Hot Spring venues

A hot spring is a place where spring water that rises naturally hot from underground is used in baths and pools. At the heart of a hot spring is not a menu of services but the spring itself: the facility is usually built where the water emerges, and the main purpose of the visit is to bathe in that water. In this respect the hot spring is the most traditional and simplest of the thermal spa types.

What to expect at a hot spring

All the hot springs in the listing have a thermal pool, and at most of them the services are shaped around this pool. Next to the pool you may find family baths, separate sections for women and men, fountains where the spring water is drunk, a restaurant or simple accommodation. In the listing, kese (exfoliating scrub), foam wash, a sauna and a Turkish bath are offered only at one historic domed hot spring in Bursa. A university facility in Bingöl also has a salt room and medical massage with a physiotherapist; at hot springs, extra services like these are the exception rather than the rule.

Who chooses a hot spring

Hot springs attract those who simply want to bathe in thermal water rather than follow a spa programme, those who prefer a simple, traditional setting, and those who live near a thermal spring and want to go to the water regularly. Because hot springs are often in the countryside or surrounded by nature, where the spring rises, you need to plan your transport in advance. If you are looking for massage, skin care or a large wet area, a thermal hotel may suit you better.

How a hot spring differs from a thermal hotel and a thermal facility

The difference between a hot spring and a thermal hotel is the focus. A thermal hotel puts accommodation, the restaurant and spa services first; at a hot spring the priority is the spring water, and accommodation, if there is any, comes second. Even so, the two types often overlap: most of the hot springs in the listing also offer accommodation. A day-use thermal facility, on the other hand, is used without staying overnight, for an entry fee; it does not need to be at the source, as the thermal water can also be brought in from a distance.

What to know before going to a hot spring

• Use by women and men varies from one hot spring to another: there may be separate hours, separate pools or mixed use. One hot spring in the listing has separate hours; for the others, ask the facility.
• Family baths are usually rented for a set time; as there may be a wait at weekends and during religious holidays, it helps to ask in advance.
• The spring water can be very hot; stay in only briefly, take breaks and drink fluids.
• If you have a cardiovascular condition or blood pressure problems, are pregnant, or have a feverish illness, an open wound or recent surgery, consult your doctor before getting into the water; if you are thinking of drinking the spring water regularly, ask your doctor about that too.
• Towels, slippers and soap may not be provided at every hot spring; it is practical to take your own.

Where the hot springs are

The hot springs in the listing are not concentrated in one region: there is one example each in Osmangazi in Bursa, Beypazarı in Ankara, Ahmetli in Manisa, Bingöl and Diyadin in Ağrı. You can read about Bursa's hot spring tradition and historic buildings in the guide to Bursa's historic hammams and hot springs.