Which resort is closer to pamukkale. Benefits of Pamukkale Hot Springs. Learn what travertine is

Going to Turkey for the second time, I firmly decided that we would definitely visit Pamukkale, where I had long wanted to go. Even the resort was chosen with this in mind. And everything worked out for us (2 adults and two children - 7 years old and 4 years old). And I definitely want to go back there again and spend the whole day there! Top tip: if possible, go to Pamukkale on your own. It is not as expensive as the guides tell us (more details below). But the experience will be completely different.
Plus number 1: you will get there faster, since you will not be brought to numerous factories, wineries and shops (if someone really wants to get to the factories too - don't worry, don't miss them: they are all on the road, you won't pass by) . From Kemer, we traveled to Pamukkale for 6 hours (because we got lost, but the girl from the car rental office confused us, saying to focus on the sign, which we should not have oriented). But from Pamukkale to Kemer we arrived in just 3.5 hours - this is against 5-6 hours on a bus with a tour. In fact, getting lost is still something to try. If you are resting in Kemer or Alanya, you reach Antalya, there follow the signs for Burdur and Isparta until the turn to Denizli appears. Turn onto Denizli and continue almost to the end in a straight line (choose the road that goes through Korkuteli (Korkuteli), Chavdir (? Avdir) and further to Denizli - buses travel along another road, through Burdur, longer). In Denizli, you are already looking for signs to Pamukkale, they are on a brown background, do not miss it. The closest way to Pamukkale is from Marmaris, Bodrum and Fethiye. The farthest from Alanya. I read in reviews that tourists take excursions from a tour operator, because. "It's safer to go through the mountains with a tour operator." So, a beautiful modern freeway has been laid to Pamukkale, of course, there are mountains, and ups and downs, but this is far from a serpentine, so there is nothing to be afraid of, even in the dark it is very comfortable to drive (about the same road you will be taken from the airport to the hotel upon arrival). In places of possible collapses, the slopes are covered with a metal mesh.
Plus number 2: You don't have to check out at 2am or 5am as an organized tour usually suggests. Do not be afraid to be in Pamukkale at the height of the day, because when climbing the mountain, you will walk on water, which is very pleasant in the heat. In addition, the wind blows on the mountain, which is also refreshing. The only negative is that it blows off the hat (I ran after it 4 times)), choose a scarf or a tight-fitting cap as a headdress, and not a hat or panama hat. The murmur of water makes you really thirsty, so take plenty of drinks with you.
Plus number 3 is the most important for me: Pamukkale will appear to you from a completely different side. If you arrive on your own, you enter from one side, and the buses enter from the other, since they cannot turn around in the narrow streets of the town. That's why self-guided tour looks completely different than organized.
On your own: you arrive in Pamukkale, park right on the street (for free, but it’s hard to find a place in the middle of the day), buy an entrance ticket, take off your shoes and start climbing the mountain, stepping on pleasantly murmuring water. The heat is not felt at all, only thirst. It is better to grab a small backpack or shoulder bag where you can put your shoes (you will have to carry them with you) and water. Your hands will be free to take pictures. Impressions from this rise are simply unforgettable!!! It is this road up the mountain that is the very salt of Pamukkale. And organized tourists will not feel this to such an extent (further it will become clear why). We climbed to the very top, put on our shoes - and it was then that a magnificent panorama of this wonderful place appeared to us in full measure - travertines, the town of Pamukkale and the lake below. Pine trees grow at the top of the mountain, under which there are several cafes with numerous tables and benches, so rest can be doubly pleasant and combined with a snack. Prices, of course, tourist, but divine. You can grab sandwiches or fruit to go. Then you can walk along the mountain, admiring the travertines, go for a swim in the Cleopatra pool (the ticket is bought separately on the spot) or visit the ancient city.
An organized tour looks exactly the opposite: first visit ancient city(since the buses enter from that side), then the path lies through the Cleopatra pool and only then, in fact, the travertines. As a result, for the majority of “organized” tourists, it will be like this: I went to the edge, looked at the travertines and the panorama opening, exhaled: “Cool!” - and all. Go down to later (this is after ancient city and Cleopatra's pool) to climb up - few are capable of such a feat. Therefore, 50 percent of the most extraordinary sensations are lost.
Plus number 4: Do it yourself - cheaper! For us, a trip for 4, taking into account the rental of a car, the cost of gasoline and food on the way, was cheaper than if we bought an excursion from a tour operator. The guide scared with expensive entrance tickets - it's just ridiculous: an adult ticket costs 25 lira (at today's rate it is about 600 rubles, the rate in August last year was not much different from today), child ticket- 15 lira (about 350 rubles), a child of 4 years old was free (you still need to go to the ticket office, they give you a free entrance ticket). The entrance ticket to the Cleopatra pool is a little more expensive - 32 lira (about 760 rubles), I don’t seem to remember exactly. Again, the children's ticket is cheaper, and small children get in for free. I read in the reviews that travel agencies charge 16-18 dollars for the same tickets (from about 1000 rubles). Attention! You can pay for tickets only in lira (or credit card). We did not have any lira or cards, we had to look for an exchanger. As a result, they exchanged it at the nearest store, and even at the normal rate. But it is still better to prepare and exchange money in advance.
Plus number 5: you are not limited in time. For organized tourists they give only 2-3 hours for inspection - this is insanely little! This is to run, take a photo, dive into the pool and never absorb the beauty and grandeur of this place.
Plus number 6: normal food. You eat when you want, what you want and according to your budget. For example, on the way back we had a great dinner in Denizli for only 700 rubles for 4! This is with salad, kebab, chicken, potatoes, drinks in abundance ... They specially chose an institution that is not very presentable in appearance, but popular with locals. The meat is the freshest, lying raw in the window, and you poke your finger which piece you want to cook. On the territory of the cafe there is a children's playground. In general, a complete set. Reviews about the food provided by travel agencies ... everything is clear there, read it yourself.
Minus (or plus?): no guide. It's like someone. Personally, most guides annoy me, and from the stream of facts and information they pour out, almost nothing remains in the bottom line. I love to travel on my own. Let me not know in what year this tower was built and who its architect is, but I will feel the atmosphere and mood, and this, in my opinion, is more important.
Bonus: downstairs, at the entrance to Pamukkale, there is enough big park with lake, swimming pool separate fee), cafes, snacks (grilled corn, ice cream), toilets. There you can relax after visiting Pamukkale.
So, what do you need if you decide to go to Pamukkale on your own?
1. Rented car.
2. Road map.
3. Gasoline.
4. Snack on the road (cookies, fruit) and plenty of water.
5. "Inflatable" headgear.
6. Protective cream.
7. Sunglasses.
8. Camera.
9. Small bag (better backpack) to take everything you need to the mountain.
10. Money (prepare Lira or a credit card).
Most importantly, do not be afraid of anything and do not listen to "horror stories". Travel and have fun!

