I was in the Southern part of Turkey for my winter vacation this year for 10 days; Antalya and Pamukkale. Being part of the Mediterranean part of Turkey, Antalya has a Mediterranean climate and winters are therefore generally mild and warm compared to other parts of Turkey. Pamukkale, Turkey had slightly cooler temperatures than Antalya but as someone who lives in Norway, this December weather in Antalya and Pamukkale was like a summer in Norway. Check out my other blog posts to learn about Antalya and what I did in the beautiful coastal city. 🌴☀️
Antalya, Turkey | 7 Things to Do and Tips
Turkish Food | What I ate in Antalya, Turkey as a Vegan
Introduction to Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern Turkey. The word “cotton castle” describes how Pamukkale looks so well. It is famous for its white travertine terraces, formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate from the mineral-rich thermal waters that flow down the hillside. Pamukkale is also home to the ancient city of Hierapolis, which has many historical and cultural attractions. In this post, I will tell you what you can expect from visiting Pamukkale, Turkey, and what I did there!
The travertine terraces of Pamukkale. Doesn’t it really look like cotton castles? I love the name.
Pamukkale, Turkey | Thermal Pools, Hot Springs, and More
Thermal Pools and Hot Springs
One of the main reasons to visit Pamukkale is to enjoy the thermal pools and hot springs that have been used for healing and relaxation since ancient times. The water temperature ranges from 35°C to 100°C, which is 95°F to 212°F. But don’t worry, the waters you will be able to dip your body will have the temperature regulated so you won’t burn yourself! It contains various minerals that are beneficial for the skin and the body.
There are many places where you can enjoy the beautiful natural spa of thermal pools. You can visit the nearby spas and resorts that offer modern facilities and treatments. But you can also swim in the travertine pools which are open to the public. The Travertines of Pamukkale have a stunning blue color and a soft texture where I dipped my feet and legs in the hot springs. It was a very special experience to have a natural foot spa while looking at the panoramic view of the city of Pamukkale.
The reason why I only dipped my feet is because it was a bit cold for me. When I visited during December, it was slightly cold to take off all my clothes and change into a swimsuit. Also, the Travertines of Pamukkale are quite shallow (about 20-60 cm or 8-24 inches deep) so it is perfect for dipping your feet and legs but not the whole body. However, there are places like Cleopatra Antique Pool which is like a swimming pool with pleasant water temperature to submerge yourself and enjoy the spa. My parents enjoyed swimming there.
So let me explain a little more about the Travertines of Pamukkale and Cleopatra Antique Pools.
Travertines of Pamukkale
The travertines of Pamukkale are the most iconic and spectacular feature of the site. They are formed by the evaporation of the water that flows from the hot springs, leaving behind layers of white calcium carbonate. The travertines have different shapes and sizes, creating a unique landscape of thermal pools that have hot springs. And that resembles a frozen waterfall or a cotton castle. The travertines are also constantly changing, as new ones are formed and old ones are eroded by the water.
From the Travertines of Pamukkale, you see the whole city of Pamukkale.
A Panoramic View of the City, Pamukkale
Before coming to Travertines of Pamukkale, I’d read a lot about how beautiful and unique of a sight the travertine terraces are. But I never imagined what a spectacular sight it would be to have a panoramic view of the whole Pamukkale sight would be. Look at that!
Be Careful Walking
Be a little more careful with walking around here. People usually take off their jackets, socks, and shoes by the bench in front of the Travertines of Pamukkale. Then people walk around in the Travertines of Pamukkale. Some signs say that the floor is slippery, so be careful! There is some moss growing on the floor making the floor very slippery. And although “Pamukkale” means “Cotton Castle” and it looks soft, remember it is made of rocks! So to walk on that rocky floor with bare feet, it feels spikey and painful. I walked around slowly on those spikey and slippery floors. The hot springs felt pleasantly warm or lukewarm in December so you might want to walk deeper into the thermal pools.
Travertines of Pamukkale during the sunset or the sunrise is said to be the most beautiful time to visit.
Tips
It is often said that the Travertines of Pamukkale are the most beautiful during the sunset or the sunrise. I was there during the daytime, and I thought it was absolutely stunning regardless. I do think that it might be a good time to go at sunrise because there will be fewer people and you’ll be able to enjoy the sight in peace and able to take pictures without people in it.
Cleopatra Antique Pools
Cleopatra and the Roman History
The Cleopatra Antique Pools are a historical and luxurious attraction in Pamukkale. They are also known as the Pamukkale Antique Pool and are located within the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis. The thermal pool is filled with clear and warm natural hot springs water, which is said to have therapeutic properties. The pool has ancient columns and stones, which are ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Apollo. I found it really cool! It would literally be like being part of the history. According to legend, the thermal pool was a gift from Mark Antony to Cleopatra, who bathed in the hot springs to preserve her beauty. It is said that Cleopatra often enjoyed her bath in Pamukkale.
Enjoy the Pools like Cleopatra
There is an entrance fee to swim in the thermal pools, and there will be changing rooms and shoe cabinets for you when you get in. It is not allowed to take pictures at the Cleopatra Antique Pools, so unfortunately I don’t have pictures to share here. But you can get an idea of how it looks if you search for “Cleopatra Antique Pools” and there will be some pictures on the internet. My parents swam in the hot springs and enjoyed their natural spas like Cleopatra and Romans once did.
