While hamams, or Turkish baths, have been around for hundreds of years, each individual hamam can be distinctly different from the next one, especially in Türkiye where many hamams now cater mostly to tourists. 

Some facilities are very traditional, transporting patrons  back in time to the Ottoman era, due to both their historic, architecturally-distinctive surroundings and services offered.  Others are quite modern and rival luxury spa experiences around the world. 

Whether one opts for the traditional route with the typical exfoliating body scrub and massage or a facility with an array of amenities and treatments such as mud masks, countless options abound. 

TurkishHamam.com can help you make the best choice according to your personal taste and budget.

What to Expect

Any positive hamam experience will leave the customer feeling cleaner than ever, fully rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world.  Whether one opts for a traditional hamam or the more modern spa-like experience, the result is likely to be spectacular.  The amount one pays does not necessarily correlate with the quality of the experience.  A contemporary setting with luxurious treatments will typically cost significantly more than the traditional hamam where the locals go.  Whether one experience is better than the other and worth the extra investment or savings is subjective and entirely up to the individual seeking hamam service. 

What to Wear

A traditional hamam will provide a modesty garment called a peştemal for guests to wear.  Generally speaking, patrons are expected to be nude underneath unless told otherwise.  More modern hamams, particularly those where men and women share spaces, provide disposable underwear or men can wear shorts/swimsuits and ladies can wear bikinis.

For men, in particular, the modesty garment wrapped around the waste can leave one feeling vulnerable.  Quite literally, one can be exposed momentarily at times if an attendant has a patron roll over or sit for rinsing.   Patrons are just as likely to catch a glimpse as be seen by other patrons or attendants.  It is a public bath, and one should not stress too much over such matters, one way or the other.  A hamam is not a facility of debauchery but rather a setting for humanity in action where fellow humans serve other humans via a centuries-old tradition. 

Same-sex Attendants

In traditional hamams, one can expect men to attend to men.  Women will attend to women in a separate portion of the facility or during specified hours for women only.  Spa-like hamams typically serve both men and women in the same setting, and men can be attended by women, who  -- in Istanbul -- are often émigrés from the Far East.  Some individuals seek out these experiences because of the skills gained by these attendants in their native lands.  That said, one must not dismiss the proven methods employed by traditional hamams for hundreds of years. 

Many misconceptions persist - particularly among American and European men - regarding hamams.  The most common assumption among many men is that all hamam attendants are big, hairy, fat guys who man-handle their clients.  This stereotype has been further perpetuated by young, nomadic vloggers who are providing entertainment value for their tens of thousands of social media followers.  Quite often, these young chaps provide video footage of their hamam experience, and some hamams are eager to cater to them by putting on a good show as they slap the backs of their patrons or tickle them on the navel.  That said, hamam attendants come in a variety of sizes and ages.  Yes, many of them are older, sizable men with plenty of body hair, but what does that have to do with good service?  Many older employees have decades of experience, and they pride themselves in their work. 

American men, who often shy away from the touch of other men, are frequently put at ease by fun-loving, humorous attendants.  Some attendants are talkative and provide fun interaction.  While some hamam patrons have acknowledged the hands of their attendants getting close to private areas during massages, one must ask 'how is this to be avoided during a thorough full-body massage?'  Turkish men, generally speaking, are conservative and perhaps even hyper-masculine, in many instances, and they would be appalled if their actions were perceived as untoward.  The hamam experience should not be diminished by one's own hang-ups, phobias, prejudices or insecurities.

Awkward hamam moments can occur, as explained by Golden Globe Award-winning Canadian actor Ryan Gosling in the above snippet from The Graham Norton Show (BBC).  If one experiences such a moment, have a sense of humour!  Life is too short to be so serious.

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Türkiye
Telephone: +90 535 361 25 07

Circa 1720s.  Built by Grand Admiral Kaymak Mustafa Pasha during the Tulip Era, this hamam is located inside the Galata Istanbul Hotel MGallery.    Recently restored in 2017, this hamam offers a variety of luxurious spa services to a mixed male and female clientele, and is a 2022 World Luxury Spa Award winner.


