Which airport for Pamukkale?

After Cappadocia, Pamukkale is probably one of the most impressive natural wonders in Turkey and indeed in the world. Pamukkale means Cotton Castle and it is made up of travertines turned white by the calcium carbonate in the natural spring water which flows over them. You can take your shoes off and paddle in the warm pools as you walk towards the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hierapolis with a large theatre built around 70 AD, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. Next to this is the ‘Antique Pool’ where you can swim among the ruins in the mineral-rich hot spring water. So, how to get there?

Denizli-Çardak Airport (DNZ)

Denizli is the nearest city to Pamukkale and has its own international airport which is a one hour drive away. Flights to Denizli-Çardak Airport (DNZ) are via Istanbul and you need to book well in advance. The airport is equipped with cafes and shops, an ATM, phone charging station etc. and you can rent a car at the airport if you wish. Some airlines arrange buses to Pamukkale for a reasonable fare. Taxis are the most convenient but the most expensive option. We also recommend Vista Trasfer for private or shuttle transfer service for Pamukkale.

Izmir Adnan Menderes airport

This airport is a 4 hour drive from Pamukkale but you can get a direct flight from the UK in the summer with Easy Jet or Pegasus and it’s cheaper than going to Denizli airport via Istanbul. The flight from London to Izmir takes around 4 hours. You can take one of the many Pamukkale buses from the airport or go to Izmir railway station and get the train to the city of Denizli followed by a 15 minute ride by taxi or minibus to Pamukkale. The train is the cheapest but the most complicated option at for you. We also recommend Vista Trasfer for private transfer services from İzmir Airport to Pamukkale.

Istanbul and other cities

There are very comfortable, modern buses to Pamukkale from nearly all cities. They’re clean, air conditioned and some have free Wifi access. You can pass the time enjoying the views or surfing the internet. No smoking is allowed on the buses and they aren’t usually equipped with toilets but they stop at restaurants around every 2 hours. You can try the local cuisine and browse the touristic shops. If you fly to Istanbul you can take the overnight bus to Pamukkale which is about 10 hours. There are so many bus companies for Pamukkale that you don’t usually need to reserve a ticket in advance. The only time they will be fully booked is during the national and religious holidays. The dates of the religious holidays change every year. There are several websites such as this www.timeanddate.com where you can check the dates of the holidays for that year.