Yalova Termal

The springs at Termal rise in a narrow wooded valley in the hills above Yalova at around fifty to sixty degrees, and they have been used since the Roman period - fragments of the Roman bath survive on the site. The buildings that define the place now are Ottoman and early Republican: the Kurşunlu Banyo with its lead-domed roof, the Valide Banyo built for a sultan's mother, and the Sultan Banyo, restored and still in use as bathhouses with marble interiors and private cabins, alongside modern pools and a spa hotel. The valley itself is thick with plane, chestnut and magnolia, and the walking paths through it are a good part of the visit; there is also a small Atatürk house museum in the grounds. Yalova is reached from Istanbul by ferry across the Marmara in about an hour and a quarter, which makes Termal a straightforward overnight from the city, and it is at its best when the weather is cold.

What you actually see

• The Ottoman bathhouses - Kurşunlu, Valide and Sultan baths.
• The Roman remains - fragments of the original bath.
• The wooded gorge - plane and chestnut through the valley.
• The spa pools - modern facilities alongside the old.

When to go

Year-round, and best from October to April - hot springs in Turkish summer heat are a difficult proposition. Weekdays are quieter than weekends.

Honest expectations

The historic baths run on timed sessions and men's and women's arrangements vary by building - check before arriving. Prices are above ordinary hammams. The valley is small and busy at weekends.

Nearby

Yalova town and its ferry to Istanbul are 12 km down the hill; İznik is about an hour south-east.