Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour in 2 Days: Ancient Cities and White Terraces

Ephesus and Pamukkale are the two great sights of the Aegean, about three hours apart by road. Both can be squeezed into one rushed day from Istanbul, and our guide to Ephesus and Pamukkale in one day shows how that day works. Our Ephesus and Pamukkale tour gives them two days instead, with a night in the hills between them, so you walk both sites at their best hours.

Day One of the Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour

An early flight takes you from Istanbul to İzmir, where your guide and driver wait at the airport. Then we drive south to the upper gate of Ephesus, so the whole walk goes downhill. On the way down, you visit the Terrace Houses, with their painted walls and mosaic floors, before the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater appear at the bottom of the street.

In the afternoon, we drive up to the House of the Virgin Mary in the pine forest. Afterwards, you spend the evening in the wine village of Şirince, among old stone houses and fruit wines, or in Selçuk below its castle. At the top of the village, Nişanyan Hotel has 21 rooms in old houses and stone cottages.

Day Two: Pamukkale and Hierapolis

On the second morning, we drive inland up the valley of the Meander. At Hierapolis, we enter through the great necropolis, walk the main street to the Roman theater and see the Gate of Pluto. In the afternoon, you can swim among fallen columns in the Antique Pool. To finish, you walk barefoot down the white travertines, with the valley below you, before an evening flight from Denizli back to Istanbul. Before the flight, if you have time, we add Karahayıt, a spa village where the thermal water leaves red travertine.

Why Two Days for the Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour

In one day, you would spend most of your time in a car. With a night in between, however, you see Ephesus in the morning light and reach Pamukkale rested. The evening in Şirince or Selçuk also gives you a taste of village life on the Aegean.

Shape Your Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour

Every journey is private, so you can add a day for Aphrodisias or the coast of Kuşadası. For a single day, see our Ephesus shore excursion. We arrange your entry at Ephesus and Pamukkale on both days.