The city of Yalova is located on the coast of Izmit Bay, about 80 km from Istanbul (İstanbul). The city is small but ancient — it is more than 5000 years old. Nowadays, flowers for landscaping and fruits are grown here — the most delicious kiwis in Turkey are sold here.
I’ve been to Yalova with a guide, but you can go there on your own. One day is enough to swim in the outdoor pool and walk around the park. You should leave early in the morning to get to the influx of visitors.
The Turkish lira (₺) is used in Turkey. The exchange rate at the beginning of 2022: 1 ₺ = 0.8 $ or 5.5 rubles.
What to see in Yalova
Yalova is popular among the people of Turkey in all seasons. In winter people come here to visit the thermae, and in summer — to the coast of the Marmara Denizi (Marmara Sea). In addition to the spa resort, the city has cozy cafes, several beaches and an aqua park.
Gazi Pasha Caddesi (Gazi Pasha Caddesi) is a popular promenade in the city. Opposite the ferry port on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays there is a market selling honey, nuts, fruits, spices, medicinal herbs and berries. Along the coast, try the traditional Balık Ikmek sandwiches in tea gardens.
There are two beaches in the city: the central city beach — sandy, but the sea near it is not very clean, and the paid beach Yalova Plaji with good infrastructure, quiet and calm.
Aqualand Yalova Water Park (Aqualand Yalova)
Half an hour drive from Yalova is Aqualand water park. There are jacuzzis, cafes, swimming school, slides and pools, sun loungers, spa center, animators work during the day.
- Office hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- An adult ticket costs 50 ₺, children under 11 years old cost 35 ₺, and under 4 years old are free.
- Website: Aqualand.
Yalova thermal springs
The main thing that both locals and tourists go to the peninsula for is the state-of-the-artYalova Thermal Hot Spring Resorts.
The spa is located in a mountain gorge, in the village of Gökçedere, 14 km from the city. In ancient times there was a town of Pythia here. In the XX century, chemical analysis of the waters showed their useful composition — then the territory began to flourish: villas began to be built here and medical centers were opened. Later, President Ataturk turned the city into a world-famous health and rehabilitation center and called the place «my city».
The local water has won an award from the thermal water competition held in Rome in the past. It is used to treat stomach, cardiovascular and kidney diseases, rheumatism and allergies. Locals claim that the water cures everything. The temperature in the spring is up to 60C, the water in the pool and baths is about 40C.
The complex includes Çamlık Otel, Çinar Otel, Termal Otel, indoor hot water pool, Turkish hammam, outdoor mineral water pool, tennis court, cafe-bar, national sweets store, casino, volleyball and basketball courts. In separate buildings there is a sauna-hammam Kurşunlu (Kurşunlu Banyo), bath Valide (Valide Banyo), Sultan Baths (Sultan Banyo). I will tell you more about the complex.
Main building with main bathing facilities and swimming pool
The wellness bathing procedure consists of several stages: visiting the Kurshunlu hammam, taking a dip in the ice bath, relaxing in the indoor hot pool, and swimming in the outdoor thermal pool. All stages can be done in the main building with bathing facilities. For the best effect, doctors advise two or three repetitions of the cycle.
The Kurshunlu Hammam was built during the Byzantine Empire. Steles with images of Hercules, the god of health Ascleopis and nymphs — spirits of hot water — are built into the walls of the bath. Hammam is made in the form of a Finnish bath with a swimming pool and sauna.
It was unexpected for me that in winter it is not cold to swim in the outdoor pool and go outside. The water temperature in the pool is about 38—40C.
There is a cafeteria in the building, where they make delicious lime tea with lemon. You can have lunch in a small café in the park. Valuables can be left in the safe before the procedure, and clothes in separate changing rooms. Towels are issued on the spot, periodically you can replace wet with dry. There are shower rooms, indoor and outdoor toilets. I advise you to take slippers, disposable cups for water from the springs in the park, a swimsuit and a snack.
- Opening hours: from 07:30 to 22:30 at any time of the year.
- The cost of visiting the main baths, hammam and outdoor pool for three hours: 65₺ for adults on weekends, 45 ₺ for children. Weekdays are 15 ₺ cheaper. Massages and scrubs are extra.
Check the Yalova Thermal website for opening times and costs before visiting.
Valide’s bath and the Sultan’s baths.
The spa complex has buildings with historical baths. Entrance to the Valide and Sultan baths is extra. You can’t visit all the baths in one day, so come with an overnight stay if you want to visit all of them. You don’t have to stay in the complex itself — you can save money by renting a room nearby for 60—80 €.
The Valide Bath was built by Sultan Abdul Mejid for his mother, who was cured of rheumatism here. The bath is open to men and women.
- Opening hours: from 07:30 to 22:30.
- Ticket for 1.5 hours: 28 ₺ for adults and 18 ₺ for children on weekends, 3 ₺ cheaper on weekdays.
