Posted inGuides Travel Turkiye

The Spas of Hierapolis | Hierapolis-Pamukkale Natural Park | list of things to see

No Comments
The Spas of Hierapolis | Hierapolis-Pamukkale Natural Park | list of things to see

Last Updated on: 27th October 2025, 08:43 pm

You may have heard of Pamukkale the travertine terraces, but what you might not know is that Pamukkale is the name of a district in the province of Denizli in the south western part of Türkiye (Turkey). The travertine terraces by the same name are just one of the attractions there. There are several other attractions on site, all worth visiting.

The Spas of Hierapolis/Hierapolis-Pamukkale Natural Park

The modern-day natural park of Hierapolis-Pamukkale in Pamukkale, Türkiye, is the UNESCO world heritage ancient Spas of Hierapolis. It contains the Pamukkale travertine terrace, Pamukkale Antique Pool (also known as the Cleopatra’s Pool), an amphitheater, a museum, and many other ancient ruins set among beautiful, hilly natural landscapes with large grey boulders that stand out among the green vegetation.

The hilly landscapes of Hierapolis-Pamukkale park covered in with green vegetation, dotted with small yellow flowers and large, grey stones on a grey cloudy day in Türkiye.
The hilly landscapes of Hierapolis-Pamukkale park covered in with green vegetation, dotted with small yellow flowers and large, grey stones on a grey cloudy day in Türkiye.
The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale on a cloudy day. Visitors walking in the light blue coloured pool and the white travertine formations around it. The city can be seen in the distance.
The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale on a cloudy day. Visitors walking in the light blue coloured pool and the white travertine formations around it. The city can be seen in the distance.

The area was first constructed in the second century BCE (Before Common Era), by the rulers of the Greek Attalid dynasty of Pergamon as a thermal spa city, called the Spas of Hierapolis. After the region was ceded to Rome, the Roman emperor Hadrian commissioned the construction of the amphitheater, which could seat up to 15,000 spectators.

A cloudy day: A stone ridge among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers leads to the Hierapolis amphitheater in the distance in Pamukkale, Türkiye.
A cloudy day: A stone ridge among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers leads to the Hierapolis amphitheater in the distance in Pamukkale, Türkiye.

Both the Cleopatra’s Pools and the Hierapolis Amphitheater are attractions at Hierapolis-Pamukkale.

Pamukkale Antique Pool | Cleopatra’s Pool

The Pamukkale Antique Pool, also known as the Cleopatra’s Pool, is a historic thermal bathing pool served by mineral rich natural spring water, just like the travertine terraces. It is part of the larger spa complex at Hierapolis.

People bathing in the Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Türkiye.
People bathing in the Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Türkiye.

The Cleopatra’s Pool is so named as legends say that Mark Anthony built it for Queen Cleopatra, however, there is no archeological or historical evidence that she visited the place. The name and the touted benefits of thermal pools do add to the allure of the pool though.

Dress code:

Türkiye is very liberal, especially in tourist areas, so bikini swim suits are permitted. There is no specific dress code as long as it suits the activity.

People bathing in the Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Türkiye. Lockers and change rooms are in the background.
People bathing in the Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra’s Pool, in Pamukkale, Turkiye. Lockers and change rooms are in the background.

Entry:

The Cleopatra’s pool is located within the Pamukkale park, but requires a separate entry ticket to the main entry ticket.

People bathing in the Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Türkiye. A cat is in the foreground. Stray cats are common throughout Türkiye.
People bathing in the Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra’s Pool, in Pamukkale, Türkiye. A cat is in the foreground. Stray cats are common throughout Türkiye.

Facilities:

Undercover food kiosk in Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Türkiye.
Undercover food kiosk in Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Turkiye.

The Cleopatra pool is a bathing pool, or thermal spa, where people enter the water to soak. There are clean and well maintained change rooms, showers, and lockers on site, as well as food and coffee shops and under cover seating, and natural and concreted landscaping.

People eating in an undercover dining area in Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra Pool, in Pamukkale, Turkiye.
People eating in an undercover dining area in Pamukkale Antique Pool, also called Cleopatra’s Pool, in Pamukkale, Turkiye.

Hierapolis Amphitheater

The Amphitheater was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the second century CE (Common Era). It can seat up to 15,000 people. This is included in the price of your ticket into the park.

A view of the stone Hierapolis amphitheater on a cloudy day from the top to the bottom showing the spectator seats with the hilly natural landscapes covered in grass and trees in the distance in Pamukkale, Turkiye.
A view of the stone Hierapolis amphitheater on a cloudy day from the top to the bottom showing the spectator seats with the hilly natural landscapes covered in grass and trees in the distance in Pamukkale, Turkiye.

The amphitheater is open air and is in remarkably good condition considering its age and that it is exposed to the elements. It is not the largest ancient amphitheater but absolutely worth a visit to admire the work of ancient people. It contains several large sculptures also in amazing condition.

You are not allowed to enter the main arena, but you can walk along the stone seats and steps. It can get a little windy there.

