Visit to Pamukkale: Tips that you should know before your trip

Visit to Pamukkale: Tips that you should know before your trip

But Pamukkale Turkeydie is hardly known from the most popular attraction of outside the national borders. It is the iconic architecture of Istanbul and the cave apartments of Cappadocia that are in the spotlight, but also deserves Pamukkale with its cascade -shaped traverted terraces.

Extensive limestone rocks in dazzling white shade rise over powder blue ponds. Petrified limestone piles hang on calcareous roots - as in Superman's fortress of loneliness or a nightmare from Tim Burton if his nightmares were good.

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The surreal landscape of Pamukkale was shaped by limestone for over thousands of years, which was deposited by 17 hot springs in the area. Unfortunately, his natural beauty was almost lost when hotels were created in the area in the 1960s and a street was built to give motorcycles directly access via the slopes. The hotels left the thermal water to fill their swimming pools, and the terraces colored gray -brown.

Fortunately, the UNESCO stepped in in 1988 and declared Pamukkale a World Heritage Site. The hotels were torn down and a number of artificial pelvis on the street were built to hide the damage caused. Today there are strict controls for development and tourism in the region so that you can visit the region of a clear conscience. Here is what you should know before you go.

It doesn't look like in the pictures (but it's still stunning)

The glossy terraces, as they are shown in travel guides and posters from the tourism associations, do not exist - at least not now.

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Dream time; Atlas & Boots

We were told that spring water was redirected to give the terraces time to recover from past ill -treatment. When and how (or whether!) The terraces will return to their earlier shine is currently unconfirmed.

However, don't let the difference to be prevented from visiting Pamukkale. It is still breathtaking and definitely worth a stop.

Expect human crowds

Most foreign tourists visit Pamukkale on a day trip from the coast, which means that they arrive late in the morning or early afternoon. So decide to stay in Denizli and take a public minibus in the morning to keep the crowd as low as possible (see "how" below).

Some tourists spend the night in Pamukkale themselves, but it is a fairly charming city, and given the problems with tourists in the past, we think it is better to book accommodation outside the town itself.

Expect human crowds during the day, from Speedo-sports Europeans to overzealous local children. It is worth noting that Pamukkale is visited annually by two million people, which corresponds to 5,500 people a day!

Start at the lower gate

The public minibus brings you to the lower gate (on the city's ground floor), which is the better option for a visit to Pamukkale. It is less crowded because tours pass passengers at the top goal. It also includes a walk on the cliff with a breathtaking view.

At the end of our visit we returned to the lower gate to take a bus back to Denizli, but also to see the landscape again.

Cautiously

To avoid damage on the site, visitors have to go barefoot. It is expected to put your shoes in a plastic bag and wear them (from the lower gate) or on the wooden terrace (top gate). Therefore, take light shoes that are easy to take off.

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The travertine floor can be slippery at places with running water under the feet and sharp -edged limestone pieces. So take your time to get the cliff up and enter carefully!

Tackle

There are no lockers at the lower gate, so pack it easily because they will wear their bag for the duration of their visit.

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If possible, leave your valuables in your hotel. Most visitors leave their bags by the pool when they take a bathroom so that there is a possibility that their things run around. If you have to bring valuables with you, you should keep them in pack sacks to avoid water damage.

Wear swimwear under your clothing

There are toilets on the premises, but it is easier to wear your swimsuit under your clothes so that you can simply take it off and take a bath.

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Turkey is liberal compared to other countries in the region, so bikinis are okay. You will probably dry out pretty easily in the sun, but you should maybe take a wrap with you to pull your swimwear while drying.

It is worth noting that most tourists stay in the pool area. We went half a kilometer and found peaceful views that were completely free of visitors. The additional effort is worth it.

Take sunglasses with you

If you don't have sunglasses, buy a cheap one before visiting Pamukkale. The limestone is so bright, so white that it hurts your eyes when you don't protect her.

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Apply sunscreen in a similar way and take a lot of water. The temperatures rise especially in summer and can be dehydrated if they don't be careful.

Skip the ancient pool

According to legend, the artificially shaped antique pool was a gift from Marc Anthony to Cleopatra. In the 7th century, an earthquake collapsed the surrounding building and the massive marble columns plunged into the pool, where they still rest today.

We thought of a bathroom, but the atmosphere resembled that of a British butlin (hamburger booth, sunburned tourists, Macarena, which played through the speakers). For a surcharge of $ 10 in addition to the admission price, we decided to do without the pleasure. Maybe you want to do the same.

Visit hereapolis

In contrast to the ancient pool, the adjacent site of Hierapolis is worth a visit. Do not miss the theater that was allegedly built under the rule of Hadrian after the earthquake of AD 60.

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The facade is 300 feet long and there are 50 rows of seats that are divided into seven parts. We have seen our fair proportion of Roman theaters (in Amman, Jerash, Petra, Ephesus and Rome) and this is as impressive as everyone else, with the exception of the Colosseum.

Do not ignore Denizli

Most visitors only use Denizli as a passage for visiting Pamukkale. If you have time, visit the sights in Denizli and the surrounding area. Try the old town from Denizli, the Kaklik cave, Tripolis and Aphrodisias.

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We visited the market in the old town, which was far less touristy than its equivalent to the great bazaar in Istanbul and therefore offered an intimate insight into local life. We spent some time strolling through the alleys before we drank a Turkish tea in a small court café that was hidden on the edge. Spend some time there and you will find it.

Visit to Pamukkale: The essentials

What: Visit to Pamukkale, Turkey.

• Common entry to Pamukkale and Hierapolis: 25 tl (8 USD). Open Nov. April-October, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Entry into the ancient pool: 32 TL ($ 10). Open Nov.-März, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April-October, 8 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Where: We stayed in the Yildirim Hotel, a clean and airy hotel with simple access to the Denizli bus station. The hotel is not only good for a visit to Pamukkale, but also for the various sights in and around Denizli.

A roof bar offers refreshing drinks and snacks as well as a wide view of the city of Denizli. An in -house restaurant offers a number of tasty options, including Turkish staple foods, pide (wood -fired bread with coverings of your choice).

The hotel is a family business. If you are lucky, Namek, the Turkish-German patriarch of the family, will be in the city to delight you with stories from his youth, his trips and the blatant difference between the social Turkish psyche and the buttoned German equivalent!

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When: The best time to travel for Pamukkale is spring (April to mid -June). Summer can be unbearably hot while snow can fall in winter! Autumn (mid -September to October) is also a good option, but the days are shorter and the probability of rain is higher. Like: In Denizli you can take a public minibus from bus station No. 76, which is only a minute's walk from Yildirim. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs 3.50 teaspoons (1.20 USD) per person. The minibus lasts a few minutes from Pamukkale; Ask the bus driver to point it in the right direction. Write down the location because you have to take the bus back on the other side of the street.

You can take a train to Denizli from Istanbul, Izmir or Selçuk (check TCDD for the latest timetable). There is no train to or of Cappadocia, but there are reliable bus connections. We took a night bus from Metro Turizm from Denizli to Cappadocia (9:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.; $ 17).

We have arrived Turkey at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul and spent a few days in Istanbul before he flew to Izmir (1 hour) and took a train to Selçuk on the same day (1 hour 20 minutes). After a few days from Selçuk to Ephesus, we took the train to Denizli (3 hours).

Ataturk Airport is international and has connections to a number of domestic goals Turkey everywhere. Book through Skyscanner at the best prices.

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Lonely planet Turkey is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads.

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