Gönen is a city in Southern Marmara, Turkey.

Get in

Gönen is 80 km northwest of Balikesir.

See

• Open-Air Museum (Açık Hava Müzesi). Exhibition of this museum include artifacts founded in the excavations of ancient thermal bath ruins. 

Do

Hot Springs (Kaplıca) — Gönen is mostly known for its thermal springs which have been in continuous use since the Romans. Temperature of the slightly alkaline thermal water is 52°C, with a pH value of 7.36. The thermal water is hyperthermal, and hypertonic, and is known to contain copious amounts of sulphur, chlorine, bicarbonate, and sodium. It can be applied both internally (i.e. by drinking) and externally (i.e. by having a bath). It’s said to help heal liver, gall bladder and kidney ailments by drinking, and rheumatism, infections of the large intestine, hardening of the arteries and neurological and vascular complications by bathing.

Eat

• Höşmerim is a quite famous dessert, made of special cheese, saffron, and semolina. While the locals obviously think Gönen is the origin of höşmerim, natives of surrounding towns and cities (e.g., Balıkesir, Bandırma), as well as of those further away (e.g., Tekirdağ) claim their town is where höşmerim is native to. The truth is höşmerim is likely a dessert originating from Balkans (and these towns are all heavily settled by the descendants of immigrants from Balkans), and is not to be missed wherever you can get your hand on to one. Make sure to have it topped by ice cream.

Sleep

• Dermal Hotel. 

• Park Hotel. 

• Yildiz Hotel.