Bursa has some of the finest thermal baths in Turkey. The city sits above hot springs that have been in use since antiquity — the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all built bath complexes here, and several of the original Ottoman hamamlar are still in operation. The most famous is the Eski Kaplıca (Old Hot Spring) in the Çekirge district, which dates to the 14th century and uses a Byzantine structure as its foundation.
Çekirge, a western suburb about 4 km from the centre, is the main thermal district, with several large hamam complexes open to the public. Bring your own scrubbing towel (kese) or buy one there; the massage and scrub services are priced by the service. The Yeni Kaplıca (New Hot Spring), built in 1552 by Rüstem Pasha, is the most ornate of the historic baths and has separate men's and women's sections.