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Hierapolis Pamukkale

Historic sites ·Pamukkale
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#5Historic sites in TurkeyTravelers' Choice 2026
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About

Hierapolis Pamukkale: Roman spa ruins on a terrace above the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, Turkey.

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Hierapolis Pamukkale
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Why go

  • The theatre's 91 m facade, and an auditorium that seated 15,000 people and was split by the main aisle
  • The Antique Pool, where the thermal water measures 36 to 57 °C
  • The necropolis of more than 1,200 tombs, most built from local limestone, outside the north gate
  • The sarcophagus of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, with a relief of the earliest known crank-and-rod machine: a water-powered saw mill
  • The martyrium of St. Philip, an octagonal structure 20 metres across under a wooden dome

Know before you go

  • Street vendors are banned inside the historic site.
  • The hotels inside the historic site were demolished, and fences were put up around it.

Tips for your visit

  • Look at the theatre facade, about 91 m long, which stands in its full extent.
  • The local museum holds statues and reliefs excavated by an Italian team.
  • The martyrium of St. Philip stands on a hill outside the northeastern section of the city walls.
  • The necropolis extends over 2 km on both sides of the old road.
  • Expect building work: the terraces are being rebuilt as water is piped back over them.
  • It is a day-trip destination for visitors staying in Antalya.

Interesting facts5

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  1. Only the eunuch priests of the Mother Goddess were believed to be safe from the gases of the cave.

    Hierapolis - Wikipedia

  2. The city gate bears a carved Medusa figure, meant to scare off the goddess Medusa.

    Hierapolis - Wikipedia

  3. Many of its statues and friezes were carried off to London, Rome and Berlin.

    Hiérapolis - Wikipedia

  4. Pluto's Gate, a cave shrine next to the Apollo temple, is the oldest sanctuary in the town.

    Hierapolis - Wikipedia

  5. The cave entrance was walled up in Christian times and has been uncovered only recently.

    Hierapolis - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Its hot springs were used for a spa, and its water dyed wool for the textile trade that made the city wealthy. Doctors used the thermal springs to treat patients.

  1. 2nd century BCEumenes II, king of Pergamon, founds the city.
  2. 60A major earthquake destroys the city under Nero, and it is rebuilt.
  3. 62Work begins on the theatre.
  4. 206The theatre is completed.
  5. 7th centuryAn earthquake collapses the whole theatre, and the city is abandoned.
Show all
  1. 1887Carl Humann makes the first excavation of the site.
  2. 1957An Italian archaeological mission starts work at the site.
  3. 1988UNESCO adds the site to the World Heritage list.

Sources: Hierapolis - Wikipedia · Hierapolis - Wikipedia · Hiérapolis - Wikipedia · Hierapolis - Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026

Where
Pamukkale

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

How far is Hierapolis Pamukkale from Denizli?

It lies 15 km from the city of Denizli. The ruins stand beside the town of Pamukkale, known for its white travertine terraces.

Can you visit Hierapolis Pamukkale as a day trip from Antalya?

Yes. Visitors who stay in Antalya often make it a day trip, and it is a traditional destination for that.

How big is the theatre at Hierapolis Pamukkale?

The theatre's auditorium could seat 15,000 people. Its facade is about 91 m long and stands in its full extent.

How many tombs are in the necropolis at Hierapolis Pamukkale?

More than 1,200 tombs lie in the necropolis, most of them built from local limestone. It extends over 2 km on both sides of the old road.

What is the water temperature of the thermal pool at Hierapolis Pamukkale?

The water in the thermal pool measures between 36 and 57 °C.

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