Hierapolis
- Address:Pamukkale
- Admission:Free
UNESCO Heritage Site, Hot Spring, Ruin - Ancient, Town / City
2:13 AM Sunday, May 27
Clear. Mild.
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Perhaps better known by tourists as Pamukkale, Hierapolis is an ancient city of the Lycus River valley famed for its sacred hot springs.
There’s a lot to see at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose most popular attraction includes the thermally heated Sacred Pool where you can swim among the remains of ancient Roman columns, toppled into the water by various earthquakes.
Among the ruins are the remains of the Temple of Apollo (Apollo was believed by ancients to have been the divine founder of the city), the Gate of Domitian, the tomb of Flavius Zeuxis, necropolis (graveyard), the Plutonium (a cave believed to have been the entrance to the underworld), and the theater.
Among these, the theater is perhaps the most well-preserved. Constructed around 200BC, it could hold 20,000 spectators in its day. These days, just 30 rows remain.
Latest Reviews All Hierapolis Reviews »
Excellent! The place is wonderful and the guide was very knowleadgable. He made sure we had a good time.
Pamukkale is a unique place, I'd say, a one of its kind in the world. This should be on the "must-go" list for wanderers like myself.
You feel like you get a two-for-one deal at Hierapolis. Not only do you get to see Roman ruins (without the Ephesus sized crowds), but you also get to see the dazzling white natural cascades of carbonate minerals built up over centuries from the natural spring. Continue Reading »
What an amazing time! Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and pleasant. She went over and above all expectations. It's a long day but worth every minute! Continue Reading »
Practical Info
As you near Hierapolis, you won’t be able to miss seeing the spectacular white terraces of Pamukkale. Easily viewed from the ancient city, these terraces are created by a natural build up of calcium carbonate, a by-product of the hot spring water that flows down the slopes.
Hierapolis (Pamukkale) is 270km (168mi) from Izmir and takes approximately 4.5 hours by road.
