Balñkesir Province () is a province and metropolitan municipality in northwestern Turkey with coastlines on both the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Its area is 14,583 km<sup>2</sup>, and its population is 1,276,096 (2024). Its adjacent provinces are ÃÂanakkale to the west, ðzmir to the southwest, Manisa to the south, Kütahya to the southeast, and Bursa to the east. The provincial capital is Balñkesir. Most of the province lies in the Marmara Region except the southern parts of Bigadiç Edremit, Kepsut, ðvrindi, Savaà Âtepe and Sñndñrgñ districts and ones of Ayvalñk, Burhaniye, Dursunbey, Gömeç and Havran, that bound the Aegean Region. Kaz DaÃÂñ (pronounced ), known also as Mount Ida, is located in this province. Balñkesir province is famous for its olives, thermal spas, and clean beaches, making it an important tourist destination. The province also hosts immense deposits of kaolinite and borax, with some open-pit mines. The Kaz mountains are also threatened with the expansion of gold mining using cyanide which puts the villagers' lives, the agricultural economy, and tourism at risk.
There are 20 districts in Balñkesir Province under the Balñkesir Metropolitan Municipality.<br />
Balñkesir is home to a number of natural attractions, including Kuà  Cenneti (bird sanctuary) National Park; the bays of Erdek, Bandñrma, and Edremit; Ayvalñk's coastal beaches; à Âeytan Sofrasñ, Marmara Islands, Alibey (Cunda) Island; the Erdek and Gönen open-air museums; Pamukçu-Bengi, Balya DaÃÂ, Hisar, Hisarköy (Asarköy), KaraÃÂaç (Uyuz), Kepekler hot springs, Dutluca Village mineral springs, and Zeytinli Ada hot springs and mineral water springs.
Among the cultural attractions of Balñkesir are the ruins of Cyzicus and Saraylar on the Sea of Marmara, Dascylium (near Bandñrma/EreÃÂli), and Antandrus (near Edremit/Altñnoluk); Balñkesir's Yñldñrñm Mosque (Eski Cami), the Zagan Pasha Mosque complex, Clocked Church Mosque and quantity of Ottoman vernacular architecture at Ayvalñk, and Alibey Mosque (ÃÂñnarlñ Cami). The Kuà  Cenneti National Park near Lake Manyas is an ornithological site where 266 different species of birds flourish â every year over three million birds fly through there. There are horse breeding farms 13 km southeast of Bandñrma, in Karacabey.
There are a city museum and a fine arts centre in Balñkesir. Also, there are several camping facilities in Erdek, Altñnoluk, Akçay, Güre, and ÃÂren.
Balñkesir has coastlines on the Sea of Marmara and Aegen Sea. Edremit, Burhaniye, Gömeç and Ayvalñk are the districts which are popular for their beaches, located in the Aegean coast of the Balñkesir; Marmara Island, Erdek, Gönen and Bandñrma are the districts that are located on the Marmara coast of Balñkesir.
Around the Gulf of Edremit in Balñkesir province are some of the coastlines where encircled by clear waters and sandy beaches and silvery green olive groves. Ayvalñk, a holiday towns on this coastline, is located in the midst of pine and olive trees. Its houses ornamented with wood and stone. Cunda Island, linked to Ayvalñk via a bridge, is known for its sunsets, seafood and taverns. à Âeytan Sofrasñ (Devil's Table), so called because it is set on a tableshaped hill formed from lava, offers a panoramic view over the 22 islands in Ayvalñk Bay. A footprint, enclosed by iron bars, is said to be that of the devil himself. There are sandy beaches approximately 6 km south of the town in the Sarñmsaklñ area. Altñnkum, meaning "golden sand", is a beach in this district. It has restaurants and bars for entertainment. There is also an attractive street market in the centre of the resort and lots of shops.
Burhaniye, ÃÂren, Edremit, Akçay and Altñnoluk are also among the holiday towns which attract vacationers interested in a holiday with scenery and historical, archaeological sites.
Balñkesir and its districts, besides the wealth of thermal resources, have healing waters with reputed physical and chemical compositions.
Many spas which claim to have health-promoting features surround the city, including Pamukçu and Ilñca. The center of the city also contains the historical Turkish "Pasha Hamami" bath, which is still in use. Some of these thermal resources located in;
Pamukçu, Kiraz, Edremit-Güre, Edremit-Bostancñ, Edremit-Derman, Gönen, Gönen-Ekà Âidere, Manyas-Kñzñk Köy, Susurluk-Kepekler, Balya-DaÃÂ, Bigadiç-Hisarköy, Sñndñrgñ-Hisaralan, Sñndñrgñ-Emendere and Dursunbey-Aà ÂaÃÂñmusalar Village.