Türkiye:  Istanbul (European side):  Beyoğlu:  Tophane


Tophane is home to the 18th century Mahmud Han Fountain, and is mostly noted for its expansive waterfront.  Visitors can now access Galataport, a circa 2022 complex of hotels, restaurants and other new development along the port where cruise ships frequently dock. 

Telephone:  +90 212 393 80 10

Kiliç Ali Pașa commissioned famed Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan to build this circa 1580 hamam, which boasts the second-largest dome on a hamam in all of Istanbul.  Completely restored and renovated, the hamam garnered the National Architectural Award from Türkiye's Chamber of Architects in 2016 in the category of Building/Preservation, and the hamam was the recipient of the Europa Nostra prize in 2017 for its commitment to preserving history and heritage during its restoration process.

Bordered by the Golden Horn to the north, the Sea of Marmara to the south, the Theodosian wall to the west and the Bosphorus Strait to the east, Fatih encompasses the historical peninsula.  It is home to provincial authorities, important museums, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, Istanbul's two most recognizable mosques -- Hagia Sofia and Süleymaniye -- and the Topkapi Palace.  Some of Istanbul's most historic hamams are situated in Fatih, making them easy excursions for visitors seeking to explore other landmarks and points of interest.

Reopening in September 2023 after a 13-year restoration project, the hamam was built by Mimar Sinan on a commission by Barbaros Hareddin Pasha during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent between 1530 and 1540.  Today, the hamam is fully functioning, and the property also includes a museum and plays host to special cultural events.  The property is owned and operated by The Marmara Group.

Mihrimah Sultan Hamami
Karagümrük
Fevzi Pașa Cadessi No. 333 D:333
34091 Fatih
Istanbul
Türkiye
Telelphone:  +90 212 523 04 87

Built by Mimar Sinan for the daughter of Sultan Süleyman, this hamam was completed in 1565.  Reservations are recommended.

Șehsuvar Bey
Kadirga Limani Cadessi No. 69
34130 Fatih
Istanbul
Türkiye
Telephone:  +90 212 518 19 48

Located in the Kadirga neighbourhood, the bath was built under the direction of Egyptian Governor Yahya Pasha bin Abdulhay, a vizier of the Sultan Bayezid II period.

Tarihi Vezneciler Hamami

Türkiye
Telephone:  +90 212 526 74 58

Built by Sultan Beyazid II in 1481, this hamam is the first and only bath built on the second floor. Its waters are said to be curative, possessing the capacity to heal jaundice.

Türkiye:  Istanbul (Asian side):       Üsküdar:  Valide-I Atik


Located on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus Strait, Üsküdar is one of Istanbul's longest-established residential areas.  During rush-hour, many commuters traverse the strait by boat and ferry to the old city of Eminӧnü for work or school. 


Valide Atik Hamami
Tabaklar Mahallesi
Eski Toptași Cadessi No. 98
34664 Üsküdar

Telephone:  +90 216 334 91 58

Built in 1579 by celebrated architect Mimar Sinan, this hamam is less touristy than others and is very much traditional in nature.  Less frills translate to a lower price for the budget-conscious.  On the other hand, this hamam is frequented by locals, and weekends are likely to be busier than other days.


Türkiye:  Istanbul (Asian side):       Üsküdar


Çinili Hamami
Muratreis Mahalessi
Çavașdere Cadessi No. 204
34664 Üsküdar

Türkiye
Telephone (for Men):  +90 216 553 15 93
Telephone (for Women):  +90 216 334 97 10

Not to be confused with the Zeyrek Çinili Hamami located in Fatih across the Bosphorus, the Çinili Hamami in Üsküdar was built in 1640 by Kӧsem Sultan, although she did not live to see its completion.  Originally intended for use by the construction workers erecting the Çinili Mosque, the hamam has persisted for centuries, enduring earthquakes and even finding its way into films and onto magazine pages.  This is a traditional hamam from the Ottoman era and is worth checking out, especially if one is spending time on Istanbul's Asian side.