Pamukkale Tours From Istanbul by Plane
White terraces of travertine stepping down a hillside, formed over millennia by calcium-rich hot springs. The name means 'cotton castle', and from a distance that is exactly what it looks like.
- At the gate
- £280.50
- Allow
- 1h 30m
- District
- Closed
- Open daily
Pamukkale, in short
White terraces of travertine stepping down a hillside, formed over millennia by calcium-rich hot springs. The name means 'cotton castle', and from a distance that is exactly what it looks like.
Above the terraces sits Hierapolis, a Roman spa city with a theatre, a necropolis and a thermal pool you can swim in among fallen marble columns. Both are UNESCO-listed together.
What it costs
From u20ac330 separately, including flights. Included on the pass.
The day
Early hotel pick-up, a flight to Denizli and a drive to the site, returning the same evening. It is around 580 km from Istanbul u2014 about an hour in the air against roughly nine hours by road, which is why the flight is worth it.
Walking the terraces
You walk the travertines barefoot; shoes are not allowed, to protect the surface. The stone is ridged and slippery in the wet, and the water running over it is warm. Bring a bag for your shoes and a towel if you plan to go in.
Hierapolis and the antique pool
The Roman theatre above is well preserved and worth the climb. The antique pool u2014 where you swim over submerged columns from a collapsed portico u2014 usually carries a separate charge on the day.
Frequently asked questions
- If you are in Turkey for a week or more, yes. It is unlike anything else, and Hierapolis above adds a substantial Roman site.
- About 580 km from Istanbul u2014 roughly an hour by air, against around nine hours by road.
- You can walk the terraces barefoot in the warm water, and swim in the antique pool at Hierapolis, which usually has its own charge.
- The opposite u2014 shoes come off on the travertines to protect the surface. Bring a bag for them and a towel.