Discover Turkey
Pamukkale
Snow-white travertine terraces filled with warm thermal water, with the ruins of ancient Hierapolis on the same hill.
Pamukkale – “cotton castle” in Turkish – lies near the city of Denizli in south-western Turkey. For thousands of years, thermal springs rich in calcium carbonate have left white deposits that formed cascading terraces and pools of turquoise water.
Hierapolis and Cleopatra’s Pool
Above the terraces lie the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient spa city with a theatre, a vast necropolis and monumental gates. Pamukkale and Hierapolis are jointly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the so-called Antique Pool, also known as Cleopatra’s Pool, you can swim in warm water among submerged ancient columns.
Useful tips
Visitors walk the terraces barefoot to protect the travertine, so bring a bag for your shoes. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant; in summer, plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon, when the light is also at its best.
