How to Get to Pamukkale from Istanbul

Once you've explored the city of Istanbul and its most important monuments: what's next on the list? Perhaps it's time to explore beyond the wonders of this city and get to know other breathtaking destinations in Turkey.

To speak of Pamukkale is to speak of a region that certainly seems to be straight out of the wild imagination of a creative soul, and although there is much to see in Istanbul, it is worth investing a few days of your itinerary to get to know this incredible destination. Here I tell you about all the transportation options available. As you will see: there are more options than you can imagine!

When you want to leave planning aside and simply enjoy your vacation with friends and family, an organized excursion to Pamukkale is the best alternative of all. In most cases the additional expense you incur rewards the time savings and the convenience of experiencing the experience totally free of the unexpected.

From Istanbul, excursions to Pamukkale, as well as excursions to Cappadocia, are really common and one of the best plans to escape from the busy city to enjoy the dreamy natural landscap es that Turkey has to offer.

Route

The visit to Pamukkale is considered as one of the best excursions from Istanbul. In your research, you will find many alternatives but they can be grouped into two main types:

• Day trips: keep in mind that this type of excursions are not done by road but by plane. Be prepared for a long and intense day.
• Two or more day tours: This is possibly my ideal tour plan. It consists of a bus trip with an expert guide through the countryside and mountains of Turkey. These trips usually include stops at various tourist attractions such as the ancient city of Ephesus, the Temple of the Goddess Artemis, the House of the Virgin Mary and many more, plus accommodation and breakfast.

Useful information

• Price: The two-day Pamukkale tour costs from 590 € per person. This price includes the guide, hotel accommodation and breakfast and transportation to and from Istanbul.
• Duration of the trip: Minimum one day excursion.
• Recommended if... Ideal for those who will be in Istanbul for three or four days and wish to dedicate part of their trip to visit the mythical site of Pamukkale.

An alternative way to travel between Istanbul-Pamukkale destinations is by plane, as you will save hours of travel time and enjoy the long-awaited adventure in Pamukkale. The only negative point of this option is that you will not be able to enjoy the journey in the fields and mountains of Turkey, much less make stops at places of high historical and cultural interest.

Route

and companies offering this service

If you decide to take a plane to Pamukkale on your own, it is convenient:

• From Istanbul hire the airport transfer service. You will find many alternatives of companies: all of them very comfortable and punctual will pick you up at your hotel.
• From Istanbul Airport (IST) you will fly to Denizli Cardak Airport (DNZ) in a short flight that usually takes about 1 hour.
• From Denizli your final destination in Pamukkale is more than an hour's drive. It is best to hire a cab service to take you to your final destination.

It is advisable to check the providers' websites carefully and keep an eye out for possible offers:

• Turkish Airlines.
• Pegasus Airlines.

Useful information

• Price: You will need to budget from 25 € to 50 € for the cheapest flights. Cab service between airports is available from €15 to €30 for longer trips.
• Travel time: Considering the flight time and transfers to and from the airports, the transfer time is approximately 3 hours. You have to add the waiting time at the airport.
• Recommended if... You are going to spend little time in Istanbul, as you will be able to reduce a two or three day tour into a one day itinerary.

If you decide to use the bus to travel from Istanbul to Pamukkale, you should know that you will find numerous alternatives that will suit the preferences of each traveler. You should take the bus that runs between Istanbul and Denizli, the city that serves as a gateway to Pamukkale.

Route

and companies that offer this service

My main recommendation is that, due to the length of the trip, you should take the night bus which will allow you to save time. This transport service has different departure times from Istanbul, between 8pm and 11pm, and you will arrive at your destination at dawn.

The minibus that takes you from Denizli to Pamukkale village operates from 6.30 am to 11 pm. Another option is to take a cab directly from the terminal to your final destination.

You will find in Istanbul several companies offering this service operating modern and well equipped buses with Wifi and even refreshments on very long routes. The most popular are:

• MetroTurizm.
• Pamukkale Turizm.
• Kamil Koç.

Useful information

• Price: The ticket for the trip between Istanbul and Denizli costs around 15 € each way, consider as additional the cost to get to Pamukkale: by cab is about 10 € approximately.
• Duration of the trip: It is a long trip of about 13 or 14 hours.
• Recommended if... You are looking to save on your trip to Istanbul.

Another travel alternative between the two destinations is to take some of the high-speed train services. This is a highly recommended option that is almost always more comfortable than the bus, but it does involve some planning on the part of the traveler.

Route

and companies that offer this service

The first thing you have to be clear is that there is no direct train service between the two cities in Turkey. Based on this reality I will explain how you can organize the route as efficiently as possible:

• Take the train route Istanbul-Eskişehir: You will find between both destinations more than 10 daily services connecting these cities. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. The second part of the journey you will have to do the next day so organize yourself to arrive early and have the afternoon to explore the city.
• And then, the train route Eskişehir- Denizli: The train service to Pamukkale only leaves the city in the early morning hours and lasts 8 hours, so you will arrive at your destination at sunset.
• Take the route from Denizli to Pamukkale: The train station in Denizli is right in front of the bus station, so you have the same means of transport to get there: the minibus and the cab.

Depending on the proposed route, these are the companies that offer the service:

• To go from Istanbul to Eskişehir, the best alternative is MetroTurizm.
• To go from Eskişehir to Denizli, the best alternative is Pamukkale Express.

Useful information

• Price: You can calculate between 15 and 20 € per one way trip.
• Duration of the trip: If you add all the routes and the waiting time, it will take you about two days to reach your destination, but you will be able to visit other cities.
• Recommended if... You have plenty of time and a great desire to explore other regions of Turkey.

After knowing everything there is to see and do in Istanbul, such as the Topkapi Palace or the most important Mosques in Istanbul, an ideal option to get to know Pamukkale, especially for those who are looking to create a totally personalized and flexible adventure, is by car, although I do not recommend it for inexperienced travelers.

If you decide for this alternative, here you will find the information you need.

Route

and companies that offer this service

A trip through the countryside and cities of Turkey can be very different depending on the route you choose. You have several alternatives:

• Via the O-5. The fastest route. The direct route without stops will take about 6.5 hours in total and you will pass near various points of interest such as Balıkesir Province and the city of Akhisar belonging to the province of Manisa.
• By D650 You will pass through the city of Kutahya, and quite close to the city of Eskişehir. The journey by this road without contemplating stops will be seven and a half hours.
• On the 0-5 and D650, a route that will take you a little further west in Turkey, through cities such as Eskişehir, the city of Kutahya, or Isparta. The journey by this route without contemplating stops will also be seven and a half hours.

From the center of Istanbul you will find several companies offering car rental service. The most prominent are:

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car Yenibosna.
• Budget İstanbul Yenibosna
• Sixt Rent a Car.

Useful information

• Price: From 10 € per day for a single car rental, although depending on the type, size or brand, this budget may increase. Other expenses that you should consider is the payment of tolls and fuel costs.
• Travel time: The distance between Istanbul and Pamukkale is 567 km. The road trip takes 6.5 to 7.5 hours without stops depending on the route.
• Recommended if... It is an excellent alternative if you are going to spend several days in Istanbul, have the guidance of a local friend and want to test your adventurous spirit.