15 best thermal springs in Turkey – photo, description, map
The thermal springs of Turkey are little known to the average visitor. Traditionally, people come to the country for a beach holiday. Sometimes it is combined with cultural tourism. Meanwhile, there are excellent balneological resorts here. Hot springs, saturated with mineral salts, break out of the ground, flow over the surface, cool down, and accumulate in natural and artificial pools. And the benefits of bathing or drinking such water are enormous: in addition to a general improvement in well-being, a stable remission occurs in the treatment of many diseases.
Pamukkale
Unique springs with healing water were discovered by the Greeks in the 2nd century BC. They built the city of Hierapolis next to the place where the keys sprang from the ground. Later, as a result of an earthquake, the water changed its course: in addition to the terraces, a depression formed, called the Cleopatra pool. There is evidence that the queen bathed in a natural bath for rejuvenation. And for centuries, mineral water has flowed down the ledges of the hill, covering it with a unique snow coating and creating terraces.
Today in Pamukkale there are more than 20 keys with different temperatures: from quite comfortable 36 to 100 degrees Celsius. The water contains dissolved calcium carbonate, which settles to the bottom of the streams, turning it white. Tourists, arriving in Pammukale, walk along the terraces (it is not deep here) or swim in the Cleopatra pool. You can drink water from some sources. But first you should familiarize yourself with the diseases for which it will be useful.
It is important to remember: you should walk along the terraces in warm weather (it's too windy here), and plunge into the bath in cool weather (the water is quite hot). And be sure to take care of protection: wear dark glasses, a hat. And a bottle of drinking water wouldn't hurt either.
Denizli
The most famous thermal spring resort in Denizli is Pamukkale. But there are less recognizable, but just as useful, near other villages in this area:
- There are many thermal springs near the village of Saraikoy. Ortakchy Ylydzhasy and Inalty contain a lot of sulfur, so they prefer to treat skin diseases and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system here. In Inalty, the water is so hot that it is called a hammam, that is, a bath.
- Near the village of Kabaagadzh there is a source of Kabaagadzh. Its water is effective for digestive disorders.
- Tepekey is located near the village of Teke. In its water, in addition to sulfur, an increased concentration of soda. And the outlet temperature is over 90 degrees Celsius. Therefore, before the procedures it is cooled. And the purpose of the resort is multi-purpose: when taken orally, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are treated, and when bathing, the musculoskeletal system and skin diseases are treated.
- The baths of the Yenice resort have a comfortable temperature: 40-50 degrees. Skin diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system, and vascular diseases are cured here.
All sources of Denizle are easily accessible by rented car or public transport. Some hotels have been built where you can stay for the duration of treatment.
Karahait
Residents of Turkey appreciate the beneficial properties of mineral water in Karahayit, but tourists know little about this amazing place. The composition of water is dominated by iron salts, so it has a brown-yellow hue. Liquid flows into pools or bursts out of the ground in a fountain. There are 5 such springs in Karahait. The temperature in the pools is close to critical for a person: about 60 degrees Celsius, so swimming here is uncomfortable.
But the wellness ritual involves:
The ferrous water does not have an unpleasant smell, so bathing is quite comfortable. And you can also drink it, but not from baths, but from fountains. Each of them indicates for which diseases and how it is recommended to be treated. The territory of the park is very well-groomed: flower beds, trees, benches are everywhere. It's nice to play here. And for those who want to extend the procedures, there are hotels nearby where you can stay.
Kyzyljahamam
This place was chosen for living and treatment by the ancient Romans. They noticed that the water near the highest mountains has healing properties. Today, Kyzyljahamam is a popular resort where tourists improve their health or take spa treatments.
Despite the influx of guests and proximity to Ankara, it is very calm and comfortable here:
And there are 4 types of water here:
And all of it has healing properties. Kyzyljahamam will help people suffering from arthritis, osteochondrosis, psoriasis, women's diseases. You can settle directly near the sources (in hotels) or in one of the many villages. For treatment, they drink water, bathe in it or take procedures. It is important to remember: there are men's and women's days in the Kyzyljahamam pools.
Balchova
The water temperature in the Balchova pools is from 60 to 80 degrees Celsius. It fills the snow-white recesses and appears bright blue from above.
