Cleopatra Antique Pool

The pool sits in the middle of the Hierapolis site, fed by the same thermal springs that built Pamukkale's travertine terraces - water at around thirty-six degrees, heavily mineralised and fizzing gently with dissolved carbon dioxide. In the seventh century an earthquake brought down the portico of a temple that stood beside it, and the columns fell into the water and were left there, so bathers now swim over and between drums of fluted marble lying on the bottom. The Cleopatra name is marketing rather than history; there is no evidence she came anywhere near it. It is run as a commercial facility inside the archaeological site, with a changing block, lockers, a café and a separate ticket, and it gets extremely busy - in high season the pool is shoulder to shoulder and the queue for lockers is long. Early morning, before the coach parties reach Hierapolis, is the only time it approaches calm.

What you actually see

• The submerged columns - fluted marble drums on the pool floor.
• The warm mineral water - thermal spring water at body temperature.
• The bathing crowd - the pool at its usual density.
• The Hierapolis setting - the ancient city around it.

When to go

April to June and September to October. Go at opening - by mid-morning the coach groups arrive and it stays packed until late afternoon.

Honest expectations

The Cleopatra connection is invented. It is a separate and not cheap ticket on top of Hierapolis entry, and it is genuinely crowded. The mineral water is not suitable for everyone - those with heart or blood-pressure conditions should read the posted guidance and ask a doctor rather than this page.

Nearby

Hierapolis and the Pamukkale travertines surround it; Laodicea is ten kilometres south.