Antalya to Pamukkale: Hot Springs, Hierapolis & Lunch

4.81

(1080 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered if those photos of Pamukkale’s white terraces are real? I did. From Antalya, it’s a long drive — honestly, I dozed off for a bit after our guide’s first stories — but waking up near Korkuteli to the smell of tea and simit was worth it. The air felt crisper than Antalya’s coast, and there was this quiet hum in the roadside café that made me feel like we’d already left the tourist trail behind. Our guide, Emre, kept tossing in little bits of Turkish history between breakfast bites (I still can’t pronounce “Hierapolis” right).

The road to Pamukkale is full of these odd little moments. At one point we stopped at a stonemason’s workshop — I didn’t expect to care, but watching hands shape marble is strangely calming. By Denizli, everyone was stretching their legs and joking about who’d be first into the hot springs. When you finally see Pamukkale from the bus window, it almost looks fake — like someone dumped sugar over a mountain. Walking barefoot on those terraces feels soft and oddly warm, even with the breeze. There’s this faint mineral smell in the air that sticks to your skin; not unpleasant, just… different.

I wandered up past Cleopatra’s Pool (skipped swimming — next time) and sat for a while among Hierapolis’ old stones. It’s quiet up there if you find the right spot. Some kids were splashing below while an older couple tried to take selfies without slipping. Three hours isn’t enough if you want to do everything — but maybe that’s okay? Lunch after was loud and busy: open buffet style, lots of fresh bread and cold salads. I lost count of how many plates I grabbed.

On the ride back to Antalya, Emre asked what surprised us most. For me it was how much I liked just sitting on those white rocks with wet feet cooling off in the sun. Still think about that feeling sometimes when things get noisy at home.