The composition of the liquid includes:
The degree of mineralization is quite high. The healing properties of the springs have been known since the time of King Agamemnon. The oracle advised him to send the wounded warriors to a natural pool in the mountains. After 2 days, all wounds healed, and the Greeks got stronger and were able to continue fighting the Trojans.
Healing baths were forgotten, they began to be used only in 1763. Today, the resort offers guests not only spa treatments, bathing and therapeutic massage, but also a full-fledged spa treatment: 10 medical laboratories work here. There is also a psychological relaxation room.
Sultaniye
This unique place began to benefit people in the 1st century BC. Even then, the beneficial properties of its bowels were noted. Aphrodite bathed in natural baths, and then the Queen of Egypt Cleopatra. Since that time, the recesses are called Cleopatra's baths. Throughout the year, the temperature in the source is 39 degrees Celsius, and the content of radon just rolls over: Indonesia occupies the first place in terms of the amount of the element, and Sultaniya is the second.
This composition allows you to treat:
In addition to radon, the water contains a lot of sulfur (hence the specific smell) and calcium chloride. Therefore, the resort successfully treats the musculoskeletal system and performs anti-aging procedures. Healing mud is located near the source. They are applied to the body (wraps), they are used for therapeutic massage.
Aider
The healing climate of the Ayder Plateau was appreciated in 1300 by the first settlers. But the fact that the keys, beating from the ground and having a temperature of about 55 degrees Celsius, have a healing effect, was noticed only in 1987. Scientists from Karadeniz University examined samples and found that hot springs contain an increased amount of sodium sulfate. It was then that Ayder began to develop as a balneological resort.
Hot water bursts out of the ground, flows through forests, meadows, accumulates in natural pools and flows into the Black Sea already cooled. And the area where healing streams flow is fabulously beautiful! No wonder Ayder is called Alpine Turkey.
Today in this picturesque region you can heal:
Therapeutic baths help to solve infertility problems. But the chemical activity of the keys prescribes caution: it is recommended to alternate bathing with walks and outdoor activities. Hotels have been built in Ayder, where they offer only spa treatments. Here you can get qualified medical advice on the treatment of diseases.
Erzurum
Erzurum Resort has several types of springs:
- Akdag. All baths are in the open air, so it is more often visited by men. Nearby there are therapeutic muds that contain sulfur and uranium.
- Helenk, Meman, Gelingeldi and Asboga. The water has a high temperature. Baths are most often taken here.
- Chorak and Syungerji. These drinking springs
- Erzurum Maden suyu. Located near the tomb of Abdurrahman Ghazi. The place is very beautiful. The advantage is easy transport accessibility.
The Erzurum resort treats skin diseases, diseases of the liver and kidneys. Mostly, tourists visit hospitals in the summer.
Chekirge
This is a modern resort stretching from the Sea of Marmara to the Uludag highlands. And the climate here is changing: from warm and humid maritime to severe cool sharply continental. And there are a great many sources on Chekirga. Near each there are comfortable hotels where you can stay for the duration of treatment.
The most popular places in Chekirga:
- Bursa (sources Eski Kapdyja, Karamustafa Pasha Kaplydja, Kainarja, Eni Kaplydja, Dumbuldek, Oylat).
- Kynyk Dogal Maden Suyu. It has a high concentration of magnesium and calcium. Water is bottled and sold.
- Baikal Dogal Kaynak Suyu. Mineralization is high, hardness too. Also bottled and sold.
- Uludag Dogal Kaynak Suyu. This water is sold outside of Turkey.
- Gemlik Kaplidzhasy. Known since Byzantium.
- Adlie Keyu Ichmesi is a drinking spring.
- Sodagi Kay Kaplidzhasy. There is no bad smell around. Bathing relieves pain.
- Agachhisar Keyu Ylydzhasy. It has healing mud.
The properties of water in the Chekirge resort depend on the area in which the source is located. But there is no radical difference.
Bursa
Bursa is one of the most famous cities of the Chekirge resort. It has a mild humid climate: the influence of the Sea of Marmara affects. Byzantine people were the first to use hot springs for treatment and recovery. During the reign of the Ottomans, the tradition of building baths on warm springs was preserved. Today, the reconstructed baths can be seen at the Karavansaray Hotel in Bursa.
