Things to Do in Pamukkale: White Travertine Terraces & Hierapolis

What to see in Pamukkale — top sights

• The travertine terraces — white mineral pools stepping down the hillside, crossed barefoot on a marked route.
• Hierapolis — the Greco-Roman spa city above the terraces, part of the same UNESCO listing.
• The Hierapolis theatre — a large Roman theatre with a well-preserved and elaborately carved stage building.
• The Antique Pool (Cleopatra's Pool) — a warm spring pool with submerged fragments of ancient columns, open for swimming for a separate fee.
• The necropolis — one of the largest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia, stretching along the approach to the city.
• Hierapolis Archaeology Museum — housed in the site's restored Roman baths.

Why visit Pamukkale

It is one of the few places where a natural wonder and a major archaeological site occupy exactly the same hillside — the Romans built a spa city here precisely because of the springs that created the terraces.

FAQ

Can you swim at Pamukkale?

You can wade in designated pools on the terraces, and swim in the separate Antique Pool at Hierapolis, which has submerged ancient column fragments and charges its own entry fee. Shoes must be removed to walk on the travertine.

How long do you need at Pamukkale?

Half a day covers the terraces and the main part of Hierapolis. A full day is worth it if you want the museum, the theatre and the necropolis as well.