Pamukkale Hierapolis Entrance Fee and Hours

Pamukkale has a unique natural beauty and is one of the must-see places in Turkey. Although Pamukkale is famous for its travertine thermal pools, it actually promises visitors much more than that. In this article you can find information about Pamukkale, also known as Cotton Castle. In addition, Pamukkale (Hierapolis) entrance fee and opening hours are also noted.

There is the ancient city of Hierapolis in Pamukkale, which has a history of thousands of years. You can see the Temple of Apollo, the Great Theater and the Necropolis in the Hierapolis ruins.

If you like history, Pamukkale Archeology Museum, where historical artifacts collected from the ancient city are exhibited, may also attract your attention. When you get tired of all these activities, you can cool off in the Cleopatra’s Antique Pool full of ancient ruins.

Daily Tour Options to Pamukkale in 2021

Daily tours are organized from popular holiday destinations such as Istanbul, Izmir (Kusadasi) and Antalya to Pamukkale. You can join one of these guided group tours and take advantage of the fast track entrance to Pamukkale.

1. Daily Tour from Kusadasi to Pamukkale

Kusadasi Cruise Port hosts thousands of tourists every year. Ephesus Ancient City in Izmir is the first place to be seen for those who come to Kusadasi. Pamukkale ranks first among things to do after Ephesus. If you want to join the daily tour from Kusadasi (Izmir) to Pamukkale, you can make a reservation from this link.

2. Daily Tour from Antalya to Pamukkale

Antalya has the best holiday hotels in Turkey. Pamukkale trip is a perfect activity for those staying at all-inclusive hotels in Antalya. If you want to join daily tour from Antalya to Pamukkale, you can book by clicking this link.

3. Guided Tour from Istanbul to Pamukkale

If you would like to join a guided tour from Istanbul to Pamukkale, you can write to us on CONTACT US page. BarefootPlus Travel is a licensed agency that has been organizing tours in Turkey for 16 years. You can contact our travel consultants for Ephesus and Cappadocia tours as well as Pamukkale tour from Istanbul.

4. Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon Tour

You can also join the Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon Tour and take amazing photos. One of the two places where you can have a balloon experience in Turkey is Pamukkale and the other is Cappadocia. You can book a hot air balloon flight in Pamukkale by clicking this link.

The History of Hierapolis Ancient City

The history of Hierapolis Ancient City goes back even before the Ancient Greek period. The discovery of the Mother Goddess cult suggests that the history of the city dates back to the old Anatolian civilizations. At that time the city had not yet been named Hierapolis. However, we don’t have certain knowledge regarding the geographical area of the former ancient city.

Ancient geographer Strabo indicates that Hierapolis was located in Caria region, nearby Laodicea and Tripolis. According to Strabon’s works, the city of Hierapolis dates back to the Phrygians era.

Although the settlement in the city dates back to earlier times, it’s known that the city was officially founded by Eumenes II, the King of Pergamon and it was named after an Amazon queen named Hiera. The buildings, objects and other discovery in this ancient city prove that Hierapolis was an important culture and religion center.

The ancient city was built and designed in Hellenistic style and until an earthquake that took place in Emperor Neron’s era, it remained the same. After the earthquake, it was rebuilt in a Roman style and it turned into a typical city of Roman Empire. Hierapolis, which was an important center during the Roman period, preserved this feature in the Byzantine period.

During the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) period when Christianity was on the rise, Hierapolis was considered one of the holy cities. Because it was believed that St Philip, one of Jesus’ apostles, died here.

Immortal Priests of Hierapolis

Hierapolis was a place where miracles were believed to have happened in ancient times. Although it may seem like a legend at first glance, the clergy of this city were known as the immortal priests of Hierapolis.

There were caves at the city that were believed to be the gates of hell. These caves were seen as the passages to the underground world and the animals that were about to be sacrificed would be taken down and they would die without any human contact. This phenomenon is explained by a poisonous gas released in the caves.

On the other hand, it was recorded numerously in historical resources that the monks going inside these caves to sacrifice animals would come back unharmed. Moreover, Strabo confirms this case and he narrates that the monks would put their heads inside the gate of hell and they would not be affected by the gas.

According to an article published in Archeological Sciences in 2018, this incident can be explained that the monks were aware of the chemical atmosphere in the cave. Pfanz, one of the co-authors of the article, explains that the monks knew that the gas they named as deadly breath would not go over a certain limit. The monks also knew at which hours the gas was intense and the limit it would reach. Therefore, they performed the sacrifice rituals accordingly.

Things to Do in Pamukkale 2021

Things to do in Pamukkale include exploring the Hierapolis ruins, visiting the archaeological museum and swimming in the Cleopatra pool. Of course, you can also walk to the snow-white travertine thermal pools and enjoy the magnificent view. In addition, you can participate in a hot air balloon flight and take amazing photos.

1. The Great Theatre

The Great Theater is the pearl of the ruins in Pamukkale. Hierapolis Ancient Theater, which has a history of 1800 years, stands out as one of the best preserved Roman structures around the Mediterranean.

Moreover, some unique examples of Pergamon art school can also be seen at this theater. Reliefs that you can see at Hierapolis Ancient City indicate that gladiator fights took place at this theater.

2. Cleopatra’s Ancient Pool

Cleopatra’s Ancient Pool offers a unique environment for those who come to Pamukkale. The pool, full of ancient columns and ruins, is an experience that crowns the visit to Hierapolis ruins. Swimming at Cleopatra’s Ancient Pool is among the popular things to do in Pamukkale in 2021.

3. Pamukkale Archaeological Museum

Pamukkale Archeology Museum is the place where artifacts found during excavations in the ancient city of Hierapolis are exhibited. There are wonderful sarcophagi and sculptures symbolizing Pamukkale’s Greco-Roman past. It should be noted that the archeology museum is not included in the Pamukkale entrance fee and you need to buy an extra ticket.

4. Hot Air Balloon Tour

You can join a hot air balloon flight in Pamukkale and take amazing photos. One of the two places where you can have a balloon experience in Turkey is Pamukkale and the other is Cappadocia. You can book a hot air balloon tour in Pamukkale by clicking this link.

Pamukkale Hierapolis Entrance Fee 2021

Pamukkale entrance fee is 80 Turkish Liras as of 2021. Admission is free for children under 8 years. The ticket price you pay in Pamukkale includes the travertine thermal pools, the ancient city of Hierapolis and the Cleopatra antique pool. However, Pamukkale Archeology Museum is not included.

Pamukkale Hierapolis Opening Hours 2021

Pamukkale opening hours are between 06:30 in the morning and 11:00 pm in the evening between April 1 and October 1, which is considered the summer season. Winter visiting hours for Pamukkale thermal pools and Hierapolis ruins are between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 pm in the evening.

Visiting hours of Pamukkale travertines and Hierapolis archaeological site may change due to renovations and events. So before you go, you can visit the official website of the museum to see the latest situation.

Pamukkale Hierapolis Ticket Price and Hours in 2021