Tips to Cleopatra Antique Pools
Bring your swimsuit with you! My parents were prepared for this, so they brought one. They sell some swimsuits at the pools, but they are overpriced and have very limited design options. I decided to skip swimming in the pools because of that. I hope I listened to my parents and brought swimsuits with me. The hot springs waters are just pleasant warm temperatures for you to swim idyllic, not too hot or not too cold.
Hierapolis
When you research about Pamukkale, the Travertines of Pamukkale steal all the show. I agree that the thermal pools and the hot springs are very unique. But let’s acknowledge the ruins of the ancient city, Hierapolis.
Discover the ancient city of Hierapolis, which was founded by the kings of Pergamon in the 2nd century BC. Hierapolis was a prosperous and influential city, with temples, theatres, baths, and a large necropolis – an ancient historical graveyard. You can also visit the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, which displays artifacts and sculptures from the site. It felt unreal to see the ruins of the ancient city with palm trees.
Do you see the columns behind the palm trees and me?
Natural Park at Pamukkale
When you visit Pamukkale, Turkey, you can also explore the Natural Park, which is an interesting green area with a lake at the base of the travertine terraces. The white mountain in the background is the “cotton castle” Pamukkale, the layers of white calcium carbonate. It was a unique sight to see animals such as ducks, geese, and some other birds I’d never seen before in the turquoise-colored water lake! This park was at a 10-minute walking distance from the hotel we were staying at, so we went for a stroll every morning and evening.
Do you know the name of this bird on the right? If you do, please advise me!
Restaurants in Pamukkale
As the city of Pamukkale in Turkey is famous for all the sites I mentioned above, it gathers many tourists. There were many vegetarian and vegan options as a result, to my surprise. There are streets with many restaurants and cafes just by the entrance to the Natural Park. According to my research on Google Maps as a Google Local Travel Guide, most of the restaurants and cafes seemed to have good food and service. And the places we’d been to during our stays in Pamukkale were all good. We also had a Turkish breakfast buffet at the hotel we were staying at, and I ate so much every morning. I miss the breakfast already! So if you are a vegetarian or a vegan like me, you’d have no issue finding something to eat for yourself. In fact, I had the opposite problem. It was difficult to choose from so many options of restaurants.
The Turkish breakfast I gorged myself on every morning. The assortment of herbs, olives, salads, and spreads is impressive.
Read more about what I ate in Turkey as a vegan here.
Turkish Food | What I ate in Antalya, Turkey as a Vegan
Frequently Asked Questions on Pamukkale
So there are a few questions that are asked frequently. I’ll finish off this post on Pamukkale, Turkey, with answers to these questions.
How to Get to Pamukkale
We departed from Antalya to Pamukkale in Turkey by driving. We rented a car and drove for about three hours to get there. But some buses drive between Pamukkale and Antalya. If you are trying to visit Pamukkale from Istanbul, there are domestic flights you can take. It is only an hour’s flight, though you have to take into account going to and being at the airport. By car, it is about 6-7 hours of drive from Istanbul to Pamukkale.
How Many Days in Pamukkale
How many days do you need in Pamukkale? We were there for a night and two days in Pamukkale. I found it a perfect duration to stay in the town. On the first day you arrive, you might just want to take it easy by going on a walk to the Natural Park. Then on the second day, you could take a tour of the whole Pamukkale, which includes the Travertines of Pamukkale, Cleopatra Antique Pools, Hierapolis, and its museums. We loved idly walking around the travertine terraces, taking pictures, and dipping our feet. My parents also spent some time at the Cleopatra Antique Pools enjoying the spa. The Hierapolis is also quite a large site that you could spend a whole day wondering about if you are very into history. It seems like some package tours take a day trip to Pamukkale, though. Do whatever fits your schedule and your preference, but I enjoyed our two-day trip to Pamukkale.
My Thoughts on Pamukkale, Turkey
It was a very unique experience. Before going here, I didn’t know a place like this existed in the world. This is why I travel; The world is full of surprises and things I never knew before. It is surprising that after three decades of my existence on this planet, I still constantly discover new things and new places.
To give you my last honest opinion on this city to finish off today’s post, it was quite saddening to see the city itself dwindling, apart from the tourist places. This might be because we were there during the off-season and therefore had fewer tourists, but it wasn’t difficult to find empty, abandoned, or poorly taken care of houses in the town. It also had a smell of briquet all over the village. We didn’t want to breathe deeply on the streets in Pamukkale. It looked like a dying and dwindling town. It’s not the kind of problem that exists only in Pamukkale, but many villages and smaller cities around the world face the same challenges. Young people are leaving small towns for big cities for jobs and there are only old people left in the town. Tourism seemed like the only industry that the village of Pamukkale was surviving on. I don’t know how to tackle this problem. But behind the beautiful tourist places, the other side of the village was sad-looking. Don’t get surprised when you arrive at the city if it looks too dead.
If you enjoyed this blog post, there are many more pictures and my thoughts on my Instagram!
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