Thermal Springs

Yıldızburnu Hot Springs, Ilıca

Ilıca, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir, Turkey

The hot springs of Ilıca are at the end of the sea wall inner concrete walkway, accessed through a gate at the end of 5253 Sok., just beyond Arkas Çeşme Sailing Sports Club (Yelken Spor Kulübü) at the far west end of Ilıca beach. The springs are sheltered by the harbour wall on the north side and a semi-circle of submerged rocks on the inner harbour. The area is small and usually rather crowded; there is no signage, facilities or area for seating except on the rocks. The thermal waters are at a constant 45ºC, contain sodium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride and are popular with people with rheumatic health issues.

Gülbahçe Hot Springs (Ilıcası), Urla

Gülbahçe, 12073. Sk. 32-13, 35430 Urla/İzmir, Turkey – Note: the Google Maps locator indicates the Gülbahçe Ilıcası building as adjacent to the Urla Surf House; however, it is not possible to access from this point without wading through the shallow waters at the mouth of the Tatar Stream. Direct access by car requires taking a track leading from the D300 halfway between İçmeler and the Izmir Institute of Technology (İYTE).

The stone building leading into the sea that constitutes the thermal bath is located just southeast of the village of Gülbahçe 38km east of Çeşme, 12km west of Urla. While often referred to as the ‘Ancient Roman Baths’, there is no definitive evidence that they belong to the Roman period. Around the spa is a 5,000-year-old mound and ruins thought to belong to the Hellenistic period. The brick building is currently (July 2021) under restoration.

Gülbahçe (literally rose garden) was an ancient Greek town called Rodónes.

Malaca (Malkoç) Springs, Urla

İçmeler, 35430 Urla/İzmir, Turkey

Located 9km west of Urla at İçmeler in the direction of Çeşme, the facilities around the springs were famous as a summer health resort from the 1950s through to the 1980s; however, they are now abandoned and derelict. The highly mineralised (7.5g / litre) sodium chloride salt waters were thought to be beneficial in the treatment of intestine, liver, and biliary tract diseases. The waters are at 22ºC with a 6.92 pH value and are considered potable.