the summer. The entrance fee to the area is 110 TRY, which you can also use to enter the ancient city of Hierapolis.
2. Check out the ancient city of Hierapolis
Hierapolis is an ancient Greek city built around 190 BC and is located right by the travertines of Pamukkale. Since the travertines have been used as a spa since the 2nd Century BC, the ancient city of Hierapolis was likely visited by many ancient travelers.
The presence of a sizable necropolis within the city also sheds light on the citizens who used to live here in the past. Primarily, they were retirees who were seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of other Greek cities and savor their final days at the spa.
There are several ruins and columns along two sides of the main road into the city, as well as a large necropolis and what looks like a Byzantine Church that you can stroll around in. It is a nice area, but there is very little shade, so be sure to prepare for the heat if you are visiting Pamukkale in the summer.
3. Admire the Scale of the Great Theater of Hierapolis
One of the most impressive structures in the ancient city of Hierapolis is the Great Theater of Hierapolis, a massive amphitheater constructed in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Empire.
It is said that the theater can accommodate over 15,000 people, which is pretty impressive for the day. You can really feel just how epic it must have been to catch a show at this massive theater with over 15,000 patrons.
It's probably like being in a football stadium during the World Cup, I'd imagine. I highly recommend you climb up to the top of the audience area to truly appreciate the scale of the place.
4. Learn More About The History at Hierapolis Archaeology Museum
Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, located not too far from the Hierapolis ruins, is also a great place to visit if you wish to learn more about the history of this ancient city.
Inside, you will find all kinds of well-preserved artifacts that were excavated from the site when it was discovered in the 19th century, such as marble sculptures and other ancient decorative materials.
Hierapolis Archaeology Museum's opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 7 PM every day. It is quite small, but the entrance fee is only 8 TRY per person, which is almost nothing. If you have time, be sure to check out the museum.
5. Have a Spa Day at Antique Pool
Antique Pool is another thermal bath where you can bathe. However, unlike the travertines, which can get dirty at times due to being in a natural spot, the water at Antique Pool is much cleaner and clearer. The pool is also surrounded by palm trees, making it a much more enjoyable bathing experience compared to the travertines.
The water at Antique Pool is also the source of all the thermal pools in the area, and it has been converted into a public thermal pool and spa where you can swim. The water is constantly refreshed with calcium-laden water, which supposedly has health benefits.
You can even see some remnants of ancient Roman structures being submerged in the pool, which adds to the experience. The entrance fee to the Antique Pool is 100 TRY per person, and another 5 TRY for a locker. The opening hours are from 9 AM to 8 PM every day.
6. Paraglide Over Pamukkale
If you are looking for some adventure, you can also go paragliding and see Pamukkale and Hieropolis from above with the Pamukkale Paragliding company.
The tour will take you up atop a nearby hill with paragliding gear and attach you with an instructor before launching off from a cliff. The whole flight takes about 15 minutes, and you will be able to see the true scale of the travertines from above.
The whole tour cost me around 100 USD, but since the activity is very weather-dependent, make sure to keep your hopes in check and don't get disappointed when the trip gets canceled.
Mine was canceled in the morning, but we were still able to go in the afternoon, so you never know. It's better to be safe than sorry, in my opinion. If you are looking for a paragliding tour to do, you can book one online here: Book Pamukkale Paragliding tour
More Pamukkale Activities
Where to Stay in Pamukkale, Turkey?
When to Visit the Pamukkale, Turkey?
While June - August is considered to be the peak season, I do not think it is the best time to visit Pamukkale. Although it is a popular time to visit, you will also be dealing with a large tourist crowd, as well as the jacked-up prices at hotels, which is not ideal. Additionally, it is probably one of the hottest months to visit, making it less enjoyable to walk around and explore Pamukkale.
What I would recommend instead is to visit during the shoulder seasons, either in May or September, where the tourist crowds are starting to wind down and the prices of hotels are starting to fall back to their normal level.
Also, keep in mind that from May to June is Ramadan, and even though you won't have a problem finding food places like Istanbul, it will be harder the further east you travel.
How to Get to Pamukkale, Turkey?
The closest major city to Pamukkale is Denizli, and in order to travel there, you are going to have to get yourself to Istanbul first.
Thankfully, Istanbul is one of the largest hubs in the region, and you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to one of the 2 main airports in the city, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
From the US, there are several direct flights you can take to Turkey from major cities in the US such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami. These flights are all operated by Turkish Airlines, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a flight from the US to Turkey.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs such as London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Turkish Airlines or local carriers like British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa, which also offer direct flights to Istanbul or Ankara.
