Balıklı Kaplıca — 'Fish Thermal Spring' — is a distinctive kaplıca facility in Turkey where naturally warm mineral spring water creates an environment inhabited by small fish known for nibbling dead skin cells from bathers' feet, a practice known as ichthyotherapy or fish spa therapy. This unusual form of natural exfoliation has a long tradition in certain Turkish thermal springs, particularly in the famous Balıklı Kaplıca of Kangal, where the combined effect of warm mineral water and the natural activity of the fish has long been part of local bathing custom. The facility offers a uniquely memorable bathing experience.
Insider tip — Balikli Kaplica takes its name from the small fish that inhabit its thermal pools, similar to the famous doctor-fish spas of Kangal. Located in Malatya Province in eastern Anatolia, the 37°C waters are gentle enough for the fish-assisted skin therapy. The ichthyotherapy tradition, in which small Garra rufa fish nibble away dead skin cells, has deep roots in this region of Turkey. Apricot orchards surrounding Malatya make this thermal visit a perfect accompaniment to the region's famous fruit harvest in summer.
