Pamukkale (Turkey) is a unique natural site located in the southwestern part of the country, 16 km from the city of Denizli. The uniqueness of the area lies in its geothermal springs, formed among travertine deposits. Translated from Turkish, Pamukkale means “Cotton Castle”, and this name perfectly reflects the appearance of the attraction. The site, which has no analogues in the whole world, is under the protection of UNESCO and annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists vacationing in the resorts of Turkey.
To appreciate the beauty of the attraction, just look at the photo of Pamukkale. The site already existed in ancient times: it is known that in the 2nd century BC, King Eumenes II of Pergamum built the city of Hierapolis near the area. But how did the natural complex itself form?
For thousands of years, thermal waters with temperatures from 30 to 100 °C washed the surface of the plateau. Over time, miniature mineral pools began to form here, bordered by travertine and descending in a bizarre cascade down the slope. Due to the high concentration of calcium bicarbonate in the water, over the centuries, the mountain surface was covered with snow-white deposits.
Today, in the territory where Pamukkale is located, there are 17 full-fledged mineral springs rich in useful chemical elements. Huge flows of foreigners who want to see the unique attraction and swim in its thermal pools have given an impetus to the development of tourist infrastructure. Hotels and restaurants, shops and souvenir shops have appeared in Pamukkale, which allowed tourists to stay here for a long time. One day on vacation in the Cotton Castle is clearly not enough: in addition to the natural complex itself, there are several interesting historical monuments near the object, which it would be a great omission not to get acquainted with.
Points of interest in the surrounding area
Photos of Pamukkale in Turkey managed to fascinate millions of travelers and every year continue to attract more and more curious travelers to the sights. An intricate natural complex combined with ancient buildings becomes a real tourist treasure. What historical monuments can you see near the thermal resort?
Amphitheater
Among the sights of Pamukkale in Turkey, first of all, the ancient amphitheater stands out, which is one of the largest in the country. Over the centuries, the structure has suffered serious damage, mostly due to powerful earthquakes. The theater was restored several times, but the building was again and again exposed to the natural elements. In the 11th century, the building experienced its final decline and it began to be used for domestic needs. The last reconstruction of the amphitheater took more than 50 years and was completed only in 2013.
Hierapolis, located near the thermal springs, was very popular with the Romans, who could not imagine their leisure time without spectacular performances. The amphitheater, which can accommodate up to 15 thousand spectators, for a long time served as a platform for gladiatorial fights. To this day, the building has reached in good condition, which was facilitated by long restoration work. Even today, excellent acoustics can be observed inside the building. There are also preserved spectator seats opposite the stage, intended for high-ranking visitors.
Temples of Hierapolis
Pamukkale sights are also represented by the ruins of ancient temples of Hierapolis. At the beginning of the 3rd century, a temple dedicated to the ancient Greek god of light and arts, Apollo, was erected on the territory of the ancient city. The shrine became the largest religious structure in Hierapolis, but over the centuries, like the amphitheater, it was destroyed by numerous earthquakes.
In the 4th century, another church appeared in the city, built in honor of the Apostle Philip. About 2 millennia ago, the Romans executed a saint in Hierapolis, and until recently, no researcher could find his grave. In 2016, Italian archaeologists, who had been excavating the monastery for more than 30 years, still managed to find the chapel-tomb of the apostle, which made a real sensation in research circles and made the Temple of Philip a truly sacred place.
The Temple of Pluto, the ruins of which are located in the ancient city, is also of interest. In the myths of Ancient Greece, the description of the realm of the dead with a mysterious entrance located somewhere underground is repeatedly found. In 2013, Italian researchers found the so-called Pluto Gate in Pamukkale. Among the ruins under the stands of the temple, they managed to find a deep well, at the bottom of which they found the carcasses of dead birds and a statue of Cerberus (symbol of Pluto). The high concentration of carbon dioxide in the walls of the well, which could kill an animal in a matter of minutes, left no doubt among the ancient inhabitants that it was in Hierapolis that the gates to the other world were located.
St. Philip’s Martyrium
The building was built at the beginning of the 5th century in memory of all the martyrs who gave their lives for the faith. The shrine is built on the very spot where St. Philip was crucified by the Romans in 87 AD. The monastery is of great importance in the Christian world, and every year pilgrims from different countries come to its ruins to honor the memory of the apostle. The ruins of Martiria are located on a hill, you can go to them by ancient steps. The structure itself was seriously damaged during the earthquakes, and only fragments of walls and columns have survived to this day. On some stones there are Christian symbols.
Cleopatra’s Pool
The Cleopatra pool has long been an integral attraction in Pamukkale. Built over a thermal spring that provides healing water, the reservoir was half destroyed during an earthquake in the 7th century. Parts of columns and walls that fell into the water were not removed: they are clearly visible in the photo of the Cleopatra pool in Pamukkale in Turkey. There is a legend that Cleopatra herself liked to visit the spring, but there are no reliable facts confirming the visits of the Egyptian queen.
During the year, the temperature of the bubbling thermal waters is kept at 37 °C. The deepest point of the pool reaches 3 m. Visiting the spring has a healing effect on the whole body and promises to heal skin, neurological, joint diseases, as well as ailments associated with the work of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, etc. In general, mineral waters can rejuvenate and tone the whole body. However, to achieve the desired effect, the Cleopatra Pool in Pamukkale in Turkey needs to be visited several times in a row.
