Traditional Turkish hammam ritual
500 years of marble. The bath, then a massage, then mint tea.
Duration
90 to 120 minutes
Group
Couples or solo
Best season
All year
From
From £85 at neighbourhood hammams to £240 at the historic Cagaloglu
A hammam is not a spa — it is a 500-year-old social ritual built around three hot marble rooms. We take you to the historic ones, not the tourist ones, and brief the keseci (the scrubber).
What is included
- ✓Pestamal (cotton wrap) and locker
- ✓Steam room and hot marble sojourn
- ✓Full-body kese (scrub) with traditional mitt
- ✓Foam massage on the marble
- ✓Mint tea afterwards in the cool room
Highlights
- ●Cagaloglu Hammam in Istanbul, in continuous use since 1741
- ●Kilic Ali Pasha by Sinan, lovingly restored 2012
- ●Cemberlitas Hammam (1584) for the architecture lovers
- ●Neighbourhood hammams in Bodrum and Antalya for half the price
How we book it
We book the slot, brief the keseci, and tell you exactly what to bring (nothing — they provide it all). Couples-only sessions can be arranged at most historic hammams.
Frequently asked questions
Do men and women bathe together?
No. Almost every hammam has separate men and women sections. Couples can book a private hammam slot at most of the historic ones.
What do you wear?
In the men's section, a pestamal (cotton wrap) around the waist. In the women's section, sometimes nothing, sometimes pestamal and underwear — the keseci will guide you.
Will I be naked in front of strangers?
In the historic baths, no — there is enough space. In neighbourhood hammams, you may share the marble slab with one or two other guests of the same gender. Pestamals stay on.
How firm is the scrub?
Vigorous but not painful. You will see grey rolls of dead skin coming off — that is normal.
Ready to book traditional turkish hammam ritual?
Tell us your dates and group and our concierge will come back within 24 hours with a tailored quote.
Plan with the conciergeOr WhatsApp us on +90 544 673 22 02