From Asia, you can fly directly with Turkish Airlines from several hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok. You can also go with other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad if you are willing to transit to get a cheaper deal.
To find a cheap flight to Turkey, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and choose the best one.
Getting From Istanbul to Pamukkale, Turkey
By Plane: Once you are in Istanbul, you can then fly with Turkish Airlines to Denizli. From there, you can take a shuttle bus operated by BayTur for 25 TRY per person, which will take you straight to Pamukkale. You do not have to book the bus; they leave on flight arrival times when it is full.
This is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Pamukkale from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines flies three times a day at 9 AM and 6:40 PM from IST airport and at 4:55 PM from SAW airport. The journey takes one hour and costs around 27 USD. You can book the flight here.
By Bus: You can also travel from Istanbul to Pamukkale by bus via Denizli. There are over 20 buses per day leaving from Alibeykoy Bus Station to Denizli Bus Station where you can then catch a local minibus to Pamukkale.
The bus from Istanbul to Denizli runs almost every hour from 2 AM to 12 AM daily. The journey will take about 10 hours and cost 29 USD. You can book the bus from Istanbul to Denizli here.
Once you arrive in Denizli, go to Gate 76 on the lower level and catch a minibus to Pamukkale from there. They run every 15-20 minutes daily, and the journey should take about 1 hour to reach Pamukkale.
By Plane and Rented Car: You can also fly into Denizli, rent a car, and drive to Pamukkale as well. You can rent a car right at the airport for 47 USD per day and visit all the attractions I listed here at your own leisure. It should take you no more than 1 hour to reach Pamukkale. Hit the link below to reserve a car at Denizli airport.
Getting From Selcuk to Pamukkale, Turkey
By Tour: For those of you who are visiting Ephesus as part of your larger Turkey trip and want to travel from Selcuk to Pamukkale, the best way to do so is to go with an organized tour. This eliminates all the logistical problems you might have faced if you were to do it independently and allows you to focus on having a great time in Pamukkale.
This is the way I did it when I was in Selcuk, exploring Ephesus, and decided to spend the next day visiting Pamukkale via a day trip before continuing my journey down to the southwestern coastline.
Very convenient and great for those who are short on time. If you are interested, I highly recommend you go with the "Pamukkale Day Tour From Selcuk" tour, which includes pick-up and drop-off service from Selcuk and around 4 - 6 hours in Pamukkale. This is more than enough time to see all the tourist attractions there. Hit the link below to book the tour.
Book a Pamukkale Tour from Selcuk
Getting From Izmir to Pamukkale, Turkey
By Tour: Izmir is another great base to use while you explore all the tourist attractions in this part of Turkey. From Izmir, you can also visit Pamukkale as a day trip via an organized tour. This "Pamukkale and Hierapolis" tour is highly recommended.
Since Izmir is a bigger city than Selcuk, you will find plenty more options when it comes to Pamukkale tours. So, be sure to browse around to find the best one for you with the link below.
Book a Pamukkale Tour from Izmir
How to Get Around Pamukkale, Turkey?
By Walk: Pamukkale is very small, and all the tourist attractions are concentrated in one walkable area, so you should have no trouble exploring Pamukkale on foot.
How Many Days To Spend in Pamukkale, Turkey?
One full day should be enough to see all that Pamukkale has to offer. Below is a rough 1-day itinerary for Pamukkale.
Day 1: Go paragliding above Pamukkale when the weather is calm in the morning. Afterward, bathe in the travertines and the Antique Pool before visiting Hierapolis. Learn more about it at the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum before ending the day.
How Much Money Do I Need For Pamukkale, Turkey?
With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will spend in Pamukkale as follows:
Accommodation: For 2 nights, it should cost around 46 USD (397 TRY) for accommodations.
Food: Food in Pamukkale should cost around 20 TRY per meal, so you can expect to pay around 60 TRY for one full day here.
Transportation: Since everything is within walking distance, you won't have to pay anything, so 0 TRY for transportation.
Activities: For those who are looking to go paragliding above Pamukkale, it should cost you around 100 USD (863.29 TRY). The travertines and Hierapolis entrance fee is 110 TRY, 8 TRY for the museum, and the entrance to Antique Pool is another 105 TRY. So, in total, you can expect to pay 1078.29 TRY for activities in Pamukkale.
Total Budget for 1 full day in Pamukkale: 1543.29 TRY (178.79 USD)
Pamukkale Opening Hours
The opening hours of Pamukkale travertines and Hierapolis are from 6:30 AM to 8 PM every day of the week in the summer. For the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, the opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 7 PM every day. For Antique Pool, the opening hours are between 9 AM and 8 PM.