… Pamukkale seems like a logical continuation of the list. However, the impression was deceiving.

So where is Pamukkale really located, and why do tourists go there? BiletyPlus.ru will give you at least five reasons for such a trip.

1. See the ruins of Hierapolis

In the second millennium BC, in the southwestern part, on the site where Pamukkale is now located, the first buildings appeared. And in 190 BC. Eumenes II, king of Pergamum, built a city here, which received the name Hierapolis. It took less than 60 years, and the influence of Rome spread to this territory. And about 200 years later, the city became a resort popular with the Roman aristocracy. And although the political power changed several times, the city successfully played this role until 1354, when it was destroyed as a result of a strong earthquake.

In the 19th century, the first excavations were carried out here, which were resumed in 1957, thanks to which today tourists can see one of the largest ancient theaters in Turkey, the temple of Apollo, the necropolis, the Martyrium of St. Philip and Plutonius.

2. Learn what travertine is

Pamukkale means "cotton castle" in Turkish. Many argue that the city owes its name to snow-white limestone walls and terraces, on which water flowing down from the mountains accumulates. Actually, travertine is limestone tuff (experts unanimously argue that this is not the same as limestone), which covers the slopes of the mountains and gives them a completely fabulous look. This rock often used in construction (in particular, the Colosseum) and decoration (for example, the Vyborgskaya metro station in St. Petersburg).

Since 1988 the travertine deposits in Pamukkale have been listed world heritage UNESCO. Note that since travertine is a fragile material, it is forbidden to walk on it. There are only a few terraces where tourists - after removing their shoes, this is a must! - can do it.

