All about Turkish hammams for beginners, What awaits you in the ancient baths

 Kilic Ali Pasa Bath in Istanbul

Last summer, with barely a trip to Istanbul booked , I began researching hammams. If there was one thing I was most excited to do in this Mediterranean city, it was a visit to a traditional Turkish bath.

The history of the hammam, which inherited many features of Roman and Byzantine bath culture, begins around the 14th century. In Istanbul, many hammams, including the 440-year-old Kilic Ali Pasa and the 380-year-old Cinili Hamam (which opens in autumn 2023 after a 12-year restoration), retain their historical grandeur and atmosphere.

The hammam is thought to have emerged out of necessity: bathhouses were often built next to mosques so that worshippers could wash themselves before praying. But the hammam itself is also a place where people spend time together, says Yavuz Suyolcu, project director at The Marmara Group, which is restoring Cinili. He explains that Turkish bath culture developed because the Ottomans considered the bathhouse to be the center of social life.

Chi Spa at Shangri-La Bosphorus Hotel in IstanbulImage: Management/Tripadvisor

Today, visiting a hammam offers a break from the stress of everyday life, says Selma Yildirim, director of the luxurious Chi Spa at the Shangri-La Bosphorus Hotel . The gentle sound of water, the fresh scent of soap and the knowledge that you will have no chores for a while and can simply dedicate time to a cleansing ritual contribute to complete relaxation.

It's very tempting, and fortunately, not at all intimidating even for beginners: I experienced this myself when I first visited an Istanbul hammam. However, if you know what procedures await you, it will be easier for you to relax and fully immerse yourself in the bath ritual.

What awaits you in a Turkish hammam

Whatever the hammam you go to (it could be the spa at your hotel, a place with separate visiting hours for men and women, or a bath complex like Cinili, where different rooms are reserved for different genders), each hammam visit follows roughly the same routine.

When I entered the luxurious Kilic Ali Pasa, I was given a glass of juice as a welcome treat, taken to a changing room, told to strip down to my bathing suit, and given a soft towel to wrap myself in while waiting for my turn in the bathing room.

Stepping inside the immaculately clean, marbled space, I had to remove my towel before a bath attendant poured water over my head. Although I had always felt awkward being naked in a women’s gym locker room, I didn’t feel any particular embarrassment at having to take off everything—or almost everything—in front of strangers in the hammam.

Washing area of ​​Kilic Ali Pasa baths in Istanbul

After a thorough rinse, I was led by the hand onto a large, circular slab of heated marble, where I would remain for about 15 minutes to relax my muscles. Suyolcu calls this area of ​​the hammam the “belly stone,” and explains that it is designed to prepare the skin for exfoliation. According to Yildirim, the hot stone and humid atmosphere of the hammam help soften the skin, making it easier to exfoliate, removing dead skin cells.

By the time I moved from the stone slab to the wash area, I was essentially like plasticine in the hands of my skilled masseuse. It was hard to think of anything else except the incredibly pleasant sensations after my hands and feet were exfoliated, my hair was gently washed, and my skin was washed literally "squeaky clean." I didn't even feel awkward when I was told to stand with my palms against the wall so that my back could be washed. By this point, I was practically in a trance.

Once the bathing experience was over, I was ushered into the relaxation area, where I found groups of women of different ages and cultures, locals and tourists alike, all radiating bliss, wrapped in identical towels. And while the temple-like setting was not particularly conducive to conversation, there was a sense of liberating harmony. In the heart of bustling Istanbul, where crowds stream along sidewalks and bridges, the hammam takes on a special value: it is the perfect place to unwind.

Other tips for beginners

If public baths aren't your thing, some establishments, like Cinili and Chi Spa at Shangri-La Bosphorus , offer private hammam sessions. At the latter, you can purchase a "Path to Wellness" package that includes a Turkish bath, meditation, and a range of other private practices in the spa's on-site facilities.

To fully appreciate the hammam, allow yourself plenty of time to relax in the relaxation area and enjoy the feeling of absolute cleanliness. The city can wait a little. Turkish bath treatments cost between $40 and $100. Many hammams in Istanbul also offer additional services, including facials, massages, and aromatherapy. These are usually charged separately.

Tipping the staff is appreciated, and some hammams, such as Kilic Ali Pasa , will even offer you gift envelopes for the money when you pay your bill.