The Sultan’s Baths have 26 separate marble pools that are rented out by the hour. They were built for the Sultan’s family and are characterized by luxury.
- Opening hours: from 08:30 to 22:30.
- Cost per hour: a VIP room for two people costs 200 ₺ on weekends and 150 ₺ on weekdays. There is a 50% discount for hotel guests.
Arboretum
Hundreds of unique plants and flowers grow in the arboretum of Yalova Spa Resort, the smell of the mountain forest and the clean air invigorates you after a therapeutic treatment. Newlyweds come here for walks and wedding photo shoots at the Lovers' Alley (Aşkılar yolu), Lovers' Staircase (Aşkılar merdiveni), by the lake, waterfall and in the forest.
Üç Ažiželer Arboretum is named after three nuns. According to legend, three sisters — Minedora, Metrodora and Nymphadora — lived in this place, spent their days in prayer and treated the locals with healing water. The Sultan demanded that the girls renounce Christianity, and after refusing, he ordered their execution. The sisters were beheaded and buried in the territory of the health springs.
Here is the residence of the great President Ataturk, which was built in 38 days. It used to be a place where important government decisions were made, but now the building is a museum. The mansion is called the «Walking House» (Yuruyen Kosk) — the building was moved by presidential decree because it prevented an old tree from growing.
There are useful springs near the trails: the first one is a spring with stomach-friendly water (Mide suyu), followed by healing water for eyesight (Göz suyu) and natural inhalation (Memba-Astım Buharı), a stone with a hole from where healing steam rises. It regulates bronchial function, tightens enlarged pores, improves skin condition, reduces acne and even wrinkles.
After swimming in the pool, we took disposable cups and went for a walk: we drank water for stomach, buried our eyes with a leaf from a tree, breathed in useful ions through a stone-inhalation and took a couple of photos as a souvenir.
I advise you to stop by the sweet shop in the park. Fresh rahat-lukum, natural teas, Turkish candies and aromatic spices are cheaper here than in the markets of Istanbul.
Jalova: how to get there on your own
You can get to Yalova from Istanbul by land and sea. I recommend taking a sea bus, which is what the Turks call ferries. It can be more expensive to take a regular bus and you have to change buses. In addition to public transportation, you can rent a car or book a tour.
Schedules vary depending on the season and pandemic restrictions. I recommend checking all public transportation options on Omio.
From Istanbul to Yalova by ferry
In Istanbul, fast ferries to Yalova depart from Yenikapi Marina (Yenikapi İDO İskelesi) 7—8 times a day. The journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
On the first tier of the ferry there is transportation, on the second tier there are seats for passengers. There are toilets, a buffet, comfortable chairs, open areas to watch the scenery and feed the seagulls.
Ticket price: one way 23 ₺ on day flights, 27 ₺ on evening flights. Discount for students and pensioners.
You can buy tickets at the ferry terminal ticket office, online at the IDO website or through Omio.
Next, a local marshrutka (dolmush) will take you to Jalova Termal from the pier. The fare is 4 ₺.
Bus Istanbul — Yalova
The cheapest bus option to Yalova from Istanbul is Flixbus. There are several trips a day with prices starting from 6 € and a journey time of one and a half hours.
By rental car
If you plan to travel around the neighborhoods of Istanbul, it is better to rent a car. Renting a car through Rentalcars in 2022 costs only from $20 per day.
There are two ways to reach Jalova by car: by ferry, which transports cars, and by land.
You can buy ferry tickets on the IDO website. The price depends on the size of the car. Travel by passenger car with two passengers costs 127 ₺.
By land, it is better to drive south through Bursa on the D575/E881 road. The Bosphorus bridges in Istanbul and the section of the highway to Bursa are toll-free.
Road and bridge tolls are paid in two ways: by transporter or by HGS sticker. The transporter can be rented for a period of time. It is easier to use stickers that are stuck on the windshield. Payment is contactless, you do not have to stop. Before entering the toll plaza, you must slow down to 30 km/h, the system identifies the vehicle and automatically deducts the toll.
With a tour
In addition to traveling to Yalova on your own, you can choose to visit with a guided tour group with transfers from your hotel. The price often includes a short excursion and lunch in a mountain restaurant.
Where to stay in Yalova
Apart from the thermal complex with rather expensive rooms, there are many detached spa hotels in Jalova, which have their own springs — because the whole of Jalova is one big thermal zone.
- The Thermo Vital Hotel 3* has its own thermal baths, and a room for two with breakfast costs from just 35 €.
- In the 4* Thermalium Wellness & Spa Hotel by Vima or Black Bird Thermal Hotel & SPA a double room with breakfast, dinner and access to the spa area costs from 70 € per night.
After the noisy, densely populated Istanbul, the small town of Yalova seemed to us like a protected paradise, and I highly recommend a trip there to understand where the locals hide when they get tired of the humming anthill that is the capital. Here, surrounded by mountains and clean forests, birds sing carefree, leaves rustle quietly, and you can swim in the spa pools at any time of the year.
