How to Spend a Perfect Day Out in Pamukkale

Hierapolis-Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and with good reason. If Pamukkale were only one of nature's marvels — with dozens of pools lying in white travertines cascading down to the ground — it would still be one of the world's most beautiful sites. But what makes it all the more special is the ancient city of Hierapolis sitting right on top of the travertines, and then the natural thermal springs immediately surrounding them, including the legendary Cleopatra's Pool. This truly is a bucket-list must-see for any traveller.

The cotton-white travertines of Pamukkale are practically surreal — hot pools form on each shelf and cascade down like a waterfall from the ancient city of Hierapolis above, all the way to the ground below. The travertines have been formed over millennia by the precipitation of calcium at the mouth of the hot springs, causing sediment to form. White travertines are the purest form of travertine in the world, meaning that the minerals in the hot springs of Pamukkale are uncontaminated by anything else — truly purifying your body in a way that few other places on Earth can claim.

The terrace pools are largely closed to protect their beauty, but a couple of pools are open for visitors to walk in barefoot. You will feel the sediment changing under your feet, meaning you are essentially walking on fresh rock that has never been walked on before. As your feet stir up the limestone, new rock forms for the next visitor.

The healing power of Pamukkale has been known for millennia. The travertines have been a source of wellness for over 2,000 years. People with allergies or inflammations report remarkable results after bathing in the travertine pools, as the calcium-laced waters seep into the pores. Visiting in the summer is particularly advantageous — sweating opens the pores and allows the minerals to penetrate more effectively. As you move from pool to pool and spring to spring, you will feel the stress and pain drift away, just as visitors have felt since Hierapolis was originally built for exactly this healing purpose.

It is no surprise that Hierapolis was known in antiquity as having the most wonderful baths in the ancient world — many of them are still practically intact today, along with a gymnasium, library, temples and much more. The city was a renowned healing centre where doctors treated patients in the thermal waters, and a massive city grew up around this function as people flocked here seeking cures and longer lives. When you visit today, you will walk along the main street of the city, through the Frontinus Gate, past the Temple of Apollo, past the ancient Pluto's Gate, past the Nymphaeum, through the vast Necropolis, and finally reach the spectacularly intact ancient theatre — one of the best-preserved in the world.

Swim in a massive hot spring as you wade past ancient Roman columns — bathing in the same healing waters preferred by Cleopatra herself. This truly is a treat: an ancient spring that bears the traces and the name of its legendary past, located on the other side of the hill from the travertines. The water temperature is a constant warm 35°C, and the pool is filled with submerged Roman columns and ruins from the ancient Hierapolis, which collapsed into the pool during an earthquake. What a way to experience history.

There is more to do in and around Pamukkale, including the natural underground Kaklık Cave and the ancient city of Aphrodisias nearby (itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Plan at least a full day — this is one of the most memorable places you will ever visit. Turquaz Travel offers guided Pamukkale day trips from both Antalya and Bodrum.