Holidays to Turkey Aren't Complete Without a Hammam

For centuries, tourists on cheap Turkey holidays where you’ll see them dotted around all the neighbourhoods and housed in historical 15th to 17th century buildings throughout the country. If you’re thinking of visiting a hamman whilst in Turkey then it’s important that you know some of the etiquette and expectations associated with the baths:

What to Expect

When you enter the hamman, you’ll most likely be escorted to a dressing room, which is known as a camekan. You will undress in one of the private cubicles in the camekan. Your attendant will offer you a cotton wrap, which you will wrap around your waist like a skirt, and a pair of slippers, as well as the key to your cubicle. Bring your own shampoo, towel and soap with you. Although these are available in some of the baths, they are often overpriced. You can then let your attendant know whether you want a bath and massage or just a bath. You will then go to the first room, known as the warm room, where you lay on a heated stone platform and work up a sweat. Once you are covered with sweat, your attendant will scrub you clean – often using a mitt to remove dead skin. She will put soap in a mesh bag, then blow through it to create bubbles all over your body. After she rinses you clean, you can enjoy an optional massage on the stone platform. After the massage, you retreat to another room to cool down and drink some tea.

Wherever you plan to take your holidays to Turkey, you’ll more than likely find that there are a wide selection of Turkish bath facilities. While many famous baths are in Istanbul, you can find Turkish baths at resorts and hotels throughout the country.

Best Budget-Priced Bath: Aziziye Hamami

Budget travellers can do no better than visiting this hamman, which has a flat rate 15 lira entrance fee, and scrub and massages starting at just 15 lira. The hammam is housed in an 19th century Ottoman-style historic structure that includes separate, but identical, buildings for men and women.

Best Splurge: Acemoglu Hamamı

Located in a stunning setting, this 15th to 17th century Istanbul hammam is the ideal place to splurge out. The building itself is one of the best examples of Ottoman architectural buildings remaining from this time period. Although this hammam is pricey, many people find the atmosphere and excellent service worth the extra price.

Best Bath for First-Timers: Cemberlitas Hamami

If the idea of a hammam sounds quite daunting, then this is the ideal place to begin as most of the staff in this Istanbul hammam speak English. The steam room isn’t as hot as the ones in some of the more traditional hammams, which makes it more appealing for Turkish bath novices.