Pamukkale & Cappadocia

Things To Do in Pamukkale & Cappadocia

White travertine terraces, hot air balloons, cave churches and underground cities.

Pamukkale Travertines

Pamukkale (meaning 'cotton castle' in Turkish) is one of the most extraordinary natural landscapes in the world — a hillside of brilliant white calcium carbonate terraces (travertines) formed by hot spring water cascading down the slope over thousands of years, creating a series of natural pools. The terraces are UNESCO World Heritage listed. Visitors can walk barefoot on the terraces and paddle in the warm mineral-rich pools.

Hierapolis Ancient City

At the top of the Pamukkale travertines, the ancient Greco-Roman spa city of Hierapolis has an extraordinary necropolis (one of the largest in Anatolia), a well-preserved theatre, a colonnaded street and the Antique Pool — where you can swim among submerged Roman columns in warm mineral water. The combination of the ancient ruins and the white travertines below is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Turkey.

Hot Air Balloons over Cappadocia

The hot air balloon experience over Cappadocia is one of the most iconic travel experiences in the world. At dawn, hundreds of balloons rise over the Göreme Valley — drifting between the fairy chimney rock formations, over the cave churches and vineyards, with the sun rising over the volcanic plateau. It's one of those experiences that genuinely lives up to the photographs. Flights last approximately 1 hour and cost around £150–200 per person.

Fairy Chimneys & Cave Hotels

Cappadocia's fairy chimneys — thousands of volcanic rock formations eroded into extraordinary shapes over millions of years — are unlike anything else on earth. The Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage) has cave churches with extraordinary Byzantine frescoes dating from the 10th to 13th centuries. Many of the best hotels in Cappadocia are built into the cave formations — staying in a cave hotel is one of the great accommodation experiences in the world.

Underground Cities

Cappadocia has dozens of underground cities carved into the volcanic rock — the largest, Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, go 8 levels deep and could shelter up to 20,000 people. They were used by early Christians fleeing Roman persecution and later by Byzantine Christians hiding from Arab raids. The scale and complexity of these underground cities — with stables, churches, wine cellars and ventilation shafts — is extraordinary.

Ihlara Valley & Hiking

The Ihlara Valley, 40km from Göreme, is a 14km gorge carved by the Melendiz River through the volcanic plateau, with cave churches cut into the cliff walls and a river walk through poplar trees. It's one of the most beautiful walks in Turkey. The Rose Valley, Red Valley and Love Valley near Göreme are also excellent for hiking — the landscape of fairy chimneys and vineyards is extraordinary at sunrise and sunset.

Pamukkale & Cappadocia Travel Guide

Pamukkale and Cappadocia are Turkey's two most extraordinary natural and cultural landscapes — both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, both unlike anything else on earth, and both easily accessible from the main beach resorts as excursions or as standalone destinations.

Pamukkale, in western Turkey, is a hillside of brilliant white calcium carbonate terraces formed by hot spring water over thousands of years. The terraces cascade down the hillside in a series of natural pools — the effect is of a frozen waterfall, or a hillside covered in snow. At the top of the terraces, the ancient Greco-Roman spa city of Hierapolis has an extraordinary theatre, necropolis and the Antique Pool — where you can swim among submerged Roman columns in warm mineral water.

Cappadocia, in central Turkey, is a volcanic plateau eroded over millions of years into thousands of extraordinary rock formations — the famous 'fairy chimneys'. The Göreme Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cave churches containing Byzantine frescoes, underground cities carved 8 levels deep into the rock, and the most spectacular hot air balloon experience in the world.

Both destinations are best visited as part of a longer Turkey holiday — Pamukkale is 3 hours from Kusadasi or Marmaris by road, making it an easy overnight excursion from an Aegean beach holiday. Cappadocia is 1 hour by flight from Istanbul, Antalya or Bodrum — easily combined with a beach holiday for a perfect mix of culture and relaxation.

The hot air balloon experience over Cappadocia is genuinely one of the great travel experiences in the world. At dawn, hundreds of balloons rise over the Göreme Valley — it's one of those moments that makes you understand why people travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Cappadocia from the beach resorts?

The easiest way is to fly — there are airports at Kayseri (45 minutes from Göreme) and Nevşehir (30 minutes from Göreme). Flights from Antalya, Bodrum and Istanbul take approximately 1 hour. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus both fly to Kayseri. Alternatively, overnight buses from Istanbul (10 hours) and Antalya (8 hours) are comfortable and affordable.

When is the best time to visit Cappadocia?

April to June and September to November are the best times — mild temperatures, good balloon flying conditions and beautiful light. July and August are hot (30°C+) but the balloons still fly. December to February can be cold and snowy — but the fairy chimneys covered in snow are extraordinarily beautiful, and the balloon experience in winter light is magical.

Can I visit Pamukkale as a day trip?

Pamukkale is best visited as an overnight trip rather than a day trip — it's 3 hours from Kusadasi and Marmaris, and there's enough to see (the travertines, Hierapolis, the Antique Pool) to justify staying one night. The travertines are most beautiful in the late afternoon light. There are good hotels in Pamukkale village at the base of the terraces.