Pamukkale Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to enter the travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis is 110 TRY per person, and it includes both entries in one ticket, so there is no need to buy them separately.
The entrance fee to the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum is 8 TRY or just a little less than a Euro, while the entrance fee to the Antique Pool is 100 TRY per person and an extra 5 TRY for a locker if you wish to swim.
Is it Safe in Pamukkale, Turkey?
Like most places outside of tourist cities in Turkey, Pamukkale is very safe, and you won't be meeting any problematic characters while you are here. The locals are friendly, and most are genuinely helpful, unlike touts in disguise as helpful locals that you often encounter in other touristy places.
That said, always take precautions and be aware of your surroundings and belongings at all times. Trust your instincts, and if something doesn't look safe, do not pursue it. Other than that, you should find no trouble here.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Turkey?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Pamukkale, Turkey without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Pamukkale, Turkey:
There are three major carriers in Turkey: Turkcell, Vodafone, and Turk Telekom, all of which offer a pretty similar range of traveler's packages as well as coverage.
I personally use Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Package, which costs around 149 TRY for 30 days and comes with 20 GB, unlimited messaging, and 200 local minutes. This package is more than enough for my trip to Turkey.
You can also go cheaper with an 8 GB 30-day plan for 60 TRY, and the price goes down from there depending on the GB you want for your data sim card. Keep in mind that a foreign phone with a local sim card has a grace period of 120 days. So, if you are planning to stay longer than 120 days, you are going to have to register your phone with the authority, which is unlikely to happen for tourists like us.
For more information about Turkey's local SIM card: Turkey's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Pamukkale, Turkey?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Pamukkale, Turkey:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Pamukkale, Turkey in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
That is it for A Complete Guide to Backpacking Pamukkale, Turkey. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Pamukkale, Turkey! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Pamukkale, Turkey independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Turkey
Turkey is a country that stands in the middle of Europe and Asia. Empires rose and fell on this land, and in order to see Turkey as a whole, you will have to go beyond just Istanbul.
Here are a selection of articles and travel guides that you might need to further plan your trip to Turkey:
- First time visiting Turkey? Here are the 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Turkey.
- Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Turkey? One Month Itinerary for Turkey.
- Have a transit flight between IST and SAW airports in Istanbul? Here is a complete guide on How To Get From Sabiha Gokcen To Istanbul Airport And Vice Versa.
- Istanbul is the crown jewel historical city of Turkey and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There is a lot to do, and you are going to need a complete travel guide to see it all. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey.
- A lot of Roman influence can be seen throughout Turkey. One of the best places to see this is at the Ephesus ruins in Selcuk. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Selcuk and Ephesus.
- The southwestern coast of Turkey boasts some of the most stunning beaches, cliffs, and hiking trails in the country, and one of the best places you shouldn't miss is the Butterfly Valley. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to the Butterfly Valley, Turkey.
- Looking for a nice, quiet place by the beach to relax and do yoga for a few days in Turkey? There is no better place to be than Kabak. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Kabak, Turkey.
- You can't deny it, Cappadocia is one hell of a stunning place to travel to, and there are a ton of things you can do there. From riding a hot air balloon to hiking, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Cappadocia, Turkey.
- Mt. Nemrut and its massive stone statues of gods is one of the most unique places I have ever seen, but it is not the easiest place to visit. To save you the trouble, here is A Complete Travel Guide to Mt. Nemrut and all the information you need to make the journey as I did.
- If you are planning to travel to East Turkey, Van is one of the cities you must stop by. Known for its awesome breakfast and its location by the largest lake of Turkey, here is A Complete Travel Guide to Van, Turkey.
- Visiting Sumela Monastery is one of the highlights of traveling to Eastern Turkey, but due to its remote location, getting there can be tricky. Here is How to Travel to Sumela Monastery, Turkey, and all the information you need to make the trip happen.
- Ani, the ancient Armenian city in Kars, is the highlight of Eastern Turkey, but it can be quite tricky to visit unless you know how to do it properly. Here is How to Travel to Ani, Turkey and all the information you need to make the trip happen.
- Not convinced by my words? Maybe these photos of Turkey will help! 45 Photos that will inspire you to travel to Turkey.
- Since you are already all the way east, why not cross the border from Turkey to Georgia and make your way to Tbilisi, a vibrant capital city of Georgia? Check out my Georgia Travel Guide to plan your next trip to Georgia.
- For all articles about Turkey, visit the Turkey Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.