3. Swim in Cleopatra's pool

As already mentioned, the resort has been popular for over two thousand years. And although there is evidence that Cleopatra was here and bathed in local sources, no, the pool named after her is quite popular. As well as the stories that by plunging into it, you can regain your youth and beauty.

The highlight of the pool is the columns lying on its bottom. Tribute to architectural fashion ancient rome, they decorated the baths that stood here, but did not endure the test of time and now rest in the pool, reminding us that hot and clear water This source has been valued for more than one thousand years.

4. Improve your health

In addition to being pleasant to take baths, it is also a medical procedure.

Local waters are used to treat skin diseases (in particular, psoriasis and eczema), gastrointestinal, cardiovascular disease, rickets and rheumatism. You will be offered a special course if you are stressed or have accumulated a lot of fatigue. Weight loss programs have also been developed. It is also important that the springs can be visited all year round.

5. Buy quality cotton products

The name Pamukkale (as you remember, the word is translated as "cotton castle") can also be explained literally.

This region has long been known as a place where high-quality cotton fabrics are produced. Products from it can be purchased in Pamukkale, and in Denizli, and in Buldan. The latter is recommended to you especially. It takes about half an hour to get there from Pamukkale, but the trip is undoubtedly worth it: tablecloths, curtains, clothes, hats, scarves of this quality you will not find anywhere.

We have identified these five reasons as the main ones. But there is still a warm sea, gentle sun and Fresh air, which also play an important role in the fact that Pamukkale has been attracting tourists for more than one hundred years.

Good day to readers of the site "I and the World"! Everyone has long known the eight wonders of the world. But each country boasts its own beautiful sights. One of them is located in Turkey, 20 km from the city of Denizli. Today we will talk about this phenomenon of nature and visit it virtually. So, Pamukkale (Turkey) - what is it?

"Away, peaceful parks, where negams are betrayed,

Fashion lovers rest among the roses.

Give me the cliffs covered with snow,

They are sacred to love and freedom!”

George Gordon Byron.

Pamukkale means "cotton castle" in Turkish. Description of this amazing place pretty unusual. Indeed, if you look from afar, you might think of snow-white, cotton fields, which are softly swayed by a warm wind. But if you come closer, you will not feel any softness.

The bizarre form of the plateau is obtained as a result of a source beating from the ground. There is so much calcium in this water that, splashing to the surface and solidifying, it forms beautiful cascades and travertines, resembling waves, of bright white color. The beauty of whites is striking salt mountains and blue clear water of small, also salty lakes.

The guides love to tell the legend of the Titans harvesting cotton in the heavenly fields. And then one day, having laid bunches of cotton on the slopes of the mountains, they forgot to remove it. Gradually, the cotton petrified and formed unusual terraces.

This Turkish wonder of the world is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an area of ​​approximately 1,077 hectares. Pamukkale is open to the public from April to October. A short break, and again visits from November to March. It is strictly forbidden to walk anywhere here. Due to the constant influx of tourists, some terraces have ceased to be dazzling snow-white, so separate paths have been made. You can walk on some terraces, but only barefoot. By the way, this is strictly monitored by the police.

Pamukkale is not only amazing, snow-white mountains, but also the ancient, dilapidated city of Hierapolis, where you can visit the archeology museum. The city was built next to the thermal springs for the Roman nobility in the 2nd century AD. e. Now excavations are constantly carried out here and many things are found that speak of the creation of Hierapolis. The tomb of St. Philip, the door to the Underworld, the first floor of the ancient Roman theater.

People from all over the world come here to treat the heart, stomach, nerves, rheumatism. For healing, thermal and mud baths are also used, and mineral water it is recommended to drink the whole course. Hot springs pass underground for about 320 meters until they break out to the surface of the earth. Hotels near Pamukkale offer rejuvenating treatments such as Cleopatra baths, therapeutic massages or Roman baths.

They say that in ancient times the Queen of Egypt herself, the beautiful Cleopatra, bathed here. And many inhabitants of the Roman Empire sought to be treated in healing waters Pamukkale. Thermal springs in the pool maintain a constant temperature of 35 degrees and you can enjoy swimming in them for no more than two hours.

