Izmir is a common starting point for several key travels in Turkey, including Pamukkale. But how can you travel from Izmir to Pamukkale, considering that the two are 4 hours apart?
If you already saw my post about how to travel from Izmir to Ephesus (another common destination along the route), then you’ll already have part of the journey down!
Regardless, here’s how I traveled from Izmir to Pamukkale.
Types of Transportation from Izmir to Pamukkale
There are a few options for traveling from Izmir to Pamukkale:
- Rental Car: A rental care is a convenient way to travel around Turkey, but it’s probably the most expensive.
- Intercity Bus: Several bus companies offer routes from Izmir to Denizli, from which you’d need to take a local bus or taxi to Pamukkale.
- The Train: The train offers a convenient and affordable way to get from Izmir to Denizli. Again, you’d need a taxi or local bus to then get to Pamukkale.
The train station is nestled in Izmir’s city center, much closer than the bus station. It’s also a fairly affordable option, with bathrooms on board. Overall, I found it much more convenient to opt for the train than bus.
Take the Train From Izmir to Denizli
Taking the train is the best option for getting from Izmir to Denizli, the closest drop-off city to Pamukkale. Here’s how it works:
Go to the Basamane Train Station
First, make your way to the Basamane Railway Station. You can find it under “Basamane Gar” on Google Maps, or enter this address: Etiler Mah. Basmane, Anafartalar Cd., Konak/İzmir.
You won’t need to go downstairs, you’ll find the train on the main floor. There’s a metal detector right by the entrance, before the ticket booth. Past the ticket booth, there are waiting chairs parallel to the train platforms.
Get on the Izmir-Denizli Train
Head to the ticket booth to purchase your ticket. Just tell the ticket seller that you want to go to Denizli. Note, that this is the same train you can take to Selcuk/Ephesus, but you’ll ride it further.
Be Aware of Train Times
Compared to other train systems, this one does not run that often. We saw only 6 departure times each day, with the only two morning options 7 am or 10:40 am. The yleave on time, so get there early. You can find the schedule on the rail Turkey website.
I don’t have the exact price, but tickets were around 80 lira a person in May 2023. At the time, it was about $4.5/person for one way. You can buy tickets in cash or with a card.
They will let you know which platform your train is at. Ours was at platform 1 and was already there. So, we got on. I’m not positive where you can find this, but you can sit in any seat in your assigned car.
Get Off at the Denizli Stop
The train ride is between 4 and 5 hours from Izmir to Denizli. Along the way, it makes several stops, but the stops are very quick. The train announced the name of each stop, but I also followed the ride on Google Maps to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
There was also a bathroom on the train, and there was rarely any line. However, they didn’t always have toilet paper or soap, so I’d bring some tissues and hand sanitizer in case. Some bathrooms had floor toilets, and others had western toilets (sitting toilets).
Bonus: The ride between Izmir and Denizli is gorgeous! There’s plenty of beautiful scenery, and you can really take in the country.
How to Get from Denizli to Pamukkale
The train takes you to the Denizli bus station, where you can take city and intercity buses from there. So, this is where you find a dolmuş (minibus) to get to Pamukkale.
Head directly downstairs at the bus station. Then, you’ll need to find the minibus, which can be confusing.
We went to platform 76 and found it there. The bus was labeled, and we asked just to make sure. The bus leaves when it gets full enough, so waiting times vary.
It cost about 40 lira per person (in May 2023) and was a little over a 20-minute ride. Most of these minibusses only take cash, so be sure to have enough on hand.
The dolmuş heads to the main area of Pamukkale, in front of the travertines. However, it does make stops in Pamukkale before that spot. Check the map to see where your hotel is if you’re staying overnight, and try to get off as close as possible. You can show the driver and they can help you get off at the right stop.
When the time comes to leave, you can wait at that same spot to catch the minibus back.
Frequently Asked Questions About Izmir to Pamukkale
How long does it take to get from Izmir to Pamukkale?
In total, it will take a minimum of 5.5 hours to get from Izmir to Ephesus. In reality, it can take quite a bit longer since you should arrive at the train station early and may have to wait a bit for a minibus in Denizli. The train ride from Izmir to Denizli takes around 5 hours. The mini-bus trip from Denizli to Pamukkale takes about 25 minutes.
Is Pammukkale a good day trip?
It’s possible to travel between Izmir and Pamukkale for a day trip, but I personally recommend having at least one night there. Doing it as a day trip, you’d spend 10+ hours just traveling, which doesn’t leave much time to explore the wonders of Pamukkale.
How much time do you need in Pamukkale?
To thoroughly enjoy all aspects of Pamukkale (including Cleopatra’s Ancient Pool and the ruins of Heirapolis) I’d recommend a MINIMUM of 6 hours. You can easily spend a full 8-10 hour day there, and I think many people don’t experience enough of it!