Pamukkale & Hierapolis tour: Thermal pools, Roman ruins

The white mountain is made of mineral deposits, not snow, and you walk across the terraces barefoot.

A full-day guided tour from Side to Pamukkale and Hierapolis combines the calcite-laden thermal pools and terraced cliffs of Turkey's Cotton Palace with the 2nd-century Greek and Roman ruins of an ancient spa town. The tour includes hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Russian, lunch, and the option to swim in thermal pools. The 300-kilometer drive each way means an early start and a long day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pamukkale and Hierapolis full-day tour

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive to Pamukkale
• Visit white terraced cliffs
• Explore Hierapolis ruins
• See Roman theater and temples
• Swim in thermal pools (optional)
• Drive back to Side

The experience

The tour picks you up at your hotel in the early morning and drives 300 kilometers to Pamukkale. After a lunch break, you arrive at the white mountain itself: a series of cascading terraced basins created by mineral-rich spring water flowing down a 200-meter cliff. The calcite has built petrified waterfalls and mineral forests across the slope, and you walk barefoot across the terraces to see them close. The pools are shallow and warm, fed by the same springs that created the landscape.

From Pamukkale, the tour moves to Hierapolis, the thermal spa the kings of Pergamon established at the end of the 2nd century B.C. You see the Roman theater, the Apollo temple, Roman baths, fountains and the agora: the ruins of a trade center that once thrived around the hot springs. A guide leads you through both sites and explains what you're looking at. The guide speaks English or Russian depending on the group.

After the guided portion, you have a chance to swim in the thermal pools at Pamukkale if you want to. An additional option to swim in Cleopatra's Pool is available for an extra fee. The return drive to Side takes the full afternoon and evening, so plan for a 15-hour day from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Side.
• a professional guide in English or Russian.
• lunch during the day.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Thursday and SundayDeparts at 05:40

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 45

Prices and times updated 29 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tourmania

Is this one for you?This is a full-day commitment suited to travelers with a free afternoon in Side who want to see both Pamukkale's mineral terraces and the Greek and Roman ruins of Hierapolis in one trip. The long drive, 300 kilometers each way, means an early start and return in the evening, so book this when you have the whole day available and don't mind spending several hours in the vehicle.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How far is it from Side to Pamukkale, and how much time is spent driving?

The distance is around 300 kilometers each way. The drive takes most of the morning on the way out and most of the afternoon and evening on the return, making this a full 15-hour day including the time at both sites.

What exactly is Pamukkale, and why does it look white?

Pamukkale, the Cotton Palace, is a series of cascading terraced basins created by calcite-laden spring water flowing down a 200-meter cliff. The mineral deposits have built petrified waterfalls and mineral forests across the slope, giving it a white, snow-like appearance.

Can I swim in the thermal pools, and is it included in the tour?

You have the option to swim in the thermal pools at Pamukkale after the guided tour. Swimming is not included in the base price, but you can buy tickets to enter the pools. Cleopatra's Pool is a separate option available for an additional fee.

What will I see at Hierapolis?

Hierapolis was an ancient thermal spa established by the kings of Pergamon in the 2nd century B.C. You'll see the Roman theater, the Apollo temple, Roman baths, fountains and the agora: the ruins of buildings that served as trade centers when the city thrived around the hot springs.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Side, a professional guide, and lunch are included. Drinks are not included, and entry to the thermal pools and Cleopatra's Pool are optional add-ons.