There was such an unpleasant incident in history when, during an earthquake of the 7th century, the columns standing along the perimeter of the Cleopatra pool fell into the water. They were not taken out, and tourists now have the opportunity to sit on them and, of course, take a photo. This water really rejuvenates the skin and the body, and relaxes long time. This is where the paradise for beautiful women is. You can swim here by paying 32 Turkish Lira and children under 6 will splash for free.

The nearest resort to the healing springs is located in Kusadasi. What is the best way to get and overcome the distance of 189 km? direct flight no: first by bus to the city of Denizli, and then by minibus to Pamukkale. On road map Turkey can see that they go here intercity buses from many resort towns. Here's a short list:

• distance from Marmaris 199 km, travel time 3 hours;
• distance from Antalya 237 km - 3 hours;
• distance from Kemer 271 km - 3.5 hours;
• distance from Side 308 km - 4 hours;
• distance from Alanya 368 km - 5h.

Where is closer, you decide, depending on which city you are in this moment. The number of visitors has exceeded 2.5 million and it is increasing with each visit. Therefore, sightseeing buses tirelessly ply between cities, overcoming considerable distances.

Nai best time for holidays in Pamukkale spring and early autumn. In summer, the weather is too hot, and there is no shade, so there is practically nowhere to hide from the scorching rays. Going on a tour, you need to take hats, swimwear and, of course, water with you. Do not forget sunglasses, because in daylight, the dazzling white color of the mountains hurts the eyes very much.

Price organized excursions depends on the number of days: tourists can choose one-day ($50-80) or two-day ($80-120). Sightseeing buses periodically stop at souvenir shops, so you can buy any pictures and photographs with views of extraordinary mountains. By the way, the second Ghost Rider movie was filmed here.

Going on vacation to Turkey, be sure to visit the beautiful, snow-white mountains of Pamukkale. But before that, find out: where is this place located, which resort will be closer, what tours are offered by travel agencies, reviews of tourists and weather forecast for the coming days.

See also video:

Probably everyone who has ever visited Turkey or plans to go there has heard about the natural attraction of Turkey - the white mountain. Pamukkale or "Cotton Castle". This white mountain with unique hot mineral springs and white terraces - travertines looks very beautiful and unusual, it is visited by thousands of tourists from different countries.

But today I will tell you not about Mount Pamukkale itself, but about Pamukkale town next to the white mountain, about hotels in Pamukkale and how to get there.

View of the city of Pamukkale with travertine

– small town with a population of 3000 people. Almost all residents work in the tourism sector. In general, they were fabulously lucky, the town was formed and began to develop just at the foot of the white mountain, which many people are eager to look at: summer season crowds of tourists are brought here to be fed, watered, entertained, and some even stay overnight, so travel business thriving in Pamukkale 😎

Pamukkale city where is it located and how to get there

The city of Pamukkale is located 240 km from , 200 km from , 240 km from Izmir, the nearest Big City Denizli is located 20 km.

How to get to Pamukkale

1. Most often, tourists get to the city of Pamukkale by buying excursion. The price of the tour varies from year to year and depends on the place where the tour was bought: hotel guide or in a street agency, on the duration of the excursion (one-day or two-day), on the starting point of the excursion (Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Marmaris, etc.).

A one-day excursion to Pamukkale will cost you 50-100 dollars per person, a two-day tour - 100-150 dollars. It is better, of course, to go to Pamukkale for 2 days, because from all the resorts of the coast to Pamukkale the road is close. Often the guides say that the travertine of Pamukkale takes 2-3 hours on the way, in fact the journey takes at least 4 hours, part of the road passes along the mountain serpentine. Consider this, especially if you plan to visit Pamukkale with children.

2. It is best to visit Pamukkale on your own, having reached the town on. The road from the coast is not close, but very beautiful. We drove to Pamukkale from and drove 170 km in 3 hours. The road, of course, is very beautiful! See photos and see for yourself.

And let only someone say that in Turkey there is dirt and there is nothing to see outside the hotels. What kind of nature, and air, and infrastructure is there! We (our countries) are still very far from such roads in the mountains. Here recently, 100 km from Moscow, we drove off the main road to the village in order to bypass the traffic jam, so we got into such pits, I have never seen such in my life! In Turkey, everywhere we went, the roads were perfect! And every year they build new roads, tunnels, widen the roads in the mountains. In general, once again they were happy for the Turkish economy.

