Denizli Cardak Airport Car Rental

Denizli Cardak Airport (DNZ) is the airport for Denizli and for Pamukkale, but it is not close to either. It lies about 8 km south of the small town of Cardak and roughly 63 km by road from Denizli city centre, with the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale at a similar distance. In practice that means about an hour on the road from the terminal to wherever you are staying, so it pays to plan your onward journey before you fly.

Most international visitors come for Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis, often adding Laodicea, the thermal springs at Karahayit or Lake Salda. Others come to Denizli on business or to visit family in towns such as Buldan and Civril. Buses and taxis run between the airport and the city, but with the long distance a taxi adds up and buses are timed to flights. Denizli Cardak Airport car rental takes you straight from the terminal to Pamukkale or a district town without changing.

On Otorento you can compare offers from independent rental suppliers in one list, from economy cars for a quick trip into town to automatic saloons and SUVs for a longer tour, each with its fuel policy, mileage and deposit conditions. Prices and availability depend on dates, car group and supplier; free cancellation and 24/7 support apply with every supplier.

Location and getting around

Road distances below are approximate and measured from the airport; drive times are traffic permitting and depend on the route you choose.

The airport is close to the D320, the road between Denizli and Afyonkarahisar, and that is the way into the city. For Pamukkale there are two options: the toll-free route via the Denizli ring road and past Laodicea (approx. 72 km), or the shorter link from Kocabas onto the Aydin-Denizli Motorway, leaving at the Pamukkale junction (approx. 67 km). The motorway section is tolled and paid electronically through HGS; rental cars normally carry an HGS tag and the supplier bills tolls afterwards, as set out in the rental terms. Lake Salda lies across the provincial border in Burdur, yet it is nearer the airport than Denizli city is, so it makes an easy stop on your way in or out.

Picking up your car

How the handover works for Denizli Cardak Airport car rental depends on the supplier. Some meet you at the terminal exit with a name sign, others deliver the car at the terminal car park or nearby. The meeting point and the supplier's phone number are in your booking confirmation.

• Flight number: add it when you book, so the supplier can reschedule the handover if your flight is late.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and the card named in the booking. You can drive in Turkey on a foreign licence for up to six months after entry; UK drivers are advised to carry an International Driving Permit, and other visitors should check their supplier's licence requirements.

• Deposit: usually blocked on a credit card in the main driver's name; deposit, age and licence-history conditions vary by car group and supplier.

• Return: from Denizli or Pamukkale, the drive back to Cardak takes at least an hour; set your return time with that in mind.

Places to visit by car

• Pamukkale and Hierapolis: the white travertine terraces and the ancient city above them, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the theatre and the thermal Antique Pool, where you swim among fallen columns. There are several entrances, including the South Gate; your choice of gate decides where you park. Approx. 67-72 km.

• Karahayit: about 5 km north of the travertines, known for reddish thermal water coloured by iron oxide and for its spa hotels.

• Laodicea: a large ancient city just north of Denizli, easy to combine with Pamukkale on the same day; approx. 59 km.

• Lake Salda: white sandy shores and turquoise water; turn it into a two-day route with Pamukkale; approx. 51 km.

• Buldan: a town known for its weaving tradition and old streets, a good day trip north of Pamukkale; approx. 114 km.

Driving and parking tips

• Pamukkale is busiest in summer and at weekends. Arrive early in the morning to find parking and to walk the terraces before the heat.

• You walk barefoot on the travertines, so keep a small bag in the car to carry your shoes.

• The road from the airport crosses long stretches of open country. If you land late in the evening and feel tired, consider spending the first night near Cardak or going straight to your accommodation rather than touring.

• Traffic builds in central Denizli during working hours and street parking near the bazaar is scarce; paid car parks are easier.

For the city alone an economy car will do; for a route covering Pamukkale, Salda and the district towns, Denizli Airport car hire with a roomier saloon or SUV is more comfortable.

Nearby locations

Compare other airports in the region: Isparta Airport, Dalaman Airport, Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport and Antalya Airport.