Pamukkale thermal pools with kids: how we kept cool in heat

Vimal Fernandez
Jul 25
3 min read

Turns out hot springs are relaxing — unless you’re carrying a screaming toddler, a diaper bag, and 5 pairs of sandals. 🍼🩴😅

After two months in Kayaköy near Fethiye, we were craving a change of scenery — and maybe a little heat stroke. So we loaded up the kids and headed out for a short 2-day road trip to the Pamukkale thermal pools, one of Turkey’s most iconic natural wonders.

First stop: Salda Gölü — the Maldives of Turkey (minus the price tag, and reef, and marine life, and remote island, and, and, and…)

On the way to Pamukkale, we detoured to Salda Gölü, a giant freshwater lake surrounded by volcanic mountains. The white “sand” is actually soft magnesium deposits, which reflect the light and give the water a really cool blue-green glow.

It’s calm, clean, and almost empty. There's mud you can scrub on yourself, and apparently it’s healthy (we didn’t ask questions). There is plenty of shallow beach before it drops off, so the kids loved it. A must stop, it is a really unique place, and eerily free of people.

The main event: Pamukkale thermal pools

Pamukkale is famous for its calcium-rich hot springs that flow down white travertine terraces, forming stunning natural pools. They weren't as dreamy in real life as they look in the photos, but still a cool spot to hang.

We stayed here —a clean, comfy apartment walking distance from the pools. $100/night. Couldn’t do much better than this.

Here’s how we made it work with three little kids:

Arrive early. Some gates open at 6 AM, some at 8 AM. We went at 8 AM to beat the crowds and lines. Entry was €30/adult, kids free.
No strollers, no shoes, no food allowed. Plan accordingly. Sandals and baby carriers FTW.
The pools vary in temp. Some are chilly, others nice and warm. We were expecting all hot springs, but it’s a mix — a good thing in 100°F+ heat.
Go slow. We took our time, letting the kids play in the mud and pools and rest while we did the hike to the top. This helped us minimize meltdowns.
There’s a restaurant at the top. Grab some Ramen, take a break, and enjoy the view.
The museum is actually cool. At the top sits the Hierapolis Archaeological Museum — relaxed vibe, ancient sculptures, no overbearing guards yelling at your kids.

My wife captures more footage on reels.

Bonus stop: Kaklık Cave

Since we spent the morning in the mineral pools, we had some time in the late afternoon. About 30 minutes from Pamukkale is Kaklık Cave — a quick, cool little spot if you’ve got time and energy left.

Here’s what to expect:

Entry: $1/adult, kids free.
Inside the cave: 30-minute walk, no strollers. Big travertine pools, cool rock formations. It’s wet — wear sandals and carry little ones.
There’s a man-made pool outside using the same thermal water — fun for the kids to splash in and cool off.

Final stop: lavender fields forever

On the drive back to Fethiye, we made one last pit stop: a lavender farm. It was about an hour into the return leg — perfect timing for the kids to stretch their legs, eat snacks, and burn off some angst.

The fields were blooming (it starts late July).
You could walk through the purple haze, smell the aroma, and hear the buzz of a million bees buzzin’.
You can learn how they turn the plant into product.
There’s a shop selling soaps, oils, and other lavender-y things.

Simple. Peaceful. Unexpected.

A vacation while on vacation

This was one of those trips that made us pause and reflect. After a few months on the road, the constant “vacation” feeling starts to fade — in a good way. Life slows down. Routines emerge. But it’s still pretty sweet that we can jump into a 2-day trip like this and soak up something new.

This is the perk of Financial Independence that no spreadsheet can measure — the flexibility to wander, explore, and create spontaneous memories with your crew.

And it all started by finding our 'why'.

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.