The ancient spa city above the terraces
Hierapolis was founded by the Attalid kings at the end of the 2nd century BC as a spa town, built around the same warm springs that made the travertines. Its Greek, Roman and early Christian monuments are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hierapolis-Pamukkale. The ruins lie about 18 km north of Denizli and share a ticket area with the terraces.
The main sights are the theater, the necropolis, the church of the Martyrium of Philip and the archaeological museum in a Roman bath building. The site is large, so plan generous time. Wear shoes for the ruins and carry them on the terraces, where you walk barefoot.
What to see in Hierapolis
The monuments that are described in the official heritage and museum texts.
The theater
The Roman theater is one of the preserved monuments of the city, and its stage building still carries relief carving.
Pamukkale tickets and hours →The necropolis
The burial grounds lie outside the ancient city walls. Tomb buildings and sarcophagi stand in the cemetery fields.
All things to do →The Martyrium of Philip
This is a Christian memorial building for the apostle Philip. UNESCO dates it to the 5th century. The Turkish museum description places it in the 4th century. The two sources disagree, so do not rely on a single date when you read signs on site.
Laodicea guide →Streets, gates and columns
Inside the walls you walk on ancient streets and pass an arched gate and standing columns. Allow time for photos, and keep your eyes on the uneven stone underfoot.
The Antique Pool →Our picks: Hierapolis
A ticket for the ancient city, a guided walk and a day tour from Izmir with entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Pamukkale day tour from Izmir with lunch
Pickup and return, transport, guide, lunch and entry to Hierapolis and Pamukkale. The Antique Pool is not confirmed.
Check availability →
Guided walking tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis
A professional guide for a walk through the site. Entry fees are not included.
Check availability →Pamukkale and Hierapolis skip-the-line ticket
The ticket covers the ancient city, museum, theatre, Roman bath, Plutonium and Martyrium. The audio guide only comes with that option; the Antique Pool is not confirmed.
Check availability →Pamukkale and Hierapolis tours
Guided visits, day trips and combinations around Hierapolis and Pamukkale, with live prices and availability.
The archaeological museum
Finds from the city and the region.
The Hierapolis Archaeological Museum occupies a Roman bath building. It has 3 halls: sarcophagi and sculptures in one, small finds in another, and finds from the Hierapolis theater in the third. Some pieces come from Laodicea and other excavations in the region.
The central tariff list shows the museum as free. That does not mean the whole of Hierapolis is free. To walk through the surrounding site you still pay the site ticket. The museum's own hours are 08:00 to 17:30 daily, with the cash desk open until 17:00.
Hours and ticket for the site
As listed in October 2026.
| Part of the site | Hours | Price for foreign visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Hierapolis and Pamukkale (site) | 08:00 to 18:00; pedestrian entrance closes at 17:00; cash desk until 17:00 | €30 |
| Archaeological museum | 08:00 to 17:30; cash desk until 17:00 | Free |
| Combined ticket with Laodicea | – | Sold at the ticket office |
Summer hours are longer, and a state profile lists 06:30 to 21:00 from 1 May to 1 October. The Pamukkale page compares the schedules. Laodicea has its own entry, listed at €12, and a combined ticket with Hierapolis is sold at the ticket office.
Walking the site
A sensible order for a visit.
Plan the theater, the necropolis and the museum as separate stops. The ground is uneven and stone surfaces get hot in summer, so bring water, a hat and sturdy shoes. If mobility is a concern, ask at a gate which parts you can reach.
If you arrive from the village, you climb over the terraces first. If you enter at the south or north gate, you reach the city directly. Either way, you can end at the terraces and, if the Antique Pool is open, at the pool. See the Antique Pool page for its separate ticket and rules.
Hierapolis: frequently asked questions
Is Hierapolis the same as Pamukkale?
They are two parts of one World Heritage Site. Pamukkale is the travertine terraces and Hierapolis is the ancient city above them. One site ticket covers both.
Is the Hierapolis museum free?
The central tariff list shows the archaeological museum as free. The surrounding site still needs a ticket, listed at €30 for foreign visitors in 2026.
How long should I plan for Hierapolis?
That depends on your pace. The site is large, so plan generous time if you want the theater, the necropolis and the museum in addition to the terraces.
Can I visit in the evening?
Not as a rule. The hours shown in October 2026 end at 17:00 or 18:00. A summer schedule to 21:00 is listed for 1 May to 1 October.
When was the Martyrium of Philip built?
UNESCO gives the 5th century and the Turkish museum description the 4th century. The sources disagree, so both are quoted here.