Photo: E-92 (GFDL) · Source Yalova is a small province on the southern shore of the Marmara, close to Istanbul by sea, known for its thermal springs and the pavilions that Atatürk had built in 1929. Its highlights are the hot springs of the Termal district and the Atatürk Mansion, the Walking Mansion at the Millet Farm, Sudüşen Waterfall, Hersek Lagoon and the coasts of Çınarcık and Armutlu. Yalova aronia, kiwi, chestnut honey and Çınarcık işi have registered geographical indications.
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8 places worth seeing in Yalova, from historic monuments to natural wonders, grouped by type. Open any of them on the map with a single click.
Photo: E-92 (GFDL) · Source A two-storey semi-masonry pavilion built in 1929 at the Yalova Millet Farm; it takes its name from having been moved bodily from its position to save a large plane tree that had caught Atatürk's attention.
View on mapA two-storey pavilion built at Atatürk's wish in 1929 in the Termal district, 12 km south of Yalova.
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Photo: Chapultepec (CC BY 4.0) · Source A hotel building in the centre of Termal, known for its historic timber façade.
View on mapA hotel designed by Sedad Hakkı Eldem between 1934 and 1937, demolished in 1983 and later rebuilt faithfully to the original.
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Photo: Oğuz Han Erol (CC BY 3.0) · Source A waterfall on the Nacaklı Stream at an altitude of about 250 metres, 8 km from the Üvezpınar neighbourhood in Termal; its pool is suitable for swimming.
View on mapAn 872-hectare lagoon in Altınova; it was placed under protection on 30 December 2022 and hosts birds such as ducks in the winter months.
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Photo: Darwinek (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source A coastal district on the north of the Gulf of Gemlik, 55 km from Yalova; there are sea connections to Istanbul and Mudanya.
View on mapThe largest district of Yalova outside the centre; a summer holiday area on the Marmara coast.
View on mapYalova lies in the south-east of the Marmara Region, on the northern shore of the Armutlu Peninsula and the northern foothills of the Samanlı Mountains. A district of Istanbul until it became a province on 6 June 1995, it took in the town of Armutlu, formerly part of Gemlik district in Bursa, and the towns of Altınova, Subaşı and Kaytazdere, formerly part of Karamürsel district in Kocaeli. There were also casualties and damage in the province in the Gölcük Earthquake of 17 August 1999.
The first settlements in the region go back to the 3000s BC; in the ancient region known as Bithynia, the Hittites, Phrygians and Persians held sway, and it passed to Rome in 74 BC. Yalova’s best-known feature is its thermal springs: the Termal district has been known for its healing waters since Roman and Byzantine times. Atatürk, who first came to Yalova in 1927, stayed there from time to time; in 1929 he had the Yalova Atatürk Mansion built in Termal and the Walking Mansion at the Millet Farm. The mansion is famous for having been moved bodily from its position to save a large plane tree near the Yalova pier.
The Yalova Termal Hotel was built between 1934 and 1937 to a design by the architect Sedad Hakkı Eldem, demolished in 1983 and later rebuilt faithfully to the original. The province’s districts are Çınarcık, Armutlu, Altınova, Çiftlikköy and Termal; Çınarcık has a population of about 13,000 in winter, which can exceed 300,000 in summer.
Yalova has a Marmara climate: summers are hot and dry, winters mild and rainy. Averages for 1931–2025 from the Turkish State Meteorological Service:
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Rainfall | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.1 °C | 3.4 °C | 93 mm | 15 |
| February | 10.7 °C | 3.6 °C | 72 mm | 13 |
| March | 12.7 °C | 4.7 °C | 72 mm | 12 |
| April | 16.9 °C | 8.1 °C | 51 mm | 11 |
| May | 21.4 °C | 12.2 °C | 39 mm | 8 |
| June | 26.0 °C | 16.0 °C | 41 mm | 6 |
| July | 28.5 °C | 18.2 °C | 25 mm | 4 |
| August | 28.6 °C | 18.4 °C | 31 mm | 4 |
| September | 25.1 °C | 15.3 °C | 53 mm | 6 |
| October | 20.7 °C | 12.0 °C | 82 mm | 10 |
| November | 16.4 °C | 8.4 °C | 81 mm | 11 |
| December | 12.3 °C | 5.6 °C | 113 mm | 15 |
The best time to visit is May to September. The sea season is June to September; the thermal facilities are open in winter too, and the most pleasant months are autumn and spring.
By sea: Yalova is reached from Istanbul by sea bus and ferry; Armutlu has sea connections to Mudanya and Istanbul.
By road: Çiftlikköy, on the Yalova–İzmit state road, is 5 km from the provincial centre; Armutlu is 55 km from the provincial centre and 27 km from Gemlik. The Osmangazi Bridge gives fast connections towards Kocaeli and Bursa.
By air: There is no airport in the province; the airports in Istanbul and Bursa are used.
Day 1 – Yalova centre and Termal: The Walking Mansion, the Atatürk Mansion and the hot springs; Sudüşen Waterfall in the afternoon.
Day 2 – Çınarcık and Armutlu: Swimming on the coast and fish for lunch.
Day 3 – Altınova: Birdwatching and walking at Hersek Lagoon.
Yalova cuisine is a blend of Marmara and migrant cuisines. The products with a registered geographical indication are Yalova aronyası (Yalova aronia) and Yalova kivisi (Yalova kiwi) (protected designation of origin), and Yalova kestane balı (Yalova chestnut honey) and Çınarcık işi (Çınarcık handicraft) (protected geographical indication).
Çınarcık işi is a handicraft with a registered geographical indication.
Yalova province has 6 districts. Explore the places to visit, local dishes and transport in each one.
Honey registered with a geographical indication.
The main stops are the Termal hot springs, the Yalova Atatürk Mansion, the Walking Mansion, Sudüşen Waterfall, Hersek Lagoon, Çınarcık and Armutlu.
Its Termal hot springs, the Walking Mansion, aronia, kiwi and chestnut honey.
The mansion was moved bodily from its position to save a large plane tree that had caught Atatürk's attention.
It became a province on 6 June 1995, having been a district of Istanbul.
From Istanbul by sea bus and ferry; by road over the Osmangazi Bridge.
The information in this guide has been compiled from and checked against the sources below (last checked: 8 October 2026). If you spot an error, please let us know.