Pamukkale

Pamukkale means 'cotton castle' — the terraces are mineral deposits from hot springs that have been overflowing the hillside for thousands of years. Climbing them barefoot is the only way (footwear isn't allowed on the travertines). At the top sits Hierapolis, a substantial Roman city with a still-standing theater and Cleopatra's Pool, where you can swim among the toppled marble columns. Stay the night in nearby Karahayit to avoid the day-tripper rush.