Pamukkale in winter: should I come here
Many tourists are interested in whether to go to Pamukkale in winter. You will not be able to answer this question unequivocally, since such a trip has both advantages and disadvantages. The weather is primarily negative: during the winter months, the average daytime temperature in Pamukkale ranges from 10-15 °C. But at the same time, the temperature of the thermal springs remains the same as in summer (about 37 °C). The water itself is warm and comfortable, but you can freeze very quickly when you get out of it. If such a temperature difference is not a problem, then you can safely go to the thermal resort and in the low season, because otherwise the trip will leave only positive impressions.
Whether it is possible to swim in Pamukkale in winter, we have already found out. Now it remains to understand what to do after the thermal treatments. As we pointed out above, in the vicinity of this natural complex of Turkey there are a lot of interesting sights, which are especially convenient to visit in winter. First of all, there are much fewer tourists in Pamukkale during this period. Secondly, the absence of scorching rays of the sun and heat will allow you to slowly and comfortably explore all the ancient monuments. In addition, local hotels offer good discounts in winter, so you can also save money.
Where to stay
In the area where Pamukkale is located in Turkey, there is a fairly rich selection of hotels, both budget and elite. If the main purpose of your trip is to visit the natural site itself and its surrounding attractions, then it is best to stay in a small village located right at the foot of the snow-white slopes. The cost of staying in local establishments starts from 60 TL per night in a double room. In the higher class options with a swimming pool and free breakfast included in the price, renting a double room will cost an average of 150 TL.
If you are looking forward to a comfortable stay at Pamukkale Hotel with its own thermal pools, then you should look for accommodation in the area of the resort village of Karahayit, located 7 km north of the Cotton Castle. The price of accommodation for two people in such hotels is 350-450 TL per night. The price includes access to the on-site thermal pools and free breakfast (some hotels also include dinner). You can get from Karahayit to Pamukkale and the ancient sights by taxi or public transport.
How to get
To understand how to get to Pamukkale, it is important to indicate the starting point. Most tourists come to the sights as part of an excursion from the resorts of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The distance from Pamukkale to the most popular tourist cities is approximately the same:
- Antalya-240 km,
- Kemer – 275 km,
- Marmaris is 210 km away.
The property can be reached in approximately 3-3.5 hours.
If you are planning an independent trip to the springs, you can use the intercity buses of the Pamukkale company. There are daily flights from almost all cities in southwestern Turkey. A detailed schedule and ticket prices can be found on the company’s official website. www.pamukkale.com.tr.
If you intend to travel to Pamukkale from Istanbul (distance 570 km), the easiest way is to use the air routes. The nearest airport to the natural site is located in Denizli. Every day, several flights of Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines depart from Istanbul airport in a given direction.
- Travel time is from 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- The ticket price varies between 100-170 TL.
Guided tours
Pamukkale is considered one of the most popular sightseeing routes, so it is not difficult to buy a tour to the natural object. You can buy vouchers either from hotel guides or from street travel agencies outside the hotel territory. As a rule, an excursion to Pamukkale in Turkey is of two types – one-day and two-day. The first option is suitable for tourists who have arrived on vacation for a short time and want to get acquainted with the attraction in a hurry. The second type of tour will appeal to those travelers who want to visit everywhere and for a long time.
If you are wondering which resort is closest to Pamukkale in Turkey, please note that it is Marmaris. Although Antalya is not much further from the object. Most of all, the road will take most time for tourists leaving for an excursion from Kemer and Alanya.
The price of a trip to Pamukkale in different resorts varies approximately in the same range. First of all, the price depends on the duration of the tour and the actual seller. All tourists should know that guided tours are always more expensive than in local Turkish agencies.
- On average, a one — day trip will cost 250-400 TL, and a two-day trip will cost 400-600 TL.
- Entrance to the Cleopatra Pool is always charged separately (50 TL).
Regardless of which tourist city you are going to Pamukkale from, departure for the tour will take place early in the morning (around 05:00). As a rule, a one-day tour includes a comfortable bus ride, a Russian-speaking guide, breakfast and lunch / dinner. The price of the two-day excursion additionally includes an overnight stay at a local hotel.
Pamukkale Turkey tour begins with a tour of the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. Then tourists go to the Cotton Castle itself, where they take off their shoes, walk through the shallow thermal springs and take photos. And then the guide takes everyone to the Cleopatra pool. If the tour is one-day, then the event is quite dynamic, but if the trip is two-day, then no one is in a hurry. Absolutely all excursions are accompanied by multiple visits to shops and factories both on the way to the sights and on the way back.
Useful tips
- When traveling to Pamukkale in Turkey, be sure to bring a pair of sunglasses. White calcium deposits in a Cotton Castle reflect light sharply in sunny weather, which irritates the eye mucosa.
- If you plan to swim in the Cleopatra pool, then you should take care of the necessary bathing accessories (towel, swimsuit, slates) in advance. On the territory of the complex, of course, there are shops, but the prices in them are exorbitant.
- We have already found out where the closest route is to Pamukkale in Turkey. But no matter where you’re going, it’s still a long road ahead, so be sure to stock up on bottled water.
- If you decide to go to Pamukkale as part of an excursion, then be prepared for frequent stops at local factories and shops. We strictly do not recommend buying goods in such places, since the price tags in them are inflated several times. There are numerous cases of deception of tourists at the wine factory, when they give a taste of high-quality delicious wine at the tasting, and in bottles they sell a completely different drink in terms of content, issued as the original.
- Don’t be afraid to buy a tour in Pamukkale (Turkey) from street agencies. Claims that your insurance won’t work on such trips are myths and legends of tour guides who try their best not to miss out on potential customers.
