By Sinan Balcikoca
BURSA, Turkey
Turkey attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists with its ski resorts and thermal springs during the winter season.
Among the world's most popular tourism destinations, Turkey hosted more than 40 million tourists in 2018.
The tourists that prefer Turkey make the most of snow days by skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snow biking, while others relax and enjoy thermal waters.
Ski and thermal springs within 1 hour
Uludag, located in northwestern Bursa province, is one of the popular winter tourism centers with its 7,000-bed capacity hotels and 20 ski tracks of nearly 400,000 meters.
Uludag -- which offers snowboarding, sledding and snow-biking -- is one of the most preferred tourism destinations during the New Year and semester holidays.
There is only one hour of transportation distance between the hot springs and ski facilities which make it possible for visitors to experience both on the same day.
Skiing in Erciyes, thermal springs in Kozakli
The Erciyes Ski Center, which met international standards after an investment of €350 million ($400 million), has become one of the must-see places in the winter season.
Being located near Cappadocia, having easily accessible areas and its budget-friendly policy, Mount Erciyes draws more attention with each passing day. The tourists who have an interest in skiing can choose Erciyes Mount, while others can experience thermal springs in the Kozakli district.
Hot-air balloon rides in Cappadocia
Turkey's much-known tourism center Cappadocia offers a lot to visitors in just one day.
The early hour hot-air balloon ride offers breathtaking scenery -- an authentic atmosphere of fairy chimneys, valleys consisted of natural rocks.
Skiing at Mt. Erciyes and getting in the hot waters of Kozakli are optional opportunities to complete the day, which started with hot-air balloon tour.
Erzurum: Ski and thermal tourism destination
Erzurum, a city that come first to mind when one hears "skiing", attracts the attention of local and foreign tourists with its ski resorts and thermal facilities.
The city, which was once home to many civilizations with its 7,000 years of history and in recent years is a shining star of the country especially in terms of winter tourism, offers tourists an opportunity to enjoy both skiing and hot water baths.
The Palandoken Ski Center in the city welcomes guests from Russia, Iran, Georgia, Poland and many other European countries during winters.
Bolu: Daytime for skiing and evening for hot springs
Located between Turkey's capital Ankara and Istanbul, Bolu -- with convenient transportation, thermal baths and a ski resort of international standards -- has tourist points such as Abant, Golcuk, and Yedigoller National Park.
Bolu also has dozens of thermal facilities in Mudurnu, Seben, Goynuk, Karacasu, and Taskesti, which awaits their visitors.
Afyonkarahisar: Capital of thermal tourism
With its five-star thermal facilities, historical and natural beauties, Afyonkarahisar is the first city that comes to mind in terms of "spa and health tourism" in Turkey. It is one of the centers of attraction for winter tourism.
The city is famous for its mud baths, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers and rich mineral thermal waters, where local and foreign guests can benefit from 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) thermal pools.
Medicinal holiday address: Denizli
With its white travertine, thousands of years of history and natural beauty, Turkey’s Aegean province of Denizli is an important tourism center and a focus of attention for those who are seeking healing thermal waters with an alternative ski resort.
Located in Denizli, the “white paradise” Pamukkale -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey.
Those who come to Pamukkale can enjoy warm water swimming in the "Cleopatra Pool" in the ancient city of Hierapolis.
Ski and thermal facilities all around Turkey
The ski resort in Ilgaz, one of the highest mountain range in the Western Black Sea, the Saklikent Ski Resort built in Beydaglari half a century ago in Antalya and Abali Winter Sports Center in Gevas district of Van are alternative places for ski lovers.
Those who are looking for different destinations for thermal tourism can choose Haymana and Kizilcahamam in Ankara and Ilica district in Cesme.
