Pamukkale really means “cotton castle” in Turkish. Let’s look at some incredible activities there while you travel. Of course, there are also a number of other attractions there, such as the ancient city of Hieropolis and a few chilly caverns, in addition to the delightful thermal springs. Let’s explore all the interesting activities in Pamukkale.
How to reach to Pamukkale
Pamukkale is situated around 200 to 250 kilometers away from Antalya, Izmir, and Sparta. By bus, tour, or automobile, it is simple to get there in a day. Denizli, which is roughly 30 minutes away, is the largest city close to the cotton castle. If you’re planning on spending the night, we advise staying at Pamukkale itself, which is located directly below the warm pools. You may enter the hot baths and the ancient city of Hierapolis with your cotton castle admission ticket, which is a great benefit. Let’s now discover how to explore this natural treasure.
Cotton Castle
Because of the distinctive thermal pools that are hidden under the thick layers of white limestone, Pamukkale is known as the “cotton castle.” There are different temperatures in the mineral-rich pools; some feel like a conventional hot tub, while others are lukewarm or even chilly. When visiting the pools, remember to remove your shoes to protect the limestone. There are about 25 pools with blue water, 15 of which are swimmable. In addition, there were countless dried-up pools all around there. If you are lucky enough to go to Pamukkale after a lot of rain, you might see even more pools full of water. Drones are not permitted in Pamukkale.
Best time to visit the pools
We advise going to the thermal pools two hours before dusk. In this manner, you’ll see fewer crowds and get to experience one of the most breathtaking sunsets of your life from the natural pools. If you select this option, you will be able to visit the ancient city of Hieropolis before visiting the pools. Halfway down the slope, you will find these thermal hot pools, from which you may enjoy the sunset.
Hierapolis – Holy City
Many visitors are unaware that there is a whole city hidden beneath Pamukkale’s hot springs. This city, known as Hierapolis or Holy City, is about 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles) long. Even from Denizli, 20 kilometers away from the site, the city can be seen due to its size. Since 1988, when the Holy City was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been given extra protection to preserve its beauty and history. Since there is so much to discover in the historic city, spare yourself at least a few hours to explore it. You can find more Roman ruins, the museum, an old theater, prominent streets, and more.
Cleopatra Pools, Pamukkale
While visiting Hierapolis, you can also spend some time at the Cleopatra pools. These green swimming pools were built artificially. The water has submerged ancient columns that fell from the city during an earthquake. This means that when you dive into these pools, you are actually swimming through history.
Hierapolis Museum
In the Hierapolis Museum, there are a ton of sculptures that look like they belong in the theater or are actually parts of it. They all ended up in this tiny museum. You should absolutely check it out because it’s included in your entry ticket and it’s extremely stunning.
Kaklik Cave, Pamukkale
A little-known treasure of the Pamukkale region is the Kaklik Cave. This cave is easily accessible by automobile and is about a 40-minute drive from the town of Pamukkale. Not many people know about the cave. There is a magnificent underground cotton palace as you enter the cave. This location has layers and layers of limestone, much like the Pamukkale thermal baths. But all around the limestone are cascading waterfalls. The cave has a maximum depth of 14 meters and was formed about 2.5 million years ago. Make sure to remove your shoes before entering the area because the waterfalls pour over the walkway. In Kaklik Caves, there are hot pools like those in Pamukkale, but they are underground.