Calcium-rich thermal water has been flowing over the cliffs above Denizli for tens of thousands of years, depositing brilliant white travertine in pools and cascades that look, from a distance, like a hillside covered in snow. Above the terraces sits Hierapolis, a Hellenistic and Roman city that was the ancient world’s premier spa resort.
Together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is genuinely extraordinary, even after you’ve seen the photographs a hundred times.
- Region
- Aegean / Denizli
- UNESCO status
- World Heritage Site
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Tip
- Go barefoot on the terraces
The travertine terraces
The terraces are the reason everyone comes, and they live up to the hype. Shoes must be removed before entering, and you can wade through the shallow warm pools on designated paths. The water temperature is around 35°C, the calcium deposits are brilliant white, and the views across the Denizli plain from the top are remarkable.
Visit early morning or evening to avoid the midday heat and crowds. The terraces are lit after dark, making for a surreal night walk.
Hierapolis ancient city
Above the terraces, Hierapolis is a remarkably intact Roman city. The theatre, built in the 2nd century AD, is particularly well preserved. The enormous necropolis — thousands of sarcophagi and tomb monuments stretching across the hillside — is haunting and atmospheric in the early morning.
The Archaeology Museum, housed in the former Roman baths complex, contains exceptional relief sculptures and artefacts from the site.
Cleopatra’s Pool
The outdoor thermal pool at the Hierapolis Antique Pool hotel contains actual fragments of Roman columns — submerged when an earthquake toppled them — and the warm, slightly fizzy mineral water maintains a constant 36°C. You can swim among the ruins for an entrance fee.
Pamukkale in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Pamukkale
2Yes — you can wade barefoot through the terraces. For a full swim, the Cleopatra Pool (Antique Pool) allows swimming among Roman ruins for an entrance fee.
Most visitors do a day trip from Denizli or nearby towns. An overnight allows you to see the terraces at sunset and sunrise without the day-trip crowds.