Pamukkale.ioHierapolis & beyond
Hierapolis: the ancient city above Pamukkale
The full guide to the Roman spa city that begins where the white terraces end: the theatre, the colonnaded street, the necropolis, the Gate of Pluto, the Antique Pool and the Martyrium of St Philip. What to see, how long it takes, how to walk it.
Updated
Most visitors treat Pamukkale as the white terraces, take the photo, and turn back. Yet right at the top of that slope, where hardly anyone climbs, stands a Roman city: Hierapolis. You enter it on the same ticket, it exists because of the same water, and it is every bit as striking as the terraces themselves. This page is about why it is worth the climb, and how to walk it.
What Hierapolis is, and why it is here
Hierapolis means “sacred city.” It was founded by the Kingdom of Pergamon in the 2nd century BC, then grew under Rome into a spa city. What drew people here was exactly what draws you now: the hot, mineral-rich water rising out of the ground. That water carved the terraces, fed the baths, and made the city rich. Earthquakes leveled it more than once, and each time it was rebuilt.
Today Hierapolis and the Pamukkale terraces sit together on the UNESCO World Heritage list, one of those rare places where nature and human hands are woven into each other. For more on the terraces themselves, see the travertine terraces page; here the subject is the city on top.
How to get up there
The city has two main gates. Enter through the south gate and you climb the terraces barefoot and spill straight into the city; this is the most-used and most scenic route. The north gate drops you right beside the necropolis, and from there you walk in along the colonnaded street. Both gates have car parks and shuttle services; which you use depends on the city you are coming from. For the full breakdown of transport, see how to get to Pamukkale.
One warning: the plateau is wide and there is little shade. Water, a hat and comfortable shoes matter far more here than the terrace photo does.
The Roman theatre
The most magnificent part of the city is the theatre. Cut into the hillside, seating tens of thousands, its stage building largely standing and restored with its reliefs. Climb the steps and sit down; the whole valley opens out beneath your feet, and it becomes easy to picture the people who came here for the same view two thousand years ago. Even at the hottest hour of the day, you will find a light breeze on the upper rows. It is the single best-preserved sight in the city, and we go deeper into its stage building, reliefs and best light on the Roman theatre of Hierapolis page.
Frontinus Street and the gates
Running down from the theatre, the colonnaded main street cuts through the city end to end. It is named Frontinus Street, and monumental gates stand at either end. Once full of shops, porticoes and crowds, this axis was the backbone of the city. Much of it is exposed today; walk the stone paving and you can still see the ruts worn by cart wheels. This is where you truly feel the scale of the place.
The necropolis: city of the dead
Perhaps the most surprising part of Hierapolis is its cemetery. The necropolis is one of the best-preserved and largest in Anatolia, an area stretching for kilometres north of the city, made up of hundreds of sarcophagi and monumental tombs. People came here to the springs to be healed; those who could not be healed stayed here, which is why the cemetery is so vast. Visit it in the morning light or at sunset, when it is empty and quiet.
The Gate of Pluto (Plutonium)
In antiquity the Gate of Pluto was considered a sacred threshold opening onto the god of the underworld. In reality it is a geological event: carbon dioxide gas seeping from a crack in the rock pooled low to the ground and killed any animal that breathed it. The priests presented this as a miracle, leading sacrificial animals inside and crediting their deaths to the power of the god. Re-excavated in 2013, this spot is one of the rare places where you can see the truth behind the myth laid bare. Stay behind the barriers; the gas is still there.
The Antique Pool (Cleopatra’s Pool)
In the middle of the city there is a warm thermal pool with toppled Roman columns lying on its bed: the Antique Pool. It is not out on the terraces of Pamukkale, but it is the one place where you can actually swim. It has a separate ticket and can get crowded; whether it is worth it, what you will pay and how to plan it are all covered in detail on the Antique Pool page.
The Martyrium of St Philip
High on the hill stands the city’s mark of the early Christian era: the Martyrium of St Philip. This monumental octagonal structure was built in memory of the apostle Philip, believed to have been killed here; nearby, remains thought to be the apostle’s tomb were also found. It takes a bit of a climb, but it is worth it for both the building and the view down over the city. This is where you understand that Hierapolis was not just a Roman city but a center of faith for centuries.
The Roman baths and archaeology museum
One of the city’s great Roman bath complexes is used today as the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum. Inside, sarcophagi, statues and everyday objects unearthed from the necropolis and the city are on display. On a hot midday it is the right stop, both to cool off and to connect the story behind the stones you have just been walking on.
Nearby ancient cities
If you have time, do not leave Hierapolis on its own. Across the valley there are two more cities you can combine in the same day: Laodikeia with its churches and streets, and the quieter, lesser-known Tripolis. Both are away from the ticketed crowds, and for anyone who loves archaeology they round out Hierapolis nicely.
Practical: ticket, hours, time
Entry to Hierapolis is the same as the Pamukkale site ticket; the terraces and the city open on a single entry, and only the Antique Pool is separate. For current prices, opening hours and what each ticket covers, see the tickets and opening hours page. We have gathered which season and hour work best on the best time to visit page.
If you are thinking about a guided tour, most full-day Pamukkale tours include Hierapolis; we compared the options and what you are actually paying for, honestly, on the best Pamukkale tours page. But it is perfectly walkable without a guide: with this page in hand and half a day to spare, you can explore this city above the terraces at your own pace.
Common questions
Is Hierapolis a separate place from Pamukkale?
No, they are the same site. The white travertine terraces are the face of the slope, and Hierapolis is the ancient city right at the top. Walk uphill and one flows into the other; your entry ticket usually covers both. Only the Antique Pool has a separate ticket.
How long does it take to see Hierapolis?
A quick visit covers the theatre and colonnaded street in about an hour and a half. Add the necropolis, the Gate of Pluto and the museum and you are easily looking at 3 to 4 hours. There is little shade in the heat, so early morning or late afternoon is the most comfortable.
What are the must-see sights in Hierapolis?
The restored Roman theatre, the long colonnaded Frontinus Street with its monumental gates, the vast necropolis, the Gate of Pluto with its deadly gas, the Antique Pool you can swim in, and the Martyrium of St Philip on the hill. The archaeology museum inside the old Roman baths is also a cool break from the fierce sun.
Do I need a Hierapolis ticket to see the white terraces?
The same ticket opens both; the terraces are inside the site. So when you are looking at the terraces you are already at the gate of Hierapolis. Skipping the city and turning back after the terraces means leaving half of what you paid for unused.