Pamukkale: What to See & Do

As you approach Pamukkale from Denizli, you'll see the white calcium travertines high on the hillside.

As you approach Pamukkale Town, at the base of the steep hillside, these calcium formations take on definition and beauty.

The principal sights are above the travertines, on the plateau half way up the mountainside. There are three entrances to the plateau, all of them with their difficulties. As it is an archeological site and tourist attraction, you'll pay a fee (YTL5 per person) to enter at any one:

— Pamukkale Town: from the town you can walk up the travertine slope in your bare feet, carrying your shoes, to the top of the plateau in about 15 minutes.

— North Entrance: drive from Pamukkale Town toward Karahayit for about two km to reach the best entrance. Pay the fee, then drive for one km through the vast necropolis (cemetery) to the top of the travertines, sacred pool, and ruins of Hierapolis. Unfortunately, there is very little public transport along this 3-km (2-mile) route. You may need to take a taxi (if you can find one).

— South Entrance: poorly planned from the outset, the South Entrance requires you to drive to a large parking lot south of the plateau, then walk in the hot sun for 15 minutes to reach the plateau. Archeologists are now excavating in this area, making it even more difficult to reach the plateau, so avoid the South Entrance for now.

Hierapolis
The Roman spa town of Hierapolis grew wealthy from its rich-but-sick visitors. Its vast necropolis (cemetery), colonnaded street, baths (now the Archeological Museum) and grand theater are well worth touring. More...

Sacred Pool
The sacred center of Roman Hierapolis, this broad pool of warm mineral water, surrounded by oleanders and littered with tumbled marble columns, is the best place to experience the spa's waters—for a fee. More...

Travertines
Beneath the plateau are these natural terraces and pools of gleaming white calcium precipitated from the cooling mineral water. Once rippling and splashing with water, they are now largely dry and brittle, but still a sight. More...

Roman Theater
The great theater of Hierapolis, up the hillside from the Sacred Pool and the Archeological Museum, was beautifully restored by Italian stonemasons in 1972, and is well worth the walk up the hill to see. More...

Archeological Museum
The former Roman baths of Hierapolis have been converted to a nice little museum of artifacts discovered among the extensive ruins of Hierapolis. More...

Karahayit
The town on the plateau, west of Hierapolis, now has a dozen luxury hotels, but less character than ever before. More...

Hierapolis Ruins

Sacred Pool

Roman Theater

Hierapolis Museum

Travertines

Pamukkale Transport

Pamukkale Homepage

Aphrodisias

Denizli

Aegean Turkey

Where to Go in Turkey

Above, visitors enjoying the view from the top row of seats at Hierapolis' Roman theater.
Below, splashing along the barefoot walk through the travertines.