Pamukkale Tour from Side Old Town 2027: Meeting Point Guide

Why the coach waits outside the old town

Side's old town fills a small peninsula with the ancient theatre at its neck. Its streets are narrow, paved and closed to ordinary traffic, and a full-size coach simply cannot reach a guesthouse in the middle of them.

Our pickup rule covers exactly this case. Hotel pickup runs right along the Antalya–Alanya coast, and wherever streets are narrow, restricted or for walkers only, the operator chooses a convenient designated meeting point the coach can reach. For the old town that is not an occasional exception. It is how every booking from inside the peninsula works.

How you learn where and when to stand

You do not need to work anything out yourself. Book with the name of your guesthouse or hotel, and once the booking is confirmed we send you two things: the meeting point and the time to be there. We do not publish the spot on this page, because the operator fixes it per departure and it is confirmed only after booking.

Clock times are not listed here either. The general pickup windows for each part of the coast are explained on the pickup times page, but the time that counts is the one in your confirmation.

Please never wait at your guesthouse door hoping the coach will find you there. It cannot drive in, so go to the meeting point you were sent.

Getting out of the lanes in the dark

Pamukkale is inland, so the tour starts in the night. That makes the walk from your room to the meeting point the one part of the day worth planning. The old town is quiet at that hour and some lanes are dimly lit.

• Walk the route once in the evening, so it feels familiar later
• Keep a phone torch handy for the uneven paving
• Pack light: a small bag with a hat, sun cream and a pouch for your shoes on the terraces
• Leave a few minutes early rather than hurrying over old stones

What you see once you are on board

From the meeting point the coach heads inland over the Taurus mountains. The guide's language is decided by the group and season (commonly English, German or Russian; Polish largely in high season), and the day runs in this order:

• Breakfast at a stop on the way, included
• Lake Salda, with its turquoise water and white shores (a viewing stop, not a swim)
• A short stop where local onyx stone products are shown; buying is entirely optional
• Lunch at a restaurant, included
• The Pamukkale travertines, walked barefoot, and the ancient city of Hierapolis above them
• A short stop where regional wine is presented, again with no need to buy
• Dinner at a restaurant on the way back, included
• The same coach brings you back to Side late that night

Prices are the same as on the resort strip

Staying in the old town adds nothing to the fare. One price covers the whole coast, and the only choice is whether the Pamukkale–Hierapolis entrance is included. Choosing the ticket means €30 per person added to the tour, whatever the age.

Without the ticket you buy it yourself at the Pamukkale gate. We do not print a gate price because the site administration sets and changes it. The Cleopatra Pool and a paragliding flight are optional paid extras; see the current price on the price page.

Booking from a guesthouse on the peninsula

Use the booking form, choose a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday (or any day in May and October) and write your accommodation's name as it appears on your reservation. Bring euros for the day itself, since the website takes no payment, and remember that plans can change at no cost until 48 hours before the coach leaves.

Not sure which version suits you? The entrance ticket page sets them side by side, and the tour overview has everything on one page. A private tour for your own group is also possible, with the price given on request.