Accessibility

The pool in Pamukkale Antique Pool/Cleopatra’s Pool is not wheelchair accessible but the grounds are flat.

The Hierapolis amphitheater is not far by foot from the Cleopatra’s Pool but it is up a gravely hill. You can pay for a buggy to take you up the hill if you want it, but otherwise it just a few hundred metres from behind the Cleopatra’s pool along an easy to climb gravel slope.

A cloudy day. A person walks up a dusty and rocky hill outside to the Hierapolis amphitheater in Hierapolis Pamukkale, Türkiye. In the background there is a natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers.
A person walks up a dusty and rocky hill outside to the Hierapolis amphitheater in Hierapolis Pamukkale, Türkiye.
A cloudy day: A large rectangular doorway at the Hierapolis amphitheater at Pamukkale in Turkiye looking out to the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers.
A cloudy day: A large rectangular doorway at the Hierapolis amphitheater at Pamukkale in Turkiye looking out to the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers.

The amphitheater is accessed by the slope along the hill outside, which is a dusty rock path with some small gravels. There are small electric carts you can hire to take you up the hill.

The top grounds of the amphitheater itself has flat paved stone grounds and the door frame has a step on the outside. Once in, it is possible to navigate around the top of the stadium grounds in a wheelchair or stroller, but there are no railings.

A view of the stone Hierapolis amphitheater on a cloudy day from the top to the bottom showing the stage and sculptures in the middle. The hilly natural landscapes covered in grass and trees in the distance in Pamukkale, Turkiye.
A view of the stone Hierapolis amphitheater on a cloudy day from the top to the bottom showing the stage and sculptures in the middle. The hilly natural landscapes covered in grass and trees in the distance in Pamukkale, Turkiye.
Some stone ruins in Hierapolis Pamukkale in Turkiye among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers on a cloudy day.
Some stone ruins in Hierapolis Pamukkale in Turkiye among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers on a cloudy day.

How to get to Hierapolis Pamukkale

The most cost effective method to get to Hierapolis-Pamukkale is to join a local tour in Antalya or Izmir, which is about 3 hours by road, or about 2 hours by road from Selçuk. Most tour groups will take you there and give you free time to explore the place. You should find a tour that maximises your time there, because there is quite a lot of things to see, and you should leave time to go for a walk around the site to admire the scenery. Most tours include lunch on the way.

Some stone ruins in Hierapolis Pamukkale in Turkiye among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass in the background. Stones covered in brown moss in the foreground on a cloudy day.
Some stone ruins in Hierapolis Pamukkale in Turkiye among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass in the background. Stones covered in brown moss in the foreground on a cloudy day.
A cloudy day. A stone ridge among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers leads to the Hierapolis amphitheater in the distance to the left in Pamukkale in Turkiye. More stone ruins are on the right.
A cloudy day. A stone ridge among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass and dotted with small yellow flowers leads to the Hierapolis amphitheater in the distance to the left in Pamukkale in Turkiye. More stone ruins are on the right.
A cloudy day. Stone ruins in the background among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass in Pamukkale in Turkiye.
A cloudy day. Stone ruins in the background among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass in Pamukkale in Turkiye.
A cloudy day. Ruins of a stone bridge-like structure with arches underneath in the background among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass in Pamukkale in Turkiye.
A cloudy day. Ruins of a stone bridge-like structure with arches underneath in the background among the hilly natural landscapes covered in green grass in Pamukkale in Turkiye.

It might be worth while to get a guided tour, ask for that specifically. There is also a small museum that can be seen in about 20 – 30 minutes or less if you don’t intend on reading everything.

Opening hours and tickets:

Pamukkale opening hours vary by season and can be found on their ticket booking site:

https://visit-pamukkale.com/pamukkale-opening-hours/

The department of culture and tourism official information site only offers general information and does not sell tickets:

https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-36238/pamukkale.html

Planning for your trip

Most people only think about the travertine terraces when thinking of Pamukkale. There are a lot of other things you can see in Hierapolis-Pamukkale park, so you should leave enough time to see them all. 4-5 hours should be enough to see everything, or less if during off season.

The natural area on site are gravel and grass, so you should wear enclosed shoes. The Pamukkale Antique Pool costs extra to the site entry ticket and can b purchased on site. The pool is about a 5-7 minute walk from the travertine terrace. If you intend to go to the travertine terraces, you should consider whether you want to go to the Pamukkale Antique pool as well, since both are served with the same water. You will need to wear swimwear for the Pamukkale Antique pool, but you can get away with rolling up your pants if you only want to go in the travertine terrace. You should consider bringing a towel though.

Don’t forget that there is also a souvenir shop next to the travertine terrace if you intend on buying souvenirs too.

Thank you for visiting my website. Please consider donating to my fundraiser if you are able to, or share my fundraiser if you cannot. You can read about me on my About page.

©All rights reserved for all content and photographs, usage on 3rd party sites are forbidden without permission. Photos are taken by author unless otherwise stated.

Related Posts

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *