Holiday in Pamukkale

About Pamukkale

Pamukkale, literally translated as Cotton Castle, is one of the most impressive natural wonders of Turkey: snow-white travertine terraces stretch over 160 meters down the slope, filled with turquoise-blue, mineral-rich thermal water that has been bubbling to the surface from the Earth's interior for millennia. The surreal landscape resembles a frozen cascade of cotton and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of overwhelming beauty. Directly above the terraces lies the ancient city of Hierapolis, founded as a spa in the 2nd century BC. The ruins include an impressive theater for 12,000 spectators, an extensive necropolis with over 1,200 graves, and the colonnades of the ancient main street. The absolute highlight is the Cleopatra Pool (Antique Pool), where you can swim among sunken ancient columns in 36-degree warm thermal water — a unique bathing experience in the world. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the tourist groups have disappeared and the light bathes the terraces in golden and pink hues. To protect the delicate travertine terraces, they can only be entered barefoot. It is possible to visit as a day trip from Antalya (3 hours) or Izmir (3.5 hours), but an overnight stay in the nearby village is worthwhile to enjoy the sunset over the terraces in peace. Pamukkale is a place that must be seen — photos simply do not do reality justice.