How to Spend A Great Day in Denizli?

Its history dates back to the 13th century, Denizli has been a city of wellness for centuries. Hierapolis, blessed with the thermal waters of Denizli’s magnificent nature, has been historically the centre of medicine of the Roman Empire.

Today, Pamukkale travertines are known for their magical beauty. The white landscape of the travertines is phantasmic. This beautiful landscape is highly favoured by many people and every year thousands of people all over the world visit Denizli to discover the beauty of the travertines.

However, the nature of Denizli is abundant in its spoils, meaning travertines are not the only thing Denizli is blessed with. This 1-day route ensures you don’t miss out on any of the wonderful things the city has to offer.

6 Points

90 km

2 h

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From Pamukkale to amazing archaeological sites, discover Denizli’s historical and natural beauties on a 1-day route.

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Morning: Hierapolis, Pamukkale Travertines and Thermal Pools

Start your morning in Denizli, walking around one of the oldest wellness centres in the world. Hierapolis and Pamukkale travertines are part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List for their outstanding universal value.

According to the official website of UNESCO, the Kingdom of Pergamon established the thermal spa of Hierapolis at the end of the 2nd century BCE. This marks a legacy of human engagement with the Pamukkale Travertines spanning over 2,200 years. Today’s healing practices in Pamukkale draw inspiration from this ancient tradition, reviving the historic use of the region’s natural thermal springs.

For hundreds of years, travertine remained important for the people of Anatolia. After Hellenistic influences on the city, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire continued to cherish this natural wonder. After the martyrdom of St. Philip, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, in Hierapolis, the city became an important religious centre for Christianity and remains as such with its several churches.

The Laodikeia Archaeological Site was built south of the Lykos River. Because of its favourable location, near the water source, the city was also known as the “Laodikeia on the banks of the Lykos”.

According to sources, the city was established by Antiokhos the Second, and it was the most famous city of Anatolia during this era. The city’s golden days ended when a big earthquake.

Laodikeia Archaeological Site consists of the remnants of a big and a small theatre, a gymnasium, a monumental fountain, a temple for Zeus, and a big church.

Take a stroll through the history of the once beloved and most popular city of Anatolia. Try to imagine what it was like before, before the earthquake. Imagine the city as inhabited, full of people, young, old, and children.

Afternoon: Kaklık Cave And Buldan

Kaklık Cave is another piece of evidence of nature’s abundance in Denizli. The beautiful landscape of Pamukkale travertines is almost packaged into a cave.

This is one of the extraordinary works of nature, because it looks like a miniature replica of the travertines put inside a cage. This place is dreamy, to say the least. You can enjoy the beautiful, healing properties of thermal water inside the cage.

Kaklık Cave is embraced and beloved in the community, with a swimming pool, a little amphitheatre and cafes around the cave; you don’t just discover nature, you are also immersed in the environment that surrounds Kaklık Cave. This is the best place to spend your afternoon after a magnificent start in archaeological sites.

Before you return to the city centre, take a detour to Buldan, a district celebrated for Buldan dokuması, a light and breathable cotton cloth known for its softly crinkled texture.

In the shops and small workshops around the town centre, you can pick up peştemals, towels, dressing gowns, table linen and shirts that showcase the local weaving tradition.

Then, wander through the Historic Buldan Houses, a protected neighbourhood of timber houses with bay windows, deep eaves and distinctive chimneys, designed so the homes do not block one another’s view, which gives the streets a wonderfully open-air museum feel.

Evening: Kaleiçi and Local Souvenirs

While the sun begins to set, turn your direction to the city centre. Kaleiçi Bazaar in the city centre was one of the first places of settlement.

In the 13th century, after the devastating earthquake in the Laodikeia Archaeological Site, people started to settle in Kaleiçi. Now, Kaleiçi is the city’s main place for shopping and discovering Denizli.

In Kaleiçi, you go textile shopping, footwear, and you can find copper and steel craft. Denizli is also known for its traditional handicrafts, especially in Serinhisar, Sarayköy, Tavas and Çivril districts, which take pottery and mug making to a whole new level.

Browse for handwoven towels, dressing gowns and home textiles, then return to Denizli centre for dinner. End your day in a local restaurant in Denizli centre with a traditional Denizli kebap. This is what serenity and happiness are all about.