Turkey's Afyonkarahisar attracts foreign visitors interested in thermal tourism

Five-star thermal hotels, historical and natural beauties, local cuisine are first things that come into mind when one hears Afyonkarahisar, the center of thermal and health tourism in Turkey. As one of the key vacationing centers of the western Turkey, Afyonkarahisar attracts attention especially in semester holidays during which the occupancy of the hotels reaches 100 percent. Its 42 degrees Celsius thermal water offers its visitors a unique experience whole year regardless of the season. Afyonkarahisar has always been rated as one of the top thermal centers of Turkey with the thermal water and the mineral water -- known for its curative effects -- in the town of Gazlıgöl in Ihsaniye district; with Ömer and Geçek hot springs in Bolvadin district -- known to cure many illnesses -- and Heybeli Thermal Tourism Center in Bolvadin which dates back to Roman period. Full of holiday-goers during winter and autumn time, the capital of the thermal tourism welcomes not only local tourists but also foreigners who are attracted by thermal water basin, mud baths, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers in 4 different regions of the city. Almost 5,000-year-old hot springs of the city cure skin and orthopedic problems, kidney diseases and rheumatism and attract day trippers at the weekends. With a capacity of 25,000 beds, Afyonkarahisar hosted nearly 1 million local and foreign tourists in 2018. Besides being a thermal health center, the city also hosts many companies and non-governmental organizations which hold their organizational meetings. Renowned 2,000-year-old Hudai spring waters in Sandıklı district offer mud baths to its local and foreign tourists who search for cure in the cold winter days. Renowned 2,000-year-old Hudai spring waters in Sandıklı district offer mud baths to its local and foreign tourists who search for cure in the cold winter days. For those who want to benefit the healing effects of mud therapy prefer hot springs in Afyonkarahisar. The tourists can also visit Afyon Castle and the historical mansions in the same neighborhood. Mevlevi lodge in Afyonkarahisar is another historical structure, which among 100 Mevlevi lodges in the world, is accepted as the most significant one after Mevlevi lodge in Konya. The city is also famous for its lokum (Turkish delight) and sausages -- known as sucuk, which is made with ground meat, usually beef or lamb, with a high fat content and added spices.