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Greece and Turkey Hot Springs: Pamukkale, Kos and Thermopylae
Last updated October 22, 2026 · 2 min read
Popular searches:Thermopylae Hot Springs · Springs Rhodes · Therma Hot Springs Kos · Kos Thermal Springs · Karahayit · Yalova Thermal Spring
The Aegean is tectonically active, and both Greece and Turkey have hot springs that have been used since ancient times.
Turkey: Pamukkale and Karahayıt
Pamukkale, near Denizli, is famous for its white travertine terraces filled with warm water. Above them, the Antique Pool at Hierapolis lets you swim among fallen Roman columns. Nearby Karahayıt has iron-rich springs that stain the rock red and orange, and many spa hotels.
Turkey: Yalova and Bursa
Yalova, across the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul, has the historic Termal spa area in wooded hills. Bursa has Ottoman-era bathhouses fed by thermal water. Both are easy trips from Istanbul.
Greece: Kos
On Kos, Therma beach has a hot spring that runs into a rock pool at the water’s edge, mixing with the sea. Go early to find space.
Greece: Thermopylae and Rhodes
The Thermopylae hot springs, beside the ancient battlefield, gave the place its name: “hot gates”. Warm sulphur water flows into a stream and small pools. On Rhodes, Kallithea Springs is a restored 1920s spa on a swimming cove, now a historic site rather than a working spa.
Tips
Summer is very hot, so spring and autumn are better for soaking. See the maps for Greece and Turkey.
Listed Turkey hot springs
See all 29 Turkey springs on a map.
| Hot spring | Water temp | Type | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sıcak Çermik Kaplıcaları | 122°F | Developed | Sivas (15 mi) |
| Burgaz Jeotermal Spa - Sağlik Oteli̇ | Not recorded | Developed | Lüleburgaz (7 mi) |
| Çermik Melike Belkıs Kaplıcaları | 118°F | Natural | Çermik (2 mi) |
| Diyadin Kaplıcaları | 172°F | Natural | Diyadin (4 mi) |
| Saadetdere Termal Tesisleri Erkek Bölümü | Not recorded | Natural | Yakuplu (1 mi) |
| Hilas | Not recorded | Developed | Havza (7 mi) |
| Tarihi Roma termal su hamamı | Not recorded | Developed | Urla (6 mi) |
| Avrasya Hamam | Not recorded | Developed | Gürpınar (2 mi) |
| Keramet thermaal bad | 95°F | Natural | Çakırlı (2 mi) |
| Medrese Kaplıcası | Not recorded | Developed | Haymana |
| Sakarya Lüx Hamamı | Not recorded | Developed | Adapazarı |
| Saray Kaplıcası | Not recorded | Developed | Haymana |
| Sarıkız Hamamı | Not recorded | Developed | Kütahya (12 mi) |
| Tarihi Derince Roma Hamamı Kalıntıları | Not recorded | Developed | Derince (2 mi) |
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in the Pamukkale terraces?
You can walk barefoot and paddle in some shallow travertine pools, but bathing is limited to protect them. The Antique Pool at Hierapolis, above the terraces, allows swimming for a fee.
Where is the hot spring on Kos?
Therma beach, on the south-east coast of Kos, has a hot spring that flows into a rock pool at the edge of the sea, where hot and cold water mix.
What are Kallithea Springs on Rhodes?
A restored 1920s spa complex on the coast of Rhodes. It is now a historic site and swimming cove rather than a working thermal spa.