Pamukkale day trip from Antalya: Thermal pools and Hierapolis

White cliffs, hot springs, and two thousand years of stone

A full-day tour from Antalya to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pamukkale and Hierapolis, with hotel pickup, lunch and a guide. You get three hours of free time to walk the white travertine terraces, soak in the thermal pools, visit the ancient city ruins or swim in Cleopatra's Pool. The choice is yours. Entry to Pamukkale is optional. You can add it at checkout or skip it and explore the surrounding area instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pamukkale and Hierapolis day trip

• Hotel pickup in Antalya
• Breakfast stop in Korkuteli
• Visit stonemason in Pamukkale
• Comfort break in Denizli
• Tour guide introduction in Pamukkale
• 3-hour free time at Pamukkale and Hierapolis
• Open buffet lunch
• Drive back to Antalya

The experience

The bus picks you up from your hotel in the morning and heads south toward Pamukkale. The drive is long enough that the itinerary builds in two stops: a breakfast break in Korkuteli where you can buy food and stretch, and a 30-minute rest in Denizli with restrooms and refreshments. Along the way, the tour stops at a stonemason's workshop so you can watch traditional Turkish stone carving before arriving at Pamukkale itself.

Once there, your guide explains the site and then you have three hours entirely to yourself. The white travertine cliffs and pools are the draw. You can wade into the warm mineral water, walk the terraces barefoot, or skip the pools altogether and head straight to Hierapolis, the ancient city built on the ridge above. Cleopatra's Pool, the famous thermal bath inside the ruins, costs extra if you want to swim in it. Most people mix the activities: an hour in the pools, an hour wandering the Hierapolis columns and tombs, an hour back in the water or exploring the Necropolis. The three hours move fast.

Lunch is a buffet at a restaurant on the grounds: ten cold starters, hot mains including vegetarian options, desserts, fruit and fresh bread. Drinks cost extra. After eating, the bus heads back to Antalya, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening depending on traffic and your hotel location.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Antalya accommodation.
• air-conditioned bus transport.
• breakfast and rest stops during the drive.
• a guided introduction to Pamukkale.
• three hours of free time to explore the pools, Hierapolis and the Necropolis at your own pace.
• a buffet lunch with cold starters, hot mains, vegetarian options, desserts and fresh bread.
• a live English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour without entrance feesGuide in English · 04:30Includes pickup

Tour with entrance fees includedGuide in English · 04:30Guided tour of Pamukkale with lunch, Pamukkale entrance fee, and pickup included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (8 to 65 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 13.63

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Book From Locals

Is this one for you?Choose this full-day tour if you're based in Antalya and want both sites in one trip. The bus handles the drive from your hotel, and three hours of free time lets you split it between the thermal pools and Hierapolis ruins as you prefer.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Antalya to Pamukkale?

The journey is lengthy enough that the tour includes two comfort stops (a breakfast break in Korkuteli and a 30-minute rest in Denizli) to break up the travel time before you arrive at Pamukkale.

What can I do during the three hours of free time at Pamukkale?

You choose how to spend it. Walk the white travertine cliffs and soak in the thermal pools, explore the ancient ruins and tombs of Hierapolis, or swim in Cleopatra's Pool (which has a separate entrance fee). Most travelers do a mix of all three.

Is entry to Pamukkale included in the tour price?

Entry is optional. You select it at checkout. If you add it, the fee is included in your final price. If you skip it, you can still explore the surrounding area and visit Hierapolis, though some sites require the entry ticket.

What is included in the lunch?

Lunch is a buffet with ten cold starters, a choice of hot main courses including vegetarian dishes, desserts, fresh fruit and Turkish bread. Drinks are not included and cost extra.

Does the tour include swimming in Cleopatra's Pool?

Cleopatra's Pool is not included in the tour price. If you want to swim there, you pay a separate entrance fee at the site.

What is the stonemason stop during the drive?

The tour stops at a traditional stonemason's workshop in Pamukkale so you can watch and learn about Turkish stone carving before exploring the white travertine pools and ruins.