Cleopatra's Pool (Antique Pool, Hierapolis)

What to expect

The Antique Pool, sold to visitors as Cleopatra’s Pool, sits in the middle of Hierapolis, the Roman spa city on the ridge above Pamukkale’s white travertine terraces. It is a spring-fed basin of clear water at about 97°F36°C, and its floor is scattered with fluted marble column drums and capitals. You swim over and around them. Some people dive down to touch them; most just float above.

The story most often told is that an earthquake, dated to AD 692, brought down a colonnade beside the spring and the warm water filled the gap around the fallen stones. The link to Cleopatra is a legend with nothing behind it. There is another local tradition that the Virgin Mary bathed her eyes here. Neither matters much once you are in the water.

The pool is busy. Before the 2020 closure it was taking more than 400,000 swimmers a year, and in summer the water fills with tour groups by late morning. The pool has its own ticket desk and a café terrace, and ruins sit right next to the water. The Hierapolis Archaeology Museum is a short walk away.

The water temperature barely changes through the year, so a soak works in January as well as August. It feels warm rather than hot.

Getting there

Hierapolis is about 18 km (11 miles) north of Denizli. Pamukkale village sits at the foot of the travertines.

• From Denizli: Minibuses to Pamukkale leave from the Denizli bus terminal. Taxis and tour transfers also run the route.
• Driving or by tour coach: Most drivers and coaches use the South Gate or the North Gate. The North Gate enters through the necropolis, so you walk past tombs on the way in.
• On foot from the village: The pedestrian entrance at the bottom of the travertines lets you climb up the white terraces to the ruins. This is the classic approach, but you must walk it barefoot. Allow time: the terrace is long, sunny and hard on soft feet.

An electric shuttle runs from the upper gate area to the travertines. A January 2026 guide gave the fare as ₺80 for Turkish visitors and €3 for foreigners.

Inside the site, the pool is in the centre of the ancient city, signposted as “Antik Havuz” or “Antique Pool”. From the top of the travertines it is a short, easy walk on paved paths.

When to go

The site is open every day of the year. In October 2026 the Ministry of Culture and Tourism lists 08:00 to 18:00, with ticket sales stopping at 17:00. The South and North gates close at 18:00 and the pedestrian entrance from the village closes at 17:00. Summer hours have run until 21:00 in recent years, so check the ministry page for the current schedule.

Early morning is the best time for the pool. Tour coaches from the coast usually arrive mid-morning and leave mid-afternoon, so the first hour and the last two hours of the day are calmer.

July and August are hot and crowded. The white terraces reflect a lot of glare, and the climb from the village is tiring in the midday sun. Spring and autumn are more comfortable, and winter is quiet, with the pool still at the same temperature.

Prices and rules

You need two tickets to swim:

1. The Hierapolis-Pamukkale site ticket. The ministry lists it at €30 for foreign visitors in 2026. Turkish citizens can use the Müze Kart.
2. The Antique Pool swim fee, paid at the pool. A January 2026 guide put it at ₺350 for Turkish visitors and €15 for foreigners. An older 2024 guide gave ₺150, which shows how fast Turkish prices move. Expect it to change again.

You can walk around the pool, sit at the café and take photos without paying the swim fee.

Rules worth knowing:

• Swimsuits are required. This is a mixed public pool.
• No shoes on the travertines. Shoes, slippers and socks are banned on the white terraces. Stay on the marked route; walking into closed or recovering pools can be fined.
• No soap, shampoo or cosmetics in the travertine pools.
• Bring a towel and a bag for wet things; you will carry everything back across the site.

Where to stay nearby

There is no lodging inside the archaeological site. Pamukkale village, at the bottom of the travertines, has many small hotels and pensions within walking distance of the pedestrian entrance, plus restaurants and a few thermal hotels. Karahayıt, a few kilometres north of the North Gate, is a spa village with larger thermal hotels. Denizli, about 18 km (11 miles) south, has city hotels and the bus terminal.

Safety notes

• Column drums underwater: The fallen marble has hard edges and uneven tops. Do not dive in head first, watch your feet and knees near the stones, and keep children within reach.
• Sun and glare: There is little shade on the travertines. Wear a hat and sunglasses and carry water for the climb.
• Slippery travertine: The wet terrace surface can be slick in places and rough in others. Walk slowly.
• Time in the water: At 97°F36°C the pool is mild, but long soaks in warm water still dehydrate you. Drink water between swims.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Hierapolis theatre, up the hill from the pool, gives a wide view over the ruins and the valley. The Hierapolis Archaeology Museum displays finds from the site and nearby Laodikeia. The Martyrium of St. Philip, an octagonal church built in memory of the apostle said to have been crucified here, stands on the slope above the city. Back down the hill, the ruins of Laodikeia, another ministry site, are close to Denizli and far less crowded.