Useful properties of water determines the composition:
And a variety of diseases can be treated with such a liquid. The composition of the main sources of Bursa differs slightly: the proximity of the location affects.
Most often tourists visit:
- Eski Kapdyja. This is the oldest geothermal spa, renovated in 1988. It has 2 zones: cool and hot.
- Karamustafa Pasha Kaplidzhasy. This resort has radioactive water.
- Kainarja. Mountain resort (located at an altitude of 160 m above sea level). The first pools were built 1680 years ago.
- Yeni Kaplidzha. This sulphurous spring with a highly mineralized liquid was used by Suleman the Magnificent to treat gout.
- Dumbuldek. It has low mineralization. They drink water or take baths. Helps with gynecological diseases.
- Oilat. The healing properties of the keys have been used for over 2000 years. The water at the resort is not only hot and mineralized, but also radioactive.
Many hotels have been built in Bursa, where guests stay for the duration of their treatment.
Kangal
The deposit of healing waters was discovered in 1800, but began to be actively exploited only from 1981. It was then that they began to explore the properties of medicinal water. The unique high-altitude resort of Kangal specializes in helping patients with skin diseases. It is located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, and the sun shines here 280 days a year. Vodichka has a high concentration of selenium (1.3 mg / l), magnesium and zinc, and its temperature is more than 37 degrees Celsius.
An additional effect is created by the “doctor” fish Garra Rufa, which live in a hot liquid and gently cleanse sore spots. And the mountain sun fixes the result. In addition, it is simply pleasant to be in Kangal: it is very beautiful here, and the air is clean and fresh. The effect of such treatment significant: psoriasis does not appear for 2 years.The largest influx of patients at the resort is in the spring: it is during these months that skin diseases are exacerbated.
Yalova
The resort belongs to the Turkish Ministry of Health, but there are also private health resorts nearby, which also have thermal pools. And in Yalova, in addition to treatment rooms, there are:
The healing properties of the thermal springs of this area were used by the inhabitants of Byzantium. After the collapse of the conquest of the empire by the Ottomans, the sources were forgotten: members of the families of the rulers rested and were treated in Bursa. Hot springs for treatment began to be actively used again only at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then that the infrastructure of the resort began to develop. And then Yalova was forgotten, until Ataturk came to power. He revived the resort, turning it into a world spa resort.
Today in Yalova they treat:
It is noteworthy that in addition to the main thermal procedures, guests are offered massage, manual therapy sessions, acupuncture, paraffin wraps.
To be
These keys are located in the foothills of the Ala range. The temperature is quite comfortable for a person: about 40 degrees Celsius. And useful properties are determined by the composition:
Treatment consists of taking baths, inhalations, ingestion. The spring waters help with diseases of the genitourinary system, kidneys, liver, gallbladder. Rest in Bolu is pleasant: the area is picturesque, and the air is clean and fresh. There are 2 national parks on the territory of the district: 7 Lakes Park and Abant Lake Park. Tourists interested in history can see the remains of buildings from the time of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire.
Opium
Afyon is famous for the fact that in a small area there are 7 resorts marked with 5 stars at once. This place is considered the capital of balneology in Turkey. More than 12,000 guests can be treated here at the same time. Afyon has an excellent infrastructure: hotels invite accommodation for the duration of the procedures, there are mud baths and spas, shops, restaurants and entertainment centers.
Admirers of antiquity will visit the hammam, built during the reign of the Ottomans. It is rented for warm baths. By the way, the water in the springs has a temperature of 60 to 95 degrees Celsius.
Afyon resort welcomes guests throughout the year for treatment:
Afyon has an excellent Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center where injuries and post-surgery conditions are treated.
Gönen
This resort is located in the valley of the River Genen. It is designed for the simultaneous treatment of more than 700 people. The complex is managed by the local municipality together with private investors. The management body controls the provision of medical services to guests. Genen is distinguished by exceptionally clean keys: this level of security is difficult to find not only in Turkey, but anywhere else.
And the chemical composition allows you to deal with:
The resort has excellent infrastructure: visitors can go to the gym, volleyball court or tennis court, go to the reading room, hold a meeting in the conference room.