55 km southwest of Bandñrma is Gönen, one of Turkey's most important thermal resorts. The fact that the springs were used even in Roman times is witnessed by a 5th-century mosaic from what was originally a Roman bath. The waters come from 500 m below ground surfacing at a temperature of approximately 82 ðC.
There are two universities in Balñkesir Province;
The foundation of Balñkesir University trace back to Karesi Teacher School established in 1910. This school has been carried to the building which is used as Necatibey Faculty of Education with particular interests of the Minister of Education, Mustafa Necati. Till 1982, the number of higher education institutes reached 4: Necati Institution of Education, Architecture and Engineering State Academy, Balñkesir School of Industry and Tourism, Balñkesir Vocational School. These foundations changed status with Delegated Legislation No 41 and were connected to UludaàUniversity. Necatibey Teacher's Training School continued to train teachers between the years 1932 and 1982 under the name of Necati Institution of Education, left its 3-year status, received 4-year-Higher Teacher Training School status. In 1982, having been connected to UludaàUniversity, this foundation has been called Necatibey Faculty of Education.
In the same way, the name of Balñkesir School of Industry and Tourism has been changed as Balñkesir School of Tourism and Hotel Management, but the name of 2-year-Balñkesir Vocational School has remained the same. Having stayed under the roof of UludaàUniversity for 10 years, these foundations have formed a powerful background for Balñkesir University with healthy and consistent development.
Balñkesir University has 37.000, Bandñrma Onyedi Eylül University has more than 13.500 students.
Also, some of the scientists were born in Balñkesir. One of the most known is Selman Akbulut the Turkish mathematician, specializing in research in topology, and geometry and which is a student of Robion Kirby.
Balñkesir is a city that has shores on the Aegean and Marmara Seas. It is easy to reach from Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa and ðzmir by motorway or railway. There are regular coaches from Istanbul, Ankara and ðzmir.
Balñkesir has many small coastal towns. To make transportation comfortable, railway transport is done between Ankara-Balñkesir and ðzmir-Balikesir at specific hours. Balñkesir is joined to Bursa and ðzmir by a quality motorway.
Also, there is the Koca Seyit Airport. On account of the airport, Balñkesir Coach Terminal is out of the city so that there is servicing by the municipality to the city centre. On the other hand, the Railway Station is at Republica Square.
The economic base of the city is both agricultural and industrial. The biggest industrial enterprises are Arñ-TuryaÃÂ, Limak-Set ÃÂimento, BEST, Mar-Tük, ðà Âbir, Kula, TellioÃÂlu, Bu Piliç and YarÃ±à  Kabin which are among the first thousand factories in Turkey as of 2008. Balñkesir city is also important for stock breeding. Surrounding the city, are numerous dairies. The city is also an agricultural centre. Wheat, sunflowers, sugar beets, and other vegetables in a front tomato and bean plantations have dense products. Traditional crops are melon and grapes. Balñkesir with its districts is the 12th largest economy in the Turkish economy. Also, it is called the Anatolian Tigers.
Other main exports are olive-based products. It is also a destination for both domestic and foreign tourists, who use it as a base to explore the near countryside, especially nearby Mount Ida (Kaz DaÃÂñ).
The city is well known with borax deposit. The largest global borax deposits known, many still untapped, are in Central and Western Turkey, including the provinces of Eskià Âehir, Kütahya and Balñkesir. Besides, Turkey and the United States are the largest producers of boron products. Turkey produces about half of the global yearly demand with the known deposits which possesses 72% of the world.
Many sportspeople were born in Balñkesir. Some of them are;
Most known sports club in Balñkesir is Balñkesirspor which is established in 1966. Balñkesirspor is the football team played in the Süper Lig after achieving promotion having finished as runners-up of the TFF First League in 2013âÂÂ14. The team's previous promotion was 40 years before that. Their stadium, the all-seater Balñkesir Atatürk Stadium, has a capacity of 13,732.
Many theatre players, actor, actress, singer and painter were born in Balñkesir. Most known are;
The major memorial days of Balñkesir are Hñdrellez, The Liberation Day and also The Remembrance Day of Local Combat.
