Cleopatra’s Antique Pool

Last updated: 1 October 2026 Read time: 3 min

Location Hierapolis site

Hours 08:00–20:00 (summer) 08:00–17:00 (winter) Last entry: 1 hour before closing

Ticket price from $6.50 (plus combined ticket)

Typical visit 1–1.5 hours

Nearest transport Within Hierapolis, near the archaeological museum

Cleopatras Antique Pool — Cleopatra’s Antique Pool is a thermal swimming pool within the Hierapolis site where visitors swim among submerged 2,000-year-old Roman marble columns, formed after an ancient earthquake collapsed nearby structures into a thermal spring. Local legend holds that Cleopatra herself once bathed here, though historians debate whether she actually visited.

Why visit Cleopatra’s Antique Pool? (Cleopatras Antique Pool)

Rather than removing the Roman columns and marble fragments that collapsed into the spring after an ancient earthquake, the site preserved them in place — meaning swimmers today float among genuine 2,000-year-old ruins rather than a recreation, a genuinely unusual combination of active recreation and archaeological site. The water stays a consistent, comfortable 36°C (97°F) year-round, mineral-rich with calcium and magnesium. The Cleopatra legend, while historically unverifiable, has become inseparable from the site’s identity and adds a layer of romance most visitors enjoy regardless of its accuracy.

Source: UNESCO World Heritage — Hierapolis-Pamukkale.

What should I know before visiting?

Entry requires a separate ticket beyond the combined Pamukkale-Hierapolis admission.
Locker rental is available for a small additional fee — worth it if traveling with valuables.
The pool has occasionally closed for maintenance in the past — confirm current status if it’s a priority for your visit.
Bring a swimsuit; changing facilities are on-site.

How much are tickets and what are the hours?

Entry runs approximately €6 (around $6.50) in addition to the combined Pamukkale-Hierapolis ticket. Open 08:00–20:00 in summer, closing earlier at 17:00 in winter.

How do I get to Cleopatra’s Antique Pool from Pamukkale center?

The pool sits within the Hierapolis site, adjacent to the archaeological museum, reachable via the same South or North Gate entrance used for the rest of the ruins.

Cleopatra's Antique Pool: Interesting Facts

The submerged Roman columns date back roughly 2,000 years, left in place after an ancient earthquake.
Water maintains a consistent temperature of approximately 36°C (97°F) year-round.
Requires a separate ticket beyond the combined Pamukkale-Hierapolis admission.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — it requires a separate additional ticket, approximately €6, beyond the combined Pamukkale-Hierapolis admission.

It’s a well-known local legend rather than a verified historical fact — historians debate whether Cleopatra ever visited Hierapolis at all, though the name has stuck regardless.

✦