From Pamukkale we went to Kemer and drove 280 km in 4 hours. The most beautiful landscapes around and fields of white poppies!! I have never seen white poppies before, only red ones. And you?

3. Pamukkale can be reached by bus. There is a bus station in the town itself, or you can take a bus to Denizli, and then take a minibus (dolmushka) for 2 lira to Pamukkale. Buses run from almost all cities of the coast and from other major cities Turkey: Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, Istanbul, Ankara and others. The schedule can be checked at the bus station.

4. Denizli can be reached by airplane. The airport is located 65 km. Flights fly here Turkish Airlines and the Pagasus company from . Tickets can be bought on the website aviasales.ru. You can fly from Istanbul to Denizli very cheaply - about $ 80 per person round-trip, and from Moscow with a transfer in Istanbul - $ 400-500 for a round-trip ticket.

5. Denezli can be reached by train, now trains from Izmir come here, but the railway connection with Istanbul has been temporarily stopped.

Pensions and hotels in Pamukkale

There are about 40 hotels in the city of Pamukkale. Some of them are sharpened for reception tourist groups who arrive here in large crowds on buses. Many hotels have a heated pool on their territory. mineral water where you can swim all year round.

Prices for hotels in Pamukkale are inexpensive. It's not hard to find good hotel with a view of the white mountain for 40-50 dollars a day, and if further from the mountain, then generally for 25-30 dollars.

Features of Pamukkale hotels: not all hotels can pay bank card! Consider this nuance when traveling to Pamukkale.

You can book a hotel in Pamukkale on booking.com or using the search below

Alida Hotel. Our Review

In Pamukkale, we stayed at a hotel where the room cost us $42 with breakfast.

It is small family hotel the location is very convenient: right across the road from the park with the lake and the lower entrance to the Pamukkale travertine complex.

From the veranda you have a view of the mountain and the travertines.

The hotel has a small pool, but it seemed to me that it was not with mineral water, but with ordinary water. In any case, at the beginning of May, the water in it was icy and no one bathed in it.

The room is not big at all (as in most hotels in Pamukkale), but clean and comfortable.

WiFi worked well both in the room and outside.

Near each room there are chairs and a table where you can relax and drink Turkish tea overlooking the mountain. And under the roof we had birds 😎

Breakfast is served in the restaurant on the third floor overlooking the mountain. Breakfast NOT Buffet: they bring a plate with tomatoes, cucumbers, sausage, bread and an omelet. Not much, but you can eat, and we always have sweets or chocolates for breakfast 😎

You can also have lunch or dinner at the hotel. Each room has a menu, it says that food must be ordered in advance. Average price of the second course 16-20 lira (8-10 dollars).

Very friendly staff, upon arrival they asked what we wanted to drink, they brought delicious Turkish tea for free, and every time we passed the reception we were offered another cup of tea, but we refused 😎 The hotel belongs to a large Turkish family with children who live right there , one floor above.

When looking for a hotel in Pamukkale, I also considered Hotel Pamukkale, a room in which at that time cost $ 35 per night with breakfast. But still I chose it because it is located closer to the entrance to the travertines. In fact, it turned out that the city of Pamukkale is so small that it is close to everywhere!

Near our hotel there is a more expensive hotel, a room in which will cost $ 100 per day.

The town of Pamukkale itself is very small, the whole tourist life is concentrated on the street near the travertines and two perpendicular streets.

Near " cotton mountain» A park with a lake, swans, and flower beds is open. There is a swimming pool nearby in summer.

Evening life in Pamukkale stops early. We deliberately did not dine at the restaurant of our hotel, but went to evening walk and dinner to the city, but at 9:30 pm we wandered around the city almost alone (well, not counting the dogs).

There were not many open restaurants at that time either. We found several cafes with Asian and Japanese cuisine. But I wanted Turkish tasty food! As a result, we went to one restaurant with a huge terrace. It was somehow uncomfortable here, but we wanted to eat and we decided to stay. As a result, they froze, and the food was not tasty. It seems that the restaurant is designed to receive large tourist groups, and for dinner we were served what was left of lunch. Dinner cost 40 lire.

