Pamukkale village has some charming hotels and pensions, and despite the constant coach parties it’s a good place to get a taste of village life, if you steer clear of the main road. Several other attractions are within easy reach, including Afrodisias, one of Turkey’s most complete and absorbing archaeological sites, and Laodicea, one of the biblical Seven Churches of Asia.
Long before Unesco, the Romans recognised the appeal of the site and built a large spa city, Hierapolis, to take advantage of the water’s curative powers. The tourist boom of the 1980s and 1990s had a detrimental effect on the site, as a line of hotels above the travertines drained away the waters, leaving the travertines dry, dull and dirtied. In a drastic attempt to preserve the site, all the hotels have been demolished and visitors can no longer bathe in the pools; however, the flow of water is still very slow, and it may be that the real culprits are the many swimming pools in the village below.
Calcium’s not just good for bones. If the many habitués of the spa town of Pamukkale are to be believed, it works wonders on muscles and sinews too. ‘Cotton Castle’, 19km north of Denizli, has built a centuries-long reputation on the restorative qualities of its calcium-rich waters. The unique formations of travertine (calcium carbonate) shelves, pools and stalactites, which hug the ridge above town like a white scar, were created by the area’s warm mineral water, which cools as it cascades over the cliff edge and deposits its calcium. It’s a strange piece of landscape unlike anything else you’ll see in Turkey, and it now appears on the Unesco World Heritage list.
The pools of Pamukkale
Pamukkale,
Stunning scenery. A bathe in the waters to wash off the sunbaked theraputic mud covering ones body, leaving the skin with an unknown smoothness and wrinkle free!
Highly recommended!
This place will blow your mind! Entrance is 20 TL and entrance to the cleopatra pool is 30 TL (which makes no sense but oh well).
We loved this place and would go back in a heartbeat! Just absolutely amazing. When we went it wasn't crowded at all and we had an amazing time.
Just an FYI, although…
When we were driving to Pamukkale we never imagined what was ahead of us.First the white hill which at first sight seemed covered with snow. We soon learnt it was not. It is the mineral composition that gives it the white color.
The site not only has the thermal water falling and taking that clear turquoise color that transports you…
Pamukkale is a very nice place to relax. I really enjoy my stay in this place. Make sure that you are familiar or at least know what you expect on your arrival if you are planning to have thermal bath. Make sure to choose for preference for a good experience.
Pamukkale is a nice place to travel in Turkey. Near the natural little baths are the Pool of Cleopatra and an Ancient Roman site. You are not allowed to acces some of the terraces. It's better if you visit the ancient city first and you descend the hill to the terraces.
very lovely views, and phenomenal how the water alone has made such magnificent scultures, the plase is however heaving with russians in speedos and loud pushy orientals, but suck it up and explore as it is litrally one in the world, most tours operae on a two day one night, where you stay in the hotel locally, the only one…
The pools get very crowded with large coach trips. The entrance fee is quite expensive but the visit is a just when you are in Pamukkale.
Saw many people walking up to the top of cotton castle from afar. The distance was long and the weather was very hot that day. Thankfully, we had a tour coach to bring us to the top. Certain part had dried up. But overall the view was still beautiful. We had to walk barefoot on rough ground to get to…
This is a beautiful, wonderful place – anyone would be awed by it, and we loved it, as did our children aged 11 & 13, who agreed it was worth getting up at 6.45 to see.
The site itself is very accessible, and it is best to wander around in your own group to soak it up and enjoy the…
Visited in September 2013, and was really looking forward to seeing the pools in real life. Too many visitors in one day actually spoiled the experience for me. It was impossible to take a decent photograph without it being photo bombed by inconsiderate tourists. The last straw was finding not one, but two used plasters in the mud when attempting…