Thermal Tourism in Turkey

Turkey is very gifted when it comes to thermal tourism and its potential.There are 1,500 thermomineral springs in Turkey and almost all provinces in Turkey has some thermal springs. Thermal waters have traditionally been used for health and SPA purposes in Turkey since ancient times. The oldest thermal therapy center in Anatolia was Allianoi, an ancient spa settlement, with remains dating predominantly from the Roman Empire period (2nd century AD) located near the city of Bergama (ancient Pergamon) in Turkey. The SPAs in Turkey are used by 7 million locals and 200,000 foreigners each year.

Bursa
Bursa was the most important city with thermal baths in Ottoman times. Today, it is still a popular thermal SPA destination in Turkey with most of its thermal baths. There are many traditional hamam in Bursa and thermal tourism is mostly concentrated in Cekirge and Oylat. Still Bursa itself also offers very nice thermal baths.

Yeni Kaplica (Termal Hotel and Baths), for example, is one of the best hamams in Turkey and offers an experience not to be missed while visiting Bursa for anyone interested in a relaxing thermal bath. The bath is serving people since Suleyman The Magnificent time and is built in 1555. Be warned, the water is quite hot here with around 80 Celcius.

Most thermal springs of Bursa are in Cekirge region. Çekirge Thermal Springs originate from a place named Vakifbahce and all hotels and spas receive their thermal waters from there. It is known (or believed) that this spa is good, as bath water, for rheumatic syndromes, motion systems, painful diseases, vascularto obstruction, diabetes, gout and metabolic disorders, and as drinking it cures the liver and biliary tractdiseases.

Types of spas you can find in Bursa are rehabilitation spa, wellness and traditional spas.

Denizli
Denizli area is a historical thermal places since acient times. Hierapolis, Laodikeia, Herakleia,
Tripolis and Afrodisyas were historical cities in the area offering thermal sources to antic era people. Among these Hierapolis is a the most famous thermal treatment city. Right next to the Pamukkale, Hierapolis, became the most famous thermal treatment center of the Romans.

In Denizli there are Pamukkale, Karahayıt, Sarayköy thermal tourism areas. Pamukkale is the most famous of all these and offers some of the best thermal hotels in the region. Pamukkale is famous for its Cotton Castles or PamukkaleThermal Pools.

Pam Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale for example features a sauna, an outdoor pool and a jacuzzi. Guests can enjoy the on-site day spa, which features a mineral bath and hydrotherapy facilities, as well as a range of body treatments.

PamukkaleThermal Pools

İzmir

Aegean Coastal city of İzmir is host to the oldest historical thermal treatment center in the world, Allianoi located in İzmir-Bergama. Balçova Thermal Tourism area, Çeşme Thermal Tourism area, Seferihisar Thermal Tourism area and Dikili-Bergama Thermal Tourism area are the main thermal centers in Izmir.

Thermal Pools in Cesme Altin Yunus

Where to stay in Termal (Yalova)?

Yalova Termal is one of the first places which comes to mind when talk about thermal and spa tourism in Turkey. With 2,000 years of thermal springs’ history, Yalova Termal is world-renowned place. Termal is only 12 km away to central of Yalova, is quite easily accessible place with the proximity to the big cities like İstanbul, İzmit and Bursa.  In addition to the spa, with the beautiful nature between two valleys, Thermal is ideal for a day trip or weekend escape from the city.

Thermal is only 2 hours away by ferry to Istanbul and 1 hour away by highway to İzmit and Bursa. And it is a place to go for all seasons. It is beautiful in the spring, when nature comes alive or autumn with glamorous defoliation, even though, thermal center is more enjoyable in winter months.

The first Turkish baths of Yalova Thermal Spring Resort were built by Byzantine Emperor Constantine (312-337) about 1600 years ago. And then, it was an important hot spring resort in the Byzantine period, but it could not compete with the spas of Bursa which is the first capital of Ottoman Empire and has been always in the background until the rheumatism of Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan, mother of Sultan Abdülmecit, was healed here. Thermal came to the fore with the investments made in the last period of Ottoman, and then it has gone forgotten with the everlasting wars and disasters. In the Republic Period, it has gained again its fame and popularity with the help of Atatürk who liked here.

The healing waters of Yalova Thermal Spring Resort and its Turkish baths are beneficial to the rheumatism, digestive system, liver, gallbladder, kidney diseases and gynecological problems.
So where to stay in Yalova Thermal? Thermal offers good options with hotels providing services to domestic and foreign tourists. We are going to recommend a few hotels that stand out. Let’s begin with five star hotels.

Limak Thermal Boutique Hotel

Limak Thermal Boutique Hotel, the historic hotel who the first guest is Atatürk, is reconstructed by Limak Tourism Group in according to its original and welcomes guests. There are 100 square meters of thermal pool, Turkish bath, sauna, steam bath, and massage center in the spa center of 5 stars Limak Thermal Boutique Hotel and the thermal water with a private Jacuzzi in every room.

Limak Thermal Boutique Hotel

Black Bird Thermal Hotel and Spa

4 stars Black Bird Thermal Hotel and Spa which is opened with the architectural style of the White House in June 2013 welcomes guests with comfortable and stylish rooms. Indoor Thermal Pool, steam room, salt room, sauna and private treatment rooms, a private hot tub rooms and male and female-specific Turkish bath are offered to the guests. Thermo water ranging from 32-43°C with fluoride is beneficial in the chronic phase of rheumatic diseases, chronic low back pain, joint disorders, soft tissue disorders, orthopedic surgery, neurological disorders, stress and sports injuries, gynecological problems and it has rejuvenating effect to skin.

Blackbird Thermal Hotel and SPA

Thermo Vital Hotel

3 stars Thermo Vital Hotel is a little outside of the center of the Thermal and covered with pine trees in a lush green nature. It has spacious and comfortable rooms, a spa and bath, and thermal suites which are ideal for families with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is particular to the quiet, restful, clean and comfortable thermal hotel seekers.

Green Thermal Hotel

3 stars Green Thermal Hotel in Gökçedere district stands out with surrounding shopping facilities, rooms, baths, in-room Jacuzzi with thermal water. Even, the hotel is clean and comfortable to the families with two children.

You can have a look to Yalova Termal Hotels page for a wide range of thermal hotel list, comparative hotel room rates and user reviews.