We also wanted to smoke a hookah and drink delicious Turkish tea, but did not find a cozy warm place (it was cold to sit outside). Still, for dinner in Pamukkale, you need to get out earlier.

In Pamukkale, for the first time in our entire trip to Turkey, we met crowds of Japanese and Koreans. Even the menus and signs in restaurants are duplicated in Japanese!

When is the best time to go to Pamukkale

Pamukkale is a year-round resort! But the best time to visit in my opinion: April-May and October-November. In the summer in July-August, I have no idea how to walk in the heat of +40 on the mountain and wet my feet in hot springs. In winter, it is quite cool (+10 - +12), and you can only climb barefoot on white travertines, and my legs were cold even on May evenings 😎

Even in Pamukkale it is very hot during the day, and it gets cold at night, although the height above sea level is not high - about 400 m. This is not for you 😎

In the following articles I will talk about the Pamukkale complex itself and about one more interesting place nearby: also with hot springs, but not yet so popular with tourists. So subscribe to blog updates and channel youtube.com so as not to miss all the fun!

Holidays in Turkey have long ceased to be something exotic. But even this country, which has become almost native for many, will find something to surprise the most fastidious tourist. It is here, in Turkey, that the real wonder of the world is located - the thermal springs of Pamukkale.

Where is Pamukkale located?

How to get to Pamukkale? The city of Pamukkale, in the vicinity of which the thermal springs are located, is located in the western part of Turkey, at a distance of 20 km from the district center of Denizli and 250 km from. You can get there by regular bus, following from Antalya, and you will have to spend about five hours on the road. Despite the fact that the buses are equipped with air conditioning, it is not an easy task to spend such a long time on the road. Brighten up a long journey will help great views, because you have to go along the most beautiful mountain road. The cost of an excursion in Pamukalle is about 65 USD. for one person.

Turkey Attractions: Pamukkale

Pamukkale translated into Russian means Cotton Castle. This name was given to this area not by chance. As a result of the deposition of salts from calcium-rich thermal springs, the slopes of the mountain were covered with snow-white travertine terraces, and from afar it looked like huge mountain cotton. And at sunset and dawn, the sun paints the slopes of the mountain with different shades of purple, pink and red. This area began to be used as a hydropathic place back in the distant ancient times. It was then that the city of Laodicea stood nearby, which then was replaced by the city of Hierapolis. Due to frequent earthquakes, Hierapolis was destroyed many times and rose from ruins over and over again. Many monuments of antiquity have survived to our times, some of which we will talk about in more detail.

Pamukkale amphitheater

The amphitheater located in Pamukkale is one of the best preserved monuments of ancient architecture. Everything here literally breathes history - bas-reliefs, sculptures, stucco. This building is amazing in its scale, because about 15 thousand spectators could easily accommodate here. The proximity of the amphitheater to the hydropathic is not accidental: our ancestors knew that it was necessary to cleanse not only the body, but also the soul. In addition to soul-healing theatrical performances, gladiator fights were also held here, and even naumachia - real sea battles, for which the arena was transformed into a pool.

Pamukkale: Cleopatra's pool

According to legend, the great Roman commander Mark Antony brought the pool located in Pamukkale during honeymoon trip Gift to Cleopatra. Whether this is true or not is hard to say. In any case, no reliable evidence of this has come down to our days. Most likely, this pool received a big name due to its exceptional ability to rejuvenate and invigorate anyone who plunged into its waters. The temperature of the water in the pool is always kept at 35°C, and in taste and appearance it is very similar to narzan.

Pamukkale Temple of Apollo

In memory of the pantheon of gods, to whom the inhabitants of Hierapolis once brought their prayers, their descendants are reminded of the ruins of the temple of Apollo and Plutonius located next to them. The temple itself was practically not preserved, but Plutonium is still in excellent condition. This place was revered as the entrance to the abode of the underground god Pluto, the ruler of the kingdom of the dead. This cave is unique in that it is a place of accumulation carbon dioxide. Having solved this mystery and holding their breath at the entrance to the cave, the priests successfully used this place to once again show the rest of their exclusivity.