Pamukkale & Hierapolis day trip: thermal pools, ancient ruins

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/9

Duration12h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

The travertine cascades are real—brilliant white mineral pools stacked down the mountainside, and you wade through them yourself.

A 12-hour guided tour from Antalya to Pamukkale and the UNESCO-listed ruins of Hierapolis, with hotel pickup, entry tickets, lunch and free time to swim in the thermal pools. The tour includes a guide-led walk through the ancient city—theatre, necropolis, cathedral and St. Philip's tomb—then time to bathe in Cleopatra's Pool and the white travertine terraces. An onyx shop visit happens before lunch.

12h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Pamukkale and Hierapolis ruins

See Pamukkale travertines
Visit Hierapolis ancient city with guide
Swim at Cleopatra's Pool

The Experience

The drive from Antalya is long, which is why the tour departs early and returns late, but the distance is what keeps Pamukkale and Hierapolis from being rushed. You get a professional English-speaking guide for the ancient city itself—the theatre, the main street with its gates and latrines, the large necropolis filled with sarcophagi, the cathedral, and St. Philip's tomb. Walking time through Hierapolis runs over 45 minutes with the theatre visit included. The hot springs that feed the site have been used as a spa since the 2nd century B.C., and the mineral-rich water cascades down the mountainside in the white travertine pools known as the Cotton Castle.

After the guided walk, you have free time to swim in the thermal pools themselves—the main draw for most travelers. Cleopatra's Pool is a separate stop where you can soak in the warm water; entry is optional and costs 10€ if you swim. The Pamukkale Museum is included, and you'll visit an onyx shop before lunch. Lunch is provided and vegetarian options are available. An air-conditioned vehicle transports you throughout the day, and the tour includes entry to both Pamukkale and Hierapolis.

Bring an extra shirt, t-shirt and towel—you will be wet. Sun lotion is essential. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it involves walking the ancient site and navigating the travertine terraces. For hotels in Belek, Kemer, Side, Manavgat or Alanya, an extra transfer fee applies; Kundu and Lara hotel pickups may shift outside the standard times since they're outside the city centre.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off.
professional English-speaking guide.
entry tickets to Pamukkale and Hierapolis.
the Pamukkale Museum.
lunch with vegetarian options available.
air-conditioned vehicle transport throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by SOLYMOS TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this for a full day away from the coast when you want the ancient ruins and the thermal pools both in one trip—the early start and late return are what fit both Hierapolis and swimming time into a single departure from Antalya.