Hñdrellez is by tradition celebrated in the first week of May for those who live in Balñkesir. Today, it is the fulfillment of a religious ritual that is celebrated as a day of goodness. The night on the streets there is a fire, and one of the traditions is to jump over the fire seven times. That night going to such green and restful areas as DeÃÂirmenboÃÂazñ and Balñkesir Park or near the religious area like tombs is also a ritual of Hñdrellez. People wish midnight and meet there. Accordingly, Hñdrellez day people have offerings. Drawing a picture of something that is desired to land or stone is determined. Individuals seeking goods put money into a red purse and hang it on a tree. On the other hand, those wishing for a baby type the name or draws baby figure on the ground. These rituals are traditions of Hñdrellez. One of the superstitions is that if someone takes a shower that night, he or she is protected from all diseases. Hñdrellez is a kind of Newroz or Spring New Years.The Liberation Day from the enemy occupation of Balñkesir is on the 6th of September 1922, which every year is celebrated as a local holiday. There is a celebration parade and celebratory ceremony, the ceremony takes place on Stadium Street. In the past, the previous night of the 6th of September, the main streets of Balñkesir were washed with eau de cologne which is an aromatic lily, because lilies are a symbol of Balñkesir. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, as for two or three days, the people would come from nearby villages and districts to celebrate. On the morning of the first day of the celebrations, people coming into Balñkesir would picnic in advance of the festival, at Balñkesir Park. During the festival evening, a great torchlight procession is organized. The TülüTabaklar show which is an important event unique to the city, is when people dressed up as the TülüTabaklar who were local heroes that resisted the enemies for 14 months during the Turkish War of Independence, as they were tanners and would dress up in goat or sheepskin with horsetails, chimney soot, bells and staff in order to present a frightening appearance.
The Remembrance Day of Local Combat is called Kuvayi Milliye Haftasñ in Turkish which is organized between 16 and 23 May. The great success with 41 Balñkesirer people met at Alaca Mescit and they have managed the region such as a state and gained a military victory in 1922. 15 May 1919, after the capture of ðzmir by the Greeks, Balñkesir is the first place in Turkey that the reaction of Balñkesir had shown by declared Redd-i Ilhak (Disclamation of Annexation). In 1919, the city of Balikesir Congress was met five times. Greek soldiers on 30 June 1920 was occupied Balñkesir. By had opened Ayvalik-ðvrindi-Soma-Balikesir-front, Balñkesir had its liberation. Traditional folk dancers in Balikesir
Balñkesir's local cheese, called Kelle Peyniri, is known in European countries and exported France, Germany and Britain. It is a granular type of cheese. Hoà Âmerim which is made from cheese and egg is the popular dessert of this city. Many old Turkmen dishes (like keà Âkek, güveç, tirit, mantñ, kaymaklñ) are composed of Balñkesir cuisine.
Etli çorba is another dish common in Balñkesir. It is similar to kelle paça (Khash) and düÃÂün çorbasñ, and is a calorie-dense soup with lots of fats and meat.
The main souvenir of the city is lily cologne and hoà Âmerim. Balñkesir's Turkmen carpets (called YaÃÂcñbedir) are another popular local good. Sñndñrgñ is a region popular for the weaving of this Turkish carpets. The rugs of YaÃÂcñbedir are among the most prized in the country.
Balñkesir is a historical folkloric dance source. Balñkesir's historical folkloric dance is most popular in Turkey and academical searching. Bengi, Guvende and Balikesir ZeybeÃÂi are a typical dance of this city. These dances' figures spread throughout Balñkesir plainness. Also, Balikesir's ballads are popular in Turkey. Akpñnar, Mendili Oyaladñm, Karyolamñn Demiri are some ballads sing by women surround Balikesir city. Like these woman ballads, on the other hand, have dance figures in terms of traditional dancing. Although Balñkesir is an industrial region, traditional village culture is superb and deeply. So, for folk culture, Balñkesir is an important area in Turkey. Balñkesir's local dance came to first in Nice folk festival joined 21 countries at 1958 be of value by European academical folklore authorities. Also, Balñkesir's local zeibek dance was the first zeibek participation from Turkey which had seen European folk authorities. Nowadays, Balñkesir folklore is chosen "intangible cultural heritage" of Turkey by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
At 4:43 PM UTC (7:43 pm Istanbul time) on Sunday, 10 August 2025, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the province, centered 10 km SSW of Bigadiç, causing damage in the town of Sindirgi and surrounding villages, where sixteen buildings collapsed.