Essential Guide to Turkish Baths

What You Need to Know Before Visiting a Hammam?

What Is a Hammam Ritual?

In traditional hammams, men and women are usually allowed at different times or in separate areas. Upon arrival, bathers pass through the camekan, a space for relaxing, smoking, and enjoying tea—where you’ll return at the end of your visit. In the next warm room, you’ll put on wooden clogs and wrap yourself in a pestemal (a Turkish towel). The largest space is the hararet, where you lie on a heated platform called gobektasi to sweat. Whether on your own or with the help of a tellak (attendant), you’ll enjoy a massage, soaping, and rinsing at one of the perimeter basins.

The Historical Background of Turkish Baths

During the Ottoman period, hammams were often built as part of large religious charity complexes (kulliye), which could include a mosque, library, hospital, soup kitchen, school, and lodging for students or clerics. Most hammams were part of a charitable endowment called vakıf, sponsored by the sultan, royal family members, or other prominent Ottoman figures. The income from these baths helped maintain the mosque and surrounding buildings. Cleanliness was an essential part of Islam, reflected in the Turkish saying “Cleanliness comes from belief.” Bathing in a hammam had religious significance as part of the ablution ritual for prayer. This dual purpose made hammams both religiously and economically viable. As a result, the hammam, along with the mosque or market, was one of the first structures built by Ottoman sultans after conquering a new urban area.

Do Locals Still Visit Hammams?

So, who visits Turkish baths today? With the rise of private baths in homes and modern sewage systems, local visits to hammams have declined. However, some of the less touristy hammams in the historical neighborhoods of Istanbul still cater to locals, keeping this age-old tradition alive. Despite their decline in popularity since the early 20th century, tourists often seek out hammams to experience their exotic charm. As a result, tourist-targeted hammams have adjusted their services to cater to this new clientele, staying open until midnight and offering a relaxing experience after a day of sightseeing.

Steps in a Turkish Bath Experience

• Undress
• Warm up at the gobektasi (heated platform) or sauna
• Get your skin scrubbed
• Rinse off
• Enjoy the foam bubbles
• Quick shampoo
• Dip in the cold pool
• Shower, then relax with Turkish tea

Top Five Hammams in Istanbul

1. Kilicali Pasa Hamami – Tophane
2. Hurrem Sultan Hamami – Sultanahmet
3. Cemberlitas Hamami – Cemberlitas
4. Cagaloglu Hamami – Cagaloglu
5. Zeyrek Cinili Hamam – Fatih

 

Tips for Visiting a Hammam

When you enter, you’ll be given a hammam kit: a towel, pestamal (cotton wrap), soap, and kese (exfoliating gloves). Bring your own swimsuit unless you prefer to use the hammam’s disposable ones.

• Hammams are usually less crowded in the morning than in the afternoon.
• You can customize your experience, so feel free to tell your attendant what you prefer, such as more or less pressure.
• Making a reservation in advance helps you avoid waiting.
• Since the hammam experience is very communal, you may want to choose a hammam with separate areas for men and women, or one that doesn’t offer mixed-gender services. This way, if you’re a woman, you’ll only have female guests and attendants.
• Pay attention to cleanliness and comfort when selecting a hammam.
• Choose the service that suits you—some hammams allow self-bathing with your own soap, as locals have done for centuries.
• Before entering the private hammam area, you must leave your personal belongings in a locker room. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed, so don’t expect to snap a selfie during your visit.

If you want to join Guided Istanbul tour includes historical Turkish bath and to see Istanbul’s touristic places with our tour operator company, feel free to contact us.